Angkor What?

Day 5.
I have to say, I've been blessed with perfect weather since I've been here. It rained a little bit on the first morning, but not since. I was expecting rain every day. It's hot and sunny with a few white puffy clouds - perfect for photos.
Yesterday, I hit the Big 3 temples. They are the ones that tourists go to for a 'must see' tour if they only have one day. They include the eponymous Angkor Wat, the tree covered Ta Prohm, and the iconic Bayon. When people see photos of this region of the world, it's likely that they would see images of one of these 3 sites. They are the most popular, and the most overrun with busloads of tourists.
Angkor Wat
Ta Prohm

This time, I hired a tuk tuk to get me back and forth. Since I've been there before, I didn't really need a guide. Besides, this time it was purely a photographic journey. I was on the hunt for images for my stock portfolio. That means, I would plant myself in one spot, patiently waiting for the crowds to disperse for that split second for a photo. Despite the crowds, I still managed to get lots of photos with no tourists. I think it was because of the time of day I was in the temples. Whatever the reason, I am happy with the results.
Bayon
Bayon

Today, I visited another set of temples to the southeast of Siem Reap, called the Roluos Group. It was 3 temples dating back to the 9th century, and is in an area that was once the capitol of Angkor. These temples were pretty much tourist free. But they are all quite small, in comparison to the Big 3. The best of the 3 temples was one called Bakong. It is very well preserved, considering the age. The other 2 temples were very small, and largely destroyed from age and weathering.
Bakong

When I was leaving Bakong, I decided I wanted something to drink. When I made this somewhat clear, I was surrounded by young girls, all trying to sell me a beer. They were all yelling to get my attention - all competing for a $2 sale. They were ravenous. It was hard to figure out who deserved the coveted sale. One young girl - she must have been 12 - suggested they compete for my $2 by playing a game amongst themselves. They gathered in a circle and started playing a game that seemed like rock/paper/scissors to me. They were got louder as the game progressed. Eventually, a winner was determined, and the losing girls sulked away. With the beer finally in my possession, I opened it, and it sprayed everywhere. I guess it was shaken during the excitement of the competition.

Tomorrow, I am traveling far afield from Siem Reap. I am going to a temple that is also overgrown with forestation. It's known to be popular amongst photographers. So, I am looking forward to it.