The previous day’s walk warranted for a more comfy pair of walkers so I opted for my pink croc-alikes to substitute my already comfy Timberlands. Aaaahhh……who needs to pay more than a hundred bucks for a pair of branded foam? A Tesco-substitute is just as good & I have the option of buying 6 pairs in different colours for the same amount if I were to pay for a pair of branded ones. Believe me, it won’t hurt so much if it gets stolen!
And so after a hearty breakfast, we boarded the tuk-tuk with Sokha to get to the well-known location set of Lara Croft’s Tomb Raider. I dunwannabe her. I just wannabe there……
This ruin was found amidst a jungle & the trees have overtaken the structure by their gigantic root system. When the Khmer empire fell, the temple was deserted for centuries, allowing nature to take over. We arrived before 9am & there weren’t that many people yet so I had a free reign to do whatever I wanted to do with my Man…………………………..frotto Modo!!! Hah! What were you thinking? My travel partner was busy scouting for that special silk cotton tree, leaving me all by myself to pose & pose some more! This was a place where I could fantasise all day about being a maiden in distress & my prince coming to my rescue……..& then I hear my name being called out to get off that tree. Errr…..now where were we??
I imagined a world of intensity within this 1 sq kilometre compound of temple. The massive trees were left here intentionally by the archaeologists working on the site. While clearing back the forest it was decided to leave them in place to serve as a reminder of how the original discoverers found it and other temples. Many of the trees have grown around and through the remains, and soar high above the temple. Every turn I make, there is a giant tree. And this giant strangler fig was so huge, I was almost afraid that if I touched it, it would stretch out to grab me & swallow me up. I would think giants lived here.
I had a field day walking around the skirted roots & imagining a Jack climbing up this massive beanstalk……I hurried through the corridors of the inner sanctum before the Giant got down Jack’s beanstalk……it’s amazing how I can run when I feel something big is on my trail……
When there are many sanctums, corridors & doorways to pass through, one would get really confused when you see rubble, rubble & rubble. Apparently a whole lot of rubble had been removed from the passageways to make nicer walkways for visitors to appreciate Ta Phrom. This place is so ancient that you can almost feel a part of the Khmer civilisation taking place. Darn, the giant is after me, I must keep the pace……*huff! huff!*
Most parts have trees sticking out or growing over the temple like this one.
It’s a real sight to behold. The contrast of my pictures are too great & I couldn’t stick around long enough in one spot lest the giant finds me & eats me…..
Where is my prince who’s supposed to rescue me from the menacing giant?!? Having time to climb over a root system to take this picture within a 12 second lapse, I’ve just about made it away from the menacing giant on my tail……my prince is nowhere to be seen……
Ah…..my prince finally came to rescue me & we lived happily ever after!
Footnote:- The story above is purely a fiction of my imagination & the giant at my tail are the throng of tourists following closely behind us trying to see where I take my pictures & posed where I stood posing. I apprehended ‘the prince’ for a picture just as he was about to leave the beanstalk…..ooops, giant tree! Hope he doesn’t freak out when he finds out that he played the prince in my Ta Phrom Tale!!! 😀
I was beginning to wonder why there’s no one around. Nice crocs. :p
Very nice shots. Makes me wanna go there now. I probably won’t look as good posing by that big tree. In fact people might even call security to escort me out. Creepy fella acting wierd. =D
Thanks, Say Leng & Lawrence……haven’t seen you in yonks, how’s life? You must plan a trip there. It’s all very romantic. The town, the countryside, the pigs……hehehhehehehhe! Yes, I saw live pigs & almost touched it!!! More on the next two days……
Say Leng, I bought another two pair of crocalikes. Must parade them soon….
So, you were there for 5 days then?
No, was there for 6 days with 5 of them for touring the place. I forgot to shop, can you believe that? Now asking everyone to go & get scarfs for me if they are there…..sigh….
Forgot to shop? After asking me to tell my wife about the shopping there? 😆
Heheheheheh! What I meant to say was, I didn’t manage to return to the Old Market to shop my heart out before departing!! Because I forgot to! Apart from buying some scarfs, headbands, books & lemon grass oil, the bulk of the spending was on food, ice cream & exploration. 😀