Temples of Angkor

From Bangkok we took a bus to the chaotic Cambodian border.  The Cambodian border town is called Poi Pet, and is truly miserable, cesspool of scams, and filth.  Fortunately this first impression f Cambodia was fleeting. After crossing the border it was a 2 hour taxi to Siem Reap. Siem Reap is the closest town to the Temples of Angkor, the eighth wonder of the world. We quickly grew to love the easy, gentle manner of the Cambodian people, and the food was unexpectedly spectacular.  We hired a tuk tuk to take us to the temples. We were never able to really make out what our drivers name was but it sounded like "mom" so we called him that.

Angkor Wat was spectacular but our favorite temple was Banyon. Banyon was so interesting me and John went back twice to explore the dark passages and then upwards onto the terrace where 54 Gothic towers are decorated with 216 smiling faces of Avolokiteshvara (the bodhisattva of compassion)

Ta Prom is a Buddhist temple intentionally left wild so visitors can see the the power of the jungle as trees grow over and between and on top of the temple walls.

Inside the temples, Buddha's covered in beautiful orange silk and incense filling the air.

In Siem Reap the streets are filled with action. There are tuk tuk drivers and motorcycle drivers calling out and offering rides, there are bands made up of amputees from landmines playing for money, children selling books and postcards, children begging for money, women offering massage. On every block there are giant fish tanks that you can put your feet into and these tiny fish eat the dead skin off your feet as a type of pedicure. (we have not tried this yet) Happy hour is called "Happy Day!" and draft beer is only 50 cents a glass. We have discovered banana crepes made by food vendors on the street for only 30 cents a crepe and a little bun thingys that are probably really bad for us but they taste really good.





Where did you come from? Where are you going?

Packing for the trip

We are busy deciding what needs to come with and what needs to stay behind. It's hard! I spent last night at Value Village buying shirts. There were a billion great deals. If John hadn't been bugging gently encouraging me to leave and if the store hadn't been closing I would have stayed all night.

Ben and Anna dropped in and gave us a few books for the road and some good bye wisdom "don't get sick!" John's sister Nicole sent an email this morning with some more advice "only drink purified water" My grandma was on the phone with my mom this morning asking if we remembered our toothbrushes and toothpaste. My mom is busy sorting through her linen closets looking for a suitable bed sheet John can take with him for bedding.  

I did not imagine this...and it still happened

I am planning a little trip and thought this might be a fantastic way for everyone to know what I'm thinking. An electronic window into my mind.

Two travel quotes to start things off right....

“People travel to faraway places to watch, in fascination, the kind of people they ignore at home.” – Dagobert D. Runes

One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller