Angkor Wat is the last "wonder" of the world we've yet to see. Curiosity to come here started with a gift. If you ever visited France you'll have seen a great photo of three monks sitting on top of the monastry roof, one having a cigarette! Trevor, one of my Aussie cousins, is a brilliant photographer and took the picture travelling here many years ago and I've wanted to come here since he kindly gave me the photo!
Siem Reap is a little like Puerto Banus, but without the hassle. It's here for the tourists, 5 million a year, so it's tat and ingestion to go! On our first day, nowhere near as sticky as feared, we went down town and then on a river trip to a floating fishing village on the nearby lake. During the monsoon season the level of the lake goes up from 3 to 9 metres so everything is tethered, there are floating schools, bars, shops, you name it, basketball courts! All of the houses on the shore are on stilts.
.. And so, to Angkor Wat. We spent the best part of the day tramping a very small part of the site. There's the main site as well as another 500+ monasteries and buildings which formed the Khmer capital centuries ago. I always wonder at the scale, transporting millions of tonnes from a site 50kms away, how many stone masons, builders, engravers etc, over what period of time? The other site you might know, Ta Prohm", features in "Lara Croft; Tomb Raider". It is amazing as tree roots encircle the buildings locking them into place!
The following day was sunrise at Angkor Wat with a thousand other bleary souls and then a road trip to another site called Balteay Srei which is much smaller but, impossible ornate. Taking a tuk tuk is so much more rewarding than a car or bus, you get a sensory experience and feel the land and its people. We were back at AW for the sunset, that's 12 hours well spent!
We visited a landline museum, sponsored by CNN! The Khmer Rouge planted 6 million! Having decided to move the urban dwellers to the country for some hard labour, they controlled the migration by mine. There are still around 1 million lying in wait, 4 people were injured by one yesterday. They got 6 million in a trade with Thailand for gems! They came to power after the US had blanket bombed the Ho Chi Minh trail killing 600,000 civilians, an action recommended by Henry Kissinger, that's right, the one with the Nobel peace prize!
Cambodia seems to have cornered the market in state supported renovation! We saw buildings being renovated by India, Japan, France, China and South Korea, who also constructed the Korean Circular round Siem Reap!
Another scheme of note involving both governments and foundations is for underprivileged children. 60% of the population is under 15, a whole generation was wiped out in the 70's! We had a great meal at a restaurant teaching street children how to work in service and in the kitchen. There were 9 teachers and 20 students. Everyone was happy, great everything and wonderful to be part of.
We leave tomorrow morning for a day in Kuala Lumpur before flying to Melbourne, arriving on Friday morning. I've really enjoyed Cambodia, it has much to overcome and it is getting there. However, a word of caution as to its progress. It was one of the top 20 countries for corruption 5 years ago, now it's top 10, and that will take its toll on progress!