Around Angkor on 3 Wheels

Day two of temple-touring happened by way of tuk-tuk (at the bottom I'll explain more on that) and we chose 4 sites based on the personal recommendations of Jason the former Monk. 

First we went to Preah Khan. A simple complex to navigate with plenty of passageways and crumbling walls. The restoration work done (see ressambled tower below and supported wall above) was very effective. 

Next, we went to Ta Som. It's small, but definitely worth a visit. The east gate (below) is nearly overgrown by a tree, which is so cool and gives you an idea of how the temples might have looked when they were first stumbled upon. 

We also stopped at Banteay Srei, known for the pinkish stone and detailed carvings (also why some know it as the woman temple). It was my least favorite so I'm not posting a picture of it, but instead one of this woman's sun battling outfit. 

The ride out to Banteay Srei (it's about 25 min further than most of the others) was more interesting than the temple itself, which was the more developed and  regulated site. We drove through local towns, passing kids on the way to school and people making palm sugar cubes in their front yards. 

Our last stop was Pre Rup, a site they think may have been a royal crematorium at some point. It's a popular sunset destination now, but it was only 2pm so we just sweat our faces off instead. The highlight is a giant (climbable) structure in the center surrounded by tiny steep steps. You can see Nan at the bottom below. 

Tip: It's a hot business, exploring temples. Make sure you wear SPF. Hats are not hard to come by once there (see below), and water is available for sale everywhere, too. 

Why hire an all-day tuk-tuk? If you choose to hire a tuk-tuk for the day, the driver picks you up and drops you off at all the different sites--staring and ending at your hotel. It's simpler than navigating alone because many are spread out, plus the tuk-tuk ride helps dry you off (#sweat) before you're back at it. You pay $15-30 for the whole day depending on how early you start and how far out you go. Sok Menea was our driver and he had cold water and towels waiting to meet us after each stop. Like.