May 16, 2013 - Siem Reap, Cambodia

From the comfort of your own home, organizing travel in far flung places, it is easy to neglect the reality of some of the choices you make. Like going on a bicycle tour in the build up to the wet season. We probably didn’t even check out the weather in Cambodia as we are only here for four days. It can’t be that different to the east coast of Vietnam can it? Well, we survived. And we’re proud of it. And it was pretty easy riding too. We loved riding along the top of the great wall of Angkor Thom with the huge moat on our left, complete...

May 11, 2013 - Siem Reap

Arrived in Cambodia today. Bridget's sister-in-law's family connection arranged a ride for us from the airport and a room at a very nice hotel. Sitting by the pool researching up for our trip to Angkor Wat tomorrow. 5/13/13 Two very hot days at Angkor! Rented $1 bicycles the first day, I'm pretty sure they barely got us there and back, they certainly protested a lot =) Saw some amazing temples, sweat gallons, and decided to rent a TukTuk for day #2. Much better but still blistering hot here. Enjoying the pool and A/C at our resort style...

Feb 6, 2013 - Cambodian Cooking Lesson & Toule Sap Lake

Paul, Lucy, Natalie and I walked to a restaurant on Pub street for our Cambodian Cooking class. First we were taken to the local market. It was crowded, noisy and lots of different smells. Our teacher bought some ingredients we wold need. We are making an appetizer, main course and sticky mango rice for dessert. It was so hot. At one point, I had to pound some of my chopped ingredients in a wooden mortar to make a paste. The kitchen was very small (only 4 gas burners) and so hot. We also learned to make flowers and birds our of carrots for...

Feb 5, 2013 - Ankgor Wat

We were up 4 am and off to see the sunrise behind Angkor Wat. There were lots of people like us. Angkor Wat is a Hindu temple commemorating Vishnu. It is believed it may have been constructed as a funeral temple since it faces west which is in the direction of the setting sun and is symbolic of passing into the next life for a king. It is the symbol of Cambodia and was built in the 12th century using Khmer architecture. It is a 3-tiered pyramid with 5 towers which is thought to represent Mount Meru, home of the gods: a land of creation and...

Feb 5, 2013 - Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat Tuesday February 5, 2013 Day 27 of G We are bleary eyed and sleepy but all accounted for in the lobby by 5 a.m.  Everyone but Ray that is. He is only a few minutes late but pretty consistent with it. Our resident cynic Chris, will snidely say that it is the Diva in him. Of course he and Jon do have the heaviest suitcases of the group by a longshot Having said that, Ray is well worth waiting a few extra minutes for. We drive out to Angkor Wat with one short stop to get Greg a new ticket. It is pitch black out and we need torches...

Feb 5, 2013 - Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm was constructed as a Buddhist monastery. The jungle has pulled this temple apart. The roots of fig, banyon and kapok trees have cleaves massive stones in two. Sometimes the trees give way and grow over the top of the temple ramparts. Unfortunately, these ruins has been looted quite heavily in recent years and many of its stone reliquaries have been lost. The huge roots however, are very impressive. Some trees are being cut down to stop further damage. We got back late afternoon. Everyone was exhausted from the heat!

Feb 5, 2013 - Angkor Thom

After breakfast and a short rest, we went to Angkor Thom. The day has become really hot. We try to stay in the shade when ever we can. Angkor Thom means "The Great City" in Khmer. It is famed for its fantastic central temple. It was a walled and moated royal city at one time. The surrounding wall has a sanctuary tower at each corner and 5 gates. Each gate is crowned by 4 faces of Lokesvara. There are 2 gates at the East wall. The South Gate has a causeway flanked by 54 gods (they smile) and 54 demons (they frown). Angkor Thom has 3 great...

Feb 4, 2013 - Siem Reap

Siem Reap, Cambodia Monday February 4, 2013 Day 26 of G Down to the Buffett breakfast at 6:30. Same-same but different. Another 80 stairs. I think I've done more stairs in the past month than in the rest of the past year combined. The food was similar but there were two major differences here. Interesting to me, there were tables full of monks having breakfast when we arrived. Interesting to Jeff, he was able to put the Super Bowl on the TV live. I had my iPad with me and since I cannot post any of the wonderful photos from my camera in...

Feb 4, 2013 - Siem Reap

Before breakfast we skyped with Elizabeth, Andy and Jackie. We had a great visit. After breakfast, we headed to Siem Reap in a private bus. Phnom Penh was really busy. Once out of the city, the road was really bumpy due to road construction. Sometimes, there was only one lane. Along the way we saw people riding on the top of vans, pigs of the back of motorcycles, several mosques, horse drawn carts, two wheeled tractors, rice drying along the road on mats or tarps and flocks of ducks along the road. We ate deep fried tarantula legs. They...

Feb 3, 2013 - On the road to Siem Riep

On the road to Siem Riep Sunday February 3, 2013 Day 25 of G Down the eighty stairs to breakfast. As we passed Chris Jeff held out his hand and dropped two of the little toothpaste tubes from the hotel bathroom into her hand. Then I dropped an Imodium into the same hand. We didn't say a word just kept truckin past. She was quite charmed by our thinking of her. On the way up there was the elevator just waiting for us. We got in it but now these elevators make me a wee bit claustrophobic. They are just a little too small and don't appear to...

Jan 26, 2013 - Structures old and new, and amorous advances

Saturday, January 26 When I went outside to meet Savuth at 7:30 am for another day of temple sight-seeing, another man stood near him. "I can't come with you today but my brother will take you," Savuth said. My experiences with Savuth had been good and I felt comfortable with the idea so hopped into his brother's older and I soon found out, slower tuk-tuk, but no matter, I had the whole day to do whatever I wanted. "Okay," I said. Not sure of his brother's English skills I continued, "Please tell him he will have to find me because I can...

Jan 24, 2013 - Siem Reap/Angkor Wat

A very early 4.30 start this morning as we go to view the sunrise over the main Angkor Wat temple. As usual Kom has everything carefully organised so that we arrive just ahead of the crowds and get a seat on the steps of a small temple. It is very strange walking in total darkness except for our torches marking the path as we have no idea what to expect. As we are seated a lady comes round offering coffee and hot chocolate which is just what we need even though it is already hot and humid. From our comfortable vantage point we watch hordes...