Cambodia Recollections

We have been in Phuket for three days, and I still haven't written much about Cambodia. Well, here is a recollection of our travels in that wonderful country.

Thursday, June 25:
The day after our biking "tour", we again hired a tuk-tuk, got up very early and went to see the sunrise at Sra Srang (Pool of Ablutions), an 800x400 meter basin dating from the 11th century that was reserved for the king and his wives. We also visited more temples and ruins further afield.

Friday, June 26:
We had quite an adventure! We took the tuk-tuk to Roluos - a village some 13km from Siem Reap. At the village, we switched to motorbikes: Nadia and Celine on one with a driver and me and a driver on a second motorcycle. Yes, three people on one bike! We have seen families of five on a single motorbike! People also transport all kinds of things from animals to furniture to kindling on their two-wheelers - motorized or not. Anyway, we couldn't take the tuk-tuk to our destination, because the "road" is not accessible by car or tuk-tuk. It was really only a dirt path through rice fields with large holes and areas of sand too deep for driving. Needless to say, the ride was very bumpy. Luckily, our drivers were skilled and we arrived unharmed at a spot where we boarded a longtail boat that brought us to the village of Kompong Phluk on Tonle Sap (the largest freshwater in South-East Asia). We followed the waterways through the village that was built on stilts 6-7 meters high. At on point, we went on land and visited the village where we were instantly surrounded by a large crowd. We ended up buying notebooks and pencils for the local school children who rewarded us with big smiles. The village people lead very simple lives. They catch fish and shrimp for income. I can't imagine living without the amenities (not luxuries) of modern life, such as a bathroom, kitchen, computer, or private space. Large families live in these one-room huts and make do with very little. They seem happy and content, and they are certainly friendly and welcoming. That makes you wonder, if all we consider necessary is really essential in the pursuit of happiness. :)
After some pool time at the guesthouse, we went back to Angkor Wat to explore the inside of the large temple. Most of the Buddha statues and other artifacts were destroyed or removed during the reign of the Khmer Rouge, but the remaining temple structure and bas-reliefs are vast and breathtaking.
We ended our day with an appetizer of roasted crickets (salty, crunchy, buttery - actually surprisingly good!) from a street vendor and another tasty Khmer meal of local fish.

Saturday, June 27:
We decided to go back to Tonle Sap to visit a floating village. Since the location of the floating homes is much more accessible than the ones on stilts, there were lots of other tourists. Oh well, I guess we can't expect to be the only visitors. ;)
It was interesting to see how these Cambodian and Vietnamese families spend their lives on water. Their school, church, temple, meeting hall, restaurants, and stores are all afloat. People bathe and wash clothes and dishes all in the the lake. The village is not stationary; it moves according to water levels. The Mekong, I was told, brings huge amounts of water in August (due to heavy rains) and the water level of the lake increases tremendously.

Sunday, June 28
Beng Mealea was our destination for the day. It's considered to be "the ultimate lost-temple experience" according to our Lonely Planet travel guide. How true! The large 12th century temple is enclosed by a massive moat and mostly overgrown with vines and trees. The jungle has wreaked havoc here; there are huge piles of masonry and rubble to climb and dark chambers to explore. It's spectacular! We felt like Indiana Jones climbing over these mountains of ancient stones, some with intricate carvings. It was well worth the somewhat uncomfortable 2 hour tuk-tuk ride (one-way).

Monday, June 29
Our last full day in Cambodia :(
How quickly a week passes, when you are enjoying yourself!
We rented bicycles again and rode around town and along the pretty river front of Siem Reap. We had lunch at a great little cafe and spent some time bargaining and making purchases at the Old Market. We found a stall that sold items such as bags and wallets that were made out of recycled paper and rice bags. The profits go directly to the poor mothers and children that made them. They craft beautiful items. This is their website: www.friends-international.org
We noticed many efforts, both local and international, to better the lives of the Cambodians and their country that is still struggling to recover from years of war.