Our flight to Siem Reap was a quick 45 minutes and we quickly entered the chaos that is the Siem Reap Airport. After the efficient HCMC airport process, this was totally opposite. As we walked into the terminal from the tarmac, everyone was handed another paper to fill out (we already filled out two forms on the plane for passport control). So, everyone was standing outside trying to find pens and someplace to write. There were several planes that all arrived at once, so people everywhere.  

After filling out the form, we got in line and handed it to the guard, who didn't even glance at it and was allowed inside...to more confusion. We had to fill out another form, get in line, pay $30 for a visa, hand over our passports then go stand in a mob of people until our names were called to pick up our passports with the visa. Done now? Nope. Now get in one of 5 HUGE lines to go through passport control. By the time we got out of the airport (again with all of our bags) it was 1 hr 15 mins since we landed. Not a great introduction to Cambodia.

As we walked out of the airport, we were met with a mass of people all with signs for who they were to pick up. Ken quickly found our guy and he went to get our car. Oh, yeah, no car...we get to ride in a Tuk Tuk!! This is the main mode of transportation in Siem Reap, and is a motorbike pulling a covered bench. Our bags were loaded onto our TT and off we went. The weather was very warm so the breeze felt great. The traffic wasn't as bad as HCMC, but still lots of TT, motorbikes and cars.  

So, now to our hotel saga. My brother Rick, has been to Cambodia many times and gave some suggestions on who/what/where to see/do. He has always stayed at the Angkor Riviera which looked to be a solid hotel choice. However, another hotel, the Natura was recommended (not by Rick) and also looked to be nice. The Riviera was in the middle of town and close to all of the restaurants and shops, while Natura was just outside of town and was supposed to be very quiet and peaceful. After much debate, we chose the Natura.  

After our fun TT ride, we arrived at the hotel and were promptly greeted with fresh pineapple juice and a tour of the grounds. The room, looked just like in the pictures...but seemed a bit more sparse, which may be due to the cement floors. The room also seemed stuffy, so we figured out the fan, which helped a bit. Between the airport mess, the Tuk Tuk and our room, Ken was looking a bit overwhelmed (or maybe ready to get on the next flight back home).

We went down to the hotel's outdoor restaurant to grab some dinner and turn in for the night. Unfortunately, the fan in the room wasn't doing a great job of keeping it cool and it didn't bode well for a restful night. Both of us woke up sweating at various points in the night and around midnight I had decided to look for other accommodations, as I wasn't going to sweat for the next 3 nights.  

The next morning, luckily before I went in search of an air-conditioned room we spoke to Sam, the Mgr and he hit a few buttons and VOILA A/C! All of a sudden the day looked a whole lot brighter (and cooler). We had a wonderful breakfast on the pool patio booked a driver to go find us some temples.  

And find them we did....not that they are hard to find, as there are as many as 4,000 in this small country. The big daddy of them all is Angkor Wat and we are booked for a sunrise tour on Sunday. But for today, we hit 5 temples, all different and magical in their own way. My favorite was Banteay Srei which means Citadel of the Women. Legend is that it was built by women as the carvings are so intricate that the hands of man would not be able to be so delicate. The stones were also pinkish, which gives it a bit of a glow. As with the Pyramids and Machu Pichu, it has hard to imagine how such amazing structure were built 2000 years ago without automation. Truly incredible.  

On the recommendation of our driver we stopped an outdoor restaurant for some lunch where we enjoyed some really good Cambodian cuisine. Ken had a chicken curry, which had a great flavor and just a hint of spiciness. I tried the Amok, the national dish which is a curry cooked in either a banana leaf or a coconut. Mine came in coconut and was excellent.   

After 5 hours of climbing around temples in 90+ degree heat, it was time to head back to the hotel where we promptly jumped in the pool, Ok...Ken jumped, I slowly immersed, but the cool water felt great after the hot sticky day. After a rest, we hopped a Tuk Tuk for the 15 min ride into the Pub Street area for dinner.

There are several restaurants whose mission is to help get street kids educated and off the streets. They teach them how to be a chef, wait tables and all of the needed skills to support themselves. Several have excellent food reviews, so it is nice to support the cause with a great meal. Haven, is one of those restaurants and we lucked out as they had a reservation no-show.   

After enjoying a banana leaf salad and cashew chicken, we walked pas the busy night market and lots of shops, bars and restaurants. We found the fish spa, where you stick your feet into a large aquarium and they eat the dead skin from your feet...but we passed. We did find the Park Hyatt, where a room this week was going for $2400 a night, and stopped in for an nightcap. They were having a traditional Cambodian dance in the bar area, so we had a beverage and saw the show.  

Tomorrow...visit with Rick's friends, Tim and Wendy who run a childrens home for orphaned children.