Tonight is my last in Cambodia. Tomorrow I travel to Hong Kong via a connecting flight in Bangkok.
Yesterday I hired a driver to see more of the ruins in the outlying areas. First thing in the morning, we drove 50 km in the Tuk-Tuk ( a 2-wheeled cart pulled by a motorcycle). This was great for seeing the countryside and the people outside the city. The road was mostly good, but it was muddy in some stretches and at one point I jumped out of the Tuk-Tuk and started pushing.
It was another hot day. So far it was very, very hot and humid during the day, with a thundershower in the early evening.
We drove to the start of a trail. I hiked 1.5 km up to a stream in which the riverbed is carved in Hindu symbols. The carvings cover about 100m to 200m of the stream. It was good to do this first thing in the morning, as by the time I was hiking down I was getting really overheated. The ride on the Tuk-Tuk was nice afterward, with the breeze. The next stop was a temple about 35km north of Angkor Wat, which is made of pink stone and very intricately carved. Afterward we drove back to the main Angkor temple area, where I saw 3 more small temples.
On the way back I stopped at the Cambodia Landmine Museum, which is sponsored by a Canadian organization. There are displays on the founder of the museum, a Cambodian who used to be a soldier but has since destroyed over 50000 landmines. There are also displays on the war in Cambodia, landmines, and the landmine treaty, all in several languages.
The last stop for the day was a hill near Angkor Wat which gives great views. It's about a 20 min. walk up. And many, many tourists do this in hopes of seeing Angkor Wat at sunset. There are heavy clouds, so there is no real sunset. In fact, expecting another thundershower, I hurry down and get back to the Tuk-Tuk just in time.
Today when I woke up it was pouring rain. I'm glad I saw the temples that I did in two full days, even though that was tiring. By afternoon it clears up and I rent a bicycle to ride around town and even make it back to Angkor Wat again. I don't cycle long, as it is threatening rain again.
I like Cambodia, and I'd like to see more of it, not just this really touristy part. The Cambodians seem reserved at first but when you stop to really talk to them they are very friendly.
Yesterday I hired a driver to see more of the ruins in the outlying areas. First thing in the morning, we drove 50 km in the Tuk-Tuk ( a 2-wheeled cart pulled by a motorcycle). This was great for seeing the countryside and the people outside the city. The road was mostly good, but it was muddy in some stretches and at one point I jumped out of the Tuk-Tuk and started pushing.
It was another hot day. So far it was very, very hot and humid during the day, with a thundershower in the early evening.
We drove to the start of a trail. I hiked 1.5 km up to a stream in which the riverbed is carved in Hindu symbols. The carvings cover about 100m to 200m of the stream. It was good to do this first thing in the morning, as by the time I was hiking down I was getting really overheated. The ride on the Tuk-Tuk was nice afterward, with the breeze. The next stop was a temple about 35km north of Angkor Wat, which is made of pink stone and very intricately carved. Afterward we drove back to the main Angkor temple area, where I saw 3 more small temples.
On the way back I stopped at the Cambodia Landmine Museum, which is sponsored by a Canadian organization. There are displays on the founder of the museum, a Cambodian who used to be a soldier but has since destroyed over 50000 landmines. There are also displays on the war in Cambodia, landmines, and the landmine treaty, all in several languages.
The last stop for the day was a hill near Angkor Wat which gives great views. It's about a 20 min. walk up. And many, many tourists do this in hopes of seeing Angkor Wat at sunset. There are heavy clouds, so there is no real sunset. In fact, expecting another thundershower, I hurry down and get back to the Tuk-Tuk just in time.
Today when I woke up it was pouring rain. I'm glad I saw the temples that I did in two full days, even though that was tiring. By afternoon it clears up and I rent a bicycle to ride around town and even make it back to Angkor Wat again. I don't cycle long, as it is threatening rain again.
I like Cambodia, and I'd like to see more of it, not just this really touristy part. The Cambodians seem reserved at first but when you stop to really talk to them they are very friendly.
