Freejan

Had time to go down town this morning to the silk shop and then the market. I went with 3 other women, Lesley, Virginia and Fran. Good company, as have all my fellow tour people. We came back in a tuc tuc – rickshaw driven by motorbike at the costly sum of $5 or £3.50 for 4 of us. I had a shower, met the others for a snack at 2 when we had to vacate our rooms and waited to leave for the airport at 4. We flew from Siem Reap at 6.30 and it took about 45 mins. We now have 5 hours to pass before flying to Gatwick at 12.15. We arrive, if on time, at 6.45am. Then for me it’s the National Express bus to Heathrow and my flight to Manchester. Goodness knows what planet I’ll be on by the time i land in Manchester! But, i loved it all.

Today has been like being on a film set for so many reasons – atmosphere, romance, excitement, surprise, wonder and awe! The temples were Buddhist and Hindu and at times changing from one to the other. TaProhm Temple was where the filmed parts of Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie; tree roots had grown in and around the stone of the buildings and nature had taken over. Gobsmacking!
In Angkor Wat there was a moat all around it 1.3m X 1.5m and about 300 metres across. The place was huge with many cone shaped towers of different thicknesses and heights.There were beautiful carvings of patterns and people and along a very long wall was a carved frieze depicting scenes from battles and history. It must have gone along a wall for about 100 metres or more and being about 10 metres high. There were many steps to challenge me! We climbed up and up and still there were more steps until i decided i had to go down! It truly was a wonder of the world! I came out and walked to the west gate where we were all meeting. On the way i took a photo of the reflection of the temple in the waterlily pond – real poatcard stuff ! I have been having problems with my eyes in that they run and i squint and then can’t see. It seems to be related to the bright sunlight. They are hurting me now so i will come back later, tomorrow even and go to sleep now.
Back again! Now by the pool the next day( not sure if it’s thurs or fri!). From the temples we went for our last lunch as a group at a wonderful restaurant called Champey. The food presentation with orchids and pineapple tops was lovely and the food even better! We were then given an hour break back at the hotel before setting off for Angkor Thom – an old city with a bridge with carved figures on either side along tthe walls. On the right were the demons with menacing faces and the left the happy, more benevolent faces.
We then had another treat in store at our next temple – Bayon. Here we again climbed up spotting the many Buddha’s faces on the towers. Again here were wall carvings telling about the life of the Cambodians and their wildlife. It was dusk and cicadas were screeching and the sun going down. So very atmospheric. We reluctantly left to go back to the hotel after the guide took ‘trick’ photos of each of us with our noses touching a Buddha. I was hot and bothered but very happy. I had a shower and went down to thw pool bar for fish and chips which were delicious. Another very special day on my trip! Bye for now!

Had morning free so went to Friends Restaurant - a project supporting street children. Then to airport (again!) and 45 flight to Sieum Reap. Short city tour as going dark and then free time in the wonderful Angkor Miracle Hotel. ... [Continue reading this entry]

The prison was an old school which the Khymer Rouge used to torture people until they confessed and then took them out to the killing fields. It was another sobering, thoughtful day. Hundreds of photos of all the detainees and ... [Continue reading this entry]

7am wake up call and off to the royal palace by 8.30am! It was already hot and as requested had put a longer sleeve t-shirt on out of respect for the king. They seem to worship him as some kind ... [Continue reading this entry]

We had a relatively easy day with a 45 minute flight which flew by as we completed all the forms ready for entry into Cambodia or Kampuchea as the locals still like to think of it. We had the photo, ... [Continue reading this entry]

Today was well worth the getting up early for. We left the hotel on our pink bus at 8am. The first seat i sat on collapsed on me so can only think the diet is not going too well! We ... [Continue reading this entry]

All went well with alarm at 6am and at bus ( pink now!) for 8am. We set off for the Ci Chi Tunnels and were told it would take an hour and a half - not particularly because of distance(about ... [Continue reading this entry]

The alarm went off at 5am which was fortunate as the wake up call didn't come until 5.30am. As people who know me already know i spend the first half hour trying to come to terms with wakefulness so i ... [Continue reading this entry]

I was last on the white bus this morning after a 7am wake up call to be out by 8.30am. Now don't get me wrong, this is a wonderful tour but they will get you up in the mornings! I ... [Continue reading this entry]