Due to the computers here being a little slow (not surprising) Caitlin and I are unable to upload photos so words will have to try and do the place justice.
On the 25th we took a van from Bangkok across the border to Siem Reap. The trip from Bangkok to the border was speedy on nice paved roads in an air conditioned bus. Once we hit the Thai- Cambodia border in Poi Pet - a place similar to Tijuana except full of trashy casinos Caitlin was dying to stay at- the roads became worse or very shitty. The road conditions between Poi Pet and Siem Reap are a result of a unnamed airline bribing the government to get more business so that tourists are forced to pay around $200 for a flight or suffer through the ride for $10. We had a wonderful and awful ride.
Siem Reap was once a small town slightly south of the temples of Angkor but now it is a bustling tourist town. Surprisingly, it is still relatively quiet and full of super friendly Cambodian people. Tuk-Tuks ( think a rickshaw with a motorcycle on the front) are everywhere and the easiest way to visit the temples. Our Tuk-tuk driver is named An and he is ballin hard all the time and gave us the hook-up on cheap beer and ice (two highly coveted commodities over here, at least in our minds).
It is hard to describe how phenomenal the temples of Angkor are. Caitlin and I agree that they have far exceeded whatever previous expectations we had. Angkor is the largest religious site in the world and most of the temples were built in the 9th and 13th centuries. They were built by dejarava (god-kings) who strove to create buildings that reflected the size, scale and symmetry of their ancestors, the gods.
The temples are varied from the mind blowing size and perfection of the rebuilt Angkor Wat to the precarious ruins of Ta Prohm held together by gigantic fig trees that are destroying and preserving it. From afar Caitlin and I assumed that we could not enter these sacred ancient temple but were amazed to find that we could climb around them and explore their passages.
This morning we decided to watch the sun rise over Angkor Wat. We hoped we would be the only people to wake up at 4:30 to see this site but were not. Rather than taking a tuk-tuk we took bikes and it was a quick thirty minute ride out of town and we were the only farang on bikes.
Tomorrow we hit the jungle Indiana Jones style and Caitlin is sure to catch Dengue fever which she is sure to pass on to me. We will tell people who are reading this (hi moms) how are future travels to Battambang? or Phnom Phen go!
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4 comments:
hi guys! i'm jealous, sounds awesome!!! my parents always used to make us sit through 2-hour long slideshows of all of their trips, i think maybe you should do the same when you get back. happy trails!
-syd
Tell Pol Pot I said hi. I hear he's actually a nice guy, once you get past the genocide and everything. Also, how's the climbing? You kids stay out of trouble.
Ben
Andrew - You are some kind of writer. It's such a joy to follow your and Caitlin's adventures via such descriptive, informative, and visual detail. Feel like I'm right there with you. Admit it, you both know you wish I were!
I see travel writing in your future - into the mix with art and climbing. I'm sure you could cook up.... Ah, HAVE to add cooking. So-o-o...a sought after rock climbing (all over the world)guide who includes local food and art making/touring adventures - then pens books illustrated with his own renderings and photos. Lonely Planet is after him, too, and pays him handsomely to travel and write for them.
There you go - IF you have been experiencing any indecision re the ol'what-will-I-choose-to-do-next, something in that ramble is sure to lead you a)to your calling b)on a wild goose chase, or c)over the rainbow.
Oh, I almost forgot...Caitlin, your two-sentence emails are nice, too. :0)
Love Mom/Kit
Syndey - Did you survive your road trip with the boys?
Ben - How's the fishin'this summer?
Forgot to add that I so hope you had a chance to take pictures of the mutually symbiotic Ta Prohm and fig trees. Sounds surreal and beautiful!
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