Angkor Wat

We missed our 6:00 a.m. bus from Hanoi by a minute so took the 6:15 bus and got through immigration and customs and through security with two hours to spare.  I thought I'd spend my last $500,000 VNDong at the airport ($21USD), but everything was priced in US dollars.  Found a place that would accept VND and got some snacks.

Jones had their own plane, an A320 with plenty of seats so everyone split a three seat side with two and it was about an hour and half flight.  Picked up in medium sized busses and driven around, then stopped for a lunch that was outdoors, but covered. HOT!  Had beer and wine and a nice lunch of stuff you can't order in Longview.

Arrived at the hotel about 2:30 and found our room that overlooks the garden vs. the road.  Cranked on the air conditioner and I decided to go for a cooling swim.  The pool temp had to be in the 90's.  Usually when I jump into a pool I want to get out because it is too cold, this was too hot!  Like jumping into a hot tub. 

I was guided by an 'older' guy from East Texas which is an independent state from Texas which is a sovereign nation (according to him) to the swim up bar and filled our Speedos with ice cubes.  Okay we had a beer.

We had two choices for the Angkor Wat tour . . . 5 a.m. sunrise three temple tour or an 8 a.m. two temple tour.  I insisted on the sunrise tour which actually meant get up at 4 and have a light breakfast, then on the bus at 5 for a 15 minute ride to the temples.

Turns out that this is the morning of the Spring Equinox and Jupiter is aligned with Mars (it is the dawning of Aquarius) and the temple and grounds are laid out for this twice a year occurrence.  There were thousand of people, tripods, cameras, phones, and 1 iPod maneuvering for the best spot.  We had a good guide who positioned us well, but there was some cloud cover.  We were ready at 5:30 for a 6:30 sunrise.

Because of the cloud cover our guide kept moving us forward and then the sun popped up and I saw a better angle down below the walkway.  Got some amazing shots, but fell behind the group.  I got back on the main walkway and saw one guy from our group running back to where we started. I said, "Where are you going?"  He was coming to find me because I was 'lost'.  I told him I'd buy him a beer at the hosted dinner, but he doesn't drink.  I saw him drinking Coke before and bought him a cold CC at the next stand and he was my BBF!

Lots of climbing and redundant explanation from our guide.  Wanted to give us the details, but we just wanted the broad brush.  Had a second breakfast and two more temples. Our guide dropped a couple F bombs talking about the communists and a story that someone told him (it wasn't me, it was him). An exhausting day and got back to the hotel by noon ready for a cold beer, but our room was being serviced, so beer in the  lobby.

Another dip in the pool that seemed cooler and dinner off site that was nice and Siam entertainment.

Today, Saturday????, we had breakfast and went to the front of the hotel and they suggested we take a tuk-tuk (motorcycle with a couch trailer) and keep the same driver for $8 for 3 hours.  Mr. Mot picked us up and give us a tour.  Spoke good English, hates the Chinese, and took us to his 'favorite' stores.  Dropped us off at a HIGH end store where you could buy a silk scarf for $650 USD, because we have soo few!

I drug Pam out, but no Mr. Mot.  He rolled in 3 minutes later with 4 beers on ice.  He dropped us off at a store where he gets 30% off (and we get hosed), but we held our ground. He got a call and had to take his baby to the doctor and arranged for another driver to pick us up and finish our tour.

The new driver took us to the local grocery store where I replaced our mini bar with beverages.  Again they were cleaning our room (we are not that messy) so I ordered ice and we had another beer in the lobby.

Final dinner will be in 3 hours.  Then a 6:50 p.m. flight tomorrow to Hanoi and a flight to Seoul and a 12 hour layover for a 10 hour flight to SEA!

We hope everyone is doing GREAT!