A Country of Contrasts


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January 28th 2007
Published: January 28th 2007
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No trip to Cambodia is complete without visiting the silk market. Ness now has grand plans to redesigned her bedroom in a Cambodian theme!
Hello Hello. I've been pretty good and have managed to write in my book everyday so this blog will be more of a diary.

Hey Everyone! I survived my propeller driven flight from Vientiane and I've been enjoying the temples around Siem Reap for the past two days.

I'm a relaxed flyer and that flight made me anxious. To board I had to walk past the propellers to the rear entrance. I was the only one who didn't go within 20m of it, no one else seemed to care. They did later on though, when the pilot accidentally started his engine while passengers were walking past! The take off and landing were fine, its just that split moment when the plane reaches its desired altitude so the propeller speed is adjusted and it sounds like they've just cut out.
Flying over Cambodia I realised how flat the north is - there are no mountains/hills/bumps around Siem Reap. I was hoping to see the temples by air, but that had to wait.

I spent sunset on my first day at Siem Reap's prize jewel, Angkor Wat. the place is an amateur photographers dream. I did my best and even tried for the perfect sunset shot, but the guard wasn't having any of it and herded us all out. It's incredible to think that while London's population was under 50,000 the area around this temple was home to over a million!

My favorite temple so far is Bayon. It's home to over 200 gargantuan faces. I particularly like the fact that to speed up the construction process the king employed stone masons who specialised in either the right or left side of the face and then joined them up. Yes it was fast , but it also means they don't line up! Tomorrow I'm off to pay respect to Tomb Raider, yes of the Angelina Jolie kind. I'm going to tackle it by mountain bike and foot, which I think I'm going to regret! An early night is in order, which shouldn't be hard because there's been another power cut and the whole city is being lit my candel light.

I thoroughly enjoyed my day of cycling and I'm in one piece - no thanks to the tourist buses! As the hoards of tourist buses barged me off the road into the dirt I felt virtuous on my little bike. For the first time I could look scornfully upon the '5* tourist'. No this doesn't mean I'm going to start hugging trees, but it did make me feel more like a traveller - 3 months in - about time!

The temples are Cambodia's gold mine. It's just a shame the rife corruption has allowed them to be privatized, meaning those who should and need to benefit don't. I'm off to the capital, Phnom Penh, tomorrow. Ness and Pete are there too so 'unshalla' we shall meet.

The capital is home to both the killing fields and S-21 (a torture/detention/interrogation center run by the Khmer Rouge regime), which I've just visited. These horrific places are a grim reminder of Cambodia's brutal past and stand in stark contrast to its glorious achievements during the Khmer empire of the Agkorian era. Although the country is at peace now, it will be many years before the visible damage is repaired and I doubt what you can't see will ever heal.

After some pretty arduous travelling I'm going to fly to Thailand to kick back on a beach and practice Scuba diving - brilliant!




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What do you do in your spare time?What do you do in your spare time?
What do you do in your spare time?

After a lengthy chat with this friendly monk I found out this is where he hangs out.
Tomb Raider WatTomb Raider Wat
Tomb Raider Wat

That's it's official name, honest..
Tomb RaiderTomb Raider
Tomb Raider

They've killed all these trees so soon it wont look anything like this.
Tomb RaiderTomb Raider
Tomb Raider

Honest I did visit other temples!
216 Faces216 Faces
216 Faces

It's a little creepy being watched by so many faces. How many can you see? Please send you answers with a generous donation to Charlie's Natural Disaster Tour.
Angkor WatAngkor Wat
Angkor Wat

I took enough pictures to fill my memory card and drain my camera battery!
Angkor WatAngkor Wat
Angkor Wat

See I was actually there!
Sunday afternoon strollSunday afternoon stroll
Sunday afternoon stroll

I wouldn't want to walk this fella.
GuesthouseGuesthouse
Guesthouse

A great place to chill out.
HorrificHorrific
Horrific

Words are of no use here.
S-21S-21
S-21

An image of a school classroom that's been converted into 1 meter by 2 meter holding cells.


27th February 2007

charlie you bell end
charles charles charles, how are you doing didnt realise you were traveling with ness and pete! matt has just booked his round the world trip hes out of the army in june! woop woop! portsmouth is brilliant! not jealous of your journey at all! lol looks like you are having fun my friend hope all is well love to all rich

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