Angkor Wat

Our trip is moving faster than planned. Vietnam is here and now, about a month ahead of schedule. We have decided to use our time traveling more wisely and leave Southeast Asia mid-year. This decision opens up a whole new world of possibilities. After Asia, we figure Australia could be a good middle point since we’ll probably never vacation there. Southern wine country and the great barrier reef are on the table. We may trace our ancestry from Turkey and make our way through Eastern Europe visiting family and places on our list to see in our lifetime. Visiting dear friends in Spain and Portugal is a definite, as well as a visit to Morocco to see our friends Tosha & Adam who will be moving there this summer. Latin America offers several intriguing options as well, especially if we can visit late in the year into early 2013 during their summer season. We are open to all possibilities! Any ideas? Please share! Continue Reading

Prasat Preah Vihear

After several long days exploring the Siem Reap Temples of Angkor, we headed out to the countryside to peruse the more remote Angkorian temples.  The only way to get there is by private taxi or moto.  Considering the spotty road conditions, we booked a private taxi for $125 from RTR tours near the Siem Reap night market on Pub Street.  The driver picked us up at 6am for the 3 1/2 hour journey north (140km from Angkor Wat) to Preah Vihear at the Thai/Cambodian border.  

In 1962, following a lengthy dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over ownership, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded the temple to Cambodia.  In 2008, Preah Vihear was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  An ongoing conflict between the countries over land adjoining the site has led to periodic military clashes of violence.  Continue Reading

Christie & Brett at Angkor Wat

Temples of Angkor
The kings of Cambodia’s ancient Khmer empire from 800 to 1200 AD built hundred of temples with amazing archaeological designs trying to surpass their predecessors.   Today, the Temples of Angkor are one of the world’s most renowned ancient sites.   Unesco named Angkor a World Heritage Site in 1992.  We didn’t think an ancient city could outshine Bagan (Burma), but Angkor has done just that.  The temples are so unique creating an experience of their own.  Many of the temples were abandoned for centuries and the surrounding jungle has swallowed them up and become part of their structures.  The jungle temples were our favorites as once you step inside you experience such a mystical feel with man vs. nature. Continue Reading

Battambang to Siem Reap Boat

Slow boat from Battambang to Siem Reap
Our 9 hour river boat journey from Battambang to Siem Reap began at 6am. A bus would have taken 3 1/2 hours and cost 1/3 the price, but hey….. we have to see the floating village people, right? The boat was a mix of western tourists and locals transporting rice and other vegetables and goods. Travel time was split between local pit stops to drop off cargo, villager photo shoot opportunities, and smooth cruisin’ down the Tonle Sap River. One highlight was sitting on the top deck inhaling the full riverside experience as children screamed, “hello, hello” waving and wondering why these crazy white tourists were snapping pictures. During stops, villagers would pull up on a small canoe and pick up locals from our boat. We managed to grab a quick bite to eat about halfway through…. where Christie discovered the toilet was a cut-out hole in the floor leading straight down into the river. This was especially odd considering the amount of bathing that takes place nearby. Continue Reading