Wow. Wow!

I don’t really have a literary style—I tend to be silly or snarky. (That’s what happens when your influences are Woody Allen and John Stewart.) Alas, both tropes are ill suited to describing the treasures of Angkor. The ancient temples and monuments of the Khmers are surely among the legitimate awe-inspiring sights of this planet. It is almost hard to believe they are the products of humankind … O, Angkor Wat, did he who made the Centre Pompidou make you?

Here, I think my woeful photography will probably serve better than my so-so writing:
































I will comment on the weather though. Chaucer wrote:

        Whan that Aprille with this showres sote,
                The drought of March hath perced to the rote,
        And bathed every veine in swiche liquer,
                Of which vertu engend’red is the fleur … (etc.)

Eliot also wrote of the April’s rains, but disparagingly, calling them cruel for revitalizing everything—including painful memories. I hate to quibble with literary giants … but the rainy season does not begin until May.

Now it is merely steamy, sticky hot (40+ C, 95%+ humid).

        April is the hottest month,
                When Shiva’s humid’ty dread,
        Encumbers traveller toe to head,
                Robs hiking, climbing of their fun-th.

That said, this isn’t necessarily the worst time to come to Siem Reap/Angkor. Things are cheaper and less crowded now than in idyllic January. And, in the rainy season visitation would be tough to impossible (ancient Khmer temple stairs not up to OSHA standards). Oh, and if you are worried about looking sweaty & gross in your holiday snapshots, have no fear. When you are posed in front of Angkor Thom, no one is going to notice how you look.

p.s. Thanks J. for the history-/guide-book, it is invaluable.
p.p.s. The “Blue Pumpkin” near Siem Reap’s old market has free wifi!