An Long Veng to Sra Am

Fri 07/02/14, 80km

Off to visit Prasat Preah Vihar today. First, breakfast of stir fried veg and rice (coincidentally the same meal I had for dinner last night).

Pro tip here: stopped at the bank in town with a hundred dollar bill and asked them to break it for me. Took ten minutes as three of them inspected it in turn, the last using a jewellers loupe but I got nice small bills in return. And yes, of course I inspected the first they gave me, just until the counter lady laughed.

Fairly straightforward cycle eastwards across one of the less touristed parts of the country. Flat terrain, friendly people. As I didn't stop I made Sra Em for 11:45 and checked into the Reaksmey Sokon Guesthouse ($11 for a large clean fan room, rubbish wifi). Apparently the Sokhon (next door) is a popular tourist choice but as they had ongoing building work I demurred.

Immediately grabbed a quick lunch and jumped into a tuk tuk to take me to the ticket office for Prasat Preah Vihar. Passed lots of army bases and burning fields on the 22km trip (these weren't related BTW).  The temple sits on a mountain top 550m above the plains which is viewable from a way aways (more when fields aren't bring burnt off).

Entrance is free although you need your passport as it's details are taken. The site lies on the border (on) and Thailand has kicked off three shooting wars since it granted UNESCO status in 2008, hence the passport details. Well that and if you stray there are mines in the area (seriously). Costs $5 to get a motorbike up and you need it: slope hits 1:4 at one point.

The temple complex is interesting, pre-Angkorian. Got a prototype bas relief of "the churning of the sea of milk" in it. And some fabulous views even if the air wzx hazy due to the field burning: added a 1970s film stock quality to the place I felt.

Templing done it was back to the guesthouse and time for food, a couple or four beers and bed. Zzzz.

Breakfast of champions. And the dinner as well.

Hill with the temple