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Published: April 2nd 2009
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Angkor Wat
In all it's glory. Temples, temples, temples. Siem Reap, Cambodia is stock full of old temples, and much larger, older and more impressive temples than any of the ones we have seen in Thailand or anywhere else. We arrived in Siem Reap rather late in the evening, but we were welcomed by our guide, Superman himself (Professor Vudthy, who escaped from the Khmer Rouge’s Genocide Regime in 1979 after losing a finger and an eye while being ‘interrogated’ and almost lost a leg from a land mine, and since has played a huge part in Cambodia’s reconstruction after the war and has adopted 26 needy children in addition to his five biological children), and a nice dinner in the Night Market near the city.
On our first day we visited Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. Angkor Wat is the most famous temple in Cambodia and is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It was built in the mid-twelfth century by King Suryavarman II. Angkor Thom is an ancient city that was built shortly after Angkor Wat and is bordered by a 100 meter-wide moat and 8 meter-high wall. Both sites are incredible displays of architecture, you have to be careful when walking
to and from the sites to your car though, because the children here are relentless salespeople and will follow you around and even remember your name and face so when you exit they can try to guilt you into buying some of their postcards or T-shirts. The following day we visited a few more temples, including Ta Prohm and Banteay Srey. Ta Prohm is known for its supporting role in the movie Tomb Raider and the trees that have taken over the site by growing in and on top of the temple. Banteay Srey was built prior to the year 1000 out of red sandstone and has the most intricate and detailed carvings of all the temples in Siem Reap. On our last day we went to Tonle Sap Lake, the largest lake in South East Asia and saw the floating village of fisherman that work and live on the lake. Siem Reap also has some excellent markets, and we had ample free time to peruse the great deals on knock-off clothes and bags, silk goods and carvings. Pub Street was also a lot of fun, where happy hour is from open till close and you can get a beer
Angkor Wat
From each direction you can see three towers, one for each of the Hindu Gods. for fifty cents!
A balance of city life and the way of the old was very evident in Cambodia. It was amazing to experience the simplicity of the life of the villagers, as they lived just 2 minutes outside of the city with no electricity. Most of the residents in Cambodia are farmers. Mr. Vudthy's Center or foster home where he not only cares for needy children it's a school as well, is located right outside the city and operates with no electricity. He's currently saving money to buy a generator as solar power is too expensive. Overall, Cambodia was a great time and despite what people think is very safe. We would highly recommend visiting Cambodia before mass tourism and modernization completely take over. Beautiful country, rich in history, and charismatic people!
** don't throw your old lap taps away, please save them and we'll mail them to Mr. Vudthy for his students!
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Maria
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Good looking!!!!!
Hello, Were is the beard??? You look refreshed. Every place looks amazing!!!!!!!! I am not going to say the same about the food. But maybe we should try some of it in the Gallery's menu. We miss you both, be careful!!! Love, Maria and Terry