Vietnam & Cambodia April 14 2014
April 14, 2014 at 5:41 AM
Monday April 14th - Sunrise at Angkor Wat and Exploring Angkor Thom
We had an amazing day of photo shoots at Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. We left at 4:30 a.m. to make sure we were in the right position for sunrise this morning ... and we made it. We did not have spectacular light, but the view of the temple as the background was amazing. We continued to about 8:00 a.m. then returned for breakfast and showers before heading back out at 10 a.m. Did I mention showers were great but after a few minutes back outside you were ready for another one. We just took our time and were rewarded with some great images.
As I mentioned last night we are visiting during three days of Buddhist New Years celebrations. So despite many locals on the grounds within the National Park the actual temples were wide open for us to photograph. So this made for great photography.
This evening we are leaving the hotel for dinner at a local eating establishment, so I have posted the blog early as it will be a later evening getting back to our hotel. We plan to have dinner and then visit the activities in the busy market this evening.
Enjoy todays photos of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom.
Sunrise at Angkor Wat, this what shot at about 5:30 a.m.
Here's a shot with a little artistic work ...
This horse was grazing in front of the temple just shortly after sunrise.
After sunrise we walked around this amazing temple.
New Years celebrations are everywhere. This offering platform was close to the temple.
A panoramic shot done with my iPhone this morning .... wow!
What a great place to enjoy a good book!
This is just one of the many beautiful wall designs around Angkor Wat.
These boys were playing in the temple. They all came up and shook my hand. Must be almost time to head home I'm missing my boys too.
A few minutes later when we get deeper into the temple, there were the boys receiving a blessing from a monk.
Japanese kids having fun in front of one of the temple gates this morning.
Another beautiful bas relief, this depicts the many years of battle.
This family was praying at the high temple in Angkor Thom.
As the incense rises the noon sunlight hit the top of the temple.
One of the 172 stone faces of Angkor Thom through a temple window.
If you stand at the right place ... three face in a row are possible.
Another shot of the faces that make up the top of the temples, amazing and breath taking.
A burst of sunlight just catching the face on this tower.
Another one of the many tables of offerings for New Years
One of the gates at Angkor Thom.
Another view of the gates and the giant tree roots.
The temple of Preah Khan.
One of the thousands headless statues, a sad side from war times.
The beautiful green trees add a great backdrop to our temple images.
A black & white at Preah Khan, looking down a side alley.
If you take this shot at the right angle, the break in the stonework helps create a candle effect.
Tree roots grow over everything.
Some of the temples were multi complexes and stories.
Sometimes roots even hold the structures together!
This little girl was busy drawing in the sand, while here day worked his concession stand.
This little guy was with his mother at the temple entrance.
That's it for another days of photography on our Vietnam and Cambodia Photo Tour. We'll be back out to visits more temples in the morning. Good night from all of us in Cambodia.
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Was nice and warm 18, but snow expected in the morning! So stop complaining about the heat.