NatandMark

Early start at 06:30am for a 50 km Tuk Tuk ride with T to Banteay Srei and Kbal Spean. Banteay Srei was a small temple with unusal pink stones and marvellous carvings. After half hour tuk tuk drive (another 18 km) we arrived at Kbal Spean. Had breakfast at the local shack and took 2km trek to the top of the mountain. Cannot describe the sounds and smells of the jungle other than: come here and feel it for yourselves! At the top of mountain we found the first stone carvings after a little bit of disappointment an Australian who had been there before directed us in the right path as we had to boulder hop down the stream to see the carvings. It was a magical moment to see the carvings under the water, the ... read more

Got up at 04:30 am and went back to Angkor Complex to witness our first sunrise across the man made lake called Sras Srang. As we arrived at Sras Srang we were approached by 2 young girls aged 8 and 9 years. "Do you want coffee Mister?" "Madame do you want to buy some of my scarves?" "Please come have some of my coffee" "It's very early to drink anything right now, perhaps later" we replied. They insisted and it was ever so hard not to engage with them as they took every opportunity to practice not only their selling skills but also their English. They were enchanting, and yes, Mark had coffee and I bought batteries. For them this was a good day at the office. After a beautiful sunrise, we went to Banteay Kdei ... read more

At 08:00am we set off to Angkor. We bought a 7 day pass and 20minutes later we had arrived at Angkor Complex. Nothing on earth could have prepare us for the beauty before us. We both felt emotionally touched by the grandiosity and splendour before our eyes! It's impossible to describe the size, the number of Temples, its civilizations and culture and reason for this entire Complex. Anyone reading our blog we advise that you seek more information of this wonder of the world. First we went to Angkor Thom complex some 10 sq km in size surrounded by a 50 m wide moat built in 1181-1219. We visited the Bayon, the famous temple of many faces, then the Baphuon, then we went into the Royal Palace, the Terraces of the Elephants and of the Leper ... read more

Another adventure began. Tuk tuk to bus station for 2 dollars. Took a 7 hour bus journey to Siem Reap for 6 dollars each. It was wonderful to get out of the city and to begin to see the countryside and how the Khmer live. The beauty was stunning: very green with palm and cocanut trees and other vegetation, water buffalos, houses on stilts, children swimming where buffalo lived, enourmous rice fields and generally a wonderfull comfortable trip. Tuk tuk was waiting for us at the bus station. We met T who drove us to Siem Temple Villa hostel. After a swim in the pool we went for a Khmer meal at the Khmer restaurant and slept like babies!... read more

Got up, I (Nat) didn't feel well and headed straight to a pharmacy, alka seltzer was in order! Caught a tuk tuk by the main tourist front, Riverside, gazed at the Tonle Sap river which was flowing very fast. The river was full of litter, the surrounding area smelt of carbon monoxide and many unidentified smells many of which not at all pleasant. We weren't very impressed with Riverside, too many foreigners and lots of beggars. We walked along the river front, stumbled accross a Buddhist Temple complex (we didn't realize what it was until we were sitting in a lotus position being blessed by a monk and had to donate a dollar to Buddha!). Next stop was the National Museum and Library. Here began our education of the Khmer people, their history, struggles, religion and ... read more