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Published: September 15th 2009
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We are currently on our way back to Phnom Penh (from Siem Reap) where we depart for Vietnam tomorrow. It’s a bit like whacky races - we have an erratic bus driver, a lot of live stock and mopeds on the road, kids on bicycles who can’t reach the peddles and a wreck of a bus that wouldn’t be out of place at an antique motor show. That said, it’s probably only slightly better than travelling on the Central Line so we can’t moan too much!
Since our last blog we have travelled up to North Cambodia to Siem Reap where we have had a fantastic few days looking round the temples in Angkor Wat - it’s a cross between Centre Parks and Tomb Raider. We found Siem Reap to be a much nicer city than Phnom Penh - a lot cleaner and plenty to do. Unfortunately poverty is still everywhere and it’s hard work saying no to the hundreds of kids who want to sell us either a book, bangle or hat - none of which we need! The kids here start work at around the age of 5 and the quality of their English is impressive - they
Tree vs. Temple
This is Ta Prohm temple built in 1186 are very intelligent and not easy to fob off!! I was thinking of offshore call centre until one called me a horrible Englishman for not buying a banana - not the best tactic to clinch the sale so I politely passed on the fruit and abandoned the call centre idea for now...
In the last few days we have looked round some of the most impressive temples in the world. Many of them are thousands of years old and it’s hard to imagine how they were created as there is a mass of stone in each one. I worked out that one of the temples could have housed around 80 full size rugby league pitches on it!! We got up at sunrise today to get the fantastic shot of Angkor Watt which looked stunning first thing (unlike us).
Whilst we was in Siem Reap we were whisked away by Batman (see photo) to the Chong Kneas (1 of 170 floating villages on the Tonle Sap lake). The bottom half of the house is like a boat and the bit above the water looks like a normal hut. During the rainy season the villagers move towards Siem Reap and
Boat Trip
This was the boat we explored the floating village on then as the river starts to dry up they then relocate further down the river. Altogether 80,000 people live on the lake and we had a short boat trip to visit some of the villagers, an orphanage and even a church - all on water!
The food out here is awesome and the Camodian food is known as ‘Khemer food’ (Comodians are known as the Khemer people) and although not particularly spicy, very flavoursome. In case a Camodian curry house open near you soon then I recommend the Fish Amok curry with rice. Those in Grimsby might have a wait but I bet there is already one in London! I also have met a new soulmate - Angkor beer - it appears you can drink copious amounts and not have a hangover the next day.
We also found a cleaner who washed, dryed & ironed for $1 a kg - I’m currently looking at options for getting back in the UK when we arrive home although now I’m married maybe it’s false economy? Oh and yes it’s obviously Beccy typing this blog (maybe that’s a white lie...). Speaking of Beccy her pool is much improved and she even
Floating Village
One of the residents on Lake Tonle Sap made a double yesterday. She is nearly ready for playing doubles -I’m aiming to give her a run out in Vietnam to earn us some extra money (not hustling the locals - we’ll aim for the Americans and Germans).
Anyway, I’m about ready to get back to watching road wars and see if we can get some road kill for dinner tonight - we passed a few good looking cows so fingers crossed we’ll be having burgers tonight and not a Cambodian moped driver.
We move on to Ho Chi Minh City tomorrow in Vietnam, then up to Hue and Hoi San on the East Coast. We are looking forward to hitting the beaches hopefully doing a bit of sun bathing and reading if the rain holds off (it is the monsoon season).
Hopefully we’ll survive the journey to post this on the net tonight, otherwise if this is found in debris - the driver was horrendous, the bus was a wreck and we want our $14 back!
All the best,
Andy & Beccy
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Grannie
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Wonderful!
it looks like you are having a wonderful time, I am very pleased for you. As I write this it is pouring with rain! I am Mike and Kasia's, we all send you all our love! Best Wishes Grannie