Took the bus out to Cambodia, quite a long day's journey! Though, the road that I hear was once lengendary for its lack of pavement and was a long, hot and bumpy ride is no more. The road from the border to Siem Reap is an easy 2.5 hour drive complete with Air Con :)
On the way into Cambodia I met 3 English friends and have been traveling with them while here. Its great meeting people on the road. Hearing where they've been and where they're going. These guys have been traveling for 7 months. Im jealous! Picture here of my new friends on our trip out to Angkor Wat this morning.
We woke up early at a ghastly 4:30am to take a Tuk Tuk out to the temples. Definitely the way to go! Though, if I were to do it again I would rent a bike in town and ride around the temples. Until of course you start to melt on your bike. In the early morning it was not crowded and was pretty spectacular to watch the sunrise over the Ankor walls. There are MANY temples in the area and I had no idea how spread out and expansive the temples were. Temple Ta Phrom was my favorite, where you can see the jungle just taking over the ruins. Its so funny too how you can just climb all over the ruins, up and down dangerously steep and slick steps. That would never be allowed in the West, you'd be fenced off miles away.
In Siem Reap its pretty heartwrenching to see all the amputees hanging around the tourist areas begging and all the little children that just will not leave you alone. I've never seen so many kids that are so aggressive. Hard not to get you down witnessing the poverty here.
South to Phenom Phen tomorrow...
. . . wow wonderful, I am so happy for you xxoo love u
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine seeing all of that. The ruins and the poverty. It must be such a dilemma, especially to be in it and to feel so separate from it at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you found some friends. I think that's the best part of travelling alone, it forces you to meet new people.
Love you