Earth's Sacred Wonders

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Narrator

5:00 a.m. While the first tourists get ready to catch the iconic sunrise over Angkor Wat, (dramatic orchestral music) Loran and his team are preparing for the climb. -

Loran

(in foreign language) -

Narrator

There is new growth all the way up the towers. But it's the saplings at the very top which will be particularly hard to reach. And Loran is not as fit as he was. (in foreign language) -

Narrator

He will climb as far as he can. Then under his guidance, his apprentice, Chantrea, will make the final ascent. (in foreign language) -

Narrator

Loran leads the way. -

Loran

(in foreign language) -

Narrator

The thousand-year-old stonework is very fragile, so the team can't fix any safety ropes to it. They must climb barefoot, with little safety equipment other than hardhats. -

Loran

(in foreign language) -

Narrator

Just last year, a member of Loran's team fell and was badly injured. -

Loran

(in foreign language) (suspenseful music) -

Worker

(in foreign language) -

Narrator

They've reached a section where the ladders aren't long enough. So they have to tie two together. -

Worker

(in foreign language) -

Narrator

Loran has gotten as high as he can go. -

Worker

(in foreign language) -

Narrator

Now his apprentice Trea takes over. The gap in the stonework here is too narrow for a metal ladder. He'll have to use a bamboo pole and pull the ladder up after him. -

Loran

(in foreign language) -

Trea

(in foreign language)