We arrived into Siem Reap airport, filled out our forms for our Cambodian visas and caught a taxi into town. We soon found ourselves a little hotel away from the main road and first on the agenda was sunset at Phnom Bakheng. Unfortunately rain clouds decided to gather on the horizon ruining any chances of spectacular colours. The crowds became unbearable so we escaped on our tuk-tuk with our driver Channa. A man of few words and no idea how to use a camera but he did have a very big smile and very high voice.
The next morning we were up at sparrow's fart to enjoy Angkor Wat at sunrise. The main benefits being cooler temperatures and less people. As well as our driver we also hired a guide for the next few days who proved to be invaluable.
As we travelled around the local countryside he gave us a running commentary on the sights, sounds and smells. He was very informative and gave us a great insight into the community.
Our few days in Siem Reap were filled with temples, temples and more temples, as you can see from this selection of photos.
When we visited Angkor Wat for the second time it was full of Cambodians celebrating a Buddhist festival, they pay nothing to enter the temple complex which we think is a great idea. We became a tourist attraction ourselves as many of the Cambodians visiting from rural areas rarely see a white face and they weren't shy in expressing their interest in our pasty complexions.
Our guide was not only a fountain of knowledge but he was also quite handy with a camera. For the first time in our trip we had so many photos of the both of us together.
Our last temple of the tour, Bantai Sre was perhaps the most beautiful. Built from a red stone and adourned with remarkably well preserved and intricate carvings. We had to travel for about an hour in our tuk tuk to get to this temple, but this was one of the most enjoyable things we did, travelling through small communities and seeing something of rural Cambodian life.
On our way back to our hotel we spotted this vehicle and were suddenly overcome with flashbacks to some of our modes of transport in Nicaragua. Think that the Cambodians win the challenge for 'how many people can we fit into a small yellow van'!
On our second to last night we booked a table at an Apsara dance show. With an all you eat buffet and a seat right at the front we had a great evening. Well I did, Kate had a few stomach complications that required frequent visits to the toilets which meant she was unable to make full use of the buffet and missed a couple of acts.
The first town we visited in Cambodia, Siem Reap, really endeared itself to us. The people are so friendly and when they smile you cannot help but smile back. Its incredible to think that the horrors many of the older generation endured happened such a short time ago, but more on that later.
The next morning we were up at sparrow's fart to enjoy Angkor Wat at sunrise. The main benefits being cooler temperatures and less people. As well as our driver we also hired a guide for the next few days who proved to be invaluable.
As we travelled around the local countryside he gave us a running commentary on the sights, sounds and smells. He was very informative and gave us a great insight into the community.
Our few days in Siem Reap were filled with temples, temples and more temples, as you can see from this selection of photos.
When we visited Angkor Wat for the second time it was full of Cambodians celebrating a Buddhist festival, they pay nothing to enter the temple complex which we think is a great idea. We became a tourist attraction ourselves as many of the Cambodians visiting from rural areas rarely see a white face and they weren't shy in expressing their interest in our pasty complexions.
Our guide was not only a fountain of knowledge but he was also quite handy with a camera. For the first time in our trip we had so many photos of the both of us together.
Our last temple of the tour, Bantai Sre was perhaps the most beautiful. Built from a red stone and adourned with remarkably well preserved and intricate carvings. We had to travel for about an hour in our tuk tuk to get to this temple, but this was one of the most enjoyable things we did, travelling through small communities and seeing something of rural Cambodian life.
On our way back to our hotel we spotted this vehicle and were suddenly overcome with flashbacks to some of our modes of transport in Nicaragua. Think that the Cambodians win the challenge for 'how many people can we fit into a small yellow van'!
On our second to last night we booked a table at an Apsara dance show. With an all you eat buffet and a seat right at the front we had a great evening. Well I did, Kate had a few stomach complications that required frequent visits to the toilets which meant she was unable to make full use of the buffet and missed a couple of acts.
The first town we visited in Cambodia, Siem Reap, really endeared itself to us. The people are so friendly and when they smile you cannot help but smile back. Its incredible to think that the horrors many of the older generation endured happened such a short time ago, but more on that later.
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