Taprohm Hotel Siem Reap

A relaxed day. <br>Went to see the artisan guilds: <br>-stone carving <br>-wood carving <br>-silk painting <br>-silver working <br>-and silk production and weaving <br><br>After dinner went down to the river and handed out bend-and-glow sticks to all the little kids to wave around in the dark. <br>A good time was had by all.

... Throughout<br>the days we've spent exploring our favorite, other than Angkor Wat,<br>was Preah Khan &#8211; similar to the To Prohm temple (the one in the<br>Lara Croft Tomb Raider films) but a lot less people. The compound is<br>in a state of magnificent ruin &#8211; where trees have wrapped around<br>temple walls and pillars. Walking around makes us feel like we're in<br>an Indiana Jones movie. The sunsets are even better than the sunrise<br>and part of that is because of the people ...

... at least make my going away tolerable for my family. The original plan was to be away for six months. That's just too long away.<br><br>First it was farewell to my office colleagues in the never ending party that is Las Iguanas. It may be a chain restaurant, but the food and service are reliable, and the prices fare, even though the cocktails could use some degree of strengthening.<br><br>Next up to my friends from the pub, the concept of not having a decent pint of ale until ...

... on motorbike - and the amount they can carry is truly unbelievable - how they can balance and turn is beyond me (perhaps that is why the roads are so straight!).<br>The locals also seem to raise there t-shirts half way up there body - this intrigues me - not sure if this is because they are simply hot or if this is has some meaning.

... had many stone piles blocking doors and entrance ways. This temple is less visited and it absolutely stunning. At Angkor Wat, this was my favorite temple. <br><br>At all of these temples, the guards give you free rane to go wherever you want and to climb anything you see. Of course this probably isn't the best thing for the temples, but it allows you to see rooms that are not accessible by pathways. I had such a great time here and am sad to leave.

... I had seen anywhere.) and was the largest as in its day it served as the center of an ancient city. Lolei was little more than four towers that were in the worst shape of anything I had seen. They were totally propped up and looked sad and old. I think they would be better served if nature was allowed to take its natural course.<br><br> We finished up around five and I had the rest of the day to myself. I showered and took a tuk tuk down to the city center area, where there are ...

<br><br> Cambodia is amazing! It is much more low key than Bangkok and much less intimidating. We can walk practically everywhere and the people are very friendly. <br><br> We decided to spend our first full day in Cambodia exploring and relaxing. We walked to a market and explored the stalls, taking everything in. As you walk along the stalls, the workers either call to you and say "lady lady want to buy?" or they are silent because they have fallen asleep in chairs or ...

... bus, tuk tuk, bus, taxi, tuk tuk. I am definitely flying to Cambodia if I ever return!!!<br><br>Luckily, our journey was worth the toil. We love Cambodia! Our hostel is run my westerners, and is equipt with a pool table, lounge with games, television with American channels (and dvds<br>to rent) and a bar and restaurant (and our course air conditioning!)<br>Our room wasn't ready when we arrived so we had a snack in the bar.<br>Luckily, our hostel washes all of their food in ...

... it was war being waged by the Khmer Rouge against other Cambodians anyway... It's a complex subject, methinks.<br><br>The first thing you notice about Siem Reap is the tourists and the beggars. Many of them are landmine victims (Cambodia is still one of the most heavily mined countries in the world, so much so that it's very dangerous to ever stray off well-marked paths) and have no other way to get money as there's no kind ...

... Buddha.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br> I thought I captured a lot of professional shots for Noel on ...