Blogs from Cambodia, Asia - page 15

Mit dem Boot sind wir von Siem Reap nach Battambang weitergefahren. Die Fluss- und Seelandschaft ist malerisch, aber auch der Handel auf dem Fluss ist interessant: der Captain hat ständig telefoniert, irgendwo gehupt und gewartet. Dann kam jemand angepaddelt, und ein Sack mit irgendwelchen Waren wurde rauf- oder runtergereicht. Das ist wohl eine Art Amazon für regionale Waren und abgelegene Gegenden. In Battambang sind wir in den Zirkus "Phare Ponleu Selpak" gegangen - eine tolle Show! Hervorragende Tänzer und Akrobaten, gute Musikanten und alles sehr unterhaltsam verpackt. Danach gab es noch ein kulinarisches Highlight: süßen Avocado-Shake - unbedingt probieren! Andere kulinarische Genüsse haben wir uns verkniffen: am Straßenstand gab es gegrillte Ratte und Schlange. Wer sich an den Vorräten der Bauern bedient, wird selber zur Nahrung - so ist der Kreislauf wieder geschlossen. ... read more

From TripAdvisor, of course: You’d think the url=http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/7876402/type/dlg/sid/TL,TheWorld%27sTopRatedHotelonTripAdvisorCosts%24113aNight,chenk,NEW,ART,653043,201801,I/http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Hotels-cTop-g1most popular hotel on a site like TripAdvisor would cost you an arm and a leg to stay in. However, travelers looking to experience something truly great will be happy to learn that staying in one of the most well-regarded hotels in the world costs a mere $113 a night. url=http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/7876402/type/dlg/sid/TL,TheWorld%27sTopRatedHotelonTripAdvisorCosts%24113aNight,chenk,NEW,ART,653043,201801,I/http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g297390-d9514361-Reviews-Viroth_s_Hotel-Siem_Reap_Siem_Reap_Province.htmlViroth's Hotel, located in the center of Siem Reap, url=http://www.travelandleisure.com/attra... read more

I have been fortunate to have visited this wonderful country twice before. What makes it different now? Our friend, Roath, who was our guide on our first trip here, is now a wife and mother of two children. On our last visit here, she was still a single lady and joined us for dinner at the fancy French restaurant in our hotel. Before I tell you more about this interesting and changing city, let me tell you about that dinner. We were staying at the best hotel resort in Siem Reap, and invited Roath to join us. She had never eaten French food before, and was most pleased to be invited to join us. But she was not treated very nicely by the staff. Perhaps they perceived she did not "belong" there, since she was one ... read more

Today was an open day for me. I hadn’t planned anything definite and when I got up this morning I really didn’t know what I would do. I was thinking that I SHOULD make an effort to hire a guide and go see some of the farther temples an hour or more from the city, but then I asked myself, “What do I WANT to do?” My answer was that I wanted to go spend more time at the Angkor Wat temple. The hotel was very accommodating in giving me a late checkout time and arranging for a driver. I could have gotten a guide, too, but I had been to the temple already with a guide and wanted to wander on my own. Also, I wanted to go in from the west, the way it ... read more

Today I visited several of the less famous temples in the Angkor area. They are not as well restored nor as crowded as the famous ones like Angkor Wat. I realize that photos of them tend to blend together and don’t mean much unless you were there, so I’ll show you one (Ta Som) that is quite atmospheric. While I was there, a couple dressed in traditional Cambodian finery was having pre-wedding photos taken. Also today I saw some wildlife that interested me. I heard gibbons hooting in the trees at one temple and at another I stopped to look at a termite mound by the side of the road. I saw Asian elephants that are not actually wild, but are used as a ride for tourists. Water buffalo used to be more common, apparently, but ... read more