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We met a guy called Tony who was working in a bar in Siem Reap. He was an ex UN soldier who was visiting his father in law. His father in law is a New Zealander called Graham. Graham lives in a village just next to Angkor and does expensive tours for tourists. Tourists fly in to be shown round by Graham. He is an ex soldier who made his way to Thailand and became a monk for several years and then intrepidly set off into Cambodia eventually settling in angkor. He has been there since the end of the eighties or early nineties. So he has seen alot of the troubles there. We were lucky to have met Tony who introduced us to Graham. He has been walking round Angkor for years and has his own ideas of what the buildings are and meant to the Khmers.

Cambodia story part II.

Jonnytelak
2005-12-25 14:40:48

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We met a guy called Tony who was working in a bar in Siem Reap. He was an ex UN soldier who was visiting his father in law. His father in law is a New Zealander called Graham. Graham lives in a village just next to Angkor and does expensive tours for tourists. Tourists fly in to be shown round by Graham. He is an ex soldier who made his way to Thailand and became a monk for several years and then intrepidly set off into Cambodia eventually settling in angkor. He has been there since the end of the eighties or early nineties. So he has seen alot of the troubles there. We were lucky to have met Tony who introduced us to Graham. He has been walking round Angkor for years and has his own ideas of what the buildings are and meant to the Khmers.

Graham is a colourful chap with a wealth of interesting stories to tell and gave me more insight into Angkor than i would have got. He was also kind enough to show us round the village where he lives. And moans about the UN people who don't seem to help even the Villagers in his own village. Siem Reap is a quiet town with a few bars and restaurants and is safe to walk around in all night. I had a very pleasant time there.

One evening we were out walking and i saw on the grass outside of a hotel some tables set up for the hotel guests (expensive hotel). And cordened off with rope and poles. In the middle was a large tent and an area just outside for Dancers. Outside of the rope were the locals. It was kind of like the rich Having a party but keeping the local peasants out. Very strange!..so i joined the peasants lining the outside to watch the dancing. It was a traditional dance rather like thai dancing. But the control and flow of movements was mesmerising. I have never seen the dancing done so well and what i would imagine was perfect. No where in thailand had i seen such brilliant dancing, i was very impressed.

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