Saturday February 23 - Siem Reap

In the morning, we head for Angkor Wat to see the sunrise.  We are met there by what seems to be half of the planet’s population.  Tourism has definitely taken hold in the area.  It’s a little bit cloudy, but the sun does indeed rise over the temples, and we enjoy the marvelous view.



Sunrise at Angkor Wat

After the early morning visit, we go back to the hotel for breakfast, and more importantly, coffee.  On our way to the Banteay Srei Temple site after breakfast, our guide tells us the sad legacy of landmines in present day Cambodia.  The mines are left over primarily from the Khmer Rouge, and still claim several lives a year.  There are ongoing efforts to identify and remove these mines.

We also learn the country is a constitutional monarchy.  The current prime minister had been with the Khmer Rouge when Pol Pot ruled the country.  The former king Sihanouk had recently died.  The guide seems to be more satisfied with the current king, even though the monarchy has no real power.

At Banteay Srei, we learn the temple was build in the 10^th century.  It is a Hindu temple, built primarily of red sandstone.  It is also known as the ‘Jungle Temple’. 

 

Bantay Srei (Jungle Temple)

 

Our next stop is the Pre Rup temple, also built in the 10^th century as a Hindu temple.  Both temples have more of the intricate carvings we have seen at Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat.

Pre Rup Temple

 

Later in the morning, we visit the Ta Prohm Temple.  A Buddhist temple build in the 12^th century, it has not been restored to the extent of other sites.  There are large trees growing in and on the structures, and the site seems to be swallowed up by the jungle.

 

 

 At Ta Phrom - Stone face swallowed by tree

 

 Strangler Tree at Ta Phrom

 

Ta Prohm has become a more popular tourist stop due to the filming of the movie ‘Tomb Raider’ at the site.  Ken and I have not seen the movie, but it is on our list of things to do.  Of course, this is for research purposes, and we probably won’t even notice Angelina Jolie when we watch the movie.

Ta Phrom being overtaken by the jungle

We head for a restaurant near Tonle Sap Lake for lunch.  After lunch, we get into a flat bottom boat for a trip to the floating village on the lake.  The boat does not appear to be seaworthy, and we don’t believe it meets US Coast Guard regulations. 
 

Boats at Tonle Sap Lake

The causeway leading to the lake has a lot of boat traffic, and our small vessel manages to get some of the wash from the larger ones.  The water looks to be polluted.  In spite of this, there are people in it working and playing.

Our Siem Reap guide, Mr. Keng at Tonle Sap Lake

The floating village has a store, a Vietnamese school, Catholic church, and boat homes for 1,100 families. 

Floating Store at Tonle Sap Lake



Many of the floating homes have satellite dishes.  They probably have generators for electricity.  We are at the village during the dry season.  In the rainy season, the entire village moves to a different area of the lake. 

View of the floating village

 

Boat at floating village

Egrets along the shore on way back from Tonle Sap Lake 

We manage to safely make it back in our small boat, and get in a swim at the hotel before dinner.  The Old Market area is again our dinner destination.  But this time, within a few blocks of the Old Market, we get stuck in a large traffic jam.  This is a prelude to one of the more pleasant unexpected surprises of our trip.

Large crowds of people, all in a festive mood, begin to line the sidewalks, with the best spots reserved for the children.  We find a restaurant called Amok, and are seated when the Giant Puppet Street Parade begins.  Since the entire restaurant staff is outside watching, we join them.

The parade consists of puppets made by children under the auspices of adult groups.  The puppets resemble those seen in Chinese New Year parades.  There are bees, snakes, dragons and all manner of whimsical creatures.  This is the only time neither Ken nor I had a camera, so we did not get pictures of this event.  Fortunately, the puppets were on display the next day in a park, so we did get a few pictures. 

 

One of the puppets from the Giant Puppet Street Parade

 

Our meal is delicious, and we wander the market area after dinner.  Instead of getting a tuk-tuk, we decide to walk back to the hotel.  The exercise helps us burn off some of the calories we have consumed.  Remarkably, neither one of us seems to be gaining weight.