Hello Again! Hello Again!

We’re in Oudong, Cambodia, heading to one of Cambodia’s most important Buddhist Monasteries. Since our arrival in Cambodia, we’ve seen saffron-robed Buddhist monks everywhere. Today we’ll have a chance to get a little more up close and personal with some of them. And thanks to some of the local kids, there’s a surprise in store for us. Continue reading “Hello Again! Hello Again!”

Kampong Chhnang and a Floating Village

It’s our first morning waking up on a boat on Cambodia’s Tonlé Sap river. We moved during the night, and now we’ve dropped anchor somewhere near the mouth of Tonlé Sap lake. Visits to a town called “Kampong Chhnang” and to a floating village are on today’s itinerary. Continue reading “Kampong Chhnang and a Floating Village”

On a Boat in Cambodia

Ahhhh… life is good. We’ve spent most of the day on bus, (a nice bus, but a bus just the same), driving through rural Cambodia. But now we’ve boarded this boat that seems to be staffed with the friendliest people in the world. We’ve lifted anchor and waved good-bye to all of our worldly cares, and also to the barefooted kids who came down to see the strange-looking people get on the fancy boat. Continue reading “On a Boat in Cambodia”

“Seeing” Cambodia along National Route 6

We’re in the middle of Cambodia on National Route 6, somewhere between Siem Reap and a place called Prek Kdam. The bus ride has been an unexpected treat, because we’re seeing the “real” Cambodia for the first time. We’ve left the temples and most of the tourists behind. Maybe this is what foreign visitors to the United States feel like when they leave Las Vegas and drive across middle America. Continue reading ““Seeing” Cambodia along National Route 6″

Bye Bye Siem Reap, Hello National Route 6

Today we’re going to board a boat that will take us down the Mekong river, all the way to where it empties into the South China Sea. To get to the boat, though, we’ll have to take a four-hour bus ride down Cambodia’s National Route 6. Maybe, after climbing up and down temples all day yesterday, sitting for most of the day today isn’t such a bad idea.

It’s mid-March. The dry season in Cambodia runs from December to April. Despite its lush forest areas, much of Cambodia is dry as a bone right now. The water level in Cambodia’s big lake, Tonlé Sap, is too low for our boat to come to us, so we’re going to the boat. Continue reading “Bye Bye Siem Reap, Hello National Route 6”

Finally — Angkor Wat!

Temple-Touring Day

We spent the morning touring temples at Angkor, the capital city of the ancient Khmer Empire. We’ve learned about Khmer society through their carvings, meandered from site to site under the shade of huge trees, and climbed to the top of 800-year-old temples to the gods.

I don’t remember learning about the Khmers in school, but thanks to our guide, we’re starting to understand them now. Just as the day’s heat was starting to take a toll, we took a break and had a refreshing Cambodian-style lunch. We’ve cooled off, and at least for the moment, our batteries have been recharged.   Time to head out to see “Angkor’s Little Gem,” and then the famous Angkor Wat. Continue reading “Finally — Angkor Wat!”

A Visit to the Temples of Angkor

Finally! We’re going to see the temples of Angkor, the capital of the Khmer Empire, first-hand. Our guide is picking us up at 8:00 AM. We’ll visit a couple of temple sites this morning, have lunch, then visit a couple more this afternoon. Let’s go find out what these amazing structures and the people who built them are all about! Continue reading “A Visit to the Temples of Angkor”

Long-Tail Boat Ride

We’ve been watching and hearing long-tail boats go by on the Chao Phraya river ever since we arrived in Bangkok. They’re colorful, graceful, and they make a ton of noise, so they have a way of getting your attention. Today we’re going to take a ride in one through Bangkok’s “back alley” waterways. Continue reading “Long-Tail Boat Ride”