Cambodia & Vietnam

Asia » Cambodia » North » Siem Reap
April 18th 2006

Published: June 18th 2006

Edit Blog Post

Acer

Ankor Wat Temples

Hello there,

Cambodia & Vietnam have been very beautiful countries with truly wonderful people. They make do with the few resources that they have, and are very ingenious with how they utilise the many bits and pieces. Teachers earn only $25 / month ( <1% of the Irish rate), which will give you an idea of the scale of the economy over here. While travelling through the countryside, it was like travelling on a time machine through Europe as depicted in 16th century oil paintings, with wooden carts, hay stacks and basic timber housing.

The Temples / Walled Cities at Ankor Wat are truly remarkable. During the Khmer Empire 1000 - 1300 AD these cities were far more advanced than their contemporary Western counterparts. Now days the ruins are in battle with the invading jungle, and it looks like the jungle is winning.

A four hour river boat trip through Northern Cambodia, became an 8 hour extravaganza, with the boat getting stuck in shallow waters, and the Toyota Camry steering wheel not being so great on right turns, plus an hour to reconnect the clutch cable! It was great to give & receive big smiley waves

Ankor Wat Temples

10th century dancers

from the kids along route

Even the very basic homes often had a TV! Where there was no electricity they used car batteries, that were recharged at local diesel generators! Another technological surprise was the prevalence of mobile phones. They have truly gone global, and there was a comprehensive coverage in both Cambodia & Vietnam.

I was surprised to hear many of tour guides speak some Irish ( 'Conas ata tu?', 'Ta me ceart go leor', and of course 'Pog mo hon' ) from the many Irish who have passed this way in recent years. Others,when they found out I was from Ireland, were quick to mention Roy & Robbie Keane!

It was interesting to note that over here the 'Vietnam War' is referred to as the 'American War'. I checked out the Chu Chi tunnels (200 km long network) near Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), the new forests have regrown from their destruction from Agent Orange, and you could still make out many of the craters left from the B52 bombings.

This week I plan to do some trekking in North Thailand to see some ethnic villages, and take a train