Goodmorning Cambodia

called called Wheeeeeeeew --- that one word is really the only way to sum up the last week since KT and I left for Thailand. It's been a while since I've posted and it'll certainly take a few sittings to regurgitate everything that's happened to us in the last week.

Since our last post we've flown from beautiful Railay (Thailand) to Bangkok, on to Siem Reap (Cambodia), met up with two of my friends from high school, seen Angkor Wat then packed up again for a six hour bus ride into Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh.

(BN marveling at Beng Mealea)

The temples surrounding Angkor Wat are amazing in both their size and expanse. Although you could easily spend a month seeing every temple, we felt as if we'd had our fill after just two whirlwind days. Despite the enormity of the site, there is very little in the way of personal space. Hoping for some privacy on our first day, Anne, John, KT and showed up at 5:00AM. Instead of a quiet, contemplative sunrise, we were greeted by tour buses, hot air balloons, and at least 300 white sock and dress shoe clad (predominately Chinese) tourists -- just at one temple. This theme carried on throughout the day with some wats (temples) being so crowded that you couldn't make it out the exit without throwing a shoulder or two pry yourself from among the sea of fanny packs.

(I think we're turning Japanese)

Fortunately, we had a car for first day and a Tuk-tuk for the second, which gave us the freedom to venture out to some of the more secluded and less-touristed spots - including Beng Mealea (the Indiana Jones temple) and Bantey Srei (one of the most elaborate and well-preserved). Beng Mealea, basically untouched since its re-discovery was by far the highlight of the stop and one of my favorite destinations of the entire trip. You have no idea how much the other wats have been uncovered and reconstructed until you see one that has been left to the encroaching jungle. A thousand years of moss, roots, trees and vines can leave one of these enormous structures unrecognizable, and I'm sure that a thousand more could easily destroy it all together.

(KT waiting out the rain at Banteay Srei)

After Angkor Wat and the surrounding sites, KT and I spent some time enjoying the city then on our last night we met up with my friend Seton and his wife Katie Bee. The two were almost three weeks into their 52-day South East Asia backpacker honeymoon. The following morning, today, we hopped a tuk-tuk to a dusty bus stop outside the city then boarded the Mekong Express for a 6-hour ride to Cambodia's capital -- Phnom Penh. We'll be in Phnom Penh for another few days while we tour the Killing Fields and sort out of Vietnamese and Chinese Visas.

Make sure to check out the flickr gallery; there's a ton of new photos both from Thailand and Cambodia.

(KTB feeding the crocs at a restaurant in Siem Reap; What a honeymoon)

(Cambodian subsidiary for Tyson Inc.)

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