The Killing Fields

September 29th, 2011
Kingdom of Cambodia, Phnom Penh
Weather: Mostly sunny, hot and sweaty.  Rain in the afternoon.

We had a really humbling experience this morning.   We took a Tuk Tuk to visit the Killing Fields just outside Phnom Penh and then on to S-21, one of the prisons where people were tortured before being taken to the Killing Fields -- Whew.

Three million out of eight million people perished at the hands of Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge in three years. Daily life for most Cambodians is still very hard, but it seems unimaginable to us that the Khmer Rouge could rise from a nation of people who from our experience are nothing but humble, kind and generous.  Here are a few of those people we have met on our travels.

WE ARE EXCHANGING HERB NAMES 

SHE SCULLED US INTO THE FLOODED FOREST

 THEY GIGGLED AND SHOUTED "HELLO HELLO"

OUR BOAT DRIVER TO THE FLOATING VILLAGE

The Way to Phnom Penh

September 27th, 2011
The Kingdom of Cambodia.  On the road 7 hours from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh.
Weather:  Hot and steamy, rainy and sweaty.

Mekong Express bus is not so express.

Doug and bus stewardess at unscheduled stop.

The bus suspension broke after miles of potholes.

We should have taken the cart with these guys!

Roadside fishermen

We had to wait awhile for another bus to pick us up, but everyone took it in their stride. 

It is just part of our excellent adventure.

Our hotel in Phnom Penh!  

Temples

Reporting from the Kingdom of Cambodia, Siem Reap.
Weather:  Hot and steamy with occasional sudden heavy downpours. Some flooding.

Tuk Tuk's go anywhere - almost



                                                                              TEMPLES

 Angkor Wat Temple

I  &  L Angkor Wat

 Traffic between temples

                                                              The gate to Angkor Thom Temple

                Angkor Thom - Bayon Temple.

 Ta Phrom Temple.  Location for Tomb Raider

We have changed the hot and steamy all purpose SE Asia raincoats/plastic bags for umbrellas like the well seasoned travelers.

                                                                                  Tomb Raider 2

                                                                            Banteay Samre Temple
   

Hot and Steamy

 "Small or large bottle of beer Sir?"

It has been a busy week!

Saturday 24th September
From Siem Reap, Cambodia

Thanks to the current monsoon that is flooding the streets and keeping us in the hotel, I have enlisted Izaac's help to get me blogging again!

                                              Golden Banana Hotel.  Doug with neighborhood children.
                                                                       View of street from lobby
                                                         
We are having a  fantastic time! Hanoi, Halong Bay in Vietnam, and now the ancient ruins of Angkor in Cambodia.   We are in sensory overload.   Hot and steamy, new sights, sounds, and smells, wonderfully  friendly people, fantastic food, Doug comments from behind me - "50 cent beers", and on top of it all we are with Izaac and Leslie.

It rained VERY HARD last night and they added sandbags outside the front entrance - there is no door.  The rain and flooding is adding to our adventure.  Although the children in Siem Reap seem to love  swimming in  the flooding streets, it is very tough on the Cambodian people, especially the farmers, some have lost everything.

We are staying in a great little atmospheric hotel, The Golden Banana, but it has the disadvantage of being on the wrong side of the river.  The tuk tuks can't get here because of the deep water and we have to wade a 1/4 mile into town to be picked up.  But as Doug says the food in our hotel is good and the drinks are cheap, and there is a salt water swimming pool all for $35 a night.

Waiting for breakfast in Golden Banana lobby/cafe

Notice swimming pool and bar in background!

The Trip is Here!

The planning is mostly done.  Passports, Check.  Visas, Check.  Plane Tickets, Check.  Bags packed pretty much.  And as Doug says, “Whatever’s gonna happen, is gonna happen out there.”  Off to the Max with our rollies at 6am tomorrow!  First stop Vietnam, (via several airports!) where we meet up with Izaac and Leslie in Hanoi.