Daily photo: Visiting Angkor Wat in the rains…
We were at Angkor Wat on a cloudy afternoon. Just before we were about to complete our visit and return, it started raining. As we were in no rush, we decided to wait at a cafe in the premises of the temple. While we ordered something to eat, I saw people continuing to arrive at the temple, now with their colourful umbrellas unfolded. They made a beautiful contrast to the otherwise grey Angkor Wat on a day when they skies were grey. I got hold of an umbrella from the cafe (incidentally, this one was black!) and came out to capture the splash of colours.
It was nearly a thousand years ago when Khmer Kings commissioned the construction of gigantic temples on the edge of Tonle Sap Lake. They probably never had envisioned a future where people from across the world would come to visit their creations even centuries after their kingdom ceased to exist.
Siem Reap, the gateway city to the temples of Angkor receives more than two million visitors every year. This means, unless you go in the sweltering heat of summer months, you will never be able to find a lonely spot devoid of crowds anywhere in the large temples spread across the landscape. This has become such an important consideration for some travellers, a few travel agencies claim to keep informers in every temple and help their clients find less crowded spots!
With the crowds growing every year, Siem Reap’s attractions are no longer limited to the ancient temples. Travellers suffering from temple-fatigue can pick from a wide choice of activities and entertainment geared towards the tourists – such as a circus, joy-rides on all-terrain vehicles, visits to crafts villages and much more. And when the darkness falls, there is always the pub-street where an amazing choice of restaurants serve up food and drinks from across the world.
Sunrise over the well-known Angkor Wat temple is a much photographed spectacle. On a morning when the air is still–it typically is–the spires of the temple reflect perfectly on a tank overlooking the edifice. If the clouds add to the drama, a superb show can be expected from the morning sun.
The photographer who first made this image and put an effort to publicize this must be a proud man. Every day, especially in the peak season, a thousand people land up in front of the lake with a hope to see and photograph the sunrise. When I was in Cambodia last week, I dutifully joined the crowds in putting my stamp on this much-photographed, much-visited and much-appreciated image of sunrise over Angkor. Cliched it may be, but can’t be missed or ignored.
Here is a collage of three images of reflection of Angkor Wat’s temple spires. First one was made well before sunrise, when a few stars were still flickering in the sky. The second one was just before sunrise, and the third one during sunset hours when you don’t have to jostle with 999 more photographers to claim your space.
And here is a photograph that might just discourage you from trying this morning adventure! Remember, this photograph only shows people to the right of me. To the left is an equally strong crowd waiting for the sun to show up.
The sunrise hour is so popular with visitors that a few restaurateurs nearby now offer chairs to people who arrive early. You can buy a coffee and get the chair complementary, or just pay for the chair! Enterprising!!