8th Jan- Main Ankor temple day

Chet was keen we made it to the best spot ahead of the chinese tourists so we were up at 4.15am and soon sat in pitch darkness waiting for the dawn to illuminate Ankor. It was a special way to first see this most famous temple and the largest religious building in the world! 

Walking around the edge of Ankor we saw the beautiful moat from the north gate then spent quite some time photographing monkeys in the morning light who were climbing over the main ruins and stealing bananas where they could!

Incredible bas-reliefs filled it, some had been vandalised previously, some was being restored. As the sun rose the tourist numbers increased and we headed back to base for a late breakfast. Left with a sense that I could have spent hours there.

Sunbathe, swim and 1 strange Khmer massage later (didn't know I could bend in those directions!) and we were off to see Banyon temple, the temple of 216 faces, 4 facing different directions on top of each pillar, each pillar representing a province of the Khmer empire. This place was incredible! Especially with the late afternoon light. From here, along the elephant walk to the Leper temple (as the Budda statue had a hand missing and there was a legend about it though it might have just been damaged!)

Evening spent playing bar games with tour leader Mark's competitive and energetic Cambodian girlfriend.