Tips for Angkor

This is not related to my blog, but I just wrote to share with some friends that are going to Siem Reap, Cambodia, and I thought I could share with more people.

- Bicycles: we arrived there thinking we would do the whole thing with bikes ( I think Lonely Planet talks about that, and it got me into the bike-mood). We rent it for all the days we were there. The first day we drove our bikes. Soon I realized I had the wrong impression about the bike-riding: I thought we would be able to drive inside the temples with them and you are not. You have to park your bike outside and walk in the temples. The temples are HUGE and the distance between the different temples INSIDE Angkor is also very big. After our first ride there and the first sunset, we decided to use another way of transportation, especially for sunrises and sunsets, since it was very early morning and returning “late” in the dark..

- Sunset and Sunrises: it was not obvious for us, but these are the best times to visit the temples and take pictures. So there are some of these places that you should not miss at those times, especially if you want to take some nice shots. So don't miss:

- Angkor Wat (the main temple): make sure you go there for one sunset and one sunrise. There is a nice pond inside (not the moats), that makes everybody pile up to take nice pictures of the temples reflecting in those waters. I think it is REALLY worth it. Also, there is a night tour, that is very nice. You have to buy the ticket in advance, and in a specific place downtown, but we thought it was worth it. The temple is all lit up (they even have tripods everywhere for you to place your camera and take some nice pictures)! It is also nice because it is very empty! So you get to walk around there almost all alone and in the dark!

- Ta Prohm (the Angelina Jolie, Lara Croft one): it is VERY beautiful. Maybe my favorite of all! But since it is one of the most famous ones, it gets packed with tourists. The display of the temple is not the same as the others, so if it is full of people, you feel it really crowded. Terrible. So make sure you go there at 7am or so, before 8am when groups of tourists start arriving and the place completely changes. Being there on your own is a magical experience. I would suggest: go see the sunrise in Banteay Kdei, then as soon as the sun is up, go to Ta Prohm. Ask the tuktu to drop you on the East gate and to pick you up on the West gate, or vice-versa.