The Temples of Angkor

Well, it was absolutely awful getting here ( a gruelling ten hours and a two hour roadside wait after a bus breakdown and these roads make some of the roads in Laos look like superhighways...), but all was forgotten once we saw Angkor Wat!

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We are in Siem Reap, the gateway to the temples of Angkor...one of the things we have most anticipated on this journey. Siem Reap itself is beautiful with old French shophouses, shady tree-lined boulevards, and a gentle winding river. Most people are here to see Angkor, which is the heart and soul of Cambodia and a source of pride to all Khmer people.

The temples were built between the 9th and 14th centuries and they are unparallelled in SE Asia (maybe the Bagan in Burma could be a runner-up.) Otherwise, only the Great Pyramids would come close! Having seen this we can say that it is truly one of the foremost architectural wonders of the world.

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There are 100 or so temples spread throughout the forest, some famously left to the jungle. (see the photos) We will not forget the first spine tingling moment we crossed the causeway over the moat en route to Angkor Wat...it was breathtaking. It is believed to be the largest religious structure in the world!

We have been at one or another temple for sunrise and sunset for the past three days and it has been awesome. We decided to buck the trend and choose temples other than Angkor and Ta Phrom and it really paid off. Yesterday morning we had two temples one hundred percent to ourselves! After a bit a few kids (peddlars) joined us and kind of spoiled the intimate momemt but you can't blame them...these kids work from 4 am, then go to school from 7-11, then work until sunset.

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The Cambodian people are very beautiful and very friendly, but rural Cambodia is truly without any rules! It is more or less the wild west and that makes it a bit scary at times.

As always, repeat business is especially valued. For example, we found a great breakfast place for noodle soup that had only locals eating there. The first morning we were "sized up"and checked out to see what and how we ate. The seond morning, we were given free tea and some ëxtras. The third morning, we got free tea, extras and a lower price! Same thing with Paul and his source for ice...first day the block was small and it cost 500 riels. Paul negotiated for 400. The second day the block was a bit bigger for the 400. The third day the block was huge and only 300 riels!

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It is hard to imagine that our time on the trail is almost over. As much as we are trying to remember that the trail is the thing, we are truly dreading the roads from here to the border at Poipet. We leave tomorrow to go back to Bangkok and once we survive that trip we hope to have clear sailing for the balance of our time here. We are hoping to connect with Jamie and Rita M, and spend a little down time before the long flight home. See you all in June.

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