Siem Reap

Siem Reap is a lively bustling town filled with tourists.  The draw are the temples which have been unearthed and preserved for centuries. The largest of these temples is Angor Wat. I cannot even begin to describe the enormity of this temple. Built in the 12th century it took 39 years to complete. There are meticulous stone carvings on the walls that depict Hinduism stories. Apparently back in the day this was a Hindu area. Then it became a Buddhist area with 3 gods then back to Hinduism and finally Buddhist with only one God. My head is swimming with all the details but I think my description retry much sums things up. From Angor Wat we went to Angor Thom temple and the Tomb Raider temple after that.   Seems Angelina Jolie shot scenes from Tomb Raider at this temple. By the end of the day we were all exhausted and hot and couldn't wait to get into the shower.

After a refreshing shower we headed into the heart of downtown Siem Reap for dinner on our own and perusing in the night market.   We ate pizza at the Red Piano which is frequented by Angelina Jolie when in town.

Yesterday we went on a cart ride pulled by water buffalo. Now there is an experience. From there we were transported by boat down the Tonle Lake to see the floating villages. These are Cambodians that do not own land and have made their homes on the lake. The poverty is overwhelming. Generations of villagers live in these floating villages. They eeck out a living fishing in the muddy waters. Life expectancy here is quit low

On our way back to dinner and our hotel we stopped at local home to see how rice noodles are made. Rice flour prepared to the point of stickiness the put in a metal container with many holes in the bottom. This is then placed in a hole in a piece of wood over a large pot of boiling water the flame under the pot is fueled using branches from local trees. Another piece of wood with a large cylindrical piece of wood is used down on the rice dough forcing the dough through the tiny holes at the bottom of the can. Out come the noodles into the boiling water. They cook the noodles for about 3 minutes the use a basket to scoop out the noodles and pour cool water over the noodles to stop them from cooking.  Once cool small handfuls of noodles are wrapped around a few fingers and put into a bowl. When dry these noodles are taken to market to sell.

The day we arrived in Siem Reap we were treated to lunch in a local home. There is lots to tell but to much to write. This family prepared a sumptuous meal for us using only a clay cooker with a flame burning under neath using bamboo as charcoal and a wok.