Siem Reap and Angkor Wat, Cambodia

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As soon as we landed and checked in our hotel we rushed to the Angkor Wat ticket office to purchase our precious tickets. We got a three day pass.

Sunrise in Angkor Wat


The following morning we woke up at 4.30am and went to Angkor Wat for a sunrise experience. It was interesting but not mesmerising. What was impressive though was the sheer size of the complex
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After that we went to the Bayon temple where there are 216 faces carved on each face of 54 square sandstone towers. The serenity of the faces was quite moving.

Finally we went to Ta Phrom, a temple that is out of this world, over time the forest has reconquered this temple and there are huge trees growing everywhere over the walls and through the roofs. This is also where they filmed the movie Tomb Raider.

After that hot half day we went back to the hotel for a nap. Then we dived in the swimming pool to cool down before heading out in the evening to a circus.

Siem Reap is a once small village that evolved into the town it is today only because of the temple complex. So when all the hotels, restaurants and massages places are taken aside it gives the impression of an empty shell. But there is a local life going on. What we encountered a lot was restaurants, farms, even a circus set up as social enterprises (usually by foreigners) to help underprivileged children (and young adults) going through schooling or learn a trade. Most of the ones we saw would provide lodging and food, uniforms, books, a bicycle and even a small money allowance while the kids go through school or training.

So the circus we went to was one of those as well as most restaurants and a tea room. 



Another amazing thing we did was a day tour with Bees Unlimited led by Mr. Dani Jump. This extraordinary man treated us to one of the best tours of our lives. With one other family, we started the day in the main market and then progressed across the country. We saw and tasted dozens of things from stuffed frogs to BBQ dogs. We were also lucky enough to witness a lady basket weaving, a rice noodle operation and the dying art of incense making. It was a great day.

In conclusion we enjoyed Siem Reap and the temples, all that time being driven around in Mr. Vorn’s tuk tuk. 


Mara and Lea posing with young Buddhists monks to be

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