Angkor Wat and so many more Temples!

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We arrived in Siem Reap after a thoroughly enjoyable time at Hoi An/Da Nang, Vietnam. Getting here was a bit frustrating, a long flight that took us to Bangkok with long waits at both airports. The best part of the day was arriving late at our hotel, Viroth's Villa in Siem Reap, a 4 star hotel but only $100 CAN a night! It was recommended by home exchange friends (Ed and his lovely wife) that we met online during our previous Asia trip that was cut short by Covid. The breakfasts by the pool was gourmet! You won't regret a stay at this wonderful hotel - the service from all areas was exceptional. We loved getting bug sprayed every time we left the hotel by the front desk staff! What a treat! They arranged all of our tours and we loved every guide and Tuk Tuk driver that they booked for us! All were so friendly and knowledgeable! Our first guide even danced for us at the Angkor Thom Temple!



Our first guide studied tourism and Cambodian history and knew so much about the country and the sites that we visited. He truly made the day so meaningful and enjoyable! He pointed out so much detail in the murals and reliefs in the various temples. Amazing details of dancers, wars, lotus flowers, Gods and demons - Temples to Buddha, the change to Hindu and then back to Buddhism where they removed all images of buddha then brought them back. The colour, the detail and even the parts of the temple that still showed damage from bullets and bombs from during the Khmer rouge era (where they used the temples as fortresses and banned the monks).



Some temples were more about the parasite tree that grew over the temple walls and created a unique looking ruin than they were for the construction of the temple that was built over 1000 years ago (i.e. Preah Khan and Ta Som Temples). The temples are also commonly used for weddings and other celebrations. I caught a group of young female graduates throwing their hats in the air for their official portrait at the Preah Khan Temple! We also loved bumping into a mother and daughter dressed identically in traditional Vietnamese wardrobes just outside the gates to Angkor Thom.



Although Angkor Wat was the most detailed and impressive, there are so many other Temples that are so worth visiting. Most of them were built by King Jayavarman VII in the 11th or 12th century but the Banteay Srei Temple built 100 years earlier is worth a visit for it's detail in the murals and the colour (even though it is a 30 minute Tuk Tuk ride further out of Siem Reap). The Tuk Tuk ride was a great way to see the country side and to see how Cambodians lived in that area so we were glad we chose to add this temple to our itinerary.



One night, we walked along the river in Siem Reap outside our hotel to enjoy the night market and eat an $8 meal (including 2 beers) sitting on little kids plastic stools on small tables by the river. We also discovered that the Cambodians were setting up for celebrations of the upcoming New Year on April 15th! Lots of decorations (lights and flowers) along the river, on the bridges and everywhere. What a beautiful sight!



The Cambodians (like the Vietnamese) rely on their motor scooters (much more affordable than cars) and use them to drive their Tuk Tuk carts, haul almost everything and everything, and usually without a helmet. It is not uncommon to see up to 4 or 5 people on a single scooter and sometimes market fare - like about 60 ducks strapped to the vehicle. I caught this family with a baby on board!

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