beautiful cambodia

sunday after last post was a quiet day, markets, cafes, a craft school for disadvantaged and disabled youth, the hotel pool and a couple of beer. Monday was a Wow! day, absolutely great. On Sunday we had asked at the hotel desk about going to some distant temples - guide book said a dirt bike was needed, one clerk said tuk tuk was OK but the other said you needed to book a car. Price was a little much so we decided to go to nearby temples on Monday. But tuk tuk driver showed up in the morning and said he could take us - would be a long day and cost a little more but was agreed. i have never eaten so much dust in my life as much of the roads were dirt/sand/clay and/or very rough pavement. it took us 2 hours to get to 1st temple and then another 1 1/2 hours each to the next 2, and then 1 1/2 hours home. But what a day. temples were amazing, first was a 30 minute climb up to a riverbed and waterfall. no buildings, the carvings are all in the rock around and under the river. 2nd temple was small but intricate. Third was our favorite - very few people and the temple is still in the condition they found it. much has collapsed and tree roots grow thru the walls but really neat to clambour around on the buildings and explore with a very friendly local guide.

probably better than the temples though was all the driving thru the countryside. saw how people lived - very simple but nice. kids generally looked happy and many waved - in some places we went i think it was pretty unique for them to see white people in a tuk tuk, there were very few others we saw that day. stopped for gas at a typical cambodian gas station in a small town. if you want 1 litre gas, they have it pre-measured in Johnny Walker scotch bottles (probably tastes better than the scotch originally did!), if you want 2 litres it is a coke bottle full. the people at the store were quite amused with us. we also stopped at a large county market near where How (our tuk tuk driver) was born. it was huge and you could buy anything. No hawkers selling tourist crap though.

back to hotel after 6:00 and can't remember a shower ever feeling so good. or a cold beer ever tasting so good!

great day!



no pics as connection here is painful slow - maybe will have better luck in singapore or bangkok.



hope everyone is doing well!