Jorgen Udvang
Subscriber Member
In spite of living rather near, I hadn't been to Angkor Wat before, not until last weekend that is. Here are a few photos, not so many of the temples, since they have been photographed before a zillion times, but some of the people:
Last Friday, I was the last person over the border to Cambodia at Poipet, 19.59 hrs. before it closed a minute later. So the taxis had all gone home. But there was this guy who had an uncle with a Camry (which is the definition of "Taxi" in that part of Cambodia anyway), and he might be willing to take me the 250 kilometers to Siem Reap.
Half an hour later, an automobile that resembled a Camry in many ways, but with interesting sounds that are probably not on Toyota's list of extra features, arrived. After a brief discussions between the somewhat ageing driver and some friends, enemies and bystanders, we left off into the dark (there are no road lights in Cambodia). It soon became apparent that he had little gas, no money and a somewhat failing eyesight. So we stopped by a shack at the edge of the road and got the owner out of the whisky bottle and his wife out of the bed. Gas time, not petrol, but the real, fluffy stuff.
This is the way it is done:
The gas cylinder is turned upside down and placed on a scale. Then it's connected to some strange, rotating mechanism and from there to the gas tank in the trunk of the car. The volume is checked by watching the scale.
The first attempt failed miserably and resulted in a big cloud of the substance disappearing into the landscape, luckily after the guy had gotten rid of his cigarette. The second bottle worked better, and after some advance payment to the driver so that he could pay for the smelly stuff, we continued our journey towards the east, firmly placed on the yellow line in the middle of the road.
For those with less interest in rural gas stations in Cambodia and guessing competitions about which side of your car meeting vehicles will pass on, there is an international airport in Siem Reap. But Bangkok Airways, the Boutique Airline of Asia, which for some strange reason has acquired a monopoly on the route to Bangkok and charges monopoly prices, don't accept Monopoly monies
GH1 with Sigma 50mm f/1.4 @ ISO3200 and f/1.4
Three days in the forests around Angkor Wat. It's impossible to describe, and photos don't really do it either. I'm going back, sooner rather than later.
First morning, after 5 minutes: a puncture. My driver to the left and the young mechanic fixing the wheel of the rolling sofa, which is attached to a normal 100cc motorbike. It works rather well, and is absolutely the way to see Angkor. Cheap too, at $15 per day.
GH1 with Sigma 50mm f/1.4 @ f/2.0
There are small concerts out in the forests, mainly performed by mine victims.
GH1 with PanaLeica 14-50mm f/2.8-3.5 @ 50mm and f/3.5
The 7-14mm came in handy very often. Space is limited on top of the temples, and balancing on the edge with 20 meters free fall beneath isn't my way of having fun.
GH1 with Panasonic 7-14 @ 7mm and f/5.6
This young lady sold me a tiny brass elephant for two dollars and a portrait. I walked through all of Angkor Wat that day also, starting at 05.00 hrs., and it was a great experience, but if I could live the day again and had to choose, I would go for the elephant... and the portrait
L1 with PanaLeica 14-50mm f/2.8-3.5 @ 50mm and f/3.5
And the PanaLeica is everything I hoped for and more. Big thanks to Justin who sold it to me.
Last Friday, I was the last person over the border to Cambodia at Poipet, 19.59 hrs. before it closed a minute later. So the taxis had all gone home. But there was this guy who had an uncle with a Camry (which is the definition of "Taxi" in that part of Cambodia anyway), and he might be willing to take me the 250 kilometers to Siem Reap.
Half an hour later, an automobile that resembled a Camry in many ways, but with interesting sounds that are probably not on Toyota's list of extra features, arrived. After a brief discussions between the somewhat ageing driver and some friends, enemies and bystanders, we left off into the dark (there are no road lights in Cambodia). It soon became apparent that he had little gas, no money and a somewhat failing eyesight. So we stopped by a shack at the edge of the road and got the owner out of the whisky bottle and his wife out of the bed. Gas time, not petrol, but the real, fluffy stuff.
This is the way it is done:
The gas cylinder is turned upside down and placed on a scale. Then it's connected to some strange, rotating mechanism and from there to the gas tank in the trunk of the car. The volume is checked by watching the scale.
The first attempt failed miserably and resulted in a big cloud of the substance disappearing into the landscape, luckily after the guy had gotten rid of his cigarette. The second bottle worked better, and after some advance payment to the driver so that he could pay for the smelly stuff, we continued our journey towards the east, firmly placed on the yellow line in the middle of the road.
For those with less interest in rural gas stations in Cambodia and guessing competitions about which side of your car meeting vehicles will pass on, there is an international airport in Siem Reap. But Bangkok Airways, the Boutique Airline of Asia, which for some strange reason has acquired a monopoly on the route to Bangkok and charges monopoly prices, don't accept Monopoly monies
GH1 with Sigma 50mm f/1.4 @ ISO3200 and f/1.4
Three days in the forests around Angkor Wat. It's impossible to describe, and photos don't really do it either. I'm going back, sooner rather than later.
First morning, after 5 minutes: a puncture. My driver to the left and the young mechanic fixing the wheel of the rolling sofa, which is attached to a normal 100cc motorbike. It works rather well, and is absolutely the way to see Angkor. Cheap too, at $15 per day.
GH1 with Sigma 50mm f/1.4 @ f/2.0
There are small concerts out in the forests, mainly performed by mine victims.
GH1 with PanaLeica 14-50mm f/2.8-3.5 @ 50mm and f/3.5
The 7-14mm came in handy very often. Space is limited on top of the temples, and balancing on the edge with 20 meters free fall beneath isn't my way of having fun.
GH1 with Panasonic 7-14 @ 7mm and f/5.6
This young lady sold me a tiny brass elephant for two dollars and a portrait. I walked through all of Angkor Wat that day also, starting at 05.00 hrs., and it was a great experience, but if I could live the day again and had to choose, I would go for the elephant... and the portrait
L1 with PanaLeica 14-50mm f/2.8-3.5 @ 50mm and f/3.5
And the PanaLeica is everything I hoped for and more. Big thanks to Justin who sold it to me.
