I wasn't quite sure what to expect when arriving in Siem Reap. The airport is new and clean and fancy. The Visa process, organized and efficient. Colour me surprised. And I'd only been in the country for 15 minutes. We got picked up in a luxury tuk tuk (if there is such a thing) by someone from the guesthouse that Jennie had booked. When she had organized the hostels for her and Lindsay, I was still unsure if I'd be traveling with them so she didn't include me on the booking. The only room they had left upon our arrival was the "superior" which included a bath tub (score!) and a queen size bed for $15 a night. Oh, darn.
After dropping off all of our stuff, we hired a tuk tuk for the afternoon to take us to the "floating village". It turned out to be a pretty expensive day, but it was really cool to see.
Snapped from the tuk tuk on the way to the village.
Boat for three.
Fishin'
The village's high school
The houses are built on stilts because the water rises significantly during the rainy season. Villagers all use boats to get around no matter what the season.
"Street meat" equivalent?
Stopped here for lunch.
Hours and hours in the tuk tuk.
Our second day in Siem Reap was day one of temple hopping.
Hey, there.
Our tuk tuk driver, Som, also acted as tour guide/historian. He was full of information. Born in 1968, he's lived through four different regimes in Cambodia. I knew next to nothing when we arrived in the country, but the more I learned the more ignorant I felt.
I gave her my bracelet. She seemed unimpressed with the fact that it wasn't money.
Little kids hawking souvenirs everywhere. At one point I just stopped and watched this little girl for about 15 minutes. During which time, I heard her speak 3 different languages. I found a brochure at our guesthouse that had information about the importance of not buying anything from these kids and not giving them money. They're not in school and they're working full time either for their parents or some other adult bossing them around and taking whatever money they collect.
We went to so many temples that I lost track of which one was which. Our first day we visited Bayon, Preah Khan, Neak Prean, Ta Som, and East Mabon.
Som
Ta Prohm where parts of Tomb Raider were filmed.
August 12th - "Sitting at Angkor Wat watching the sunrise by myself along with thousands of other people." I took it easy the night before and set my alarm for 4:30am. Som picked me up and brought me to the mother of all temples.
Apparently "the" spot to be during sunrise.
I went back to the guest house after my solo mission to have some breakfast and get a couple more hours of sleep. Later that morning, the three of us went back for more temples including a second trip to Angkor Wat.
Hi Jennie, bye Jennie. This was taken on Jennie's last day before she had to head back to Toronto.
And then there were two.
Lindsay and I hadn't planned the rest of our trip, so we ended spending a couple of extra nights in Siem Reap.
Pub Street
New friends
We finally made arrangements to move on to our next destination, but we had a full morning left to squeeze in some more temples, Banteay Srey Butterfly centre, and Cambodia Landmine Museum.
The Landmine Museum shook me. Aki Ra, the man who opened the museum, was a child soldier for the Khmer Rouge (more on that later). The shells shown here are the result of his work clearing active landmines in Cambodia. The museum also serves as a home and school to disadvantaged children who have been affected by landmines. If you want to read more, go to http://www.cambodialandminemuseum.org/menu.html
There's absolutely no way I could put into words the feelings I experienced in Siem Reap. The stories that Som shared along with the incredible sights I was fortunate enough to see... it was easily one of my favourite parts of the summer. I know I'm not doing the experience justice, but it was indescribable, so this will have to do! Next stop, Phnom Penh.
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