Amazing Angkor

A little staging never goes a miss
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From Graham :

An eleven hour bus journey from Sihanoukville, via Phnom Penh to Siem Reap was, on the whole, relaxing and I can especially recommend the journey from PP north to SR; wonderful views for miles and miles.  But I would caution against the prawn crackers widely available from street stalls along the way; contents include decomposing prawns them judging by the smell.

"Does the burger come with chips?" "Why, you think it come with ri?"

Kids recycling project Siem Reap
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Having missed a few luxuries in our last place (egyptian cotton sheets, French wine, swimming pool to name a few) we decided to go up-market briefly.  Three nights at this place and we'd be ready for anything Vietnam could throw at us - yes we're definitely going to use those visas!

Much has been written about Angkor and its Wat, but nothing can really prepare you for the impact the entire place makes on you when you first see the scale and intricacy of its temples.  We hired a tuk-tuk driver for the day who took us around the place, and made the experience very special.  Later today, just before sunset, we're going on a lake journey to see the nearby floating village - let's hope we have enough insect repellant to last the journey!

Our overall impression on Cambodian people?  Witty, peaceful and always keen to strike a deal.

Rich writes:

Late on in the evening we took a little boat on to the Tonale Sap lake, the largest freshwater lake in SE Asia, to put it in perspective it is about 200 miles long by about 70 miles wide, enough to flood the whole of Scotland, the whole of Wales, Liverpool, South London, Milton Keynes, my office on Bunhill Row and Texas.

It was the perfect evening to take some great photos of the floating villages and how they get on with their lives on the lake, although I did come to wonder how they managed to get super-woofers the size of a wardrobe onto their houseboats which do not have any electricity. Anyway we gave money to poor people and hoped to help them increase the quality of their lives (sound systems).

The last night in Siem Reap we found that the Rainbow flag is slowly unravelling in Cambodia, well actually its been shaken out and flying in the wind if you judge the number of art galleries and cocktail bars sprouting up. Although the the more colourful members of the community would normally bide their time sneaking around in seedy unlit streets wearing a variety of hankerchiefs in a number of ways; here in Siem Reap the Chi Chi boys are serving Quesadillas and Rose by the tray load in tight wife-beaters and getting away with it, (or getting paid for it!).

Anyway...... bye bye Cambodia, I think the people of this country rank right up there with the Mexicans as the most fun loving and witty nation, the Swiss could learn a trick or too here. Good morning Vietnam