WatsUp Guesthouse Siem Reap

... guide book Angkor wat is described as 'visually, architecturally and artistically breathtaking. It is a massive three-tiered pyramid crowned by 5 lotus-liked towers rising 65 meters from ground level'. It was constructed in the early to mid 12th century.
After watching the sunrise we headed to investigate the temple. Out of the many temples we have seen in south-east Asia this collection has to be the best. Angkor Wat was breathtaking as I ...

... am so so hungry!! We munch our way through a bag of midget gems and hunger does not subside...neither does the need to take our malaria tablets!! It's now after midnight and I am still contemplating heading into town but then decide that I will take my tablet anyway and have some sleep before an early breakfast in the morning. Bad idea...I am suddenly awash with the worst sickness...since last night that is!!

... that my first impression of Cambodia was a very positive one, not only for such amazing sites but also for the warmth of the people. Cambodia is a poor country but it is amazing how much they have achieved considering that since its independence in 1954 from the French the country went through so much conflict, I definitely want to read more and learn more about the culture and this visit is an ...

... adrenaline producing (on a Tuk Tuk, at least) kilometers east from Siem Reap. We started off at Lolei. There was only a few other people there, though that meant that the postcard/scarf-selling children were more concentrated on us. Honestly, it's not that bad; a smile and repeated "no" fends them off. Sheena got the generousity-for-cuteness out in one fell swoop by buying something from each of them... fortunately that only lasted for one Wat! We continued ...

... know what I mean. Of course his sounds were much more in tune and refined then mine ever were.
There's a few 'still' photos and a few short clips of them playing. I know it will sound choppy but clips longer than 15 seconds take forever to download so I kept them short just so you could get a feel for the sound - I hope you enjoy it.
PS- Allen, I'd love to know what the large boat looking instrument up front is called.

... t think it seemed really necessary and as my head was full all the gruesome stuff I'd just seen at Toul Sleng (skulls with holes in them), I found it rather chilling.

It's worth remembering that the last of the Khmer Rouge was only rooted out at the end of the 1990's and their hide-outs were here in this province, so it has only known peace since 1992, when the UN stepped in to broker a peace of sorts.( After the Vietnamese had left in ...

... it very easy to visit here. (Hint, everybody. Don't change money at the airport. The exchange rate is not very good. In general, it's 4000 riel to the dollar. 4100 to be exact. The restaurants and shops all use 4000 to the American Dollar - much easier math! Four 1000 Riel notes to one dollar. There is no metal change here, only paper notes.)

The food is all in one section of the old market. The smells are quite odd ...

... special moment just to be there and part of their history.

Next we went to Bayon temple which is (the temple of faces) and that was stunning, just amazing - they built faces in the towers of the temple.
We saw the elephant terrace and the gates of angkor Thom.

Next was Thommanom which was ok. Then Ta Prohm which is where Tomb raider was filmed. Trees are actually growing through the temple remains - it looks brilliant ...

... forgotten to bring my windbreaker on board and suffered through about half the trip with goosebumps. It got so bad that I pulled my arms inside my shirt for the rest of the trip and curled up to keep warm. I tried to say something to one of the attendents but he just chuckled when I gestured that I was cold and kept moving to the back of the bus. Ah well...

Tomorrow I'll be checking out the horrors of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge.