Blogs from Siem Reap, North, Cambodia, Asia - page 205

Breakfast at the hotel. We called Nam, the tuk-tuk driver who drove us to our hotel the night before. He had said if we needed a driver while we were in Siem Reap to call him. Before we could enter any of the temple complexes, we had to buy passes. US$40 (each) for a three-day pass (at least they put your photo on it and laminate it)! We visited the Angkor Thom complex first, including Bayon, Baphuon, the Terraces of the Elephants and the Leper King, and Phimeanakas. Then we saw Ta Keo and Ta Phrom. Nam took us to No. 4 restaurant at Ta Phrom, which his family runs. All the stalls looked the same, so you just end up eating wherever your driver takes you, which is probably owned by his family or friends…After ... read more

Cambodia as a country has had a very troubled recent past. The Khmer Rouge wanted to reform Cambodia and create basically a brainwashed society that is devoted to it’s ultra-communist beliefs. They dubbed the dawn of this new age as year zero. In order to wipe out any evidence of a pre-Ankar Cambodia they set about destroying anything with any religious or historical value, and slaughtering anyone who had the knowledge to pose a threat to the regime. Doctors, lawyers, military, monks, they even went to the extreme of targeting people who wore glasses! They did not just stop there; they also killed all of these people’s families, regardless of age and gender. In total they massacred around 2 million people - over a quarter of the country’s population. The country descended into civil war which ... read more

Hi All Spent the last 3 days in Siem Reap which i have really enjoyed. The temples of Angkor have been the highlight. Also chilled out by a pool, visited the landmine museum and orphanage. Siem Reap is geared up for tourists so lots of westernised things here - a bar street wih great cocktails and the best ever sorbet at Blue Pumpkin bakery/restaurant. The traditional Khmer and Cambodian curries are excellent. On our first night ate at the Khmer Kitchen which apparently had Mick Jagger eating there not so long ago. I have a very funny photo of Laura & Louise doing MJ impressions! the Dead Fish Tower restaurant (bad name - great food) has real crocodiles which is a bit of a fright when you walk to the toilet and one snaps at you! ... read more

I think im crap at adjusting to the heat and the long days in the sun, so I spent most of today asleep and feeling crap. About 5 litres of water and i'm back up to 99%, but not the 100% that I require to go and eat locusts and cockroaches!... read more

Temples. Temples. Temples IT gets a little tiring looking round so many temples. During the day most are washed out by the harsh light. For those coming to see Ankor I would recommend a 3 day pass ($40) and a motorbike driver ($7/day). Go to the temples early in the morning and late in the day, and do something else during the middle. They are much more atmospheric at these times. The Landmine Museum In the afternoon I went to see the Landmine museum. IT was located out of town down a very unmade road, and if you didn't know it was there you would never find it. It was a strange place, no real structure to it, just a collection of ordnance, newspaper clippings and various other articles. The museum is the brainchild of Cambodian ... read more