Blogs from Cambodia, Asia - page 776

After 2 days off from temple spotting, today we reached for our passes and hit the ground running. We managed to visit a staggering 6 different temples today, so here's a brief run-down of each one (if I can remember which was which!) 1. Preah Khan - biggish temple with huge trees growing through parts of it. Cool :-) 2. Neak Pean - small central temple surrounded by 4 large pools of water (no water today though). Base of the temple is 2 entwined coiled serpents. Nice enough and a bit different to other temples but not mind-blowing. 3. Ta Som - pretty temple in good nick and away from main tourist trail. A nice temple to see if you've not seen any before and still good if you have. 4. East Mebon - good-sized temple ... read more

We took a day off from sightseeing today and instead decided to see what Siem Reap town had to offer. We started with a pathetically portioned breakfast at the Blue Pumpkin - a pretentious 'it' bar that has free internet access that you ultimately pay for via the overpriced menu. Ah well, you can't get it right every time. Next we took a stroll through the central market in search of souvenirs. Unfortuantely, although there were some intersting nick nacks for sale, virtually every single market stall sold the same stuff. We soon got weary of 'same shit, different layout' syndrome and headed to the old market instead. We never got to make in inside though as there were so many beggars hounding us at every turn that we just couldn't enjoy ourselves there. You can't ... read more

This is just a short one (full Thailand one to come soon you lucky people) as we did a little side trip to Cambodia with Beckys sis and Benny boy to the largest religious monument and highest concentration of temples (I may have made this bit up) in the world. The Temples of Angkor. Basically there were hundreds of amazing huge temples all round the place, built by the Khymer from 8th Century AD for Buddist, Hindu and local gods. Which they somehow "lost" for a few hundred years and then found again. I think they were behind the sofa but its always where you look last - but then thats because you stop looking after that. Anyway they were so impressive - especially some of the really atmospheric temples which are left in their unrepaired ... read more

After 2 busy and tiring days around the temples we have decided to give ourselves a rest day. It will be more like 2 as we are waiting until Monday to go to an orphanage. So we had a lazy morning walking around the town we went to a couple of markets. Of course it poured with rain. At one point I had a little girl of about 5 holding my hand and refusing to let go for about 10 minutes! So cute. (But she had been sent by her mum for money) We played pool in our guest house with a couple of the guys who work there. On Sunday we went fishing in the river, Andy caught a small fish. Lots of locals stopped to watch and smile and point. On Monday we bought ... read more

Crossing the Boarder I unfortunately was running very late by the time I reached the border and got there just only an hour before dusk (6pm). But Siem Reap was only 200km further on so I was not concerned. I cannot enthasis too much just how poor Cambodia is. If Englands a first world country and Thailand a third world country then Cambodia is a 5th world country. That is how stark the differents between the Thailand and Cambodia is and you just have to walk 500m across the border to see it. It is shocking so say the least. How two neighbouring countries can be so much different in wealth is beyond me! Tax Evasion Cambodia Style To cross from Thailand into Cambodia first you have to exit Thailand by going through thier exit customs. ... read more