Lone Rider
Blokes Who Can
The youngest son was here for his annual holiday and he did not feel like going to Laos again. So after ample discussions we hatched the idea of doing a quick trip to Siem Reap to see Angkor Wat - actually I have seen it already a few times some 10-15 years ago but for him it was something new. So after reading up on bordercrossings from Thailand to Laos with almost everyone agreeing that crossing at Poipet with a car was impossible we set off for the Kap Choeng (Chong Chom) to Osmach crossing as one guy said he had never problems crossing with a car there.
After an overnighter at Chayaphum (Siam River Resort at 990 Baht including breakfast for two and free Wifi - Coordinates N15.80401 E102.03699 - Nice rooms but a bit of a weird place which seems to cater basically to meetings and such things as they had over 150 rooms and 2 large convention halls or so but there were only 4 or 5 guests staying that day).
View attachment 15448
Next morning after a nice buffet breakfast we were off to Chong Chom. However, when we rocked up at the border at 11.30 we were told - Can Not - by a Customs guy and his side kick which turned out to be a "fixer". Still not sure if they were in cahoots with each other (most probably) or maybe only with the whole gang on the Cambo side but after some 15 minutes or so the fixer asked if the car was in our name or not. After confirming that he conferred with the Customs guy and he told us we could cross. Reason for the initial negative answer was that Thai owned cars could not cross as it was well known that they either would sell the car in Cambodia or had to leave the car there in case they would loose heavily at the casinos at the border. True or not, who knows but it is a nice story.
So after that the fixer (nice guy by the way by the name of Mr. Pich) latched on to us and massaged our way over the border for a fee of 1500 Baht ostensibly to be paid to the customs in Cambodia. Thai side no problem and then off to the Cambodian side - Cambo visum no problem but lots of photocopies needed to be made of the passport, car registration, etc. for the customs people.
Went with Mr. Pich to the customs guy who was lazing in a hammock behind the customs office in his civies like all the other customs people. Handed over a bunch of fotocopies and that was it and we could continue our trip. Did not see money changing hands with the Cambo Customs but I assume that the two sets of copies were needed so that each side (fixer and the Cambo guys) would have its own set so that at the end of the day everyone would know who owned money to whom (pure speculation from my side). For fotos of the border crossing see the post by Richard aka TravellingStrom here: http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-...m-sangam-border-but-ok-chong-jom-osmarch.html
From the border to the junction at Kralanh was a beautiful road with very little traffic while from Kralanh to Siem Reap the road was good with a few potholes and also with little traffic. By the way, there are new shortcuts/by-pass roads both at Samrong and at Kralanh so you don't have to cross through the city itself. Checked in at the Home Sweet Home GH and found that the power was off in Siem Reap but they expected it to be back on soon. Well, that soon turned out to be two days later just before we were leaving but luckily they did have a back-up generator which they ran in the evening and early morning unlike some (most?) other guesthouse in that area which had the generators running for 24 hours a day.
Next morning after having bought our Entry ticket with Photo ID for Angkor Wat and all the other temples in the area (20 US Dollar for 1 day or 40 USD for 3 days) we headed to Angkor first but there were hundreds of people entering the temple so we decided to see some of the other temples first. First time I went there (1995 or so) most of the temples had very few visitors and the first buses arrived at Angkor Wat around 10 in the morning so if you were early you basially had the place to your self.
First stop was Ta Phrom (Ta Prohm - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) which has been used to shoot the "Tomb Raider" movie. Initially it was decided to leave the temple more or less as how it was found with trees growing in and over the temple structure. However, in 2003 the Archaeological Survey of India has undertaken a more aggressive approach to restoration. All the plants and shrubs have been cleared from the site and some of trees are also getting removed. A crane has been erected and a large amount of building work is underway to restore the temple, with much of the work seemingly just rebuilding the temple from scratch. Wooden walkways, platforms, and roped railings have been put in place around the site.
One of the new wooden walkways
Sonny offering some prayers
Restoration work ongoing at the temple
Not sure if the wooden structure supports the tree or the other way round.
One of the ancient bridges at the Angkor complex
Prasat Takeo
Chau Sae Tepda
Angkor Thom
Prasat Ta Saom
Well, it was hot and very sticky so time for a drink and a rest. Luckily there were lots of sellers of coconuts and other cold drinks - He mister you buy coconut from me!
Daugter/grand daughter is cleaned up a bit after playing with a coconut
Time for lunch for this young girl - lots of rice and just one very small piece of meat
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Phnom Kraom near the Tonlesap lake - the temple here had suffered considerable more over time in comparison with the Angkor Wat temple complex
View attachment 15450
View of the Tonlesap lake from Phnom Kraom
All the way from China to see Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat late afternoon
After an overnighter at Chayaphum (Siam River Resort at 990 Baht including breakfast for two and free Wifi - Coordinates N15.80401 E102.03699 - Nice rooms but a bit of a weird place which seems to cater basically to meetings and such things as they had over 150 rooms and 2 large convention halls or so but there were only 4 or 5 guests staying that day).
View attachment 15448
Next morning after a nice buffet breakfast we were off to Chong Chom. However, when we rocked up at the border at 11.30 we were told - Can Not - by a Customs guy and his side kick which turned out to be a "fixer". Still not sure if they were in cahoots with each other (most probably) or maybe only with the whole gang on the Cambo side but after some 15 minutes or so the fixer asked if the car was in our name or not. After confirming that he conferred with the Customs guy and he told us we could cross. Reason for the initial negative answer was that Thai owned cars could not cross as it was well known that they either would sell the car in Cambodia or had to leave the car there in case they would loose heavily at the casinos at the border. True or not, who knows but it is a nice story.
So after that the fixer (nice guy by the way by the name of Mr. Pich) latched on to us and massaged our way over the border for a fee of 1500 Baht ostensibly to be paid to the customs in Cambodia. Thai side no problem and then off to the Cambodian side - Cambo visum no problem but lots of photocopies needed to be made of the passport, car registration, etc. for the customs people.
Went with Mr. Pich to the customs guy who was lazing in a hammock behind the customs office in his civies like all the other customs people. Handed over a bunch of fotocopies and that was it and we could continue our trip. Did not see money changing hands with the Cambo Customs but I assume that the two sets of copies were needed so that each side (fixer and the Cambo guys) would have its own set so that at the end of the day everyone would know who owned money to whom (pure speculation from my side). For fotos of the border crossing see the post by Richard aka TravellingStrom here: http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-...m-sangam-border-but-ok-chong-jom-osmarch.html
From the border to the junction at Kralanh was a beautiful road with very little traffic while from Kralanh to Siem Reap the road was good with a few potholes and also with little traffic. By the way, there are new shortcuts/by-pass roads both at Samrong and at Kralanh so you don't have to cross through the city itself. Checked in at the Home Sweet Home GH and found that the power was off in Siem Reap but they expected it to be back on soon. Well, that soon turned out to be two days later just before we were leaving but luckily they did have a back-up generator which they ran in the evening and early morning unlike some (most?) other guesthouse in that area which had the generators running for 24 hours a day.
Next morning after having bought our Entry ticket with Photo ID for Angkor Wat and all the other temples in the area (20 US Dollar for 1 day or 40 USD for 3 days) we headed to Angkor first but there were hundreds of people entering the temple so we decided to see some of the other temples first. First time I went there (1995 or so) most of the temples had very few visitors and the first buses arrived at Angkor Wat around 10 in the morning so if you were early you basially had the place to your self.
First stop was Ta Phrom (Ta Prohm - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) which has been used to shoot the "Tomb Raider" movie. Initially it was decided to leave the temple more or less as how it was found with trees growing in and over the temple structure. However, in 2003 the Archaeological Survey of India has undertaken a more aggressive approach to restoration. All the plants and shrubs have been cleared from the site and some of trees are also getting removed. A crane has been erected and a large amount of building work is underway to restore the temple, with much of the work seemingly just rebuilding the temple from scratch. Wooden walkways, platforms, and roped railings have been put in place around the site.
One of the new wooden walkways
Sonny offering some prayers
Restoration work ongoing at the temple
Not sure if the wooden structure supports the tree or the other way round.
One of the ancient bridges at the Angkor complex
Prasat Takeo
Chau Sae Tepda
Angkor Thom
Prasat Ta Saom
Well, it was hot and very sticky so time for a drink and a rest. Luckily there were lots of sellers of coconuts and other cold drinks - He mister you buy coconut from me!
Daugter/grand daughter is cleaned up a bit after playing with a coconut
Time for lunch for this young girl - lots of rice and just one very small piece of meat
View attachment 15449
View attachment 15451
Phnom Kraom near the Tonlesap lake - the temple here had suffered considerable more over time in comparison with the Angkor Wat temple complex
View attachment 15450
View of the Tonlesap lake from Phnom Kraom
All the way from China to see Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat late afternoon
