What a day. Our driver showed up at 4:30 as premised. It seems so early though, and pitch dark. So I ordered a couple of eggs with bread and coffee. We left at 5 am. Then the ride and we arrived at the same walkway leading us to the gate and the Angkor Wat. Some 15 minutes later we found a good spot, climbed an ancient building next to the road and set to wait for the sunrise. It will be a very busy day with more than ten different temples and places to see. We are hoping to make it back to the Angkor Wat temple and exploring it for 1-2 hours before the sunset. Lots of stairs climbing ahead, but I am looking forward to it!

Photo:  Angkor Wat, Cambodia → It's 7 am. It's been dark for almost an hour while sitting here, and finally there is some light. My first trial shot of the Angkor. Love the clouds. They make it more dramatic.

Photo:  Angkor Wat, Cambodia → Another shot just ten minutes later. It stared getting brighter very quickly.

Photo:  Angkor Wat, Cambodia → Just 17 minutes later and I started seeing where am I. There were lots of other people too, and in close proximity. I had no idea that there are so many of them! All still tinted blue, and everyone just can't get enough of taking pictures!

Photo:  Angkor Wat, Cambodia → Many people stay there and go to see the Angkor Wat right away. Instead, we decided to leave and visit all the other places before the crowds get there. It was a very wise decision. Here, at 7:42, we are in front of on of the gates to the temple complex - the South Gate. It's only us, a rare local and no tourists! I like that.

Photo:  Angkor Wat, Cambodia → There are raws of mystic figures on the right...

Photo:  Angkor Wat, Cambodia → ...and left.

Photo:  Angkor Wat, Cambodia → They are all pulling a mystic snake by it's tail.

Photo:  Angkor Wat, Cambodia → While firmly standing their ground.

Photo:  Angkor Wat, Cambodia → The gate has the famous Angkor Wat faces on top. Seeing them from up close for the first time, I went on a picture shooting frienzy. Little I have known, there will be almost an overload of them at the first temple I am going to see.

Photo:  Angkor Wat, Cambodia → For that reason, I am not going to post many of those photos here. Just a few. This is a photo number 27 from Angkor Wat, and I haven't even entered the grounds!

Photo:  Angkor Wat, Cambodia → Detail. It's clearly visible how these monuments were built, and it is also incredible to imagine that in the past they were all covered with plaster, painted and polished. It must had been very colorful.

Photo:  Angkor Wat, Cambodia → One last view of the faces gracing the gate, and off to my first temple.

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