Well we survived our 24 hour bus journey from Chiang Mai to Siem Reap, along tiny dirt tracks and bumpy roads. We arrived in wonderful Siem Reap on Wednesday night and went out for a few cocktails with some girls we met on the bus (we thought we deserevd it after that long journey). After a night out we decided to treat ourselves to some hotdogs seeing as we hadnt eaten properly because of the long journey. Whilst ordering our food a little girl about 7 years old ran up to us and asked us to buy her some food. She hade no shoes, dirty clothes and clearly hadn't eaten in a while...how could we refuse! Before we knew it there were 8 street kids surrounding us, hugging us and asking for food. Once our food arrived there was no way we could eat it whilst these poor starvng children watched us so we ended up sharing it out between them all. We went home hungry but we feel better for feeding some children who probably hadnt eaten all week. I think by te end of this trip we will both be bankrupt and starving if these chÃldren keep playing on our heart strings!
We woke up early the next day to get a start on the temples. Together with the other girls, we decided to rent bikes for the day to explore the temples and the town. It was a little bit choatic at first as the roads in Cambodia are not exactly organised. We had to dodge other bikes, cars and mopeds coming at us from all directions...it was a little scary! Once we got out onto the smaller country roads it was fun and we felt like we jumped back to the 1940's.
We thought we go for the biggest temple first, Angkor Wat. It was absolutely huge and completely amazing. The detail in the stone carvings was fantastic and it was really interesting to learn a bit about hindu temples and the history behind it all. Next, we thought we'd play Lara Croft and visit Ta Phrom, where 'Tomb Raider'was filmed. It's set in the middle of the jungle and has a real lost temple feel to it. When we got there it was quite cloudy and getting dark and there were hardly any tourists there so it felt all spooky. It was absolutely amazing and definately our favourite of all the temples we've seen. We couldn't believe how the trees grew over and through the temples, interwined with the stone. Because of the weathering the stone was bright green, red and orange making it look even more magnificant. We loved it so much that we got up extra early this morning and went back there.
The ride back from the temples was a real adventure, resulting in us getting lost...obviously. it was dark and very scary riding around on the cambodian roads, dodging mopeds and tuk-tuks and pot holes. Joel even managed to run over a massive snake! we finally made it back to our hostel safe and sound. After riding the bikes for 25miles and walking around the temples for five hours we were all pretty tired!
We got up early this morning, all in pain from the bike ride, so decided to hire a tuk tuk for the day, (this seemed like the safer option). We headed back to 'Tomb Raider'temple to explore it a bit more in daylight. Later we went to Ta Throm and Bayron temple which were just as amazing. They had lots of smaller towers with stone frames for us to climb through and play Indiana Jones. The tuk tuk journey back was just as adventures as the bike ride home. There was torrential rain which flooded the streets, the motorbike stopped working and we were soaking wet as the tuk tuk was completely open with no shelter from the rain.
We have another long day of ancient temples tomorrow. This is our final day in siem Reap before we head to the capital, Phnom Penh. I think we'll be spending the night chilling in a hammock with a book.
xx
We woke up early the next day to get a start on the temples. Together with the other girls, we decided to rent bikes for the day to explore the temples and the town. It was a little bit choatic at first as the roads in Cambodia are not exactly organised. We had to dodge other bikes, cars and mopeds coming at us from all directions...it was a little scary! Once we got out onto the smaller country roads it was fun and we felt like we jumped back to the 1940's.
We thought we go for the biggest temple first, Angkor Wat. It was absolutely huge and completely amazing. The detail in the stone carvings was fantastic and it was really interesting to learn a bit about hindu temples and the history behind it all. Next, we thought we'd play Lara Croft and visit Ta Phrom, where 'Tomb Raider'was filmed. It's set in the middle of the jungle and has a real lost temple feel to it. When we got there it was quite cloudy and getting dark and there were hardly any tourists there so it felt all spooky. It was absolutely amazing and definately our favourite of all the temples we've seen. We couldn't believe how the trees grew over and through the temples, interwined with the stone. Because of the weathering the stone was bright green, red and orange making it look even more magnificant. We loved it so much that we got up extra early this morning and went back there.
The ride back from the temples was a real adventure, resulting in us getting lost...obviously. it was dark and very scary riding around on the cambodian roads, dodging mopeds and tuk-tuks and pot holes. Joel even managed to run over a massive snake! we finally made it back to our hostel safe and sound. After riding the bikes for 25miles and walking around the temples for five hours we were all pretty tired!
We got up early this morning, all in pain from the bike ride, so decided to hire a tuk tuk for the day, (this seemed like the safer option). We headed back to 'Tomb Raider'temple to explore it a bit more in daylight. Later we went to Ta Throm and Bayron temple which were just as amazing. They had lots of smaller towers with stone frames for us to climb through and play Indiana Jones. The tuk tuk journey back was just as adventures as the bike ride home. There was torrential rain which flooded the streets, the motorbike stopped working and we were soaking wet as the tuk tuk was completely open with no shelter from the rain.
We have another long day of ancient temples tomorrow. This is our final day in siem Reap before we head to the capital, Phnom Penh. I think we'll be spending the night chilling in a hammock with a book.
xx
1 comment:
Crickey Laura, I think your hospital stay has sent you all cultural!! That can't be a bad thing!!
Nice to see some photos.
Take care of yourselves.
Love Mum xX
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