Phnom Penh and Siem Reap
Chloe Writes: Even though I had read in the guide book that Cambodians eat anything, I was still surprised to see the fried crickets, cockroaches and tarantulas among other snacks on sale. Once arriving in Phnom Penh, we found a relaxing spot to stay by the lake with a really chilled out restaurant overlooking the perfect sunset. It was just a shame about all the rubbish and the hassle from tuk tuk drivers and hawkers, it reminded us of India in many ways.
You cant visit Phnom Penh without visiting the killing fields, the Tousang prison and watching a movie or two about all the atrocities under the regime of the Khmer Rouge in mid to late seventies. Around 2 million people were either executed or died of starvation. It’s a real eye-opener.
Our second bus trip (the first when crossing the border) and a second dodgy road side meal consisting of a kind of cold lentil/noodle soup, took us to the dusty town of Siem Reap. Being quite a laid back town it is definitely a place to hang your hat for a couple of days or 4, and a 3 day pass to visit the temples of Angkor means you can come and go as you please. I have to admit, I’m not the biggest fan of wondering round ancient ruins all day, especially in a 35 degree heat, but the temples of Angkor did not fail to impress, we even made it to Angkor Wat for the sunrise.
I have enjoyed our short but sweet trip to Cambodia and will certainly miss the ‘cook your own soup’ restaurants, where you order plates of noodles, meat, veg etc. and cook it in a boiling clay pot of soup in the center of your table, sat on a gas burner, at your leisure. Genius!
Pete Writes: ‘Hello tuk tuk!’ is all you hear in Cambodia so much so I was beginning to think it was the national greeting! Add to this beggars and sellers on every corner it can get a bit too much. However once you stop and think about what they have been through, you become a little better at dealing with them. I just wish that the kids were at school rather than trying to sell you fridge magnets!
Siem Reap has a completely different vibe to Phenom Pehn. Mostly due to the fact that they have one of the 7 wonders on their door step. Angkor Wat and all of the surrounding temples were a real treat to visit, especially when we headed out on our bikes. Shame Chloe could not get to grips with her saddle, although saying that we both looked a little like John Wayne when we got back, walking with a distinct swagger. We took sooooo many photos and have short listed them to the ones here, however if anyone has a spare few hours we will be happy to bring the slide show round on our return :o)
Page Gallery
Siem Reap
Can’t wait for that one!!
Sunset from our guest house in Phnom Penh
Pete gave his diablo to a ‘hello tuk tuk’ and taught him a trick or two….. the shop owner wasn’t best pleased when it hit her roof…oops!!
Killing Fields & Memorial
Some of the many thousands of remains in the memorial aka Skull Tower
Tousang prison or S21
Angkor Wat
Carvings in stone, Angkor Wat
Us at the top of one of the Angkor temples
Tree in Temple 2
Tree in Temple 3
Chloe with our bikes at Angkor
Monk
Bayon temple at Angkor
Bayon temple 2
A cow at Angkor
Sunset at Angkor
D.I.Y soup…Yummy!
Pete getting randomly attacked, in the middle of the city, by a standing up croc…bizzare!
Bug eating bug
Humans eating bugs
Tags: Cambodia
March 15th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Scary looking bug! yuck.
Some lovely photos guys.
When you due home? I’ve lost track of time…
March 15th, 2008 at 11:45 am
oh by the way, fair play on hiring the bikes and spending three days there - we did a one day tour and that was enough!
March 16th, 2008 at 7:35 am
Just catching up on ya travels! About time to eh! Looks a total eye opener, Think I’ll stick to Mc D’s & KFC though! You both are looking really well. Had natter to Kirsty last week and she filled me in on some more wedding tales. Take care
Paulette n co.
March 17th, 2008 at 6:16 am
Yo Pete!!
It’s Kate form Lister Charles (soon to be an ex employee- woo hoo). Simon tells me you guys are going to NZ! Me and Steve are setting up shop there for at least a year so if you are coming to Auckland then we will definately have to hook up. Been following your blogg and it looks like you and Chloe are having so much fun! And the wedding looked to beautiful! Can’t wait for me and Steve to start our adventure. We are doing California, Costa Rica, Peru, Bolivia, Fiji and then settleing in NZ- can’t wait!!!!
I have been inspired by your blogg and going to attempt to set up my own (is going to be no where near as professional as yours) but i will send you then link so hopefully if you are in NZ you have somewhere to crash!
Kate
March 17th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Hope Chloe does’nt bite your head off Pete.
March 20th, 2008 at 6:59 am
Hi Ruphert,
We are due to be back in Feb 2009, but money is running through our hands like water… But hey we are still having a good time :o)
We have actually moved our flights forward by 7 weeks, so we are spending less time in OZ and NZ, which will hopefully give us a good chance of staying out in South America longer..
We will see!!!!
March 20th, 2008 at 7:23 am
Hi Paulette,
Good to hear from you.
We did not eat the bugs either, they did not look too tasty!
The wedding was great, it seems so long ago already.
Hope you and the boys are all good :o)
Talk soon
Pete and Chloe x
March 27th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Yeah Oz was a money sucker for us - don’t stay too long without a job!
South America should be a lot cheaper :o)
Well if you do come back early you know you’re both more than welcome to stay in our spare room, until your house is free :o)
April 1st, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Thanks for the offer Rup,
We will keep it in mind