Angkor What?!

This past weekend, then UNC and Kellogg crews headed to Cambodia. I know I'm only halfway through my trip, but it has absolutely been my favorite place so far (I also know I may have already proclaimed the Flower Market in Bangkok as a favorite place)....

I flew in Friday night with Matt, Carlyn, and Jen.  Although it was only a one hour flight up to Siem Reap from Bangkok, Bangkok Airways (their slogan is 'Fly Boutique, Feel Unique') gave us a FULL meal and coffee.  America, I love you, but i would also love it if our airlines fed us like that!  Even though we arrived at night, after the coffee on that flight, we were ready to go!  We grabbed a tuk tuk and headed towards Pub Street.

Pub Street seems to be the one 'happening' place at night in Siem Reap.  The street - and the entire city - has a very laid back atmosphere, though.  In Bangkok, stepping into a tuk tuk is basically put your fate in the hands of wild drivers and risking your life. In Siem Reap, Cambodia, however - the living is easy and the tuk tuks drive slowly.... So, we tuk tuk'ed everywhere.  Even though Pub Street and other parts of the city are known for nightlife, there was a ban on playing music the entire time we were in Cambodia.  The king died in October, and his cremation and funeral were this past weekend.  Due to the sadness, the entire country was issued a state of mourning.... Meaning no music was to be played out of respect.

Angkor Wat

So, while we may not have seen Pub Street at its liveliest, it was great none the less.  You can get a 30 min foot massage for $1 USD, a back and neck massage for $3 USD (and that includes a free Angkor beer!). Fish pedicures were all over the place, and the vendors loved to barter at the night market... I picked up some paintings and a gift for Bean :)  The people are so friendly, the prices are amazing, and you even get US dollars out of the ATM!

After I snagged some ice cream in a cone (truly the best way to eat it... it really does just taste more fun), the Kellogg folks and I stopped into Temple Bar for a pitcher of beers and pizza.  Pizza was on the menu!!!  You don't know what a girl has to do to get cheese in this part of the world.... Also - they had wine on the menu that was reasonably priced!  Wine is one of the few things that is a little hard to come by in Bangkok (and the last time I had it was from one of the cases that Mr. Freeberg mailed before last semester ended!  Thanks again!!!)

The next day we headed out early for a full day of temple ruins. Our tour guide, Chaya Kim, could have written a history book on Angkor Wat and likely even Cambodia.  Over the day, we saw three temples - Angkor Wat, the temple ruins where Tomb Raider was filmed, and one last destination that I just can't remember the name of.

We attempted to take some Tomb Raider-esq pictures, but just couldn't remember much about the movie....

Attempting a Tomb Raider pose?

Kristina's good luck bracelet and blessing

I also got a prayer bracelet and monk blessing.... Kristina Freeberg got one as well, but in the same day jammed her finger pretty badly and nearly broke her toe... So we'll see what the future and these bracelets hold for us....

I look much more skeptical than Kristina

Matt Kristek and Marsh picked out an AMAZING dinner spot.  It is a training school that takes kids from orphanages and teaches them language and service / cooking skills.  It's really awesome to see people care so much for other people and take action to help them out.  The pineapple chili margaritas they served were also quite the icing on the cake.  It was also my first time eating ants. Granted, I didn't just pick them up off the ground and start chomping.... The were inside a hushpuppie type concoction.  Doesn't the rule 'when in Cambodia' apply?  Plus, I figured if it looks like a hushpuppie, it may taste like a hushpuppie....

Although they didn't taste half bad, my one mistake was biting into half of it, and looking inside. What was staring right back at me was half an ant body with the thorax and little legs dangling out!

On Sunday, we requested Chaya again from the tour company - we heard that the floating villages just outside if town can be pretty cool.  Marsh did the dirty work on digging up reviews, and we opted to head a bit further out of town and go to a floating village that was "off the beaten path".... aka, not very popular for tourists.

The floating village was on a small river that lead to the largest lake in Southeast Asia. The river was brown from mud and pollution. We passed people using it as a  bathtub, a bathroom, and even drinking water. The houses were built on stilts that seemed to be two stories high so that they stayed put during monsoon season.

It was peaceful and beautiful.

Traveling sets me through a wide range of emotions. I love seeing natural beauty, eating new foods (even ants), meeting new people, actually hearing different languages for the first time, and getting a glimpse at different cultures.

Regardless how many 'cultures' I've seen or projects and poverty I have witnessed, it is always still eye opening for me.   I know that I cannot get enough reminders of how blessed I am; how incredibly fortunate and rare it is to be surrounded with what we have and the people that love us.

The best reminder for me is seeing how people live - how the people in the floating villages bathe in dirty water, wear hardly any clothes, live off the land they occupy, and own little material belongings - but yet how their smiles convey incredible happiness. 

(still need to upload floating village pictures!)

The temple ruins where Tomb Raider was filmed

Kristina peer pressured me into looking like a flamingo....Look familiar, Jeff?

The temples, especially temple ruins are incredible in Cambodia.
I think it had just been a long day.... which is likely why I look like a little kid...