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Angkor is incredible! A massive complex of temples and ruins. Dating back between 1200 – 700 years, each temple in itself is incredible and then to consider them as a whole and to think that it was a place of advanced civilization is just incredible.

We spent three days in the archeological park. This cost $40 US and was worth every cent. Hopefully the money goes to the right place and ensures further protection of the ruins.

On the first two days, we hired a tuk-tuk driver who took us where ever we wanted to go and would wait for us, usually playing cards with other drivers or catching a kip to beat the afternoon heat.

On the first day we went to Angkor Wat, the most famous of the temples. It is a massive 1 kilometer square complex, surrounded by a moat. The exterior of the inner temples walls were covered in bass relief sculpture. These told various stories pertaining to Hell, Earth and Heaven and the various deities and demons that occupy them. The detail of these sculptures was incredible!

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We spent the best part of 2 weeks there. Did the Angkor Ruins thing as we’ve already said. Caught a Kick ass Karaoke bus from Angkor down to Phnom Penh. Nice easy trip on good roads slept a bit and read a bit saw a bit of scenery. By and large Cambodia seems to be quite flat and pretty arid. Not a lot going on on the road, a bit like the Hume but without as many cows.

Phnom Penh did our heads in. An absolute assault from the second we got off the Karaoke bus. Stinky city sprawl with mental roads and crazy motorbike drivers. We saw a guy prang his scooter. No one stopped, the police ran over (just to have a look) and he winds up picking up the scooter, dusting himself off and rides off bleeding!

Still on the topic of motorbikes, you can fit your family and the neighbors on one scooter. Alternatively with the use of a couple of bamboo pole you can convert it into a pick up truck. I’m amazed at how much you can actually fit on one bike!

So after a healthy dose of fear and Loathing in Phnom Penh we decided to get the hell out of there. It was time for the beach. Somehow we dropped straight into holiday time warp and spent 5 days lying on the beach. Ahhh life’s tough. Sihanoukville named after the king is a relatively sleepy if very well touristed beach town. Was a really nice break.

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