Angkor Awakening 2

Angkor Awakening

Shuffling over the giant cobblestones, glowing under the orange full moon- there's anticipation growing in the air. We have come to Angkor Wat for sunrise, along with hundreds of other people. Despite the number of people, a quiet respect silences the crowds.

We gather near the water and listen to the hum of creatures greeting first light. The crowd gasps in awe and claps as the deep pink sun peeps through the clouds and brings color to the grey stones of Angkor.

Amazing Angkor 3

Climbing...
Knackered...

Finally at the top!

Amazing Angkor 2

Amazing Angkor

Sun-dazed and sweaty, we crawl up the mammoth steps of another temple- our stamina severly depleted after 2 weeks of beach bumming and muscles melting away in the sun. We wonder how 1000 years ago, the tiny people managed to walk up these massive steps- climbing the temples of Angkor should be a 'setting' on the stairmaster!

As we clamber amongst the crumbling ruins, it's hard to imagine that 1200 years ago this was a bustling town with around 1 million people. What will Melbourne look like in 1200 years?

We think about the people who used to live here- what did they wear, what did they eat, what did they worry about and what did they like to do?

We marvel at the giant stone carvings and beautifully detailed statues. We are amazed how the buildings continue to stand solid, despite being strangeld by the giant tree roots.

After another humbling day of admiring the temples, we feel lucky to step into the air conditioned car with our friendly driver Mr Van. The constant matra of the day ringing in our ears...

'You want water, lady?'

'No thanks'

'I have extra cold water for you lady miss'

'No thank you'

'You hungry sir?'

'No thanks'

'Maybe when you come out of temple you hungry?'

'No thanks'

'You hungry or want water when you come back you buy from me ok?

'Ok'

Kings of Angkor

After a 3 day journey across 3 countries, we finally arrived in Cambodia. We were completely gobsmacked by the grandeur of the hotel and the room you can get for $45/night. Such bliss to have a spa all to ourselves, after 8 hours of exploring the temples of Angkor. We indulged in the delicious room service- amazing to get such good food delivered to the door so cheaply. At the Smling Hotel everything is really done with a smile :-)

A jungle trek to paradise beach

Hot, sweaty and dripping with mosquito repellent, we haul ourselves up a dusty rope into the heart of the jungle. Thongs probably aren't the footwear of choice, but it's too hot for anything else and the blisters from the sandals aren't worth it.

Backpacks heaving with water- it's a challenge to fill ourselves with more than what seems to be dripping out of every pore. Green glorious green, deep wet colors hanging from above, vines twisting down into the depths searching for cool dark. Strange sounds. Silence. Slithering. Lizards.

We pad along softly... coconuts fallen. A tropical mess of snaking branches and luscious leaves. Steaming sun flicks our faces- we gradually leave the green behind and our gaze edges towards the crystal water glinting at us through the palm trees.

Backpacks strewn, water chugged, clothes torn off, sweaty bodies plunge into the silky blue. Fish nibble, coral crackles, bubbles dance off our fingertips as we paddle through this paradise- eyes wide and glowing through the martian masks. In our journey we see 2 people the whole day- we like our secret island.

Snap, Crackle and Pop at Ko Ngai

Whisked away from one paradise to another- we are lucky enough to get to stay at Ko Ngai, which is one of the Trang islands included for day trippers in the popular '4 Islands Trip'. This is one of the few places left in tourist Thailand where there are no roads or cars, no 7 Elevens, and the only thing sprawling out behind the resort is dense jungle.

We spend our days reading, sleeping, eating, and swimming, all of it done overlooking mammoth jagged cliffs; like prehistoric creatures frozen in time, which form a breathtaking backdrop behind glowing torquoize water.

A colorful coral reef fringes the island and we make this our playground for the next 5 days. We're amazed that such a different world, teaming with hundreds of fish exists just 100 meters from our bed...

pincushion sea-urchin, flying fish, sunburnt crabs and rainbow paddlepop colored fish feasting on coral that looks like purple potatoes and pink mushrooms- snap, crackle, and pop in our ears! We're drawn into this surreal new world.

La Dolce Vita

After bouncing along dusty dirt 4WD tracks, we were relieved to arrive in paradise, to La Laanta- a tropical hideaway on the beach at southern Ko Lanta island. Huts scattered beside the beach, an infinity pool gazing over the Andaman sea, our own beach frontage with a restaurant in the sand- we knew we'd hit the jackpot :-)

Breakfasts overlooking the sparkly sea, reading whole books in a day on the banana lounges in the sand, Thai massages on the day beds, cocktails by the pool, and a seafood buffet- living the dolce vita...

Finding Nemo

We went out snorkeling for a day trip, around the island Koh Rok...

Schools of parrot fish, bright purple anemones where Nemos were hiding, irridescent blue coral, in a warm turquoise sea.

A Thai feast on the island for lunch, the a stroll along the baby powder beaches with the warm water dancing over our ankles- bliss!

Beach Bums at the Beach Bar 2

Beach Bums at the Beach Bar

Sand scrunching under our toes, balmy Andaman brees caressing sun soaked skin, cocktail in hand, chilled tunes on the left ear and waves washing through the right ear, fires dancing golden in the darkness, colourful Chinese lanterns snaking through the palm trees.

Night life at Relax Bay is truly relaxing.