Wat I came for

Deb 9th -Wat I Came For
Up at 3:30 am, couldn't sleep anyway. 4:30 we are loading into our van and heading into the dark, moist morning. Insect repellent has been applied and we are checking camera settings. Temple passes! Chris doesn't have his so we circle back to the hotel. Fortunately we have only gone a few blocks. While he goes to get his pass I run to my room to get my laptop's power supply, which I suspect has failed. Hopefully we can find a replacement later today.
  Arriving at the entrance to Angkor Wat, it's still pitch dark, but there are a couple of tour buses there also and Nathan runs ahead to secure the best location for us on the edge of the reflecting pool. We   follow as quickly as possible, armed with our "torches" (flashlights to you colonists) to keep from stumbling on the undulating stones of the causeway leading to the recording pool. The authentic jungle sounds add to the mood of the place. Joining Nathan we set up our cameras on tripods and recheck camera settings per Nathan's suggestions. Auto ISO, fluorescent white balance, aperture full open and self timer to trigger the shutter. It is still nearly pitch dark, no moon. But by the starlight one can just make out the outline of the largest religious complex in the world, Angkor Wat!

  We now become aware of other folks arriving to photograph and are glad we got here we we did. We take a few shots in what appears to be nearly total darkness and are surprised at the detail, granted it's noisy, that we get.  Nathan demonstrates light painting on lotus blossoms in front of us as the light pollution from other arrivals begins to make it very difficult to get a clean shot of the scene.  The only thing you can do is keep shooting. As the sun starts to brighten the sky we stop down out lenses to get sharper images of the imposing silhouette. The air is permeated with sound of clicking shutters. Turning around for a second I'm amazed at the number of people and cameras
behind us.

  Finally the sun makes it's appearance, becoming a bright red globe as it rises above the temple. A few more shots and we take breakfast as the majority of the crowd disappears onto the temple grounds. I have chicken noodle soup at Nathan's suggestion. Very tasty.
  After breakfast we photograph folks cleaning the reflecting pool of algae. Showing the workers their pictures, they are visibly delighted and laugh at us, with us, I'm not sure.  The strategy has been to allow most of the crowd to enter the temple ahead of us and then

we would have a better chance of photographing without a bunch of tourists in the way.
  Nathan has arranged to have a couple of young monks to meet us and go into the temple where they would pose for our photos.  We set up photo shoots at a number of locations on site that he knows will work while and we shoot away. Of course we attract attention and some folks come over and take photos of "our" monks. In most cases they are not obnoxious about it and shoot from behind us. But one particularly obnoxious "frog" is tapping me on the shoulder because I am in the way of HIS shot. Deliberately, now, placing myself between him and the monks he starts yelling at me and Nathan comes over. They have few words and the guy leaves. Anyway we get some great shots, but it is really hot and the monks have been great. We make donations to each and bid them "adieu". Actually, we say "suk so dai". Not sure of the spelling but that is kind of the phonetic version of the Cambodian wish for your good health and good fortune. Then it's back to the hotel for a nice shower and a nap.
  At 3 pm we leave the hotel, pick up a couple of more monks and head out to the ancient city, Angkor Thom (meaning big city), once inhabited by over a million people in the 12th century and surrounded by a moat 8 miles in circumference.  Peggy gets in the back of the van with Nathan and the monks get in next to me because the are not supposed to have physical contact with a female  After several location shoots at Angkor Thom we move on to Bayon a temple central to Angkor Thom and the first state temple dedicated to the Buddha. More location shoots with our monk friends. Finally we stop once again at Ta Prohm, which we were at yesterday. Nathan has never shot this location with monks before and so we get some more great location shots. These guys have been great and I really enjoyed talking to them. One of them has family nearby and we drop them off there. We stop at a computer store to see if they have a replacement power supply for me, but no luck.
  Back at the hotel, quick shower (God knows we all needed it) and downtown for dinner. I elect to have pizza bolognaise. Not bad!  Then we all go for a foot massage. In no time Chris and I are snorring away and the Cambodians are having a good chuckle over it. back to the hotel. It's already 10:30. That bed looks wonderful!