vinapu

thank you , that was exactly reason for such long post. Angkor Wat , Bayon , Banteai Srei and Ta Prohm are on every tour itinerary and for good reason but there's so much more indeed even in close proximity to Siem Reap (those mentioned above as well as Western and Eastern Mebon, Rolous group , Ta Keo, Phnom Krom in the hill overlooking Tonle Sap lake ) not to mention more distant already mentioned above as well as pre Angkoroan temple group of Sambor Prei Kuk, all reachable within 1 day trip from Siem Reap .

aren't you afraid you will be tired ?

even if retired you are still young, what you need Cialis for?

you were still lucky then, 21 years ago we were climbing using other set of steps , now out of bounds (photo below), I don't even recall any ropes along to help go up or down. It really felt like an adventure then

crowds were sparse although not as sparse as one may deduct from my photos, my estimation is about 1/5 of ' normal' crowds. In Angkor Wat, no doubt most popular and most accessible temple there were corridors and galleries where there was nobody for good 10 minutes . Bottom line is best time to go is now before crowds return although area is so vast that apart from most popular (Angkor Wat, Bayon , Banteai Srei, perhaps also Ta Prohm ) temples in others crowd will be hardly overwhelming even if tourist traffic returns to normal. When I made trek on top of Angkor Thom walls only people I met on my way were few locals and only tourists I saw were on the road under Northern and Victory Gates as those are asphalted transit routes between temples. Surprisingly all 4 nights I went to Barcode bar it was crowded to capacity ! Looks people had their priorities set.

Post-covid crowds did not arrive yet so it was quite pleasant , even at Angkor Wat there was no problem to climb to the highest accessible level , usually restricted to max 100 people. (5 years ago I was told 2 hours wait , 21 years ago nobody was counting or even watching ) post-covid morning crowd at Angkor Wat steps to highest level and view from there Nice surprise was extension of ticket’s validity, 3 day ticket at 62$ till end of 2022 is valid 5 days of consecutive 7 instead of just three. 7 day ticket costing 72 $ is extended to 10 days out of 30. Don’t lose it as tickets are being checked One inconvenience of buying ticket is that office is not located anywhere near the temples and requires detour but there’s bright spot – tickets can be bought at Banteai Srei temple. My apologies to those who think sightseeing part was too long but certainly there are members and readers here who never been to Angkor so I wanted to give than some idea what they missed. Contrary to what one may think I was not templed out when flying out of Siem Reap to Bangkok after 10 days in Cambodia , 7 of which spent at Siem Reap. I could easily spend another week there not only because there were still plenty temples to visit but also quite a few boys at 168Massage to try. Oh, well there’s always next time. Perhaps even that hunk from Space Hair bar will be willing to go with me to Siem Reap, lol

Preah Vihar, Banteai Samre and Ta Som for me please, not that I have anything against Bayon or Angkok Wat indeed other that they are too popular and thus usually crowded. In 2016 I skipped Bayon entirely for that reason, this time is was quite empty but I was early

local boy fresh from taking bath in the moat by North Gate Eastern Gate two corner temples

I spent a lot of time in two most important -Bayon and Angor Wat and did bit hair rising walk along the walls of Angkor Thom (city with Bayon at the centre ), which is my favorite part of every Siem Reap visit. Why hair rising ? it’s always very quiet and at least three people on the way including one policeman told me ‘ be careful about the snakes “. I did not see any but made a point to watch anyways. Snakes or not , I still recommend that walk to everybody and wall is surprisingly well preserved with ruins of temple at each corner and two gates ( West and East ) very rarely visited apart from three (Victory, North and South )where tourist transit goes through. It’s flat but long as each side is about 3 km long for 12 km total so make sure to carry water , some snacks and umbrella and of course in case of snake encounter ,the will. Bayon Western Gate from inside the walls, then from outside them and how is seen from the walls themselves moat and the walls

Ta Som Preah Khan view from Bakheng

Banteai Samre Pre Rup Neak Pean

On our way back I visited Banteai Srei temple, smallest of Angkor temples but intricately carved and it was good idea as she is always crowded but in the afternoon , hour before closing there were only few people there . Going back we stopped in so called sugar village to purchase jar of palm sugar Banteai Srei below Rest sightseeing on other 4 days was done by tuk-tuk , Kompong Pluk village on stilts on Tonle Sap lake and numerous temples list of which is like litany : Prasat Kravan, Pre Rup, Banteai Kdei, Banteai Samre ( my favorite , always empty as it’s bit off way ) , Neak Pean , Ta Som , Preah Khan. I climbed Bakheng but did not stay for sunset, crowds were already gathering for spectacle as it’s one of most popular spots far that. Kompong Pluk on our way to Komplong Pluk , on temple grounds I noticed village crematorium which my driver cheerfully called ' oven'

there were few people, even two ladies from Trinidad from all places but I was there mid week at end of Oct around noonish hours. No , this time I did not go to neither Koh Ker nor Bang Melea, I was there last time in 2016 on my way from Prasat Bakan (Preah Khan Kompong Svay). Koh Ker for those interested below

yes , sometimes it must be stranger who alerts us about something unusual in our looks. Even better if that stranger is in some position of authority ( I was supervisor of both spouses and one who actually hired them so they had some respect ) I know cases when strangers alerted about possible jaundice and leukemia, in both cases they were spot on. Leukemia case did not have happy ending though as person in question denied it until it was too late.

actually now it's easy as road is paved all the way. When I was in Cambodia first time , back in 2001 and asked about trip there all I got was know on the forehead, there was no passable road to Anlong Veng and not only mines but also remnants of Khmer Rouge remained danger there. Now all you need is to hire car or join a tour if you find one running. Then underneath the mountain is visitor center where you buy motorbike ticket for 10$ ot you can rent a car for 20$ to take you up to the temple. Road up the mountain is very steep at places so ride is exciting . Then all one needs to do is just walk around, it's pretty vast area. Monumental Staircase is what you probably climbed from Thai side, entry from Cambodian side is on top of staircase right by so called Gopura VII. pictures below, stairs and Gopura VII

years ago upon returning to work from 3 weeks holiday I noticed that one employees lost weight in such a short period. I called his wife, also employee, and asked if she noticed that. She confirmed but that convinced her to drag him to the doctor for tests. It was cancer. He was treated and survived

dogs barking at night and cocks (animals) making their morning noises but can't say it bothered me, my condo faces 16 lane highway , LOL

that too but I'm realistic, who cares about ruins ? Everybody including me likes more juicy stuff

lucky you

more tomorrow

Other car trip was to Kbal Spean , riverbed carved with hundreds lingas but timing was unfortunate, after night’s rain water was high and lots of carvings were poorly visible. To get there there's nice 40 mins walk through the jungle. I visited it on my way to sacred mountain Mount Kulen where upon arrival I was offered trip to some remote places accessible only by narrow paths for motorbikes only. Driver wanted 20$ for the whole circuit , pictures looked enticing but what made me take his offer was comment I saw on internet “ very interesting adventure but not for old people “ Moment I saw it I was buyer, fuck whoever wrote it. KFC man rules , no? Not that it was entirely wrong as it was shaky ride but worth every penny and adventure indeed and can be undertaken only by motorbike.

Next day was Preah Vihear which I already visited before but that temple being separate UNESCO site seated dramatically atop of mountain is worth going to any time. Fact that it was fought over with Thais quite recently (tranches are still visible ) adds to the drama. For those in Bangkok, there’s replica of her in Muang Boran park in Samut Prakan among other architectural gems of Thailand. Driver sensed perhaps that 90 $ he charged me yesterday was too low so asked for 130 $ to go there, still less than I paid last time. temple is on that mountain view from the top I met family

So as you can see above fun still can be had in Siem Reap. But make no mistake , evening meets with boys were just side business. My main goal was sightseeing and number one goal was Banteai Chhmar temple about 60 km north of Sisophon. This is last from big Khmer temples I never visited. It’s vast complex but quite ruined even for Angkor standards, still warrants 2-3 hrs drive on way and that 90$ outlay. Time there was spoiled by some festivities in nearby village accompanied by deafening music which was heard in Siem Reap and Poipet and perhaps in Kuala Lumpur too I’m sure. few impressions from Banteai Chhmar and loud festivities

room at Royal Crown room at Men's Resort bathroom

this trip continues in that thread https://www.gayguides.com/forums/topic/38619-guys-and-ruins-ruins-and-boys-trip-to-cambodia-in-oct-2022/