Be careful, it's my first time!

We are a family of seven, and everyone knows to ride a bike, except me.  Even my own mother does.  Even our dearly departed dog Nano knew how to balance whenever Tatay brought him to his playground.

I fell when Tatay was teaching me to ride when I was around 6 or 7.  And never did I ever attempt to ride again since.

So the thought of riding a bike for the first time, in  a foreign land, with a massive headache after the day-long temple hopping was sure death for me.  But ETS was very insistent.  So I told her that if I could get it out of the hotel premises without losing a limb, I would do it.  After all, we had a comprehensive travel insurance with Chartis!

And the rest was freaking awesome history!

I could imagine my imminent death!

ETS playing big sister!

Almost fell again! ETS told me never to use my feet as brakes.  How would I know, it was my first time! :-p

Made it to Angkor Wat complex alive, with our tour guide Narnie in his pamburs! Hahaha!

That was probably her most favorite part of the entire Asian tour!

Gaining more confidence, racing against ETS!

Stopped by for a photo op with the monkeys!

The Bayon Temple in all its glory!

Tears of gratitude for my second life!

But seriously, how could I be scared when Cambodians are probably the most courteous drivers on Earth and the roads are this well-paved and clear?

Notice how the motorcyclist keep to the outer lane?

I was very glad and proud of my very first biking experience and thankful that ETS kicked my scared ass to do it!

It earned me photo of the week in Benetton's Facebook page, after all! Hahaha!

Your Majesty!

I can say for certain that the Angkor Wat, so far, is the most majestic man-made structure I had the privilege to see firsthand.

Sure there are bigger and newer skyscrapers that overcast every modern metropolis, but the fact that it was built in the 12th century, by "primitive men", laid without mortar and with only mortise and tenon to hold blocks together, clearly belittles whatever architectural feats we boast of as modern men.

The moat surrounding the Angkor Wat

Intricate stone wall carvings

One of the cloisters that was believed to have been originally filled with water

One of the five towers

A view from the top

Experts peg construction of this kind and procedure to 300 years if done today, but the Angkor Wat was completed in no more than 40 years.

What keeps me wondering though is that not many of the people I know are aware or even interested to see the Great Angkor Wat.

But now that Cebu Pacific has direct flights to Siem Reap from Manila starting this year (woohoo!),  I encourage every Filipino to give Cambodia a chance.  It is not what we've been told.  It is a great place that cradles some of the most marvelous ancient temples man ever built.  So, go book!

So back!

I am such a bad blogger.

It took me almost 6 months to finally write again.

I've got some serious backlog.

Time to get this over and done with.