Ok, it was time to take a break from the real job and enjoy myself again. The tough choices were do I go and just relax for a week or do I go and enjoy a passion of mine and find somewhere interesting where i can test my photography skills again.
Sadly shooting Sydney does not stimulate me much and going abroad tends to get my small peanut brain to think more creatively. Well that is what I think. Sydney is great but I've lost any creative ability there at this point in time.
So the announcement of the Fuji X-Pro 2 got me all excited and I was praying for it to be released at the end of February. With my luck, which I may add is quite rotten at the moment, it is to be made available in early March. A big SIGH !!!
I make do with my trusty Fuji X-Pro 1 and head off to Siem Reap to see the famed Angkor Wat. Well that's a lie I'm trying to find Lara Croft ... I mean her alter ego Angelina Jolie. Word has it that she was here a week before ... another big SIGH !!!.
Going to Siem Reap requires a short layover in Hong Kong, so departing Sydney at 10:20pm, I get to Siem Reap the next day at 10am. There is also a 4 hour time difference, Cambodia is 4 hours behind.
One of the reasons for choosing Siem Reap was to also witness the life of people who are not as well off as Sydneysiders. My life has not been the easiest but by no means the most difficult yet the life that some of the locals live here to make ends meet and to provide shelter is something that reminded me back to some trips of India. There are less beggars here but the people here definitely do not have the same luxuries as we have here.
That said I am a bit of a snob and decided to make sure I lived in a nice clean hotel room with a nice pool. I choose the Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf and Spa resort. I wish i was sponsored by them but anyone going to Siem Reap the hotel has a nice pool and it is almost tempting not to get out and see the sights and just sip on cocktails pool side.
I was pretty fortunate, the airport process was quite smooth, since I already had an e-visa made up before leaving. I had a driver for airport/hotel transfers waiting as there are really no taxis and in a foreign environment I prefer to get to the hotel safely and also I don't want to wait in the 36 degree heat. I had reached the hotel by 11:30 am and I was lucky enough to score a pool view. Before I go further the resort is filled with mature people in their 60s and older. The demographic during my stay was making me feel young.
I decided to have a swim and bite before heading out on a tuk tuk to Angkor Wat. The plan was to try and catch the sunset at Angkor Wat, as I had arranged for a photography tour the next morning to catch the sunrise.
4pm soon came around and I was ready to get a tuk tuk to Angkor Wat. The tuk tuk driver would charge 10 USD for 4 hours of his time. So that meant he would take me around and wait for me for 4 hours. It is the standard fee. In the process I had to get myself a 3 day pass to visit all the Angkor temples. A 1 day pass was 20 USD and a 3 day pass was 40 USD.
So letsget on with this tour ... oh decided to try something different and use my Go Pro Here 3 Black edition for something more than just selfies. Please enjoy the time lapses and pics.
The ride from the Sofitel and the detour to get my Angkor temple ticket took about 20 minutes. Note the tuk tuk driver must get your ticket validated before proceeding to any of the temples. Apparently there are police that patrol near the ticket station / validation checkpoint.
With some luck I managed to catch a few Buddhist monks leaving the temple for the day. For reference it was a round 4:30pm.
Buddhist monk leaving Angkor Wat. Fuji X-Pro 1, 56mm f/1.2 R
Buddhist monk also fascinated by Angkor Wat and is prepared with his selfie stick. Fuji X-Pro 1, 56mm f/1.2 R
Many of the monks are asked to pose for photos but also enjoy their time. Fuji X-Pro 1, 56mm f/1.2 R
Many of the tourists are intrigued by the life styles the monks lead. Fuji X-Pro 1, 56mm f/1.2 R
Almost reaching the famed temple, can spot 4 out of the 5 towers from here. Fuji X-Pro 1, 23mm f/1.4
Pass through the gate entries and cannot believe the size of the temple. Buddhist reflecting on their days prayer. Fuji X-Pro 1, 56mm f/1.2 R
Appreciating the architecture. The attention to detail is great but many say that Angkor Wat is by no means the most prettiest temple in Siem Reap. It definitely has the size. Fuji X-Pro 1, 14mm f/2.8
People queuing late in the day to get up one of the towers of Angkor Wat. Fuji X-Pro 1, 14mm f/2.8
Me patiently waiting for sunset. I've decided to take this view, it is not perfect as a tourist had told me as I was supposed to see the 5 towers in the reflection, I only see 4. None the less it will make do. Fuji X-Pro 1, 23mm f/1.4
I got kicked out around 6:15pm and am not pleased as the sunset was just coming out with some purple and blue hues which I was hoping would wrap around the back of Angkore Wat. Fuji X-Pro 1, 23mm f/1.4
Some obliged some did not. I asked for the photo and I am not going to complain. Fuji X-Pro 1, 23mm f/1.4
Everyone including the monks have been asked to leave the main gate, so I cannot be that disappointed by being asked to leave. Fuji X-Pro 1, 23mm f/1.4
With the little research I did prior to the trip, umm that's called TripAdvisor research LOL. I read that some of the bigger hotels had nightly shows of the traditional Apsara dances.
I was lucky enough to have the show at the hotel I was staying in so I took advantage of it and I needed a good nights sleep for my early sunrise start tomorrow. The show started at 7:30pm and the hotel suggests if you watch it, you should have the buffet feed also for 40 USD to get the best view. If I was not interested in photos I would not be bothered with the buffet, and like what some forum people have said, you can watch the show from the balcony or the bar as the show is out doors and you are not barred from watching the dance show if you do not pay for the buffet. I got a front row table but to the side, hence the angle of my photos.
I'm not a dance person but it seemed elegant. I think that is the correct word. The show last about 1 hour. There is a story behind the show but don't ask me what it is about. To me it just looked like a man who was trying to pursue a woman.
Apsara dance at the Sofitel. Fuji X-Pro 1, 85mm f/1.2 R
Apsara dance at the Sofitel. Fuji X-Pro 1, 85mm f/1.2 R
Apsara dance at the Sofitel. Fuji X-Pro 1, 23mm f/1.4
Anyways, that's a wrap for today. It was an exciting day but I truly am looking forward to the tomorrow's tour.