Siem Reap

Siem Reap was nothing like I had expected. I imagined a small town or maybe even a village where life was slow and quiet. Where one could relax and reflect on ones travels, since it's the town closest to the famous Angkor Wat, one of the world's biggest Buddhist Temples. But when a town has a street called "Pub Street" you can guess it was nothing of the sort!

Emma, Wayne, Grant and I soon discovered that it was a place where it was easy to get lost in the spirit of the town. The rum spirits the vodka spirits etc.....! Mind you we did somehow manage to find time for more rewarding experiences. We of course partook in the Angkor Wat experience. It's unbelievable that they could build such massive temples without the use of modern day equipment. Even if they did have the equipment you'd still have to take your hat off to them. The place is amazing!

Angkor Wat is the largest out of all the Wats in the area and probably the most impressive. It is huge. The walkway up to the the main stairs in itself makes you feel small in the temple's

presence.

The walkway from the main stairs

The main entrance of Angkor Wat

Inside the walls of Angkor Wat

We arrived at the temples just before 6:30am and spent the day exploring the many temples around Angkor. Although Angkor Wat is the biggest and most impressive, my favourite was still the so called "Lara Croft" temple, Ta Prom. It has huge tree roots growing in, through and around the temple and was featured in the movie "Tomb Raider", which starred Angelina Jolie. This temple is amazing. As is the whole place. You really have to go there to see it for yourself because there is no way I can explain it in words.

One of the trees in the "Lara Croft" temple

Another rewarding experience fo us was when Emma, Wayne and an American guy we picked up along the way, Steve, went to one of Geralidine Cox's orphanages. It was great to see the work they are doing. They look after 60 children from the ages of 3 months to 18 years. All the kids get schooling, good fresh food, a safe place to sleep and most of all are made part of a "family". The lady who manages the place is called Bonna and she gave us a tour. Unfortunately the "big" kids were off studying for an exam so we didn't get to meet them.

But we did get to meet some of the babies and toddlers. We bought a soccer ball and some tennis balls for the kids which one toddler took great interest in. Although he could catch yet, Wayne and I had a great game of ball with him. Very cute! Although the tour was quite short we were all impressed at the size of the orphanage and the condition it was in. They certanly were doing a good job there. Next it's off to Sihanoukville.

Emma getting clucky

The gifts for the orphange