Something that can definitely be said about Vietnam and Cambodia, is that even on a backpackers budget, you are rich, and this was no more evident than in the hotels of Cambodia. In Siem Reap we stayed in a fantastic hotel called Frangipani, it was modern, trendy, air conditioned and we were actually allowed to put toilet paper in the toilet which made a nice change. All this for less than twenty pounds each per night. The evening we arrived we headed down to the river where the local water festival was coming to an end. There was a dreadful talent show going on (“Siem Reap’s not got Talent”) and lots of market stalls selling bulk quantities of shampoo. The river was alight with miniature boats decorated in candles, and the grand finale was a really impressive fireworks display (What they lack in talent they make up for in fireworks). The next day Christian made a start on the temples of Angkor whilst I did some writing by the pool (luxury!) and wandered around the town. Siem Reap is a cool town with a real mix of authenticity and tourism. You can walk past young boys playing in the muddy river, beautiful temples and markets selling Cambodian silk, and then you reach a pedestrian strip where backpackers are getting drunk on overpriced drinks, and prostitutes of questionable sex are trying to woo them.
That afternoon Christian and I went to a Cambodian cookery class.
I learnt how to make a mango salad followed by Fish Amok whilst Christian made rice rolls and Fish Amok. It was great fun, but don’t ask us to cook it for you when we get back – we don’t have half the ingredients in the UK! (that’s our excuse and we’re sticking with it). After dinner we went and had a “Doctor Fish” massage, this is where you put your feet into a tank of fish and they nibble at your dead skin. Not the best idea for two people with ticklish feet.
That evening we made plans to visit Angkor Wat for sunrise the next day. Our tuk tuk would pick us up at 5am.
The next morning (or middle of the night) at 4.30 am, our alarm clock went off and I realized that the fish amok was running amok with my stomach. It felt as thought the fish had revived itself and was having a vigorous swim. However, it’s not every day you get the chance to visit Angkor Wat, so off we went, Christian, me, and my fishy tummy.
Angkor Wat was still dark when we arrived. A little bird had told us that everyone heads to the East entrance to catch the sunrise, and it becomes a little less special when you are sharing the view with hundreds of other tourists. With this knowledge we headed to the West Entrance where you actually get a view of Angkor Wat with the sun rising behind it (rather than the sun rising behind you at the main entrance). There was no-one at the West Entrance apart from us, which meant we had the beautiful sunrise to ourselves, and that I was free to vomit with an audience of one only! I felt dreadful and was only temporarily relieved by being sick. Even so, the temple which is the largest religious building in the world, was amazing, and we saw many parts of it without anyone else, which made us feel like Indiana Jones happening upon a lost city. It is a truly awesome sight to behold, and to be sick on.
After a few hours at the temple we had to head back to the hotel (Angkor Wat was getting a little too crowded for my freestyle vomiting) and for the rest of the day I made the most of the facilities! Christian headed back to Angkor and saw some amazing sights and temples, and made friends with some monks (I am sure they had a lot in common… like for instance… having very short hair…and liking the colour orange).
The next day we were leaving Asia behind (via Thailand), and heading to Sydney for a few days stopover before moving on to New Zealand. We were sorry to leave Asia behind. As a continent we had only had a very quick taste, a canape or appetizer, of what the continent had to offer, but I think it was enough to leave us wanting more. Christian liked Cambodia the best whilst I opted for Vietnam, so I am sure we will go back one day for main course.
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