Cycling Day 10: Preah Vihear to Siem Reap – 37 Miles

Another early start in an attempt to beat the heat — we biked out of the hotel at 7:30 and headed east, then south on a long route towards Siem Reap. It was very bright (we’ve been blessed with clouds for many days), and we cycled along paved blacktop with rolling hills.  It got hot very fast and by our 10:30, 26 mile break, a couple of us opted out.  The scenery wasn’t terribly interesting and with the gastro intestinal issues some were having, and the heat, ending there was fine. So the guides changed up the plan, and we all took the van to the first tourist-y spot of the day — the Koh Ker Temple ruins.

Built in 922, Koh Ker was briefly the ancient capital of the Khmer empire. It is a massive site, spanning 81 square miles and 180 different sanctuaries. The temple itself is a pyramid style with 7 separate tiers rising 118 feet — the highest of it’s kind in the country.  It was possible to climb the 155 steps to the top for an amazing view, so we did.

After a van transfer to lunch, we visited the Beng Mealea Temple ruins, in the Siem Reap province. Built by a Hindu king 1113-1150 and dedicated to the Vishnu, the god of protection. As with many temples, the long walkway entrance has Raga, the 7 headed snake, representing the colors of the rainbow. We were able to trek through the ruins, rarely something a tourist can do.  Much of the damage has been done to the Temple from both bombing during wars, and the massive strangler figs which seem to grow out of rock and their roots upend the huge stones.

Another van ride to the outskirts of the Siem Reap town — about 12 miles out. Three of us stayed on the bus and at a water break where we met the cyclists we stopped at a huge pagoda with practicing monks, a school and many skupas, the shrines to dead relatives. And lots of children appeared.  We’ve been collecting toiletries from the hotels and Vu distributed them to underprivileged kids, some of whom we encountered at this stop.

Then back on the bus to the hotel in Siem Reap, a bustling city of about 300,000, and very much a tourist destination. Dinner was at a lovely restaurant with a treat — a good wine list.  And a nice hotel awaited us at the end of a long and hot day.