We have had three lovely days in Siem Reap, in a particularly nice hotel, La Niche D
Ángkor which I highly recommend.
Cambodia is entirely different from Vietnam and while comparisons are generally unhelpful, Vietnam has come a lot further than Cambodia in terms of development. Having said that, Cambodia's had less time to recover. There's a lot of overseas investment in aid-related training programmes from hospitality to circus! we experienced both options mentioned and certainly the standard is high. Making a living must be desperately difficult for most people, especially if they have not moved from the country to the city to chase the tourist dollar.
Even in Siem reap, a small city by any standards, it seems really tough. There are no taxis in the city, everything is on a motorbike-drawn tuktuk. Standard fare is $1 for around town, $2 for a bit further. Today we took one from town back to the hotel at 2.30 and we were his first fare for the day.
We hired a driver for our first two days, and he gave some interesting insight into daily life in the area.
Yesterday we visited a temple in the jungle, and the guide told us that she had no education "because of the landmines"and that she is trying to make sure her sons get schooling. American dollars are important as currency, and preferred over the local riel.
We visited Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom - both amazing, as everyone says, and as the pics show. However since we are here in monsoon season, the sunrise and sunset options were not for us - too overcast both days. Spectacular just the same. And so old......................
We went to Sala Bai, a Swiss-organised hotel and cooking school for disadvantaged kids. Very smooth operation, and all the graduates get work within 3 months. Impressive. We also went to Phare Cambodian Circus last night - fantastic show, wonderful local music (modernised) and terrific circus skills shown by all the performers.
The mode of transport (aforementioned motor bike) also carries almost everything else via a small trailer - so we have seen a water buffalo being moved, loads of bamboo, hay etc, bikes on the trailer and best of all a cartload of monks! sadly I did not get these on the camera, but will remember them for ever!
We leave for Singapore tonight, home on Sunday. It's been a great and eye-opening holiday. As we sit sweltering in what is probably about 40 outside (the weather site said temp 37,but will feel like 49!!) and waiting for our airport transfer, it's quite nice to think that we are heading for some cool. May is the hottest month in Cambodia, and if I had worked that out first we would have started here!
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