Day 4: In the Footsteps of Angelina

Ever since we booked this holiday I have been worrying about Day 4.  The itineray specified 'You will have to hike through the jungle.'  Was I man enough for an intrepid expedition in 35 degree heat after 3 days of extreme sightseeing?  As a poshpacker, was I allowed to go poolside instead?  I found an article in the Sydney Morning Herald about poshpackers.  I liked what I was reading (apart from the stipulated age bracket) so I did the quiz to checkout my travel cred and, with a score of 9/10, I achieved official poshpacker status.  It says poshpackers like to take things easy and that must be why I wimped out of the jungle hike.  Richard stayed behind to keep me company (yeah, right - he's an opportunist) whilst Louise and Ian made an impressive slog deep into the jungle to see the River of a Thousand Lingas (phallic symbol of the Hindu god Shiva) and Banteay Srei - a pretty pink sandstone temple.    

Louise & Ian: The Happy Trekkers

The Lingas are sandstone carvings set into the river bed

Meanwhile Richard and I lazed around.  I had a massage and then we had lunch.  That's it.

Little room by the pool for massage

     

Richard & Kindle: The Happy Slackers

 

Is that someone peeping at you?

After lunch we headed to Ta Prohm, a tumbledown temple near Siem Reap.  These ruins have been overgrown  by the jungle in a bizarre, interdependent existence.  The trees intertwine with the temple to the point where neither would stand if the other were taken down.   Both giants loom intriguingly, evoking an atmosphere of ancient menace, which was used to great effect as a location for the film Tomb Raider and the daring adventures of Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft. 

Me in Ta Prohm.  No, wait a minute, that's Angelina.  Difficult to tell, isn't it?

MARKS OUTTA 10

Louise:  The jungle trek was the highlight for me.  The 1000 lingas were a bit of a disappointment - just round indentations.  I don't understand.  They don't look like willies. Ian thinks they look more like fannies but I can't see that either.  Or roundabouts, he says, but how can he think they look like both?  Anyway.  The trees at Ta Prohm also deserve a special mention.  No lowlights for me.  8/10 today.


Ian:  Apart from missing my buddies this morning, it was an excellent day.  The best bit was Ta Prohm - those strangler trees are just fantastic.  It was just like being on the film set for Tomb Raider.  The lowlight was feeling so hot and sweaty that I could have died. 9/10

Richard:  The best thing today was my bacon sandwich for lunch and reading my Kindle.  I also liked the trees at Ta Prohm.  7/10

Jackie:  The massage and Ta Prohm were equally great (in different ways) and I'm glad I indulged in a half day at the hotel.   8/10