Siem Reap Cambodia
Trip Start
Jun 09, 2008
1
5
10
Trip End
Jul 31, 2008
Siem Reap,
Cambodia
Sunday, June 22, 2008
First I would like to say that Tuk Tuk drivers are all crazy and the lines that are painted in the road that we in America like to call lanes are only opptional over here and 99.9% tend to ignore the fact that there is on comming traffic coming and a lane, they just honk honk honk. Also it is many times appropriate for someone to cut someone else off and fly into on coming traffic while honking and yelling that you in fact did have the right away! Let us just say my dad's driving is like an old grandma's compared to this.
Some things I've learned so far is that over here is a $6 dollars for a massage, $10 to rent your private tuk tuk driver for a day (hopefully he doesn't kill you both) and $.25 to have a button sewn on your shirt when it pops off in the most inconvinent place and you don't have anywhere to change, they even sew it on while you are still wearing the shirt while looking down shyly. That being said however there is no such thing as personal space over here and people will literally grab you and drag you into their shop if they think you may be interested in buying anything (all westerners are believed to be interested)
Another thing I've learned is Monks are just flirtatous men wrapped in bright orange who love to have a good sit down with western girls. They love to practice their english and often it is a one to 3 year commitment to be a monk and every buddist male must at some point do it in their life, however very few make it a lifetime commitment like we would see ministers over here.
At least once in your lifetime you should really try and see the sunrise over Angkor Wat (I'll attach pictures tomorrow!!!) However please note that pictures can not describe the awe. Other temples are amazing in the Angkor Wat complex which is over 1,000 years old. I've also learned in this trip that while walking through the ruins monkeys do attack humans (not me thankfully I can run like the wind) and trees grow through the ruins. I visited the Wat's filmed and used in Tomb Raider and those were cool but once again a picture can not really relive the amazing site. I sat there atop Angkor Wat one afternoon alone and thought I can not believe I am in Cambodia! This is something dreams are made of and this is an amazing opportunity. I looked out over the view, saw the children playing near by and had the most awesome conversation with two young buddist monks who wanted to hear about my faith and life in the states. What an opportunity!
Cambodia to me was always another country on the map that did not hold much interested but after seeing the sites, the people, the culture and the food I can say that it is someplace that my heart has been forever touched by. Some day when I adopt a child I believe it will be a little boy from Cambodia with the fire light in his eyes and the hope of life in his hugs. It is amazing!!!
Comments
:)
Hey girl! Great pictures! Glad you are getting to post some and write to us! Looks like an adventure that is all I can say! Can't wait to get together when you get back. Love you!