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After breakfast we met our driver and guide and travel the short cut {even bumpier dirt roads than Laos) to the site. Nine a.m. and already the place is packed with mostly Korean tourists.

Angkor Wat

Jim Strew
2006-04-25 15:01:02

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After breakfast we met our driver and guide and travel the short cut {even bumpier dirt roads than Laos) to the site. Nine a.m. and already the place is packed with mostly Korean tourists.

We visit the main temple complex and our guide explains the various buildings functions and tells the stories behind the frescos etched into the sandstone corridors.

Back to the B&B for lunch and some R&R during the hottest part of the day before heading out to our volunteer assignment. We, mostly I, taught an English class at a Buddist temple. Most of the students are in their late teens and twenties. Thaere are also a few monks present.
The students took turns reading a simple article taken from the internet about Thailand. We then went through the definitions for many of the words in the text.

For supper, a banquet including folk dances was on the menu. Cetain restaurants offer this activity as a way of introducing tourists to the Cambodian culture.

We were greeted at the door by 2 small boys in monkey masks, gesturing for us to remove our shoes, as is the custum in SE Asia when one enters a building. Not a bad idea considering all the domesticated livestock wandering about the city. We then entered the hall and I could see rows of tables with very short legs. Oh, no. I wasn't looking forward to sitting on a cushion with my legs crssed or sitting on my feet. I would never get up. Luckily, there was a pit under the table so it was like sitting in a normal chair.

We were served a 5 course meal with each dish in its own covered pot. Because this place caters uniquely to tourists, the use of spices was kept to the bare minimum. Pity.

I don't understand why people would travel here if they are not willing to sample the local cuisine. Thus, very disappointed in the meal as ere most of the people sitting around us.

On the other hand, the folk dances were very interesting. It is amazing how the women can bend back their fingers and wrists to such an extent. The costumes, masks and movements were simply wonderful but the music got tedious after awhile. I was ready to leave by the time the show ended an hour later.

Claudette was driven back to the hotel and I was dropped off at an internet cafe. After being kicked out before I could complete this entry, I hailed a tuk tuk taxi. The driver took great pleasure of pointing out all the "Play Girls"to me, hoping I would take him up on his offer of getting me a cheap price. Why bother paying for one when I got the greatest for free. Besides, the cost would have been too dear in the long run.