Angkor Thom
Day 6 – Siem Reap, Cambodia – Part 2 So, Angkor Thom. Today, the best-known ruins in this site are the Bayon temple, the Baphuon temple, the Terrace of Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. The towers in the Bayon Temple are carved with the giant faces of Avalokiteshvara, giving you the impression…
Angkor Wat
Day 6 – Siem Reap, Cambodia – Part 1 Among world-famed historical sites, Angkor Wat evokes exoticism, mystery, adventure… the temple lost to the jungle and rediscovered, symbol of an entire nation, once capital of an entire empire, and so much more! I had so many expectations, and I wasn’t disappointed. So… today, my dream…
Welcome to Cambodia
Day 5 – Siem Reap, Cambodia Today was busy, full of “hurry up and wait”. I had a plane to catch, and, afraid to get lost in the way to the airport, I basically arrived everywhere early and waited. The hostel had recommanded a certain bus shuttle service, but upon looking the schedule, I saw…
Wat Phra Kaew (and the Grand Palace)
Day 3 – Bangkok, Thailand I was really happy when waking up this morning to see blue sky through the window. I have lamented the overcast skies these past days and the lackluster picture they engender. But you know what? Bring back the clouds. When the heat is already suffocating, adding sunshine isn’t a good…
Wat Pho
Day 2 – Bangkok, Thailand I started my day with the visit of the Wat Pho, the temple of the reclining Buddha, which is a few minutes’ walk from my hostel. I was lucky (and early?) enough to avoid the tourist throng, though I was far from alone. Thai temples are full of colour and…
The eagle has landed
When you read about “muggy heat” in a book, it is a concept associated with exotic destinations, but one doesn’t think much about it. I think that I can say now that I understand the concept. When one debarks from an air-conditioned sky train (in Bangkok, the local subway runs above, way above ground), the…