Basith Mountain

Apparently our hike group had already gone to Basith Mountain and because everyone loved it so much they decided to go again. This mountain, and I use the term "mountain" loosely here, is 45 minutes outside the city. It is scattered with pagodas and statues which made for some fun photo opportunities. The group keeps getting larger which makes keeping everyone together a challenge but I had to laugh at the scene such a large group of foreigners made while traipsing through these rural communities during mid-day when it's 1000 degrees out.

The top of the "mountain". 

On the way. 

Our first pagoda stop. Almost every pagoda I have been to here is fully functioning and is occupied by vendors, monks and  locals. It appears (although I have never done it) that you can ask to be blessed then you would leave a money offering. 

These kids were having a blast swimming and doing cannon balls. This is the communities main water supply. By looking at it you might be surprised to know they use it for drinking, washing and cooking. 

Here is a small community that felt like being in the desert in the middle of nowhere. They were even setting up for a wedding (colourful tent, decorative chairs and tables, music blaring, wedding party members getting dolled-up) which put a smile on my face and resulted in lots of smiles back.

It's a shame we can never read the signs. So we goof off instead. 

Exhibit B. 

This temple was so neat. It was different than anything I had seen before and the inside was huge and airy. 

A massive fake tree sat at the centre along with some common religious ornaments. There was also a monk sitting at the base should you want to be blessed. 

Kampot cottage

Kampot is a another coastal town about a 4 hour ride southwest of Phnom Penh. To complete our whirlwind Cambodia tour we decided to get some relaxation time on the water. Instead of beaches, the town is on the Kampot River which provides a good opportunity for kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing and swimming (surprisingly since the rivers we're used are brown with garbage and whatever else gets dumped in there).

Our great accommodations called Greenhouse guesthouse.

Our fancy bungalow complete with electricity!

Trekking some bamboo poles across town.

Kampot Pepper is a big deal here and they export to 6 countries. There are 2 types (black, red, white) and here the black are drying before getting sorted.

Each peppercorn is sorted one by one to ensure they all look the same. These women will work at this for 7 hours (for $5/day). Once the sorting is done, they are packaged.

The building used to be a local bar that they turned into lodging. I just called it our "cottage".

I seriously felt like I was in Muskoka at a friends cottage. It was comforting but also made me look forward to going home (even more).

Happy campers.

Siem Reap - Day 2

Feeling slightly better, we tackled the temples on the second day since it involved lots of walking and stairs. We hired our usual tuk tuk driver, an adorable 20 year old by the name of Kaun, who did not continue with school so that he could help support his parents with his 4 other siblings. We needed to plan our route out beforehand so we chose the small loop which hit 3 main temples. At the ticket booth there are options for 3 and 7 day passes which gives you a sense of just how many temples there are.

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is the most famous temple of them all and the largest religious monument in the world. It was first built as a Hindi temple (later changed to Buddist) by the Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12 century which at the time would have been the capital of Khmer Empire.  

Angkor Wat with it's impressive entrance bridge and moat. The masses of tourists were intense but our guide Tay led through the least crowded route which I could have hugged him for.

Ta Prohm 

Unlike most of the temples, Ta Prohm has been left in the condition in that it was found with trees growing out of the ruins and jungle surroundings. It also become popular after Tomb Raider was filmed here. So it's alternative name seems to be the 'Angelia Jolie temple'. 

The famous tree. I actually sent my grandmother a postcard of this exact tree a month ago. 

Bayon 

The most distinctive feature of Bayon are the stone faces. 216 to be exact. Some say the faces represent the current King at the time, where others Bodhisattva of compassion. This could quite possibly be my favourite of the three.

The detail and way they were constructed is just amazing. 

Just for kicks, here is a less scary monkey. 

Siem Reap - Day 1

Siem Reap is has been on my 'must visit' list since I arrived in Cambodia. It is also the place that people seem to rave about the most, specifically about the temples. So with Lynda and mom in tow we made the 35 minute plane ride over. This was after I convinced them that an 8 hour bus ride on the notoriously terrible roads was not the best way to see the countryside.

The town is a cluster of villages along the Siem Reap River and feels more small town and relaxed. Our first night we walked along Pub Street before stopping for some dinner, which included crocodile curry. Word of advice: it is not worth it. Think super chewy chicken. I was staying at a near by hostel which was fine for the sole purpose of sleeping (with earplugs to drown out the free keg party happening a floor above). Unfortunately, my night did not end well as I was up for most of it with a mystery sickness.

The next morning I was determined to sightsee. In my mind, I may never come back to Siem Reap and I was going hell or high water. So by recommendation by our awesome tour guide Tay, we opted for a boat ride out to the floating villages and finished off at the silk museum.

This was a great little area buzzing with bars, restaurants and entertainment. We had dinner while enjoying some serious people watching. 

My mom decided on a $2 "foot massage" performed by little fish that eat the dead skin of your feet. Between the laughing and squealing she said it was quite enjoyable. 

I loved the quiet more relaxed feel of Siem Reap in general.

Watching scarves being woven on the looms.

Learning the entire process from worm to finished fabric. It really is amazing and I finally understand why silk can be so expensive. Holy hard work!

Some great country scenery on our way to the docks. These lotus flowers are collected either for eating or decorating. 

This community was called Chong Khneas and had family homes, businesses and fish/crocodile farms all anchored together in groups. There were 2 other villages but the water was too low to get to them.   

These were the boats you rented to get to the village. 

A combination of the shallow water and garbage was making our journey a difficult one. Our prop kept getting tangled so we would switch off the engine only to drift into shore. Our knowledgable 12 year old driver and the use of huge sticks got us back into deeper water. By the looks of the water we were just hoping we wouldn't have to get out. All of this was happening while I was laying half conscious on the boat floor and other tourists were taking pictures of our broken down boat as they cruised by. 

A snapshot of how I was feeling for 2 days.

Family reunion

I have been slacking on my blogging since my special guests from home have arrived. My mom and her friend Lynda are visiting and we've been busy trying to fit everything into a 2 week window. It has been really great having the company and I'm having fun playing tour-guide.

While in Phnom Penh, we have checked out a bunch of markets, gone to the Royal Palace, walked around the Independence Monument and parks, done a cooking class, walked the riverside on the way to the Night Market, visited the Killing Fields and S1 Prison, taught a oral hygiene lesson at a local school/orphanage, went biking to Silk Island, had a drink at the (old) tallest building in Phnom Penh (at a whopping 22 floors), had our nails done, eaten tons of great food and of course hung out at the hotel pool.

My mom is also keeping a blog which goes into more detail about her own experiences with culture shock and the general craziness of this country. Also being the chattier of the two of us, she goes into some great detail about the above. So in true me fashion, here are some pictures to tell the story instead.

If manicures were $4 at home I'd be all over that.

Evening walk.

Making sure I haven't lost anyone in the market!

Enjoying the Royal Palace. 

Reiterating my dislike for monkeys. 

Having a blast learning to cook traditional Khmer dishes.

Our afternoon at the Sovann Komar School was a day to remember. Our class ranged from 8-12 year olds and we reviewed  proper brushing techniques and healthy eating habits. The adorable kids above just chewed on strips that reveal any plaque on your teeth. Between all the giggling, I think we had a very successful lesson. 

Everyone got a new toothbrush. 

We finished up with some colouring and a photo-op. The day ended with lots of hugs and one student asking me for my number so we could be friends.

The Night Market is one of my favourite spots. We're fully enjoying our $1.50 pad thai. 

Otres Beach

Otres beach. The place where good sleep and peace and quiet live. My last trip to Sihanoukville was to celebrate NYE, which involved earplugs and facemasks to get any shuteye. There are generally three beaches in Sihanoukville where people choose to stay. Serendipity is filled with hostels, young backpackers and considered party central, Otres 1 is essentially a toned down version of this, and Otres 2, which is the furthest away and lacks any serious party scene. There are also various islands you can visit however we opted to stay within electricity and Wi-Fi range for this trip.

Phnom Penh seriously lacks relaxing green space or any water activities so these weekend trips are essential for staying sane.  

The water is extremely warm and gradually drops off which makes for a perfect lounging opportunity. 

The only not-so-relaxing part about these beaches are the people constantly coming up to you to sell sunglasses, massages,  mani/pedis, bracelets or threading. A smile and head nod usually leaves you in peace. 

Kite boarders at sunset. 

We rented kayaks for $4/hour and paddled out to an island and back within an hour. Despite a certain someone humming the jaws theme I was more concerned about the huge jellyfish floating around everywhere. You can also book trips for boating, fishing, sailing and snorkelling through certain hotels or the people coming up to you on the beach. 

Portable bbq with small squid for sale. 

Our humble abode.