Too tired to write much but here are some more pictures this time from Angkor Thom and surroundings

Ankor Wat

I visited Angkor Wat today and it left me stunned. All the trouble in getting to here was definitly worth it. This is without a doubt one of the most impressive sights I have ever seen. Even more impressive then Tikal in Guatemala. See for yourself.

The classic view

From the top looking back to entrance

The outer galleries

A detail of one of the bas reliefs


A heavenly nymph (but you could see that without me telling you)

Poipet to Siem Reap

The road from the Thai / Cambodian border at Poipet to the city of Siem Reap is unpaved and in an abysmal state of affairs. As every local will tell you this is because the airlines flying to Siem Reap have been paying off the government to ensure no work is done on the road.

A few of us getting onboard

Three O'clock in the afternoon myself and twenty two others crammed ourselfs on and in a Nissan Ute and started the journey. With so many people overloading a vehicle the best strategy is to find the least uncomfortable spot and hang on for dear life. I decided that for me that was sitting on top of my pack with my legs dangling over the side.
When we were two hours into the trip the heavens opened up and a deluge of biblical proportions came down soaking everyone and their luggage. As an added extra the wheels of the ute would trow up plenty of mud to add to the festivities. Then the road really deteriorated with water running across it and bridges missing in various places. Inevitably this resulted in us getting stuck several times in the middle of mud bogs or rivers and having to jump of the ute and help push it out again. The most surreal moment came when we were in the middle of a flood plain the ute being towed by a tractor with us walking behind and up to our middle in the water when a boat carrying some fishermen came sailing by.

And I do this for fun?

Bangkok and beyond.

The last few days have been spend doing bugger all in Bangkok. For some reason the heat and humidity always seems to sap my energy and I end up doing not much more then watching the passing parade in Koh San road.
Never mind change is in the air. I should have my visa for Laos by the end of the day and I am considering altering my travel plans to be able to spent more time there and in Cambodia. So my current plan is to make my way tomorrow towards Cambodia, see the wonders of that country, and then take the back door via the Mekong river to Laos eventually ending backup in Thailand sometime in December and then making my way back to Singapore in order to be home before Christmas.

Off to Bangkok

I have been on the move for the last two days now. First from Taman Negara to Kota Bharu on the border between Malaysia and Thailand then yesterday from there to Hat Yai in Thailand and this afternoon I will hopefully get on the overnight bus to Bangkok a fourteen hour ride! So all being well I should be in Bangkok tomorrow morning around seven o'clock.
Not looking forward to the night ride but it's the best way of getting there.