I learned something about myself today. Awww...how special am I? I guess it's something that I knew, but not something that I ever really paid attention to. So, I'm a Cancer, right...right...my silly horoscope always says that, just like crabs, us Cancers are supposed to approach things from the side rather than head on. Well, I always kind of thought that was BS...I mean, if I'm not blunt, I don't know what the meaning of blunt is. I always felt like I was a person who really spoke my mind and liked to present things in a very upfront manner...
Well, that's all good and true when I'm talking with people...but it breaks down in the midst of crowds and what should/could be conceived as "the norm". It started first thing this morning when I got out of the tuk tuk and started walking across the western bridge across the moat to Angkor Wat...I walked along the path to the side with the bunked up stones, which was the path that very few other people were taking. Then, when everyone and their brother proceeded through the main gate into the walled temple, I skirted off to the right and went in through a side gate...my reward was a 12 foot tall statue of Vishnu barely backlit in the morning light through the doorway behind him. Then...out...out through that door and behold Angkor Wat. Seriously people...it's freaking insane. I cried...I cried the same cry that I cried when I stepped through the gate into Macchu Picchu...I was helplessly in AWE of the magnificence. I proceeded through the grass (totally off the beaten path, as I was the only person (of about 300ish) in the whole place doing this) toward the first small temple I could see (later to find out it's called a library...these features are in pretty much every larger temple complex in Angkor). Who was there...no one...everyone was up on the silly main walkway. I eventually wound my way down to a reflecting pond and plopped myself down for a sunrise show. I spent the sunrise with my friend's Pop...she asked me to visit the local where she scattered part of her father's ashes a while back. I figured sunrise would be a good way to honor him and the fantastic children he created. It was lovely.
The rest of the time at Angkor Wat resulted in me finding myself alone regularly...off paths that lead away from the temple and to other sites...down long corridors with intricate carvings...to view points that demanded silence.
For the rest of the day at the umpteen temples I visited, I found myself doing the same thing...entering from the side and then following pathways that were not clearly marked. That resulted in repeated periods of me being alone in those fantastic temple ruins. At several points I had entire temples to myself. Side stepping worked in my favor.
Needless to say, it didn't take me long to become completely exhausted. Since the day started at 5, by the time 12 rolled around I had to have a serious sit down...unfortunately that meant being accosted by children trying to sell me their wares. I tried to take the chatting approach...it worked for a while, until I was ready to leave, then I was more frequently than not, convinced to buy something. A bracelet, a book, a cold drink, a shirt, a scarf, etc...
I'm supposed to hit up even more temples tomorrow. I'm tired though...can't I take a day off? No...three days to use my 3 day pass to the Disney World of Cambodia. I've got to make the best of it....then relax.
At least tomorrow I get to go to waterfall where phallus symbols are carved into the surrounding rocks...that and I go to the temple of the Women.
