Siem Reap

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Siem Reap

We flew to Siem Reap and arrived late morning, which gave us a free afternoon. However, Ian was still not 100% so we just relaxed and caught up on correspondence. I joined our group for a tasty dinner in the city centre, while Ian rested.
Siem Reap has a sleepy, rural atmosphere about it and certainly worth a visit but its main attraction is for accomodation to visit the Temples of Angkor.
These Temples were built between 9th & 16 centuries and rediscovered in 1860. There are 100+ temples, some still hidden in the surrounding forest.
On our first morning visit, we explored Angkor Wat, which is the largest and most breathtaking. It is also the best preserved. It was a hot, humid day so wandering around this vast monument and concentrating on all the history being told to us by our leader, sapped all our energy. We returned to our hotel for a break and travelled out again in the afternoon for another go!! This time we walked and climbed over Angkor Thom and Bayon. Ian joined us this time, but he couldn't last the distance so we both found a spot with a little breeze, to rest and wait for the group to return.
Day 2 was my favourite. This was the temple of Ta Prohm which has been left to be swallowed by the jungle, and looks very much the way most of the monuments appeared when rediscovered. About 10k from here we then visited the Banteay Srei which had well preserved, fine carvings in pink sandstone. Just an amazing experience and such a disappointment Ian couldn't be part of it. To enter The Temples of Angkor we had to purchase a 3 day pass. This was a laminated paper with our photo on it and had to be shown at various checking points. This was not a problem, but i am concerned about the number of visitors they allow in each day (over 2 million each year) and how everyone is allowed to walk over and touch this treasure of Cambodia. Really it is up there with the wonders of the world.
After lunch we both took one of our tour options out to the Tonic Sap Lake. This was just so depressing, but certainly gave us an insight as to how a large section of the community try to live without any government assistance! Their houseboats are one room shacks and their meals must be mainly fish from the lake. Surprisingly, there are a great variety of fish and a plentiful supply. The water was once again, neither pleasing to the eye or nose!! I can't even begin to envisage what life must be like for these people in the wet season, as the lake swells from 2,500sq.kms to 10,000.
We had an early evening as our bus was leaving at 7am for the Thai border and on to Bangkok. Bung (our tour leader) warned us about a bumpy ride but no warning would prepare us for what was to come. The 20 seater bus was a 2nd hand Jap import and built for Japanese leg room between the seats!! It was 100kms to the border and took 4 hours on a road of foundation rock rather than a smoother upper layered gravel road. Bloody rough. I just thought the only consulation for this torture might be that the constant vibrating might do something for hip reduction! We stopped for one toilet break (i opted out of this one - a fly ridden hole in the ground!) so made sure my water in take was just minimal!But, more to come, our driver discovered a flat tyre at this stop too. Soooo that was another additional hour, but better there than in the middle of nowhere. Finally we reached the border and had to wait once again in the sticky heat to pass through into Thailand. Relief on the other side - an airconditioned new van with comfortable seats and a smooth road into Bangkok. That took another 3 hours but was painless in comparison!! That evening was our last meal together and the end of our Intrepid Tour. We would certainly travel with them again.