Siem Reap & Angkor

Bonjour people,


Its amy here, reporting from Siem Reap (Cambodia). So we traveled here from Phnon Pehn almost a week ago, we got a really cheap bus for a couple of quid for 6 hours travel, which sounds a bargain but it wasn't really that straight forward...The bus was old school but definitely not the worst we've experienced, the roads were pretty bad - the rules of the road out here is to beep the horn constantly to make the slower vehicles aware that you are coming through. The beeping is CONSTANT, and so loud! also to help break the sound barrier was a khmer sing-a-long video being played, with the passengers all singing along. The t.v on this bus (like a few others i've witnessed) is a hole made at the front of the bus and an actual t.v just shoved in, D.I.Y style. Thankfully the driver made two stops where i could have a break from the noise and relieve myself in a hole in the ground with a groupof naked kids watching me. Good times.
We arrived in Siem Reap in one piece and got a tuk tuk to a place called "Happy guesthouse" which is indeed, very happy. The people are excellent here, they literally laugh at most comments i make, they either are genuinely nice OR they have drunk too many Happy Shakes (which are actually on the menu) Don't worry mum, i havn't had one. Yet.
So our first thoughts are about getting tickets from the famous Angkor temples, a city which was built a lonnnnnnnnnng time ago under the rule of this famous king (i don't retain info too well, google it) the city was the capital of the khmer empire. All was well until the Thais invaded and caused the cambodians to flee (bloody Thais) they also subsequently left and therefore the city was abandoned....left to the jungle. We decided to visit Angkor Wat - the largest and most "magnificent" temple, at sunrise. So at 5.00am we bundled into our tuk tuk, the driver was nice but his name, was just a noise, so we mostly called him friend, and off we went. When we arrived, there were not too many people there so we got a good seat on the floor in front of the lake which is in front of the temple. We sat for around 3 hours to watch the sun come fully up, it was worth every minute. It seemed to stay dark forever, i glanced down to pick up my camera, and the whole backdrop of sky behind the temple has turned a strawberry red colour. From then, the sun slowly but surely made its way up, at one point it was so dazzling you could only just make out the temple, but around 7.30am it had reached to a position which bathed the temple in light so the outline shone. It is one of the most beautiful things i have ever seen, my camera picked up a few good shots but it never seems to capture the beauty of seeing it for yourself.
After the sun came up, a little 10 year old girl persuaded us to have tea at her stall, so we did. The place seemed quite peaceful although by this time the crowds had gathered, in the distant we spotted a white pony walking freely through the fields around the temples.We set off inside the temple which again was magnificent, it was like something from indiana jones. Old scribes on the wall etc. We check out Angkor Thom also, probably my favourite and then maybe 5 others. One temple had trees entwined into the interior, this really gave the effect of a city abandoned to the jungle, mystical. The trunks and branches also appeared to be silver. It was a full on sight seeing day, but we enjoyed every minute, it really felt like visiting one of the great wonders of the world.
The begging in Siem Reap is at a whole new level, there are a lot of children beggars trying to sell books etc - its sad but buying things only condones it and keeps them on the streets. The money also doesn't always go to them, it gets back to the guy sending them out there every day/night and often they are involved in sex trafficking as they are so vunerable. We have spoken to some people that work in the fairtrade markets which "empower the people" by trying to ensure adults earn and children learn-Adam is thinking about sending some info back to his old school he worked at and maybe also we can do something in the way of a charity event to send some money back here and for it to go into the right hands (which is never too easy) There are so many causes you could help donate to and try help in this part of the world but the street kids of cambodia really deserve it. In my opinion.
Lighting up the situation, at lunch today whilst eating, a man pointed his stump at us repeatedly.....every cloud...
We have until Monday here and then we are off to Battambang, we wanted to venture into the highland areas for more trekking (North east...ish) but we don't have too much time here and we have to get our visa in time for Vietnam in Feb. So back down South we head.
Tonight we are heading over to a bar called Rosy, run by a guy from......Norwich! So Adam has his retro shirt laid out ready to don tonight, in hope this guy can stream the game live (or at least find a radio station)

Take care guys
Amy xxx