Siem Reap: Banteay Srei and Angkor Wat

4 October 2013-

Good morning!  How did you sleep last night???  The beds are a bit hard and my back is reminding me of that fact.  (sigh.  Small price to pay considering the beautiful location.)

Let's head up to the top floor for some breakfast.  Sounds good, right?

View from the top floor:

 Today we've got a different tuk-tuk driver and he DOES speak English.  Funny, how communication can be such an important and vital issue while traveling.  

Hey! Remember – 42. That's our tuk-tuk's number. Added bonus: it's The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life.

On our To-Do List today: get coffee drinks (to-go), buy UMBRELLAS (we'd rather NOT get soaked again, thank-you-very-much! and visit two temples: Banteay Srei and (THE) Angkor Wat.  How's that sound???

Naturally, the girls will find cats (if they are within a one-mile radius of us). This friendly kitty stopped by to say hello to us while we were waiting for our coffee drinks at a cafe:

I think I've said this before but I'll say it again anyway….LOTS of people traveling.  On scooters, tuk-tuks, overstuffed vans, buses, tractors, bicycles…anything that moved.  An entire family can fit on a motorbike!  Pretty darn impressive, don't ya think????

Uh oh. That does NOT look good. (how'd they manage to get so far in the ditch in the first place???)

Banteay Srei is a fair hike from the rest of the temples….it's about 20+km northeast.  That means that you should sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!

Here are some water buffalo to keep you entertained:

Enjoy the scenery along the route:

I *think* that those are rice paddies. (not the trees, of course!)

 Passing by lots and lots of market stalls.  And we've also passed by lots of what look like dirt/clay ovens built up from the ground.  Most of the ones we're seeing are in a state of disrepair but there are few scattered here and there that seem functioning (sometimes with a giant metal bowl on top).  We're going a little too fast to get a good, clear picture of what those "ovens"

See that (small) volcano-shaped object next to the tree in the foreground? I think that could be an oven of sorts. (or maybe "stove"???)

We've finally made it to Banteay Srei! Well, to the parking lot anyway.  It sounds like it's a little bit of a walk to get back to the temple but first- I desperately NEED a potty stop!  My coffee needs out NOW!

For your amusement:

This diagram was situated right above the toilet. So don't you get any crazy, weird ideas!

Banteay Srei is a temple that is well known for its pink sandstone and delicate carvings. 

Such gorgeous, detailed carvings!  As with the other temples, I do love how mystical they look with all the greenery and grass growing all over them.

I think we've walked in and around the entire temple. Time to head back to the tuk-tuk but I hear some music playing somewhere….let's go find out where it's coming from, okay?  

A band playing fairly unique instruments. The sign claims that they are raising money for the Land Mine Victims fund.

Video of a band playing unique (to us) instruments to raise money for victims of land mines:  

Siem Reap band supporting Land Mine Victims in Cambodia from Astrid Breutzman on Vimeo.

We're close to the parking lot but I think we might take a short detour through this souvenir market: 

I'm hoping to find a skirt that I've seen many of the Cambodian women wearing (along with white blouse/shirts). Let's see if we can find it here, okay? (fyi- I didn't find the skirt I was hoping to find)

Some amusing souvenirs:

Tin-Tin comic books and little statues. We've seen lots of Tin-Tin comics in various stores/market stalls in Siem Reap. What's up with Tin-Tin???

bats and scorpions – oh my!

Mark really wants to buy one of the stringed instruments (there are some made with coconut and others with snake skin). Sadly, it'd be hard to carry home AND we've seen similar instruments for sale in China. So, I think we'll take a pass on it.

Heading off to find our tuk-tuk driver but first, check out this crazy tractor contraption (we saw umpteen of these driving on the road between Siem Reap and Sihanoukville and all of them were loaded with people): 

Next stop:

ANGKOR WAT

 We've been waiting to see this very special and quite famous temple!!!

Time to break out the umbrellas- it's raining. Again. I guess that's why they call it the rainy season!

It seems like everyone else wanted to see Angkor Wat today too! OMG! How many Chinese tour groups have barreled passed us???? Why oh why do they always seem to travel in groups?

Inside the temple…wandering around

I spy a monk in orange. Is there some reason for the color orange???

Hahaha!!!!  Oh, the possibilities:

Which way do you want to go???

See those steps??? They're freaking crazy steep!!!!

 Check out these interesting sculptures that are all over the temple:

They're made of stone but they look like turned wood.

Gorgeous carvings!

 One last look at the temple as we're walking away:

 Here's another souvenir market of sorts.  Mark and the girls are kind of hungry.  Maybe we can find a snack here…and I think I'll keep a look out for the skirts I want.

Amusing table numbering system these folks have going. I think I'll sit at the "Angelina Jolie" table, thank you.

Mark and the girls were able to locate a suitable and tasty snack (Pringles chips and Oreos.  Whatever.  Definitely not my snack of choice but then again, I'm not going to eat them.  ;-)

Let's head back to the hotel and take a breather back in our room.  The girls are also begging to go for a swim in the pretty looking salt-water swimming pool:

Can you spot my three most favorite people in the world?

I just couldn't resist the urge …had to take a photo of this pretty yellow orchid. (yes, it's real!)

Play time in the pool!!!

A view of the walk-way and the lush and colorful plants (and notice how the roof doesn't quite cover the walk-way? It means that when it rains there isn't anything to keep you dry!)

Time for dinner!  Our tuk-tuk driver is here and ready to take us into town.  We're thinking of walking up and down Pub Street and finding a restaurant that tickles our fancy.  Or, more likely, until we get so hungry that we've got crying kids. Okay, let's not wait that long.

Ah, here's a place to try: it's called The Red Piano.  Apparently Angelina Jolie frequented this bar/restaurant while she was filming some movie (….something called Tomb Raider?????  LOL!).   

Behold! The Tomb Raider drink. Actually, it's pretty awesome and absolutely perfect. It's light and not too sweet (it's a mix of cointreau, lime juice and tonic water). As Mark put it: if it's good enough for Angelina Jolie, then it's good enough for us.  (said in the most sarcastic tone. ever.)

Can you guess what Annika is drinking???? Hot chocolate. Even though we're in the tropics it feels cool due to all the rain. We're actually feeling kind of chilly!

My dinner…it doesn't look pretty but it tasted ..FANTASTIC. It's called Fish Amok (seriously??? that sounds like a joke, doesn't it?). It's fish with coconut and curry….sandwiched somewhere between Indian, Thai and Vietnamese cooking. And apparently a very famous Khmer dish.

Let's top off our evening with ice cream from Blue Pumpkin.  I think I'll try the Four Spices ice cream flavor.  I wasn't going to get any ice cream but I just can't resist a flavor called Four Spices (maybe cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom and nutmeg…no wait…ginger.  Oh, heck.  I've got no idea but it tasted great….kind of like a frozen chai tea. Yum!!!

Dang it….I'm getting tired!  It's definitely time to head back to our hotel and hit the hay (so to speak!).  Tomorrow is our last day and we still have a few more temples and sights to see…which translates to: Get Some Rest!

Good night!