We have just an amazing 8 hours around Cambodia.
The day started at 5 am to get to Angkor Wat for the sunrise. Our Tuc Tuc drive, Ang picked us up at 5 30am and after we had bought our tickets we headed for the temple. There were already a lot of people waiting for the sunrise. We had been told the sun would rise about 6 45am, but we decided to explore as it was getting very light and cloudy so didn’t think much else would happen. Angkor Wat is an amazing place, for carvings on the walls are incredible – the detail they have gone into is absolutely staggering. As we walked back we then saw that the crowd had gathered in on spot. We realised what they were looking at. It was a beautiful sunrise directly over the main building of Angkor Wat. I am afraid the photos do not do it justice. Managed to get the photo of me wearing the t-shirt in just about the same spot. We moved onto Angkor Thom and the Bayon Temple. Another temple with brilliantly carved statues. It looked like the stone blocks had been carved individually and then put together as they were building it – a little like Lego but on a much larger scale.
It was then off to the setting for Lara Croft Tomb Raider (I think the first film?) A fairly impressive site due to the trees growing around the buildings. It was a little sad though as a lot of the buildings were falling down, but there is a lot of conservation work going on, but they will be at it for years.

We then headed for the floating market on the river Tonle Sap. The boat was great fun as we got to see the fisherman on the bank. The floating village was staggering to see, it is floating houses everywhere, another place that needs to be seen to be believed. They move their house when they want to try and get to a better fishing area, or if they want to get a nicer view. we got taken to a floating shop to see fish and crocodiles and to have a very expensive drink. This however gave us the opportunity that really made the day special. We bought some writing books and pencils and were allowed to take them to the new floating school which was only 5 months old for the local children – HOW COOL!!! How could we say no to such an offer. Off we went with 20 books and pencils and we met the local teacher who was a volunteer from Vietnam who had been there 2 years. The children were having a great time as it was their break. Running around all over the place including the desks – reminded me a bit like teaching in a certain school many years ago!! The teacher was very grateful for the equipment and we were able to talk to some of the children. It was a very moving experience and makes you very grateful for what I have in my classroom as the teacher has classes of 60 and one whiteboard. The classroom was half the size of what I am used to. It would have been interesting to see a lesson but it was time to move on.
So far Cambodia has been a great experience and we have only been here just over a day.