Joe Louis sees Srah Srang in the morning
It’s hard to be number two. Growing up in the shadow of an older sibling. Getting the second highest score in a competition and therefore no trophy. Being the second person to climb a mountain, walk on the moon, or discover an island. Even the trivia books neglect you.
Angkor Wat gets all the attention. And that’s because it is the biggest religious structure in the world. But for people who are staying in the Siem Reap area for more than just a day (and everyone should, but I’ve met so many one-stop tourists), there are other options for pretty sunrises and sunsets.
Srah Srang offers an excellent view, multiplied by the reflective lake alongside it. I went early in the morning around 5AM. There were only two other people there waiting for the sun to come up, a stark difference from the overcrowded Angkor Wat tourist rush. Unfortunately the sun never fully came out since it had been cloudy and rainy all week. Still as the sky illuminated and the day awakened, the temples provided a nice backdrop. The sun has been rising and setting above these buildings for over a thousand years.
See what other blogs are saying about Srah Srang:
“The best time to arrive at Srah Srang is in the early morning hours, before the sun rises. Find a good place on the terrace to relax, and wait… wait for the sunbeams to pry apart the trees at the far end of the baray. Watch the sun’s pink and yellow rays bounce off the smooth-as-glass water. And don’t forget your camera.”
–Siem Reap Cambodia
