We took our first trip as a couple sans kids since Shane was born (thanks to Gloria for watching the runts) with Cassie and Jay. We figured the kids would have little interest in old temples and we had little interest in them climbing steeps stairways, so we finally made it over to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat and the adjoining town of Siem Reap.
We were picked from the airport up by tuk-tuks bearing cold towels.
Our hotel was located down a bumpy dirt road.
It was a small, 10-room place with perhaps the nicest staff in the world.
Our 2nd floor breakfast nook we thoroughly enjoyed every morning of our stay.
Some local wildlife joined us for a few breakfasts.
Sam even found a purported taste of home
We did take a quick twilight trip to a hill/mountain near the temples, to get a sunset view, although it was too cloudy to really appreciate it. It did give us a sample of what was to come the next day. Here's our first view of Angkor Wat on the way out.
The ruins on the mountain...
The signs were straight out of a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book.
Musicians on the way up.
Then, back into town for dinner and a trip to the night market along the river.
And, finally, the next day it was off to the temples and not, may I add, dressed like goofy tourists.
We hired two tuk-tuks and a guide, Sim, to show us around since we had just one day of templing. Our first stop was Angkor Wat, the grandest of the temples.
(Sim telling us a story)
(this used to be a swimming pool)
(the original stone stairs are incredibly steep)
(hippies in fisherman pants making their own little temples)
(monkeys and tourists co-mingling)
(me and a lion's butt)
Next stop was Bayon, home of towers with faces watching you from all four sides.
(Cassie nose-to-nose with one of the faces)
(smiling apsara)
(thankfully, Sim steered us away from climbing these steps)
After that, time for lunch and a well-deserved coconut for Cassie.
Our final stop was Ta Prohm, famous not for the detail that the other temples have, but for the way the jungle has encroached upon it.
(hiding apsara)
After a day of seeing temples in the heat, cocktails at the Foreign Correspondants Club were in order.
Followed by a fancy dinner at Hotel de la Paix.
And we spent our final half-day in town going into town, looking around the myriad alleyways and in the Old Market.
One last glorious meal, this time at the Cafe Central, perfectly situated on a bustling street corner.
And, luckily, our flight delay was softened by the airport branch of the Foreign Correspondants Club.
