We have free Internet in the room at the Hotel de la Paix in Siem Reap, so we're in business. The hotel seems very, very nice--beautiful room. Long day getting from the ship to the Bangkok Airport and then waiting for the plane. Uneventful, though. Weather in Bangkok and here in Siem Reap has been fine so far. Warm and humid of course. Rain is in the forecast for tomorrow (at least it was this morning before we left the ship).

Our room overlooks a beautiful pool with nice chaises all around it. It is also across the pool from the spa, and we booked treatments for tomorrow afternoon. We're planning to go to a French restaurant tonight. We have a complimentary multi-course Khymer dinner included, which we may have tomorrow.

I think we will go to Angkor Wat on Wednesday.

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Eugene and Gail

Glad you've arrived safely and the hotel is so nice. A wind-down spa day sounds wonderful, especially since it's not pouring down rain.

Boston won the American League, so it's a Red Sox - Rockies Red Hot World Series this year. Gail should take note in case of traffic jams.

Cheers, Anne

We want a detailed report on the menu-do a hear a request for Foie gras? Enjoy yourselves-we miss you.

Foie gras? Where do I report? Yum! I'll take it seared but not too rare.

Cheers, Anne

I thought the special request was supposed to be for rie de veau?

Probably shouldn't have told us that you got free Internet, Eugene. Now we'll expect continued daily updates. :D

Masaki

Gail and I each just had 2½-hour spa treatments. Started with foot scrubs, then body scrubs, then massages. We’re feeling pretty mellow, but have to get ready for our multi-course Khmer dinner, which we will have out of doors—but not on the swinging table/beds, because we might get seasick (actually, I don’t think I can eat with my legs straight in front of me).

Today was great. We explored the hotel more after dinner last night and this morning. It is really very beautiful (see pictures). It reminds us of Tahiti or nice places in the Caribbean.

By the way dinner was fine last night, and they certainly had foie gras on the menu. We split a duck breast salad. Then Gail had grilled salmon and I had two types of fish from the Mekong served bouillabaisse style. We took a tuk tuk to and from the restaurant, which is like the pedi-cabs we were taking in Vietnam, but instead of bicycle the driver rides a motorcycle.

Anyway, today we got a guide and driver and went on a boat ride on Tonle Sap Lake. It is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia—12,000 square kilometers. It merges with the Mekong River near Phnom Penh. One sees floating villages and all sorts of interesting sites.

Then we went to another arts and crafts store (with all goods by widows and orphans), which I’m starting to become suspicious of. Anyway, we indulged in a sapphire and diamond bracelet, which was either a wonderful buy, or not. Following this, the guide took us to a restaurant across from Angkor Wat, which was quite good. Obviously, it had many tourists. Gail had chicken with curry and coconut. I had a stir-fry chicken with mixed vegetables and ginger. We were sitting next to an American couple from Colorado, who had been to Laos and are staying at a sister hotel to ours, which apparently is a “training” hotel. They brought two extra suitcases of clothes and supplies, which they have handed out to needy people in several places they’ve visited. We (especially Gail) started feeling pretty guilty. After lunch, we went to the Killing Field area, which was fairly disturbing, and we contributed to some fund. Lastly, we went to a silk farm, and saw the whole process from the worms eating mulberry bush leaves to them making cocoons. We then saw how the silk thread was made, spun, dyed, and woven. Gail bought one item. A beautiful shawl.

We returned just in time to shower before our spa treatments. Tomorrow we leave early for a full day (Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and I’m not sure where else).

Gail and Eugene

Maski--I don't think they were taking special requests at Le Bistro.

Photos from Dreps in Cambodia:


View from Our Room at the Hotel de la Paix


During our Lake Trip (Sailing Up to Our Boat Selling Soft Drinks--We Gave $1 for Pix of Monkey)


Like the Boat We Were In


Floating Village


Floating School

More Photos from Dreps:


At the Killing Field (Note What's Behind the Glass)


Buddhist Temple at the Killing Field by Gail because Eugene wouldn't take off his sneakers!


At the Silk Farm


Silk Fabric Being Woven

Love the pics - the hotel pool area looks gorgeous and that silkworm picture is fascinating. That excursion looked like it was well worth it!

Masaki

Last night’s Khmer meal was interesting: (1) Pounded green papaya with dried shrimp and smoked fish salad, (2) banana flower and grilled chicken salad, (3) fresh maam (pork we think) with khmer crudities, (4) lufa and grilled bar fish soup (very good), (5) stir-fried frog with holly basil (Gail substituted), (6) braised beef shank with palm sugar and star anise (very tasty), and (7) assorted khmer sweets (somewhat strange, though something banana was pretty good). We had paired with wines—which were 3 chardonnays—which I thought pretty odd.

This morning we went to Angkor Wat, and it was a very beautiful blue-sky morning, albeit warm. Our guide picked us up at 8:30 AM, and we stayed out for round 1 until a about 11:00 AM. The day turned very warm and it felt like we had been out walking for at least 5 hours! The first picture is of the causeway leading to the complex. The complex itself is very large and has various levels leading to the main temple which is designed to look like a sacred mountain or a lotus flower bud or a giant (x-rated). The steps are very steep and treacherous. There are several large and detailed wall carvings (bas-reliefs) of various Hindu stories such as the one of a guy who married a beautiful girl only to have her kidnapped. When he got her back (after several wars) he doubted her faithfulness. Go figure. Anyway the girl decided to kill herself and jumped into a huge fire. But when she did the fire died down and turned cool. This convinced her doubting husband that she really was faithful.

After Angkor Wat proper we went to Ta Prohm Temple, which means Ancestor of Brahma—originally built as a Buddhist monastery. This area was really neat. The temple area had not been maintained for centuries and there were trees growing through the walls and temple ruins. It had quite a mystical quality. It was very crowded (mostly with tourists from Japan) as several tourist buses had dropped off their people just as we entered. It was hard getting good shots without tons of other people. We really did enjoy the walk but by then, we were fairly drenched (not from rain either) and needed to take a break. We returned to the hotel and showered and had lunch at the hotel and lolled on the Bali beds they have around the pool. Gail read and Eugene fell asleep. Then we got ready for our afternoon jaunt to Angkor Thom.

(The guide picked us up at 3:30 PM and we stayed out till about 5:00 PM.) It had clouded up considerably so alas no pictures of sunsets over the temples.

We went to Angkor Thom, which is a huge city temple complex built 40 years after Angkor Wat. We entered by the South Gate, which is guarded by 154 stone statues, a row of Gods and a row of Demons. We drove to several smaller temples and also to the Terrace of Elephants, which is a structure from which the king sat and watched his military. We also walked to Phimeanakas and Baphuon, both earlier temples built in the 10th century. The last stop was one of the grandest, Bayon. It is shaped like a pyramid and has many towers with huge smiling heads on each of the four sides of each tower. A lot of restoration is taking place everywhere, and at times looks like a giant jigsaw puzzle.

After returning to the hotel, we once again freshened up and then went across the street for hour-long foot massages for about $6 each. Then we went to a nearby restaurant that was on Anne's list and that we had heard about from others called the Blue Pumpkin—sort of an Internet Café with pretty good food located near the Old Market. We had spring rolls, fish with lemongrass and ginger, yellow noodles with chicken and vegetables, and stewed beef with star anise, a glass of S. African chenin blanc, a large Angkor beer, and a small bottle of Evian for the grand total of $16.75—about the price of a main course at our hotel.

Then we walked back to the hotel with a detour on Pub Street, which is full of pubs and young people. One notable pub is the Angkor What? Pub (also mentioned by Anne). So we had a full day.

We’ve enjoyed it here so much that we were able to arrange an additional day and alter our airline reservations, so we are skipping Bangkok except for flying back to catch the first of our planes home. Tomorrow, we plan to take it easy.

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Eugene and Gail

Photos of Angkor Wat from Dreps:


The Causeway to Angkor Wat (Original on left, restored on right)


Bas-reliefs Depicting Epics


Restored Apsara (or Exotic Dancing Girls)


Angkor Wat (rear view)


Ta Prohm (Entrance Tower)

More Photos of Angkor Wat:


In Ta Prohm


More Ta Prohm


Causeway to Agkor Thom


Bayon (Count the Number of Faces)

Eugene & Gail,
Your wonderful reports and photos continue to entertain us. The next best thing to actually being there! Thanks!!!!!!

Thank you so much for the wonderful travelogue and the fantastic photos. Your trip sounds absolutely wonderful.
We would like to do the trip to Angkor Wat and have heard great things about the Hotel de la Paix. Are you enjoying it? Is it well situated to the Temples?
Also, can we ask, was it necessary to take malaria medicine for Cambodia? And, any other medical precautions? We have heard contradicting information and wondered what your approach was.
Enjoy the rest of your trip! We're envious!
Thanks.
Kathy

Regarding malaria medicine, we were told to take Malarone and are doing so. Having used it in S. Africa last year without ill effects, we weren't going to take chances. Thus, far we've seen mosquitoes, but (knock on wood) for some reason Cambodian mosquitoes don't seem to like me as much as American and Caribbean mosquitoes, which usually have a "field day" with me. Gail never has to worry because they all attack me. Another couple who were on the ship, but here for only 2 days did not bother, but were subsequently worried about it. Last year for Africa, we got Tetanus/Diptheria and Hepatitis A shots. Before this trip, I needed a booster for Hepatitis A. We usually go by what the CDC recommends -- (www.cdc.gov). Even then we did hear conflicting info regarding a polio booster. In the end, Gail got one, but my travel doctor said it wasn't necessary.

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Eugene

Wow! Your stories and pictures bring back such great memories. Glad you are really enjoying yourselves. Our tour agent talked us into a 3 night stay against our better judgment .. and were we ever glad he did! Two nights will get the basics done, but three are even better. Those ansaras .. so lovely, and so, so many of them. This place must have been something in its heyday. It's hard to get pictures that do justice to the wall carvings, as they are so magnificent.

Thanks for checking out the stomping grounds in Siem Reap on behalf of the LCT Nation. Suzanne put me on to the Angkor What? pub. I can't take credit for the Blue Pumpkin, but am glad to know it worked out well for you two.

Cheers, Anne

Eugene and Gail, I have been loving your reports about your trip. My SIL has too, she tried to post a few nights ago, but it didn't take. They are going to Vietnam in Jan. on another line, and have been hanging on to every report you have sent!

Thanks for all the details, I have put Cambodia and Siem Reap
on my list of "must see" places!

Thanks again Eugene - your reports are so interesting and pixs too!!!!

SO wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with us.

Ardis

Thanks Eugene and Gail! Love the pictures and the description of the Khmer meal. I agree that the chardonnay pairing is a little odd ... ??

Regardless, we're proud of you two holding up the best traditions of LCT - traveling, exploring, and eating well!

Masaki

We're sitting in the Skylounge at the Bangkok airport, which is essentially a restaurant on the 6th floor of the International airport. It's pretty nice and a good place to park yourself, especially if you can't check-in because the airline doesn't open up until later. We're on a late Korean Air flight that leaves here at 1:30 AM (it's not yet 5:00 PM here) and the ticket counter opens at 8:00 PM. But we have free WiFi.

Yesterday, we just hung out at the pool of the Hotel de la Paix. We were going to walk down to the river, but it started raining after lunch. Then it stopped. So we took a tuk tuk last night and ate pizzas at the FCC (Foreign Correspondents Club)Restaurant in Siem Reap. It was a nice change of pace. We sat on the balcony of the restaurant, which overlooked the river.

This morning we hung around the pool again for a couple of hours before our short afternoon flight here. We had tried for an early evening flight, but no luck. Given that we were able to change our flight to a day later for no charge, we're not complaining. It was raining a bit in Siem Reap off and on, with some breaks of sunshine. Here in Bangkok, it's very overcast. I called Delta to try and shorten our layover in Seoul, but that didn't work. Unless things change, we are scheduled to arrive at Reagan National about 11:30 PM tomorrow (Saturday) night.

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Eugene and Gail

Thank you so much for all the great reports and the wonderful photos of Angkor Wat. Also for the information on the melarone.
Have a very safe flight home. It is raining here in the Washington DC area too, but is welcome after so many days of dry weather. The weekend is expected to be nice for your return!
John and Kathy

Have a safe flight home. We have all enjoyed your reports. We look forward to seeing some grandbaby pictures, Gail.

Eugene - You have done a remarkable job with your reports and pictures. I think I speak for all LCTers when I say it is so appreciated. SEA MAIL is one of the very best features of LCT. I love to read the reports.

Thanks for keeping us up to date and have a safe (albeit long) flight home. Cambodia sounded incredible.

Update from Seoul. We finally arrived at a little after 10:00 AM (Seoul time) after the delayed departure. There was an aircraft problem, so we flew here on a 747 instead of a 777. It had not been updated with fancy seats, though. Nevertheless, we each were able to sleep for a few hours. We're now in the huge Korean Prestige Class lounge, which is very nice. Lots of goodies to eat and drink, and I just took a shower, which was refreshing. Our Delta flight to Atlanta isn't until about 6:00 PM. I may need another shower! Actually, it's a bright sunny day here. When we landed, it was about 60 degrees F. Thanks for the good wishes. Yes, we were really happy that we went to Angkor Wat and extended our stay in Siem Reap. I hate to say it, but it was probably the best part of the trip post-PANDA, especially given the less-than-wonderful weather we had on the second segment.

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Eugene (and Gail)

It's great to finish a trip on a high note. Have a safe trip home, and wishing Gail godspeed as she meets her grandson.

Loved the reporting, Eugene. You really made the trip come alive!

Cheers, Anne

Thanks once again, Eugene and Gail! Looking forward to seeing pictures of Gail holding her grandson!

Masaki