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Published: April 14th 2009
After intersting bus ride to Siem Reap, supposedly tourist-turned out to be "local" which meant no AC, crammed in, local music or strange horror movies shown all way-definitely an experience, along with usual "squat stops" which we're becoming pro's at now-i.e not hitting shoes! Arrived Siem Reap late 6th-welcomed by our 1st sign "Welcome Kathryn & Laura" 1 plus of travelling with tourists. Checked into lovely GH-Angkor Village and headed straight out to Khmer Kitchen-reccommended by lots of people on our travels! Met up to expectations-gr8 chicken curry/potato chicken baked thing and drinks-all for 8 dollars.
Soaked up atmosphere of Siem Reap-great night market, food stalls with locals slurping beef noodles, streets lines restaurants/bars/massage pallours, much quiter and nicer atmosphere than PP-not a working girl in sight, well where we were! Next thing we had a pair of children hanging off our arms-girl 5 and boy 6, crying for food. Difficult to understand initially but soon recognised word "hungry" so headed straight to supermarket with them. Seen lots of beggars, all ages on travels but 1st time asked for food, normally money or sellers, very sad and children in dirty rags...not something any1 could walk away from. Expecting them to
choose chocolate/ice cream couldn't quite understand their immediate requests for dried baby milk formula. We decided to get them what they wanted despite our suspicion that they perhaps were involved in a group and selling back the products and decided to accept the secruity guards explanation that we were helping feed their hungry siblings-either way we'd helped those partcular kids out that night. Unfortunately as we left the store we were hoinded by similar children all wut the same request....milk. Hard walk home ignoring them but at least their were smiles from 2 very sweet children.
Early start on 7th-arranged sunrise to sunset whistle stop tour at temples of Angkor. Started at sunrise at Anglor Wat which was amazing, sunrise wasm't actually the best as cloudy morning (which turned out to be a blessing 4 hours later still te,ple hopping!) but the sheer size/detail was pretty magnificent. View from refection view was definitely better and less crowds....we weren't the only early risers! Next we headed futher out (pre organised with tuc tuc driver for day) for 20km through rural villages so got a good view of village life, houses on stilts, donated water wells, huge burning coal fires cokking
up daily khmer curries for the whole family and of course children everywhere. Getting quite used to not seeeing many people over 50/60, life expectancy alot lower here. Arrived Banteay Srei-Woman's temple and very unique from rest being almost minititure and orange. Called at 2 samll temples where we climbed to summit-involved alot of very steep steps-hope the photos give it justice they are worth-lethally steep steps! Worth it though. Next stop was famous Ta Prohm-huge pillars surrounded by gigantic tree roots-temples have been left as found and truly amazing to see. We ended our day at Angkor Thom which includes Bayon -King's state te,ple with 216 faces and bas-reliefs depicting king's court and battle against Cham's, The Terrace of the elephants, Terrace of Leper King and Baphuen-under maintanence. Definitely in need of cool drinks and icecreams at this point as been going at least 8 hours. Decided to head back for some respite before sunset and enjoyed in sipping some beers back in town, soaking up Siem Reap life agin....a place I could definitely come back to. Sampled naother delicious meal at Temple Bar while watching local dance display amd dreamt of beaches ahead in Bali...!!!
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