How to get a Free Sunset at Angkor Wat?

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This might come as a shock to many.

But Angelina Jolie did not act in Angkor Wat!!




In fact, the Angkor Wat is merely the tip of the Angkor iceberg.




Angkor literally means “city”, and Wat as “temple”. Hence the city of temples – Angkor Wat. (The queen of all temples)

Now I don’t want to start on the history and origin of the Angkors because that would probably cover a book, which I have here in my hand, called the “Ancient Angkor”, a book on the stories and history descriptions of every single Wat they have at the Angkor.

You can find the details of Angkor here, and Angkor Wat here.


In this entry, I am going write about something more useful and practical, like I always do. Lol.

I am going to teach you how to get a free sunset at the Angkor. Why? Because the entrance fee to Angkor is not cheap.




For budget travellers like me who can’t stay put for too long, spending three full days at the Angkor is just too much. I bet my petty arse that by the end of three days, I’ll most probably be too templed-out to want to see another similar-looking stone sculpture in the jungle.

One day pass costs USD20, but then you only have from sun rise till sun set to cover a vast area of temples, say at least 26 km on the road just for the main temples.


I’m talking about just the green line on the map.


View the full map of Angkor here.

Two days seem sufficient but then I’ll be paying the same amount as I will pay for three days – USD40, that means I will waste one full day, and that’s just not worth the value.


Hence the best way, is to buy a one day pass, and enjoy a free tour during sun set the day before the ticket become valid!




Now put on your sunglasses, wear a black shirt (it’s dusty!), get a cheap town bike from the city, and off you go.




Cycle north of Siem Reap for about 10km or so (if you’re staying at the most southern area of Siem Reap like me, else it would only be 6-7 km at most),




and stop by the ticketing counter on the right of the road to wait to buy the entrance ticket at 5pm (after this time the ticket will be valid for the next day).




When you obtained your ticket, you will have your ugly exhausted sweaty face pasted on the front of the paper one day ticket.


With my ipod on


Continue to cycle north along with all the tour buses and cars and tuk-tuk who are too much a loser to take cheap transportation like renting a bicycle. Pfft…


Bus driver: “Eat my dust, blogger!”


When the brilliant light of the sun turned golden yellow, you will find yourself at a road next to the river surrounding Angkor Wat.




Continue to cycle around and soon Angkor Wat will come into vision.




“Finally!!! The long awaited legendary Angkor Wat!” I thought to myself.
“I’m actually here!”
“Great”

“Now what?”

Don’t you just hate it when you have finally seen the 8th wonder of the world and suddenly all the anticipations just die off because in the end, it’s not THAT difficult as how you would have anticipated to actually be here and see this.

Though I have to admit it was a long cycle.

It’s like yea now that I am here, ticked off a box in my wanna do list, should I move on to the next?


But yea, Angkor Wat!!! Woo hoo!!!





900 year old lion!


The entrance to the main garden of Angkor Wat after crossing the river bridge,




By now the sun should be catching up pretty fast, casting a gorgeous tan on the long stretch of pillars




And shadows within the corridors,




And synchronised group cam whore in bright pink shirts!!!


Haha!!


Kid carrying baby asking for money,




Not as sincere, I gave them some money and his peer laughed at him cause it was too little -.- (I only have 200 riels with me, hey! I’m a poor traveller k?! Why do you think I cycle in the first place!)


Inside the temple, you will find the statue of Vishu, Hinduism god, wrapped in robe asking for donation.




I’m pretty much disturbed by this because seriously, it’s a ruin. In my very personal opinion, without offence to any religion, this is a ruin, a thousand year old ruin for that fact; and these locals just barge in to this sacred place, wrapped some golden robe around some ancient statue, put some joss sticks and asked for donation from visitors and travellers around the world. I don’t know, I think it’s just plain wrong.

It’s one thing to be respectful, it’s another to “cheat” money off random religious tourists. I met a guy traveller back at the hostel who complained that when he tried to donate 500 riels, the lady who were “responsible” for the donation and joss sticks actually “reminded” him that it was too little!

Wtf?!


Other than the over-commercialisation, the temple itself is pretty eerie and beautiful at the same time.




Really, it’s a wonderful place to experiment with your camera self timing skills.




Before you manage to go any further into the temple, the guard would be asking you to leave as it was near 530pm closing time.

Get a very last look at the beautiful sun set (that came free!!!) at Angkor Wat,




Before making your very own AW jump! (I have a sudden inspiration to do this)


Yea baby! Hard Rock café shirt rules!!!


Now you know how to get a free sunset at Angkor Wat. Say thank you. Bye~ :D