Siem Reap. Cambodia

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Siem Reap exudes charm amid a mixture of Party Town and an endless parade of tuk tuks, motorcycles, and tourist throngs looking for the best deals on bananas in crepes, grilled meats, local tours, fish massages, or the endless stalls in the night markets selling beautiful and colorful Cambodian fabrics, baskets, and other local art.

                                       Cambodian Border Crossing ....2 /1/2 hours of chaos!

Our bus ride from Bangkok was a 9 hour mix of beautiful scenery, connections with new friends from near and far, and a wild  2 1/2 hour border crossing consisting of  complete chaos and 3rd World disorganization.  The flatness of the countryside really struck me ~ endless miles of rice paddies punctuated by small villages and very few hills.  We had a nice interchange with a Thai family in the bus station with 2 beautiful Children and visited with a Chinese couple who retired from teaching at Idaho State and now live in Renton ~ also on their way to Cambodia.

                                                           Are they Cute or What?

On the bus Carol spent the whole trip conversing with Cecilia ~ an adorable girl from Singapore - who we have met for dinner twice in Siem Reap. 

 Caro and Cecilia at Dakshik Indian Restaurant

 

We also connected with Chuck and Charlene Howell who were on the same bus - and live on Samish Island - just a few miles from our house.  We thoroughly enjoyed their company and did a great tour together of Mount Kulen a very significant place in Cambodian history dating back to 802 AD.    

With Chuck and Charlene after our trip to Mt. Kulen

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So three days and 4 nights in Siem Reap ~ and leaving for the capital ~ Phnom Penh tomorrow.
So what did we do here?? you might ask....  Well..........

Day one:   up at 4:30 am for a 5 am tuk tuk ride with "Mister Black" or Sievhorn as we later got out of him.  For $20 you get a tuk tuk driver and guide to take you for the day through Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom ~ two absolutely stunning and overwhelming major ruin sites of temples and so much more.  Dating back to the 9th century this is Cambodia's major highlite and not to be missed.

                                                            Sunrise at Angkor Wat

lunch with Sievorn our tuk tuk driver

Day Two: 9 am minivan with Chuck and Charlene, 2 Brits, and 5 girls from Singapore.
Pi was our guide for the all day  trip and a guy driving the van too.
This is a fascinating and very sacred place in Cambodia dating back to the early 9th century.  A river bed where they cut stone for Angkor temples that is 30 feet across and the entire bed is carved stone with figures and "10,000 stones".
 16 meter long reclining Buddha that is carved from a 3 story  bolder and encased in a temple built on top of the bolder.  a beautiful 100 ft water fall and free running springs at the top of the mountain.  Simply  incredible!

Here is a link to this incredible area:
http://www.archaeology.org/issues/165-1501/letter-from/2779-letter-from-cambodia-phnom-kulen

                                                      Incredible Carved River Bed

                                                  Stairs to Reclining Buddha temple

                                                     Monk below Buddha Temple

                                           3 story boulder that the Temple is built on

                                  Carol looks "enlightened" in front of 16 meter long Reclining Buddha

                                                Waterfall below Reclining Buddha temple

                                      Making Palm Sugar on the way back to Siem Reap

                                                                The finished product

                                    A favorite street dessert: Rice crepe with banana and chocolate

 Day Three: Cambodian Cooking Class in the morning with a trip to the market, Finished off with a Massage.   (sorry this has turned into such a long post ~but what can I say ~ Siem Reap Rocks!)

starting with Mango Salad
 
 

                                        Mise en place (everything ready to go}

                                     Soere ~ our Cooking instructor ~  What a Sweetie!

                                  "Amok" a very popular Cambodian Curry with Fish or Chicken

                                                                   Fried Spring Rolls

Soere and her cook assistant after Class

                                                     Sausage Heaven at the Market!

                                                              Pork Products Anyone?

                                                              Beautiful Vegetables

                                                                   Lots of Seafood!

Hope all is well back home We are 6 more nights in Cambodia before we enter Vietnam ~  We will keep you posted!!       Don and Carol