Cambodia Day 5

Siem Reap

First day at the temples of Angkor today. We left it too late to get an English speaking guide, so we simply hired a tuk-tuk driver to take us around and did the Grand Tour Circuit, which encompasses 5 sites. We saw Ta Prohm, Pre Rup, Ta Som, Neak Pean and the amazing Preah Khan. All the guidebooks say they can't be described, and it's true.

The one thing that surprised me is that each site is different. They are of different sizes with different architecture and different decorations (different purposes too, I imagine). One of them was on a massive man made island. Many have holes in the bricks, which was originally where gemstones were embedded. The magnificence would have been unspeakable.

We had time, so we also headed out to Banteay Srey, which is only a small temple, but recommended for the 30 km or so drive. You get to see rural Cambodia, with fields and farming, schools, police stations and families. Speaking of police, we ran into one at one of the temples. He offered to sell us his badge and hat as souvenirs. Was he corrupt? Was he an imposter who makes his money this way? We had walked past the large anti-corruption unit in Phnom Penh, so we weren't having any of it. There are also a lot of people trying to sell you things at each temple, and they are quite persistent. Even the kids put on an act with sad faces, and "you buy this so I can go to school?" - before they run off laughing to catch up with their friends.

It was a long day, so we came back for an early dinner at a French restaurant - where we had proper Khmer spring rolls, and a Khmer chicken curry. I guess the lesson here is not to look for Khmer foods in Khmer restaurants!

It is early to bed for us tonight, because we are having sunrise at Angkor Wat - we are leaving the hotel at 5am.