Cambodia

JG: Flew into Siem Reap, Cambodia, and the town center is unlike anything I imagined - modern, clean, and with a resort feel to it. The main attraction is the Angkor Wat and surrounding temples, which was our main motivation for traveling there. But the city itself is fun and the locals are kind and so darn welcoming.

We toured the temples with a group of gals we met one night on the main drag of Siem Reap. More Canadians! The temples date back more than a thousand years during the height of the Khmer Empire, and they were spectacular, especially Angkor Thom. The intricacy in construction and sheer size of them were off the charts.

Down to the capital, Phnom Penh, which was much busier but with a good balance of metropolis and local life. There are a number of sites - temples and such - but the allure is really just learning about the history, which at one point reached powerhouse status and recently with the Khmer Rouge was reduced to a skeleton of its former self. We visited one of the the Killing Fields where the KR carried out their horrific genocidal agenda, which was as sombering as Auschwitz.

Cambodia is a place we may have to revisit in the future - still a lot to see there, including even further south where we've heard the beaches are world class. 

SS: Siem Reap has it all. Excellent guest houses to 5-star accommodation, a thriving downtown area (Pub Street) with an array of restaurants and bars, cheap massage parlours every few feet and shopping galore. We even took a risk and ventured down to the local dentist and got a much needed cleaning for the hefty price of $8, I think he may have done a better job than my dentist at home! 

We toured to the Angkor Wat museum before going to the actual temples and got a true understanding of the history, Khmer culture and the three main gods (Vishnu, Shiva, & Brahma) of the Hindu religion, uniquely blended into Buddhism that the temples were built and dedicated to. Thousands of Buddhas decorate the museum dating back to the 6th century and Johnny's first question is "when did Buddha get fat? - like the Buddhas we see at home." 

We ran into 4 lovely ladies from Toronto, (Sarah B, Sarah W, Liz, and Cathy) that kindly invited us to join them in a day of touring through the temples. The ladies are on a quick tour through Hong Kong and Cambodia visiting orphanages and children they sponsor and support through their own charity. 

Angkor Wat maybe the single best ruin I have ever seen. There are numerous temples spread throughout the region, so only visiting the biggest and most meaningful may not even do it justice. They are incredible! Top three: Angkor Wat is the world's largest religious building and dedicate to Vishnu; Ankor Thom is so elaborate with the four-faced towers dedicated to Brahma, also the last empire of the Khmer; and Ta Prohm has been left unexcavated with gorilla trees beautifully growing into and around the temple. Simply stunning. 

A terrible minibus ride to the county's capital, Phnom Penh, was a pleasant surprise upon arrival. Up and coming as a chic urban metropolis, it is hard to believe this city was desolate 35 years prior. Our hotel was excellent, especially for the price of $21 and the selection of eateries was abundant. We frequented a small 'chain' of restaurants that all worked towards empowering disadvantaged youth, serving seriously excellent food and a few 'specialties' such as the appalling tarantula spiders that my equally appalling Johnny indulged in. (See picture below) YUCK!!!  

We took a motor carriage out to the Killing Fields and with the aid of an audio guide it painted an eerie and despairing picture of the terror that imprinted the country by the Khmer Rouge. 

Cambodia was a pleasant experience and definitely a place that I would like to revisit and explore further. The people are kind, the history is intriguing and the price is right! Another big thank you to our new Toronto friends, you were a blast to hang out with and made a memorable impression. Reminded me of my girlfriends that I miss so much.