Day 1 - Siem Reap & the Temples of Angkor

The Writing’s On The Wall

Team Itinerary Overview

Arrive in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Temples - Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom (Bayon, Terrace of the Elephants)

Ta Prohm

Banteay Kdey

Cycling distance: Approx 40km
Terrain:
Team Spirit:
Overnight: Siem Reap

Something old, something new, something borrowed… and a hell of a lot of orange!

Day two of the Windermere Adventure Challenge provided a new experience for most as the group rode around the ancient temples of Angkor Wat on pimped-up borrowed bikes.

For some, the challenge component kicked in as we landed in Siem Reap with the benefit of very little sleep and then hopped straight on the bikes.

So we could tell the bikes apart, challengers were encouraged to ‘bring a bit of bling’ and they responded with a colourful array that went well beyond the normal bells and whistles.

Cath Zulian attached a row of bright yellow flowers to her bike bag, forgetting that she then had to lug the colourful array around while walking through the temples.

Graeme Moore attached a boxing kangaroo to the front of his bike, Cath Sharpe a crocodile head horn, Suellen Conway bright orange plaited hair extensions (appropriate for a hairdresser) and Krista Tomlinson had a pair of fluffy dice swinging from the handlebars. Geoff Bainbridge was more nondescript, with a cue ball tube cover doing the trick.

We were introduced to our guides. Bobby, the owner of Active Travel, Chenra, Cheak, Benrut and John Wayne – who quickly earned the nickname of Duke. Cheak and Benrut also like to go by the nicknames – Bron and Short Man.

Short Man explained that many of the friends who gave him the monnicker are actually smaller than he is! A photo was quickly arranged of Short man and our own “Shorty” Brookes.

Bron explained as we came in on the bus that Siem Reap was Cambodia’s second largest city with a population of one million (second to Phnom Pehn’s four million) on the back of the tourist trade around the nearby Angkor Wat temple complex.

There are very few high rise buildings  because no-one is allowed to build above the height of the temples as a mark of respect.

That respect became obvious when our tour of the temples began. At one stage Short Man made a passionate plea to take in the surroundings, because the scriptures on the walls were the documents of the country’s history.

“The many people who built these temples did not get to see them, and you are,” he said.

Angkor Wat means ‘city that is a temple’. It covers almost 500 acres and had one million Khmers within its boundaries in the 12^th century. Its man-made moat provides a complex irrigation system that at one stage provided for two rice harvests

It is estimated that 166,000 candles have burned in a single ceremony.

The first stop was at the main Angkor Wat temple, then the Bayon temple of faces, where many of the group tried to pose kissing one of the stone figures, and lastly the spectacular Angkor Thom, made famous more recently when Angelina Jolie ran around it as Lara Croft in the film Tomb Raider.

Shorty Brookes and Cath Sharpe took the opportunity to go into a healing room, where you back up to a wall and beat your chest three times. The thumping noise echos and apparently cleans the soul at the same time.

The ride from the temples back into Siem Reap was spectacular. At one stage we wound single file through a bush track and then found ourselves immersed in busy Asian city traffic, where the only rule is that chaos rules.

At one stage our front guide signalled a left-hand turn from the right lane, with a truck bearing down from behind. “We are not really doing this are we?” Graeme Moore asked, before putting his head down and merging into the mayhem.

Mission accomplished.

 Highlights of the first day in Cambodia:

Suellen Conway

The last temple, with the trees all intertwined. I loved the fact that they are restoring it, that’s a lot better than seeing rubble.

Geoff Bainbridge

The afternoon was just great. The weather was beautiful and the temples got better as we went on. Everything became a bit surreal and easy. The ride home to Siem Reap was entertaining and the first beer when we arrived wasn’t bad either.

Samantha Smith

It was a real thrill riding through al those motorbikes and cars on the way back to Siem Reap, They just don’t know where they are going. The fact that we got there without being run over is a miracle.

Gaylene Howe

Finding my make-up bag, which I thought I had left at home, in my suitcase when we arrived. I had already spent $75 restocking at Singapore Airport though!

Alison McHenry

The temples at Angkor Wat are just magnificent. Had I have not been here I could not imagine just how beautiful they are.

Cath Zulian

The Tomb Raider temple for me. The way our guide (Short Man) set us up in front of that famous tree for a photo and said ‘don’t look at me’ was special. They speak about the temples with such affinity and passion.

Olivia Lyon

The fact that we left home and finally arrived. Are we really here?

Eva Foster

All them were great, but the main Ankhor Wat temple was the best. I think the highlight though has to be the fact that we arrived here and did this straight off the plane with very little sleep.

James Wynne

Winding through all the traffic on the way home was awesome – I’ve never experienced anything like it.

Ross Cheesewright

The ride home was a definite highlight – topped off by seeing a family of five sharing the one scooter. Mum and the four kids travelling together!

Graeme Moore

Seeing Cath Zulian come off her bike and getting back up without batting an eyelid. I also loved the fact that Ross had to pay for all the insence we brought at the temples.

Brooke Tomlinson

The ride back was fun and chaotic. We were in control but it was still a bit naughty and exciting.

Krista Tomlinson

Definitely the ride home.

Meleea Wood

The ride back in through the crazy streets.

Scott Crowe

Predominanly the last temple. It had more greenery than the others and felt more human because it wasn’t as big as the other two.

Brooke Hayward

The part of the ride on the way back from the temples when we went through the farmland. It felt like we were tourists going where tourists had not been before.

Cath Sharp and Shanae ‘Shorty’ Brooks

The healing room experience at the temples.

Carina & Ann

We are amazed at the team spirit, no injuries and all team members are ready to go!

Garry Howe, Editor Star News Group and Carina Tomietto and Ann Selby - Windermere Adventure Challenge Team Leaders