Starting from Sitiawan, Perak early in the morning, I arrived at Hadyai, South Thailand 3 pm the same day.Immediately, I boarded the 4 pm express bus for Bangkok. It was 5 am local time the next day when the bus reached the South Thailand Bus Terminal ("sai dai" in the local lingo)in Bangkok. Stepping out of the bus I went straight to the "air-van"(air-conditioned van)bay. The roads in the metropolis were deserted,so it was a smooth ride to "Mor Chit", the Northern Bus Terminal where I got a ticket to Aranayaprathet which is on the Thai-Cambodia border.The trip from Bangkok to Aran was smooth and comfortable.After crossing the border to Poipet(Cambodia), it was about 3 o'clock in the evening. Poipet was dirty and disorderly. Dilapidated shacks atanding side by side with shiny hotel-casinos whose clients were mostly the neighbouring Thais. All in all, Poipet is a great shock to me after leaving the well-managed Thailand.
But the greatest shock was the ride on a truck from Poipet to Siem Reap(where Angkor Wat is located). For about 10 hours the truck criss-crossed on a dirt road filled with pot holes, pebbles, stagnant filthy water and what not. It was a ride that could lead you to the office of your physiotherapist.
Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia.January 2000
catching a glimpse of sunrise over Angkor Wat
One thing that struck me most was seeing the numerous
giant trees that slowly devouring so many stately ancient
buildings in Angkor Wat. A case of nature reclaiming its land,
perhaps.
Upclose with Hindu-influenced wall carvings