tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16492410990285980712024-03-14T08:31:25.560-07:00blobbes' cambodian campaignblobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649241099028598071.post-80233955759727867352008-10-14T08:03:00.000-07:002008-11-03T06:36:05.752-08:00Prologue Redux<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPCWGg_MAk9-FP9S908-3m3glRh7eoDrxKbYHllKtbFRGja4fv6qf_SsYwcisUdL5LYT5ylIp03F5XRzX7Mg0_FzuyK6-WoVth-06edpRxqZ3XCZ2yc1rOQvEyiAvo2pDez8nQOSm5KxU/s1600-h/Oun"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPCWGg_MAk9-FP9S908-3m3glRh7eoDrxKbYHllKtbFRGja4fv6qf_SsYwcisUdL5LYT5ylIp03F5XRzX7Mg0_FzuyK6-WoVth-06edpRxqZ3XCZ2yc1rOQvEyiAvo2pDez8nQOSm5KxU/s320/Oun's+Note+008.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br />Cambodia was an epiphany, one that was all the more satisfying because it was unexpected. We came away marvelling - such a land of contrasts. Despite being overrun by tourists, the temples of Angkor still evoked magic and mystery. The capital city of Phnom Penh was a palimpsest, layer upon layer of history.<br /><br />We discovered that the country still harks back to its glorious past, no doubt to eclipse the bloodshed and gore of recent years. Its people are still naive, in the best sense of the word. No doubt it will, one day, go the way of its more sucessful neighbours. Even as I write this, the foundations of the country's first skyscraper are being laid. We felt like there was no better time to experience Cambodia, a country on the brink of history, before an irreversible spurt of modernisation changes everything.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fcWkm4hlXGrHyU75VQMa7tSJoct6T6xI67F8K5WRIkL0Fk_9QBJzmuZ22gG8uXnTeITIjD35O-hqRiKzJNyikewSfQYXnZXLueV-SWx5g53b3JlJAEjkzHxej8hgBKuqNejrhZgHuDg/s1600-h/Oun"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fcWkm4hlXGrHyU75VQMa7tSJoct6T6xI67F8K5WRIkL0Fk_9QBJzmuZ22gG8uXnTeITIjD35O-hqRiKzJNyikewSfQYXnZXLueV-SWx5g53b3JlJAEjkzHxej8hgBKuqNejrhZgHuDg/s320/Oun's+Note+005.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div>blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649241099028598071.post-25102446445096395052007-12-29T09:49:00.000-08:002008-04-11T10:21:58.442-07:00Day 1: Hello Siem Reap, Hello Shinta ManiOur flight landed at 11.35 a.m. We got off the plane and crossed the hot tarmac to the spanking new Siem Reap International Airport building. It was blazing hot but we were happy to note that it really wasn't that humid. Passing through Customs and Immigration was a breeze.<br /><br />Outside, a troop of drivers were waiting, armed with a plethora of placards. We looked around anxiously for a placard with our names, and Sony Cheaba, the driver we had made prior arrangements with. We had originally approached Kim Soryar, a highly rated driver on the Tripadvisor forum, but he was not available for the period of our stay. Instead Kim had suggested his brother-in-law, Sony, and we had agreed, but where was Sony?<br /><br />It was at least ten minutes before we spotted our names.<br /><br />"Sony?" I said.<br /><br />"So yah" was the reply.<br /><br />Who was this man? For a moment there, I was confused. Then it dawned on me that this might be Kim.<br /><br />"Kim?" I asked tentatively.<br /><br />"No, so yah," the man said again.<br /><br />It took another minute or so before the penny dropped. He was Soryar, Kim Soryar! That's when I realised that, for Cambodians, family names come before first names. That was the first of many communication boo boos we would experience during our trip. This was going to a cross-cultural experience indeed.<br /><br />Soryar piled us and our luggage into his van while apologising on behalf of Sony who had had to back out because of some test he had to sit for. In fluent though accented English, Soryar explained that he had arranged for someone else, another associate of his, as a replacement. At this point, I had a moment of discomfort - were we going to be palmed off to some less reliable person? Still, Soryar had come personally to pick us up. I decided to ignore my niggling doubts for the time being.<br /><br />The drive into town wasn't a long one, especially with Soryar providing running commentary. The road from the airport was lined with big hotels, with big tour buses parked outside. Without a doubt, Siem Reap was experiencing a tourist boom. We were struck by the number of shops, restaurants and hotels with signage in Korean. When we commented on this, Soryar enlightened us, with barely a suppressed snort, "The Koreans - they do not help the Cambodians. They stay at Korean hotels, eat at Korean restaurants, do business with Koreans..." The short ride with Soryar was turning out to be most instructive!<br /><br /><br /><u>Shinta Mani</u><br /><br />We arrived at our hotel, Shinta Mani. The exterior of the hotel was nothing much to write home about. Fortunately, that was a fact Lonely Planet had prepared us for. I had picked Shinta Mani because it was in fact a hospitality training facility for young Cambodians and because it ran community projects. Oh, and it didn't hurt that the hotel's spa, Sanctuary Spa, was rated "Asia's second best spa".<br /><br />We were greeted by the receptionist for the day. We were early and our room wasn't ready yet. Instead, we were ushered into the hotel's restaurant for lunch and welcome drinks.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfKv51_bj79eLfF4hIKWw_AmMWYkvUkqLjOqW14hyrWSM2m_pXWaUJc9RZ6CicB1IRP0olF5ZEfUK1PRkK3VGxrdfqm10JhPUAGoESDimACc26mCaYuwvw9Q-uTjAinV5uZzWJD0dDDY/s1600-h/2+Dec+07+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfKv51_bj79eLfF4hIKWw_AmMWYkvUkqLjOqW14hyrWSM2m_pXWaUJc9RZ6CicB1IRP0olF5ZEfUK1PRkK3VGxrdfqm10JhPUAGoESDimACc26mCaYuwvw9Q-uTjAinV5uZzWJD0dDDY/s320/2+Dec+07+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">welcome drink</div><br />While we waited for our food, we noted that the staff in the restaurant were mostly trainees. Lyna, our waiter and a more senior trainee, was so polite he was almost obsequious. He was most eager to practise his English, like the other staff who were just as keen to please. And then there was a loud crash from the area just outside the restaurant. I was seated directly opposite the glass door separating the airconditioned restaurant from the bar area outside which the serving staff had to cross to get from the kitchen to the restaurant, and so saw it all happen. Someone had closed the glass door and a trainee carrying a tray full of dishes walked right into it! The poor boy looked so dazed after that. Lyna and his colleagues then went round to all the tables, asking us and the other guests to excuse the disruption, because the boy was new. All of us were bemused and, after some quick reassurances all round, lunch service resumed.<br /><br />Our first meal in Siem Reap:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptBtcpVyHur1DgdgJtJml2jNQiaHJwAn2lYUB98807bDyz65cF2wSlaqjohSelWZpAFpcOmP4Yv7oX413TBRvSDMuJSHOJSTBgZsnO8odcOe8VXbAZr1JdVTVNrvfcMC2D_aE6wqTpek/s1600-h/2+Dec+07+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptBtcpVyHur1DgdgJtJml2jNQiaHJwAn2lYUB98807bDyz65cF2wSlaqjohSelWZpAFpcOmP4Yv7oX413TBRvSDMuJSHOJSTBgZsnO8odcOe8VXbAZr1JdVTVNrvfcMC2D_aE6wqTpek/s320/2+Dec+07+010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">poppyseed bread</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdax8i3U2gcWO6sc-Bre-4MB4IyBSpreueIl3oTA3V0uBr0HHEfkIVaQGb2SIrgCd4gFh71qHS4KAPPJaQI6n-mXbiAlCMsaM417NYkoU-voHvqMACbkcOw1ewPHYCZjoUDzDErYZOXfY/s1600-h/2+Dec+07+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdax8i3U2gcWO6sc-Bre-4MB4IyBSpreueIl3oTA3V0uBr0HHEfkIVaQGb2SIrgCd4gFh71qHS4KAPPJaQI6n-mXbiAlCMsaM417NYkoU-voHvqMACbkcOw1ewPHYCZjoUDzDErYZOXfY/s320/2+Dec+07+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">accompanied by pesto dip</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivrJ62hFNnFuEP3uRGUte0PZAWTcxM8mxARt7Sr0NS_gb8lo3uUySW6-X-tPJM51qsJz0G8BzjPOchDwojeZt0fePh8qYlVSwxSigIr95-w4LWdy3WLTic_NeDQOzjbQ_8FA3OMLRJTg/s1600-h/2+Dec+07+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivrJ62hFNnFuEP3uRGUte0PZAWTcxM8mxARt7Sr0NS_gb8lo3uUySW6-X-tPJM51qsJz0G8BzjPOchDwojeZt0fePh8qYlVSwxSigIr95-w4LWdy3WLTic_NeDQOzjbQ_8FA3OMLRJTg/s320/2+Dec+07+014.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">duck pancakes</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQA8sgc7PVplqkxlrzsLXR-y6NZ-dOXjKqFaeMBtBeVModliT_lmoFH9fGGUjVoPcS8ebwW1QMvtIxG-WJFshZUpABphy73sOLhOlUSf7re_0nFb5a1ZIGO3pDv0P2FP5cDtRlB2B9WhY/s1600-h/2+Dec+07+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQA8sgc7PVplqkxlrzsLXR-y6NZ-dOXjKqFaeMBtBeVModliT_lmoFH9fGGUjVoPcS8ebwW1QMvtIxG-WJFshZUpABphy73sOLhOlUSf7re_0nFb5a1ZIGO3pDv0P2FP5cDtRlB2B9WhY/s320/2+Dec+07+016.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">pomelo salad with chicken</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIlaJrKD4L4HxW4NKaXoKgUeUXtIw77_B5GKzv4wT2UIpF3CrI5Lpf9tn6pdsCNhlpMgBEfMgXK2aOdRoc-SB6xbZyp_9iDfJRE1dlLHDTz9o3UU9YyBrK64Ydqti1juJwinYNDk631Q/s1600-h/2+Dec+07+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIlaJrKD4L4HxW4NKaXoKgUeUXtIw77_B5GKzv4wT2UIpF3CrI5Lpf9tn6pdsCNhlpMgBEfMgXK2aOdRoc-SB6xbZyp_9iDfJRE1dlLHDTz9o3UU9YyBrK64Ydqti1juJwinYNDk631Q/s320/2+Dec+07+017.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">stirfried pork loin with rice</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymXYAWQhJmI74i1ohoS93AZm8p_qnjCSRkcZwRxGi08AlX-s3bliDfSI-ilbJJRYJ0CfO_4MhTRANhbmshlCfwVS2cBe9aNsobSWsbnjhiDHKmQ9Ypc8c8gxt41Q400mP84R2r0BcKoY/s1600-h/2+Dec+07+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymXYAWQhJmI74i1ohoS93AZm8p_qnjCSRkcZwRxGi08AlX-s3bliDfSI-ilbJJRYJ0CfO_4MhTRANhbmshlCfwVS2cBe9aNsobSWsbnjhiDHKmQ9Ypc8c8gxt41Q400mP84R2r0BcKoY/s320/2+Dec+07+022.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">banana and sago in coconut milk</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tj8Ltvw_o3Z8bu22OKubuZYT07lnPvP9UvSoG1XcpM4qcb6TCk-2VOYM2RdaufsILvbKQ4U1kxHlYGdow7PjAEmVqXkUEf_ydvCnV8IbeBCPlyV1a4mZvITATa07ureQef1oC6VVPiE/s1600-h/2+Dec+07+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tj8Ltvw_o3Z8bu22OKubuZYT07lnPvP9UvSoG1XcpM4qcb6TCk-2VOYM2RdaufsILvbKQ4U1kxHlYGdow7PjAEmVqXkUEf_ydvCnV8IbeBCPlyV1a4mZvITATa07ureQef1oC6VVPiE/s320/2+Dec+07+023.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">coffee (check out that cute milk dispenser)</div><br />It was a good first meal. The food was reminscent of Thai and Vietnamese cuisine, but definitely more subtle, less in-your-face. It was less spicy than Thai food, allowing the melange of flavours to be in the forefront rather than obliterated by the heat of the chilli. HM missed the sourness that characterises Vietnamese salads, but even she enjoyed the meal, particularly the bread (give it to the French for teaching their colonies to make the best bread), the duck pancakes and the pomelo salad. And at US$22 in total, it was reasonably priced for a hotel meal though not exactly cheap.<br /><br />Before we left the dining room, we had a very short conversation with one of the waiters. HM and I could not remember whether Cambodia produced its own coffee but the cuppa we had just had was not bad at all. It reminded us of Doi Tung, the Thai highland coffee.<br /><br />"Is the coffee from Cambodia?" "Yes, it's from the market."<br /><br />It was a relief to find out that most everyone spoke some English but whether they understood us was another story altogether.<br /><br /><br /><u>Our Room at Shinta Mani</u><br /><br />After lunch, we were ushered to our poolside room.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIiDsWPDy6B6UD3ScqatOUVVSWF0UiXdvg83Zl81TPjz849QuiMa0rQwh4-L6sEbUlYts9IWX2sflya3BYmhryM-O4RSa3i8bANoOeB84LB8kpHCSOpOX1cOh2_uOMepBtsmhjCLf2uQM/s1600-h/2+Dec+07+039.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIiDsWPDy6B6UD3ScqatOUVVSWF0UiXdvg83Zl81TPjz849QuiMa0rQwh4-L6sEbUlYts9IWX2sflya3BYmhryM-O4RSa3i8bANoOeB84LB8kpHCSOpOX1cOh2_uOMepBtsmhjCLf2uQM/s320/2+Dec+07+039.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Room 103</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtErx7mmj56gxZeq9OQsLHoGtgKYjwiERT9ZVImNkir5X6ZvwfD2IK-WcGNLeW-sLZj4Yv_unxqe_PTTtrHXwaHDkdowG_9etqLZn6TRnMZYk0IwL4jl50xbHJFzEVsCSlU5zy4gwON4/s1600-h/2+Dec+07+038.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtErx7mmj56gxZeq9OQsLHoGtgKYjwiERT9ZVImNkir5X6ZvwfD2IK-WcGNLeW-sLZj4Yv_unxqe_PTTtrHXwaHDkdowG_9etqLZn6TRnMZYk0IwL4jl50xbHJFzEVsCSlU5zy4gwON4/s320/2+Dec+07+038.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">our sofa</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWaNVoTSM5g929FzS_1uWBoDyCYMfqEF39tEHtWgQiKokjq92Sbcjccrz036viU4oS8q3vnkHIulwZacGmo8IWpB1WR1fDycbMRYsk0yr7xVpg-2CYNbrWgw5csSqnUa70RV8Mh5wWqI/s1600-h/2+Dec+07+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWaNVoTSM5g929FzS_1uWBoDyCYMfqEF39tEHtWgQiKokjq92Sbcjccrz036viU4oS8q3vnkHIulwZacGmo8IWpB1WR1fDycbMRYsk0yr7xVpg-2CYNbrWgw5csSqnUa70RV8Mh5wWqI/s320/2+Dec+07+029.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">toiletries</div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br />Our room was comfortable, not quite luxurious enough to be 5-star, but the decor was tasteful and welcoming. HM would go on to rate the Shinta Mani toiletries the best of the four hotels we would stay at in the two weeks.<br /><br /><br /><u>Our First Look Outside</u><br /><br />We spent several hours just enjoying the room. Our plan was to leave for the temples just before five. Entry to the temples was free after five, for those who bought passes for the next day.<br /><br />While waiting for Soryar and/or friend to pick us up, we did a quick trot around the hotel.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4ryUKZagswmR8mi30Zusq0p-hVnbKnK7IZCc524nhKIGYk3hfpZmVk-mXUvjMC5OuzctnOVMKlme6KXM10B5JSbklrbls_6UC2ahwPQqrQtj0saeZ4CBuamAAFbbtn9rysEgxT7JZIo/s1600-h/2+Dec+07+045.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4ryUKZagswmR8mi30Zusq0p-hVnbKnK7IZCc524nhKIGYk3hfpZmVk-mXUvjMC5OuzctnOVMKlme6KXM10B5JSbklrbls_6UC2ahwPQqrQtj0saeZ4CBuamAAFbbtn9rysEgxT7JZIo/s320/2+Dec+07+045.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Siem Reap river</div><br />Standing by the river, we could just about imagine what life in Siem Reap was like before the onslaught of tourism. This must have been the sleepy small town to which the colonial masters retired to for a relaxing holiday.<br /><br /><br /><u>Off to the Temples</u><br /><br />Back at the hotel, Narin, Soryar's associate, was already waiting for us. His car was clean and he spoke good English. Phew, that was a relief. The drive to the temples brought us past all the major hotels, including the Le Meridien, and the Jayavarman VII Children's Hospital, a route that we would become rather familiar with in the course of our stay. Then the buildings receded and it was all scrub and bush to our left and right. At least the road was well-paved.<br /><br />At the ticketing booths, we realised that we needn't have brought passport-sized photos; the booths were all fitted with webcams. The staff fussed and adjusted the cameras as we took turns to stand in the right spot. The whole process took at least ten minutes, fifteen minutes before we got our passes. Everyone had a good laugh as we realised that the photos, taken with low resolution cameras, looked nothing like us. Still, we had our 3-day passes (US$40 each) and were ready to proceed to the temples.<br /><br />I was all excited - our first look at the glories of Angkor.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mBZAcJXBahleBMUZbyV08QOhJQcTlxofdE0qqZDiXXvQYeNk4cr0b-3sh-6fbmGW9DTv5mv1bz2CvRBBmmDsXEPnqmMnwOdRr4-JVCoKxLjBp_WQCk7MdJ8ZTwgxlq8qNVEC7RfC5xY/s1600-h/2+Dec+07+048.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mBZAcJXBahleBMUZbyV08QOhJQcTlxofdE0qqZDiXXvQYeNk4cr0b-3sh-6fbmGW9DTv5mv1bz2CvRBBmmDsXEPnqmMnwOdRr4-JVCoKxLjBp_WQCk7MdJ8ZTwgxlq8qNVEC7RfC5xY/s320/2+Dec+07+048.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">our first sight of Angkor</div><br />We weren't the only ones on the road. Judging from the number of tuk tuks, cars and mini-vans parked outside Angkor Wat, sunset visits were popular, no doubt because the Angkor Wat is the only west-facing temple in the complex.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFovIWXN3cys447em_Kdg4XyDJWDjs7FTiHYVLTYYB5_DKv-FUGS5g7M-eNK9Nl4-OTQeeTIl2oTEyjLK-sfNZvuxUT_zcvuY_elhfq__lDf5uKnww5y6VWRii1aoulItXY6YEm0p03tY/s1600-h/2+Dec+07+070.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFovIWXN3cys447em_Kdg4XyDJWDjs7FTiHYVLTYYB5_DKv-FUGS5g7M-eNK9Nl4-OTQeeTIl2oTEyjLK-sfNZvuxUT_zcvuY_elhfq__lDf5uKnww5y6VWRii1aoulItXY6YEm0p03tY/s320/2+Dec+07+070.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">you never see the hordes in the documentaries</div><br />We did a quick stop at Angkor Wat, for a few photos, and then Narin hurried us to Phnom Bakheng. Like a mother hen, he fretted that we would be late for the renowned sunset view. At the bottom of the hill that Phnom Bakheng sits on, we realised why Narin was concerned. We would have to take a long walk up the hill to get to the temple. There was the option of an elephant ride, but we decided to do it under our own steam. For HM, the gym bunny, this climb was a cinch. As I trotted breathlessly behind her, the thought that ran through my mind was "this view had better be worth it".<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_310Hr170pXvhWykQJjydaN_dFamXFemb-y-EGpoIbaB_lL0VdrEfWji87gWw2eKDlp4gpheni_z5SQ2myEnTc4n2Uk2hvt_61JTNOcHCRYxa_lPmkgtzEwXnOOY32tlcNRhbrp8vWOo/s1600-h/2+Dec+07+081.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_310Hr170pXvhWykQJjydaN_dFamXFemb-y-EGpoIbaB_lL0VdrEfWji87gWw2eKDlp4gpheni_z5SQ2myEnTc4n2Uk2hvt_61JTNOcHCRYxa_lPmkgtzEwXnOOY32tlcNRhbrp8vWOo/s320/2+Dec+07+081.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the masses on Phnom Bakheng</div><br />When we arrived at the top, we were disappointed to be confronted by crowds. To actually see the surrounding countryside, we had to climb up the temple structure which was crumbling in parts. The steps, such as they were, were six inches wide, of uneven heights. Even so, we would have climbed it if entire groups of tourists weren't also trying to do the same thing. The glimpses of the countryside that we could just about see through the bushes lining the path up the hill were spectacular. However, the early birds, mostly independent tourists, were already perched on the best spots, and, bus load after bus load of tourists were still rushing past us and clambering up. We watched as the old, the young and the infirm hurled themselves up the structure, and decided to turn back. We admired the chutzpah of the people who threw their walking canes aside to be pulled and pushed up by their tour guides and compatriots, but no way were we going to risk being injured or killed by falling (in some cases, overweight) tourists. We had our holiday to look forward to!<br /><br />Then came the big rush down the hill. As darkness fell, people practically stampeded down the hill to get down the unlit path before it became too dark. Notes to self: (1) go to Phnom Bakheng at any other time than sunset (2) take the elephant ride.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOYsZjEvCSeMpwRPxpmeASW3kgqPCfy7nFrIIWI_m335EWV1W3sHEfxTvbtXLRZrpILLNm55GEGNUBfHNFyszeSHwmzWsM5n8XIoOQaGuoNV4xsw0uYP8p7XxAdPCwxoKEZaPBpdgNoA/s1600-h/2+Dec+07+088.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOYsZjEvCSeMpwRPxpmeASW3kgqPCfy7nFrIIWI_m335EWV1W3sHEfxTvbtXLRZrpILLNm55GEGNUBfHNFyszeSHwmzWsM5n8XIoOQaGuoNV4xsw0uYP8p7XxAdPCwxoKEZaPBpdgNoA/s320/2+Dec+07+088.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">our first encounter with an orchestra of the maimed and disabled</div><br />As we arrived at the bottom of the hill, we were serenaded by lilting Cambodian music. That moment reminded me of my favourite place, Ubud in Bali, where gamelan music can be heard wafting with the wind throughout the day. The orchestras of the war wounded would become a familiar sight over the next two days.<br /><br /><br /><u>Traditional Khmer Food Restaurant</u><br /><br />We got Narin to drop us off downtown at Pub Street, where the restaurants and, what else, pubs could be found. Recalling a friend saying that we had to try a Khmer restaurant in that area, we wandered into Traditional Khmer Food, located in a side alley just off Pub Street.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUK2CWuYIqreD00gxnuGHNcvBUnVpR3jG-k0DeZHwX2k7rgxKHXhFftdgg6g3w24BPWDowfKBQTzGttJG0oEZkztL-pK8DrBrre4bxUwZdPfxTOu9uLqoh2Fa7BdBipDcd9W_nUf181E/s1600-h/2+Dec+07+097.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUK2CWuYIqreD00gxnuGHNcvBUnVpR3jG-k0DeZHwX2k7rgxKHXhFftdgg6g3w24BPWDowfKBQTzGttJG0oEZkztL-pK8DrBrre4bxUwZdPfxTOu9uLqoh2Fa7BdBipDcd9W_nUf181E/s320/2+Dec+07+097.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">guess what this place sells?</div><br />Our first dinner in Siem Reap:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xtSxYqpKsjdFAVqfDDvR_XkywwVTRNY_xUSIyq-BC3adMN_SxxRH-9xY8MK9UjSxqKZ_c2MG5ybCuAcOsuNw57gNe3b2hYCXCGMlpj0urXTHesPNZXhM5015q4t7inNPj4DGqHbdECU/s1600-h/2+Dec+07+099.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xtSxYqpKsjdFAVqfDDvR_XkywwVTRNY_xUSIyq-BC3adMN_SxxRH-9xY8MK9UjSxqKZ_c2MG5ybCuAcOsuNw57gNe3b2hYCXCGMlpj0urXTHesPNZXhM5015q4t7inNPj4DGqHbdECU/s320/2+Dec+07+099.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">winter melon soup</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOax5VYPBmLf8g0Aqhw9zo54lUz6KFez4qmj97I63OGXA7izGETquELJYZaLkxccWWQ_5klyIqScLIp4ESmN5_V2qb8jPEBVlssKM0QMQL3lTL_F5znfYc9kELo0fhJFHNSyHiXf8StA/s1600-h/2+Dec+07+100.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOax5VYPBmLf8g0Aqhw9zo54lUz6KFez4qmj97I63OGXA7izGETquELJYZaLkxccWWQ_5klyIqScLIp4ESmN5_V2qb8jPEBVlssKM0QMQL3lTL_F5znfYc9kELo0fhJFHNSyHiXf8StA/s320/2+Dec+07+100.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">cucumber salad</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaAsSNEiDP2mVjM76b5mUEfbnsTJIDR6s4p-kAfrXtFIpp6MNHOtOUTB96VPKHLXyrKY7zk1ll07E7CX348nf_yTU2FBfIRd-jwLOeht1MaqS5sDSPuqmHqJKuf4KlO4_6omhtKHkCWU/s1600-h/2+Dec+07+104.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaAsSNEiDP2mVjM76b5mUEfbnsTJIDR6s4p-kAfrXtFIpp6MNHOtOUTB96VPKHLXyrKY7zk1ll07E7CX348nf_yTU2FBfIRd-jwLOeht1MaqS5sDSPuqmHqJKuf4KlO4_6omhtKHkCWU/s320/2+Dec+07+104.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">"Siem Reap" set - fish <em>amok</em>, khmer chicken curry and stirfried pork</div><br />This was our first taste of fish <em>amok</em>, the national dish of Cambodia. The mix of spices and the texture - fish covered in a spice paste - reminded us of fish <em>otah</em>, especially the peranakan version available in Singapore. Good stuff! The cucumber salad - cucumber, basil, chicken, peanuts - was refreshing. Overall though, the meal was not great. The cooking was mostly mediocre and there was way too much MSG and salt in the soup. The bill came up to US$15.25, for the meal, one Coke light and bottled water. Ok, this probably wasn't the restaurant our friend was referring to.<br /><br /><br /><u>On The Way Back</u><br /><br />We took a quick look around at the shops and then made our way back on foot. On the way we passed by the Hotel De La Paix, Shinta Mani's sister hotel, and No.1 on the Tripadvisor forum.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2EMlX1CD0_TsaatA7wOl12YW3JUuNdKoKWmSXxaN1U0G4JASYBj9qzricQ1nKZvgFa_6FsOq7jjAEYMT3ylGC3rqws8xt2tkKtI6j4-EwujM5WKDXnyU8DazhX40s1BA1JOj8NncpHI/s1600-h/2+Dec+07+105.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2EMlX1CD0_TsaatA7wOl12YW3JUuNdKoKWmSXxaN1U0G4JASYBj9qzricQ1nKZvgFa_6FsOq7jjAEYMT3ylGC3rqws8xt2tkKtI6j4-EwujM5WKDXnyU8DazhX40s1BA1JOj8NncpHI/s320/2+Dec+07+105.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Hotel De La Paix - a bit much not?</div><br />We were glad we had picked Shinta Mani, the smaller and definitely less pretentious sibling, instead.<br /><br />Downtown Siem Reap was very easy to navigate. We walked along the main drag of Sivutha Boulevard. Every five metres, someone asked us if we needed transport. We turned them down. In the end, the walk didn't take very long. The only dicey part, for poor old nightblind me, was walking down Oum Khun Street, the road that Shinta Mani sat on. Beyond the first stretch which was flanked by Korean restaurants and reflexology joints, the road was unlit. By day, we had noted the potholes and uneven surface, so I followed HM's lead blindly till we reached the lighted path outside Day Inn Angkor.<br /><br />Finally we retired for the night. We had an early day ahead - sunrise at Angkor Wat awaited us.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjnCwnoFMfsi4UBxp1oCtZoPMgmgFJmLBz_nyFsN6qbfs09heOx-4VuxdeBn0hl-ItmisXxaYUzKSPoysMoqRZkqRNMyRAlzOnH7jUHhinMzWHj4OumScKHIf5_qXN8RnvkXReN0SafI/s1600-h/2+Dec+07+112.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjnCwnoFMfsi4UBxp1oCtZoPMgmgFJmLBz_nyFsN6qbfs09heOx-4VuxdeBn0hl-ItmisXxaYUzKSPoysMoqRZkqRNMyRAlzOnH7jUHhinMzWHj4OumScKHIf5_qXN8RnvkXReN0SafI/s320/2+Dec+07+112.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Shinta Mani's pool by night</div>blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649241099028598071.post-16051673545429820402007-12-28T08:46:00.000-08:002008-04-11T10:22:54.371-07:00Day 2: Gone to the Temples<u>Sunrise at Angkor Wat</u><br /><br />5.00 a.m. We stumbled out of our beds and into Narin's car. We weren't the only ones up early. Wending our way around the Angkor Wat moat, we could see the headlights of other vehicles in the dark.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfR0yebQSTSQpYo86-JYDh_4vnA1MuNz409xtwqCX2Iaizh6m3QXhW8wCxL5ZGrNfB2CVgWUSotGumKViplnAh1Qw6wO-n6QqN4wzMOMuqrt0mQTvM8_Ud_onpQy0QakaBE_kuotVy-Dk/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfR0yebQSTSQpYo86-JYDh_4vnA1MuNz409xtwqCX2Iaizh6m3QXhW8wCxL5ZGrNfB2CVgWUSotGumKViplnAh1Qw6wO-n6QqN4wzMOMuqrt0mQTvM8_Ud_onpQy0QakaBE_kuotVy-Dk/s320/3+Dec+07+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Angkor by starlight</div><br />As we made our way into the temple complex, not for the first time I wished we had brought a torchlight on this trip. The temple was not lit and crossing the causeway with its uneven cobbled stones was just about manageable for me. We did our best to keep pace with others who had brought torches, but in the almost pitchblack entranceway, I nearly smashed my face into a Buddha statue.<br /><br />Once we passed through the entranceway into the temple complex proper, we were met by a sight to behold. We were by no means alone - there were tour groups already there, but all watched in awed silence as the sun rose slowly. The air was surprisingly chilly, forcing HM to appropriate both my spare shirt and sweater, but that meant clear skies. The famed spires were sharply silhouetted against the brightening backdrop with its changing hues. We could only imagine what impact such a vision might have had on the denizens of Angkor in its heyday.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaPVXP91wLPDFzCxgKfQc_UAA6Sdc0E9T2meuf0rSwu_1xkEDQ-ARWtg6GUatDfo4VCBeCD8Ofb_grQXLv9Lguc7ec_cmJcIgzIEvc09dJlJNjf0t1GAKrOn4xim-F3bKaf-FKgHu9pU/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaPVXP91wLPDFzCxgKfQc_UAA6Sdc0E9T2meuf0rSwu_1xkEDQ-ARWtg6GUatDfo4VCBeCD8Ofb_grQXLv9Lguc7ec_cmJcIgzIEvc09dJlJNjf0t1GAKrOn4xim-F3bKaf-FKgHu9pU/s320/3+Dec+07+014.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">first look, at 5.30 a.m.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWtOgBf1nHoInSnj2lL7gb-GRB3Wa_pCr3_3cfk84VzIqYN-vPaJ1SzQSqp7QbfNADbd6gVctxgJRarszhG8dh9iVWXPToN1x27l_VJnft2igrWmVs8WDvRVwdIZ_Ij6Av0w_Bu49kQ4/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+049.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWtOgBf1nHoInSnj2lL7gb-GRB3Wa_pCr3_3cfk84VzIqYN-vPaJ1SzQSqp7QbfNADbd6gVctxgJRarszhG8dh9iVWXPToN1x27l_VJnft2igrWmVs8WDvRVwdIZ_Ij6Av0w_Bu49kQ4/s320/3+Dec+07+049.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">and then the hordes rolled in</div><br />We decided to leave before the crowds spoilt for us what had been a moving morning thus far.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0qB_18MnlO4rgh8nnBe7xfPaVrzHTDjQ-WRQjg9MHIWG2_tQiu1Uir9OUQI5uEcAZXzUng75cuRf9gAKslE-xODuV7cXIOHN06-u8ba-AAQzb_JfgZE_KQ8013pVN5aELYzMtSNiAgQ/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+112.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0qB_18MnlO4rgh8nnBe7xfPaVrzHTDjQ-WRQjg9MHIWG2_tQiu1Uir9OUQI5uEcAZXzUng75cuRf9gAKslE-xODuV7cXIOHN06-u8ba-AAQzb_JfgZE_KQ8013pVN5aELYzMtSNiAgQ/s320/3+Dec+07+112.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the Angkor Wat moat</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWF6FMhTBFP9mLCgp4ZPRsz90WgSdAQyoD-e9RasHvyV9Jsrpwdxg_4iShNoiGgf2MYsoEmAosvnYqhuanJDe_CONSUk52cWCg56cKxwr0ovpJ_xLNIfbx8PtcCyQWUHsEDcWW2npyCY/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+128.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWF6FMhTBFP9mLCgp4ZPRsz90WgSdAQyoD-e9RasHvyV9Jsrpwdxg_4iShNoiGgf2MYsoEmAosvnYqhuanJDe_CONSUk52cWCg56cKxwr0ovpJ_xLNIfbx8PtcCyQWUHsEDcWW2npyCY/s320/3+Dec+07+128.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">resident of the temple</div><br /><br /><u>Breakfast at Angkor Wat</u><br /><br />It was time to turn our thoughts to something more mundane but no less important - breakfast! We found Narin in the carpark, or rather he found us. (Throughout the next two days, he would spot us more often than we spot him. Fortunately for us, his was the only blue Toyota Camry; everyone else drove a green one. That and the elephant hanging from his rear view mirror.)<br /><br />"Breakfast?" he asked, then swung the car around to deposit us at the doorstep of a restaurant just metres away, in front of the temple complex.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtiB37fLaDQ6A3yx2cm4rVibbep5sJKE6EPJdXiCIUEMPwUJUYNAVm1HjH4___FBEU_UREPzxn-UzLtbCevEJYKhJxR4DEuNx_2QEvoyo73s8__-D_FirMH_cyLIJ6ewMIPa-yl5yQ2Q/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+148.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtiB37fLaDQ6A3yx2cm4rVibbep5sJKE6EPJdXiCIUEMPwUJUYNAVm1HjH4___FBEU_UREPzxn-UzLtbCevEJYKhJxR4DEuNx_2QEvoyo73s8__-D_FirMH_cyLIJ6ewMIPa-yl5yQ2Q/s320/3+Dec+07+148.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the restaurant</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxdKrAkYTmx3Vz9grDN713s7Db9qXHPg0KLnK8pImSGvJnoIu6ioZtrXVJ-N0RcTXrZbNytFYI36gwF9FNc4t5a-mo2Xvzvm6qOiZHKkRtZmgibUsTz5XYbI-cPXraCyocg_Kpfu5V6g/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+141.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxdKrAkYTmx3Vz9grDN713s7Db9qXHPg0KLnK8pImSGvJnoIu6ioZtrXVJ-N0RcTXrZbNytFYI36gwF9FNc4t5a-mo2Xvzvm6qOiZHKkRtZmgibUsTz5XYbI-cPXraCyocg_Kpfu5V6g/s320/3+Dec+07+141.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">well, that's one way to sterilise cutlery</div><br />We had:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyE9u6FvP6XpVeuRpwDKP7kCDUc0HCVbvCcwddJ8u-ddleZv8rZwoe4l6umrhrFX70NtUM2uk2ZM-XcvmqUmujavI349_0vFwT_dJOVnwDtMYLhPf7yOBrEUpqqXRrQnpbmBMB7TWwH4/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+132.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyE9u6FvP6XpVeuRpwDKP7kCDUc0HCVbvCcwddJ8u-ddleZv8rZwoe4l6umrhrFX70NtUM2uk2ZM-XcvmqUmujavI349_0vFwT_dJOVnwDtMYLhPf7yOBrEUpqqXRrQnpbmBMB7TWwH4/s320/3+Dec+07+132.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">coffee</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLZ7CrkifQPqsmg0xd19EdjBfJwtkuY2FQEq2S7j-gX_x5bhuafspERX8Ez8QImndmkcrAnoj3ObwDwDln99fnI6zp9SlSRkLwO6ANl9WeaRc4OthyBjs1FKyhK3EMfCkA_f9uYbVm80/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+143.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLZ7CrkifQPqsmg0xd19EdjBfJwtkuY2FQEq2S7j-gX_x5bhuafspERX8Ez8QImndmkcrAnoj3ObwDwDln99fnI6zp9SlSRkLwO6ANl9WeaRc4OthyBjs1FKyhK3EMfCkA_f9uYbVm80/s320/3+Dec+07+143.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">noodle soup with pork</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnr26Bul-UenXSp3dTV6HCByZlEHmr_BgsldZ7C11XxRijlEqHrO6elaqTZ3Tw9B6a-hMxiOrr7balth3iEwal5ZIF5uOh31jKCsW1uwO12iUus1oQZh_okSXXUeTaZKt7fhQls7CXCc/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+145.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnr26Bul-UenXSp3dTV6HCByZlEHmr_BgsldZ7C11XxRijlEqHrO6elaqTZ3Tw9B6a-hMxiOrr7balth3iEwal5ZIF5uOh31jKCsW1uwO12iUus1oQZh_okSXXUeTaZKt7fhQls7CXCc/s320/3+Dec+07+145.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the American breakfast set - omelette with cheese and ham</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XsZGSt1JvvCMeROy0IyedgDpDVzGhWoaux6CG37KJ0PlFpWMC391juT1yIPS6nFzqcN1ZDv77NjkXoB-9a0coWTKgbiC0DbYdkp4F_hE6rRfFzSXT-WSGy5tuv4gzMiRibe3kFOk_Lw/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+147.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XsZGSt1JvvCMeROy0IyedgDpDVzGhWoaux6CG37KJ0PlFpWMC391juT1yIPS6nFzqcN1ZDv77NjkXoB-9a0coWTKgbiC0DbYdkp4F_hE6rRfFzSXT-WSGy5tuv4gzMiRibe3kFOk_Lw/s320/3+Dec+07+147.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">fruit platter that came with the American breakfast</div><br />We were not impressed with the food - again, the soup was MSG-laden - and the bill came up to US$12. As my Cantonese mother would say, expensive and not nice!<br /><br /><br /><u>The Ancient City of Angkor Thom</u><br /><br />After breakfast, we headed for the ancient city of Angkor Thom. Narin dropped off at the top of the driveway leading to the city's South Gate and told us to take our time walking across.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRl4N-Oh7KbIL428vK7NWdcyKZZLJbxVuxkP_lJzFa9IQsGvYEgbBntRZ1TpZSIKk51ZcnuVdNKWt-UOjkOtux4Gnvd6qsuo7C1Fl30ms9z99zBfjm-TNYjnta3BX9XfkzdndJcSI9l4/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+151.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRl4N-Oh7KbIL428vK7NWdcyKZZLJbxVuxkP_lJzFa9IQsGvYEgbBntRZ1TpZSIKk51ZcnuVdNKWt-UOjkOtux4Gnvd6qsuo7C1Fl30ms9z99zBfjm-TNYjnta3BX9XfkzdndJcSI9l4/s320/3+Dec+07+151.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Angkor Thom's famous South Gate</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWLqcEpvnCFwHN7HXOyUv4R7akaNmshATmHgrr-6msrxvF_G8aSg371sWcdx4uQC5G9NK-BYIORyWufMLcYxQ9SCF6NjgaatNkZYvmRrryIV7mNhuzzCE3tazRhhI37W3pLGXVzWe5jc/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+155.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWLqcEpvnCFwHN7HXOyUv4R7akaNmshATmHgrr-6msrxvF_G8aSg371sWcdx4uQC5G9NK-BYIORyWufMLcYxQ9SCF6NjgaatNkZYvmRrryIV7mNhuzzCE3tazRhhI37W3pLGXVzWe5jc/s320/3+Dec+07+155.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">demons or warriors?</div><br />It was a beautiful morning - the light was soft, the air was crisp and, surrounded by woodland, there was something quite otherworldly about the place. It made me wish that we could explore the park on foot or horseback. Alas, Narin was waiting for us just past the gate, with the car, a fact that we would appreciate more a little later in the day.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyLOQAakkobW97svJ7qIV5Ux4pw7KQEQjSLw0ML5yT_zE_eoHQJH2OHVkk10sBt-YeuoYu8LLktaB4ByVpfXwItzPYE0as49xj1x5ka-1DIjMU2XUrC3i_3KzSDf_vxPWyKA0UzzOrwg/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+181.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyLOQAakkobW97svJ7qIV5Ux4pw7KQEQjSLw0ML5yT_zE_eoHQJH2OHVkk10sBt-YeuoYu8LLktaB4ByVpfXwItzPYE0as49xj1x5ka-1DIjMU2XUrC3i_3KzSDf_vxPWyKA0UzzOrwg/s320/3+Dec+07+181.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">heightening that wonderland feeling</div><br />Our next stop was THE face of Angkor - the Bayon temple. It was a good move to forego breakfast downtown. Now, we had a headstart on the masses who had mostly left the area to grab a bite. We practically had the whole place to ourselves and so took our time to climb up and down and around.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-pYgUFWk3CTZq6n5W2osAVLZmaw5BP5VYwU2D9lEiORILNvzt9orAC-yT4vpwAK5_RzCd6-chS7YoDDg_2RhkUgKAbBqCFcMxPW0mcc7RGs6WPYZKcvkKXmG9ThFz2J7b7A91XrKNFY/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+190.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-pYgUFWk3CTZq6n5W2osAVLZmaw5BP5VYwU2D9lEiORILNvzt9orAC-yT4vpwAK5_RzCd6-chS7YoDDg_2RhkUgKAbBqCFcMxPW0mcc7RGs6WPYZKcvkKXmG9ThFz2J7b7A91XrKNFY/s320/3+Dec+07+190.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">approaching Bayon</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TCo7rPHvxemZl5rcQ1Eny67oSafg4oIbhcgBxcMkbQ25bdcWpUDBuOCjmYjveXeJ9qwK3txfcLSgROLuZERlfmyBM4F7kZ-mMVU1fdUW2dEDzIuIEan5Xyj5wQpZ_GaaYS9gY4Ah8Mw/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+246.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TCo7rPHvxemZl5rcQ1Eny67oSafg4oIbhcgBxcMkbQ25bdcWpUDBuOCjmYjveXeJ9qwK3txfcLSgROLuZERlfmyBM4F7kZ-mMVU1fdUW2dEDzIuIEan5Xyj5wQpZ_GaaYS9gY4Ah8Mw/s320/3+Dec+07+246.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the many faces of Jayavarman VII, the king who built Bayon </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkojPnWdlml6fC28QjmWIJulCEMo_wbnoHIleFsrpX-155tPlJ3qMcxJhiIM_mP7y6CXfiOsv1_5plk0CEcGVIRh4QH5TYPHPVqe5SxYF-6QfU5uBdEhJubmH9MbgOEHtILUalmVtXOXw/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+226.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkojPnWdlml6fC28QjmWIJulCEMo_wbnoHIleFsrpX-155tPlJ3qMcxJhiIM_mP7y6CXfiOsv1_5plk0CEcGVIRh4QH5TYPHPVqe5SxYF-6QfU5uBdEhJubmH9MbgOEHtILUalmVtXOXw/s320/3+Dec+07+226.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a mysterious smile to rival Mona Lisa's</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoP0XWXAtYaxg6fFeSr0xaKd4lNYEMPxnuVsk_gIMsN230kQbGF6uS6MsUkMppZpNM48-yWerRf77Z9j-eM4akl_czOMTf42IuGhMXNQGFOOhqIFQMyIL1xQ2nyFBSbjNxm3aoLNk9xI/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+276.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoP0XWXAtYaxg6fFeSr0xaKd4lNYEMPxnuVsk_gIMsN230kQbGF6uS6MsUkMppZpNM48-yWerRf77Z9j-eM4akl_czOMTf42IuGhMXNQGFOOhqIFQMyIL1xQ2nyFBSbjNxm3aoLNk9xI/s320/3+Dec+07+276.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">serendipitously framed</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46lFxL1KVwe-aY31xnAWJApaN1lAk6q5sXPujqjcUQpQqaKJmeAYnUlSQAhtq7VMoOM087sNvKar_FykkycfMxraDy9QcBQCsN4RTJzASx5TnAdUTocdgcF9FYguD4gytm9beTYtzpug/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+296.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46lFxL1KVwe-aY31xnAWJApaN1lAk6q5sXPujqjcUQpQqaKJmeAYnUlSQAhtq7VMoOM087sNvKar_FykkycfMxraDy9QcBQCsN4RTJzASx5TnAdUTocdgcF9FYguD4gytm9beTYtzpug/s320/3+Dec+07+296.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the bas reliefs of the Bayon</div><br />The Bayon was stunning. Jayavarman's profile at every turn lent the place a surreal quality. The bas reliefs were equally fascinating, particularly those depicting everyday life in Angkor.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGBP4FcCiX2Fgevs14yLNqeAUnVfMNbiw_7pw9dITlE4yfra96ZcgYW-g4oBqIHgyF7d-53vcxDJWYENLGIhyphenhyphenZSznKMwYa48ugCqQ4PH3YnlSK3KwFjxz7_WhNch3iCpIzBWrL0fnEog/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+331.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGBP4FcCiX2Fgevs14yLNqeAUnVfMNbiw_7pw9dITlE4yfra96ZcgYW-g4oBqIHgyF7d-53vcxDJWYENLGIhyphenhyphenZSznKMwYa48ugCqQ4PH3YnlSK3KwFjxz7_WhNch3iCpIzBWrL0fnEog/s320/3+Dec+07+331.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the crowds caught up with us</div><br />All good things have to come to an end. By 9.30 a.m. or so, we noticed that the tour groups were beginning to return. We would spend the rest of the morning, trying to stay one step ahead of them.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQcXbsjoolnrQRCcu5_mqDsSVejj6-1XqnaztvUBhLLx_FfObhCkKdGFjMbHlk1VzIHjlqsP9H11IkcsS1UiGni7JQfN0JrQKvR4_-U-qrxajiTA3DP3-NKdnm_aOZbkfrJZrdoWaBLo/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+348.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQcXbsjoolnrQRCcu5_mqDsSVejj6-1XqnaztvUBhLLx_FfObhCkKdGFjMbHlk1VzIHjlqsP9H11IkcsS1UiGni7JQfN0JrQKvR4_-U-qrxajiTA3DP3-NKdnm_aOZbkfrJZrdoWaBLo/s320/3+Dec+07+348.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">one way of exploring the temples</div><br />The other temples in the area were scattered around the Bayon, so we wandered through the woodland, zooming in on a site whenever a tour group left it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmqXb5GEbl7P3ZXAwngGz2_BuQ51To1AynB4pWT5WMngN1X36oaOTv2ULjcP7YlEbSwt0iGjz8o4Q_jIdz0qg9DHN1WZrEgnMMZcdoHLjEa3sfrvb6JjGtbyhEDVhQvvQvPy8wPQi19s/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+379.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmqXb5GEbl7P3ZXAwngGz2_BuQ51To1AynB4pWT5WMngN1X36oaOTv2ULjcP7YlEbSwt0iGjz8o4Q_jIdz0qg9DHN1WZrEgnMMZcdoHLjEa3sfrvb6JjGtbyhEDVhQvvQvPy8wPQi19s/s320/3+Dec+07+379.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the trees grow tall here</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDNsG7ynvmIQ6etEUfAmg2NG_5aShiWKvTiv6JSp5-e6kqoeosBVvWnMXRRhIOlgN-B_VMRy8rgyWyEUrQVAgsuLaLB1jLv5qk9B5UHyh18A3cp-jxlwiUYU_KNhINnV-BRYrfQ6rOIA/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+349.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDNsG7ynvmIQ6etEUfAmg2NG_5aShiWKvTiv6JSp5-e6kqoeosBVvWnMXRRhIOlgN-B_VMRy8rgyWyEUrQVAgsuLaLB1jLv5qk9B5UHyh18A3cp-jxlwiUYU_KNhINnV-BRYrfQ6rOIA/s320/3+Dec+07+349.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Terrace of the Elephants</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVMS9wbEp0QpI2f1xUQM1pHLi7P_f-rukG4QDGIAjpwPkdW01fNbC7PdaqDEm-bIdCvI9xlfSMmYPh2ETpNs1n9HGHj0wnufv6ZqlQe9TaAIU_9btTr4IEIWGpxVvQaiWWrAcAb91cqho/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+362.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVMS9wbEp0QpI2f1xUQM1pHLi7P_f-rukG4QDGIAjpwPkdW01fNbC7PdaqDEm-bIdCvI9xlfSMmYPh2ETpNs1n9HGHj0wnufv6ZqlQe9TaAIU_9btTr4IEIWGpxVvQaiWWrAcAb91cqho/s320/3+Dec+07+362.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">on top of the terrace - the road to antiquity</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcZOVp-KMBKBkpUHfYS7lRuc8k-Vk6WCKwBAR6u9Uaj9FCq7TZ93gY5FaxyBjvqDcc9HQBBo36YIw8TMnOnRll4dDTZ2k03TfD6qW87yka840VlUROnsRl3mv3rS0LOVtwiR3aA4hhKs/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+370.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcZOVp-KMBKBkpUHfYS7lRuc8k-Vk6WCKwBAR6u9Uaj9FCq7TZ93gY5FaxyBjvqDcc9HQBBo36YIw8TMnOnRll4dDTZ2k03TfD6qW87yka840VlUROnsRl3mv3rS0LOVtwiR3aA4hhKs/s320/3+Dec+07+370.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Phimeneakas</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglIH2AvKlpAthOmytx1x-ZDx_WcYfJZNtdO4T5lwf9WYwnDfbRmAk373uqqEn_J0EHO5ZTjIQ7Yc9eFmMUolwsrJ5yc0E2Mig9g66fv6PdFH2daaqoXFz6rlSMis0UlIrqIOZhSSa2e0/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+384.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglIH2AvKlpAthOmytx1x-ZDx_WcYfJZNtdO4T5lwf9WYwnDfbRmAk373uqqEn_J0EHO5ZTjIQ7Yc9eFmMUolwsrJ5yc0E2Mig9g66fv6PdFH2daaqoXFz6rlSMis0UlIrqIOZhSSa2e0/s320/3+Dec+07+384.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Terrace of the Leper King</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLS5nK5fEL_bIa7mHQJ7J0Tr6rPR6lkU3spUN4HQNhs27yINQu_QBdiynTF4QZkqwZc6OmxE2xd6NUZ1Z-Y_O6-AVi5XjBAh6DRuXxCGLpCQkNMnGnBT3GMiaE1g_h4BQ1qWV7K_tWySc/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+385.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLS5nK5fEL_bIa7mHQJ7J0Tr6rPR6lkU3spUN4HQNhs27yINQu_QBdiynTF4QZkqwZc6OmxE2xd6NUZ1Z-Y_O6-AVi5XjBAh6DRuXxCGLpCQkNMnGnBT3GMiaE1g_h4BQ1qWV7K_tWySc/s320/3+Dec+07+385.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br />Part of the fun of exploring the temples was walking around in the peaceful leafy grounds between the sites, at least it was till the growing heat finally defeated us and we retreated to the comfort of Narin's car where he plied us with ice cold water and wet towels.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCYgoaH9qu0fpg-hUqGjzLmXOWeaDo3xUTH8QYSUNJAh3Uep8EYu9M0pLJzE0S_U6rs5RRdyftkv_0HE0HfCf_a1x8XBu2CrScYrBCR8Y8qSDF6wuqTkc2P6hWHO1E5iw1Pi8jKboCAU/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+364.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCYgoaH9qu0fpg-hUqGjzLmXOWeaDo3xUTH8QYSUNJAh3Uep8EYu9M0pLJzE0S_U6rs5RRdyftkv_0HE0HfCf_a1x8XBu2CrScYrBCR8Y8qSDF6wuqTkc2P6hWHO1E5iw1Pi8jKboCAU/s320/3+Dec+07+364.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Suor Prat Towers</div><br />Just before we left, we drove past the Suor Prat Towers. Baffled by the structures, we asked Narin what their function was. He told us that games were held at this location. Ropes were apparently hung in between the towers and competitors would use these like tightropes, walking between the towers. How interesting! (Our Dawn Rooney guidebook would pooh-pooh this theory, calling it "nonsense"...)<br /><br /><br /><u>Artisans D'Angkor</u><br /><br />We were back in town early enough to pop by Siem Reap's largest and most established craft workshop. Set up first as a training facility for talented young Cambodians, Artisans D'Angkor aims to "reclaim the tradition of Khmer craftsmanship and promote fair and sustainable development of Khmer crafts".<br /><br />As soon as we arrived, we were whisked away on a tour of the premises by a young, eager English-speaking guide. We went to the stonecarving, woodcarving and lacquerware workshops...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqnba3i7HuhzE2UMl3u6vw0vYZA4x-lGkdVidrSW7tBna94fm-2BQMQGTkCxxsOy8V3kp-paHQrUhWk2dmg0Ma3aT83xPP5_iPboZ-wB86CU4BrCu33o6cRKtyYWY9JKS4tlWS_NiBCg/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+400.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqnba3i7HuhzE2UMl3u6vw0vYZA4x-lGkdVidrSW7tBna94fm-2BQMQGTkCxxsOy8V3kp-paHQrUhWk2dmg0Ma3aT83xPP5_iPboZ-wB86CU4BrCu33o6cRKtyYWY9JKS4tlWS_NiBCg/s320/3+Dec+07+400.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">walking in the steps of yesterday's artisans</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84-PN_PLAN7Fqv4mJFMQ63uUNOPFUs0F-asfTvKEbK4HYUFLy1KFdkepHT0KkUOwb9n5uCIKq4p-N97AFKGG0ZXMJ86hAhUOgVu3kXia7u2cRimkk4V4H6Z6PMW3dvDCrTW1ljfevmZ8/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+408.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84-PN_PLAN7Fqv4mJFMQ63uUNOPFUs0F-asfTvKEbK4HYUFLy1KFdkepHT0KkUOwb9n5uCIKq4p-N97AFKGG0ZXMJ86hAhUOgVu3kXia7u2cRimkk4V4H6Z6PMW3dvDCrTW1ljfevmZ8/s320/3+Dec+07+408.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">nothing like a fresh coat of paint</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSbdq5FDvt5JIi2EXBPBE8NO4bxBKbf_PIamqfD7_SWtXKQIisM3jUE2wam8WO_ntbbn3Ot14aci3azJamY1Y1fKUohQxgJ61E_8jQhItIRhy2YuKSmbLVhFz9WaWlHXEyATw5HROeRs/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+404.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSbdq5FDvt5JIi2EXBPBE8NO4bxBKbf_PIamqfD7_SWtXKQIisM3jUE2wam8WO_ntbbn3Ot14aci3azJamY1Y1fKUohQxgJ61E_8jQhItIRhy2YuKSmbLVhFz9WaWlHXEyATw5HROeRs/s320/3+Dec+07+404.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a copy of the real thing</div><br />Amongst young Cambodians selected by Artisans D'angkor for training were the hearing impaired.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJglysrwYJQeqJuGD8vXz1GdryKAinVEHtg3TXo1PmkoGGLFJKPfi0mTpQpxVsYNeTapMuTo8trYs2u1Ho9ZMV-ckx1qfxc5oovp4vyBwmgEyvrhXa0t2I-8IMVvhOdcJVBpu62VWCv0/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+413.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJglysrwYJQeqJuGD8vXz1GdryKAinVEHtg3TXo1PmkoGGLFJKPfi0mTpQpxVsYNeTapMuTo8trYs2u1Ho9ZMV-ckx1qfxc5oovp4vyBwmgEyvrhXa0t2I-8IMVvhOdcJVBpu62VWCv0/s320/3+Dec+07+413.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">khmer sign language</div><br />Much of the craftsmen's work revolves around reproducing Angkorian artifacts for the tourist market.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2jPXMZHKhzsAnvfAjseHdZ2SgjTbYKDVxN7s_uuWSiSRhNf4btehyx62UIkoUDzpXTfViYNyK67zEY6iVmbKALJbodfojAVDxto2kUI0dPjOTH3AJ2zQJvkoyPapt9kVzbpDM1sNHhw/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+414.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2jPXMZHKhzsAnvfAjseHdZ2SgjTbYKDVxN7s_uuWSiSRhNf4btehyx62UIkoUDzpXTfViYNyK67zEY6iVmbKALJbodfojAVDxto2kUI0dPjOTH3AJ2zQJvkoyPapt9kVzbpDM1sNHhw/s320/3+Dec+07+414.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">How to make an "genuine" artifact - Step 1</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4UYF785cHBdiaaKGyJrSBMY1cLhCsEGLmlcAsKhi957ZrRN7fFXdSbXuKZ3jhjmQRZQ5dITnBwskpX_QXqmDQO4Qm-ujkKdJDyyqKb5D6NbMtAloBe-Gom3QuIb_1PBo4W0M4tTH3Yw/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+415.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4UYF785cHBdiaaKGyJrSBMY1cLhCsEGLmlcAsKhi957ZrRN7fFXdSbXuKZ3jhjmQRZQ5dITnBwskpX_QXqmDQO4Qm-ujkKdJDyyqKb5D6NbMtAloBe-Gom3QuIb_1PBo4W0M4tTH3Yw/s320/3+Dec+07+415.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Step 2</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPS8-GAGmvDlDMS79ie8Irj8KMnGDUmVRlA2xapE73wxciKEnvcFq6YXN-7WWgEFpj7YALzyX05nWbm5bVb2nke3v0Gfq0ptCvjGeixe2W12vJcbgCAwSJbcHpe8VNpt1eCiSji35RVZ0/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+416.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPS8-GAGmvDlDMS79ie8Irj8KMnGDUmVRlA2xapE73wxciKEnvcFq6YXN-7WWgEFpj7YALzyX05nWbm5bVb2nke3v0Gfq0ptCvjGeixe2W12vJcbgCAwSJbcHpe8VNpt1eCiSji35RVZ0/s320/3+Dec+07+416.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Step 3</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesz3HYe23KEfDLBzDqJx1m5BEmg0PcNugO9XbBLBzdoDjj8vJ-YNvdcFg0kHuz0WjOlwaGFl6Y1FtmBjabiRGEdO_GDVnX7woKiSCMRTsTTk2zTleHzlddVmIrjnp5eOU9Czwclr1xc0/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+417.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesz3HYe23KEfDLBzDqJx1m5BEmg0PcNugO9XbBLBzdoDjj8vJ-YNvdcFg0kHuz0WjOlwaGFl6Y1FtmBjabiRGEdO_GDVnX7woKiSCMRTsTTk2zTleHzlddVmIrjnp5eOU9Czwclr1xc0/s320/3+Dec+07+417.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Step 4</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uIlfQXzcLcga2mhr0BBQBfb8lRXqIOj-vP4ZgKrRblvmsZ3o9-6wazDc96bavbMulaNjnpWTZHtXGwxj1HVEKI07yNapBv-VXcIl9lyQwvpABAgm56hlmASRJyL1fbRZUP5Bdeq1_A0/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+418.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uIlfQXzcLcga2mhr0BBQBfb8lRXqIOj-vP4ZgKrRblvmsZ3o9-6wazDc96bavbMulaNjnpWTZHtXGwxj1HVEKI07yNapBv-VXcIl9lyQwvpABAgm56hlmASRJyL1fbRZUP5Bdeq1_A0/s320/3+Dec+07+418.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Step 5 - <em>voila</em>, a lovingly made reproduction</div><br />At the end of the tour, our guide deposited us at the showroom cum retail outlet. The products on sale were by no means cheap but the quality was clearly outstanding, a fact not lost on the hordes of marauding tourists. Never get between a Japanese lady and her silk scarves, we learnt. Anyway, we had the luxury of time on our side; we were going to return to Siem Reap at the end of our trip. We didn't have to buy everything at one shot; we could always come back after viewing what the rest of the country had to offer. That didn't stop us from walking away with the following:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKOaIqvYkZOmdY_3LXdUv92XKOsZqyLehYcerL_1rhDBeDGTAH8FdQEpwo6XCOUbL4BJkobcVdQMukSyolWQy3FUAn4IQw9-GLHASgHRmTM3fA_-Vufa-ejqj7EF9wHd3FqwXzxNt6NWM/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+435.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKOaIqvYkZOmdY_3LXdUv92XKOsZqyLehYcerL_1rhDBeDGTAH8FdQEpwo6XCOUbL4BJkobcVdQMukSyolWQy3FUAn4IQw9-GLHASgHRmTM3fA_-Vufa-ejqj7EF9wHd3FqwXzxNt6NWM/s320/3+Dec+07+435.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">silk scarf</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiL0IO7PLA9VXBdsInbKDuRwkOqlUoJPW12vrNgEMRi5sTrk_SdrhhACsO5EDJ70FpLChIbuz4OTn_ptuzX1FEsIbdGsTAQP3qP0PU0R6_Y5BFo6NoKwiBvVNmo09TA-tbDqNzoMQrZs/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+437.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiL0IO7PLA9VXBdsInbKDuRwkOqlUoJPW12vrNgEMRi5sTrk_SdrhhACsO5EDJ70FpLChIbuz4OTn_ptuzX1FEsIbdGsTAQP3qP0PU0R6_Y5BFo6NoKwiBvVNmo09TA-tbDqNzoMQrZs/s320/3+Dec+07+437.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">silk scarf</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_J1VofF-GrlVBSrCe_kbq5elJ0pfaDe0hSUDG40bdGIQrpssP_5Ftp2B6dBekaTZVrSWyBAyUz9zXeLde5t0iL_kgIl5oELE_kmlA-QplVI4idKweX_EjhSoZpTxxJ7xsEmLaghezpj0/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+438.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_J1VofF-GrlVBSrCe_kbq5elJ0pfaDe0hSUDG40bdGIQrpssP_5Ftp2B6dBekaTZVrSWyBAyUz9zXeLde5t0iL_kgIl5oELE_kmlA-QplVI4idKweX_EjhSoZpTxxJ7xsEmLaghezpj0/s320/3+Dec+07+438.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">silk purses</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixH8kH37LFytiKxLSlZwP_BHq9KDlIOkfAV7kQgW8sFSNZWGEcTdbieTWzvXtwd_wGHtzCrkWU1no5dolv9erh54L-cVxHsBI4BrBtn7cbkSTVm9UDepRlepREBTSG3AeMdMWlzdB6j2M/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+433.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixH8kH37LFytiKxLSlZwP_BHq9KDlIOkfAV7kQgW8sFSNZWGEcTdbieTWzvXtwd_wGHtzCrkWU1no5dolv9erh54L-cVxHsBI4BrBtn7cbkSTVm9UDepRlepREBTSG3AeMdMWlzdB6j2M/s320/3+Dec+07+433.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">no ugly plastic bags here</div><br /><br /><u>Lunch at Blue Pumpkin</u><br /><br />It was time for lunch and a rendezvous with the highly acclaimed Blue Pumpkin cafe. We arranged to be picked up by Narin an hour later and sat ourselves down along the walkway outside the cafe.<br /><br />Everything on the menu looked good but here's what we ordered:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYcwT4a8A_RGsnAeTr5s_4k8wMpck4afHlHX0klHQNvqUr6Og4_hBHEJ-48pKs8LX33sLBfV9R1TU4b5ugvp29ldNGs5AALtJYAAKSuJFKGKNUdG1C81ymDPP6Jk_LUN5NjBq8QQUBCc/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+420.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYcwT4a8A_RGsnAeTr5s_4k8wMpck4afHlHX0klHQNvqUr6Og4_hBHEJ-48pKs8LX33sLBfV9R1TU4b5ugvp29ldNGs5AALtJYAAKSuJFKGKNUdG1C81ymDPP6Jk_LUN5NjBq8QQUBCc/s320/3+Dec+07+420.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">our drinks - a Lolita (apple, ginger, lemongrass, wild honey) and a Garden Party (carrot, red cabbage, tomato, basil, green lemon)</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDl_T6f8yhnG1Yag46QP3xfFOQbY3YMUC9LjIUTAMp9V0pXGhyDXMZdhfFvv7AmzpR4KtO-6zCLALEhlGHqA0RlLEUWmGJYTS8qas_WRPffIMI_HyhHPCJVTvQUDxpbDouwVEQOpluNbE/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+424.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDl_T6f8yhnG1Yag46QP3xfFOQbY3YMUC9LjIUTAMp9V0pXGhyDXMZdhfFvv7AmzpR4KtO-6zCLALEhlGHqA0RlLEUWmGJYTS8qas_WRPffIMI_HyhHPCJVTvQUDxpbDouwVEQOpluNbE/s320/3+Dec+07+424.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">fish amok ravioli</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMqcQ_7yF9cloeSW7Faa9QY55oYnacbtgf2QHPS6HoRLVaPzcD-JtG4QDelY1bVCE3ZKN6E4D-7MKrBIoftwQZboDXOgTrQkZROFccjdH4DFsRxlk97NYnEqM08HL5cH-u66rjNWCkts/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+426.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMqcQ_7yF9cloeSW7Faa9QY55oYnacbtgf2QHPS6HoRLVaPzcD-JtG4QDelY1bVCE3ZKN6E4D-7MKrBIoftwQZboDXOgTrQkZROFccjdH4DFsRxlk97NYnEqM08HL5cH-u66rjNWCkts/s320/3+Dec+07+426.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">grilled pork and pepperoni sandwich, with yogurt sauce</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXPuF1ZxRIcCh2HF2SHaEKT0DVzl-KuRYnSlj-BTAUu0cm0cEZJuEzo9l8w4OLAeD7v93mmEBF-jhmGCD_iIegez8bKuqN55qWZn1aB6-tx3a7hKTLBLA0Zv5AcJKoZV_57TqfnszRPE/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+427.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXPuF1ZxRIcCh2HF2SHaEKT0DVzl-KuRYnSlj-BTAUu0cm0cEZJuEzo9l8w4OLAeD7v93mmEBF-jhmGCD_iIegez8bKuqN55qWZn1aB6-tx3a7hKTLBLA0Zv5AcJKoZV_57TqfnszRPE/s320/3+Dec+07+427.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">coconut sherbet and ginger nougatine</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0L-e6kUfu_EgErOS3P9mwk7GLEZIfcXTJsZjZCCQIJnrtClNzsS-C4ufhcCKPJtbBdsT4MGB9e2KAKV3pLGUOQ_-f1vAT6oZ5iKv4hpL9gameF1Z1ZZoec1Fl1tR3n3VmX6LPQJPloA/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+429.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0L-e6kUfu_EgErOS3P9mwk7GLEZIfcXTJsZjZCCQIJnrtClNzsS-C4ufhcCKPJtbBdsT4MGB9e2KAKV3pLGUOQ_-f1vAT6oZ5iKv4hpL9gameF1Z1ZZoec1Fl1tR3n3VmX6LPQJPloA/s320/3+Dec+07+429.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">iced coffee</div><br />There was not a note wrong. The two highlights though were the fish amok ravioli and the ice cream. The ravioli reminded me of a richer creamier version of my favourite laksa pesto from back home and the ice cream, especially the coconut sherbet, was oh so delicious. In the end, despite our distended bellies, we couldn't resist buying something to take away:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrfjEGDXH8qQuLqUzpjM99UPbc_JIAUNGF40fi4h6l2fMjq7bckTyykEg0DahUFhLWyNDod2G0vIRgnaXKxAsi4C6ECPVn7FtYi7fzUKz79l-CZ9hDEjDnkgoEBSibUq8SVzUNqPVwig/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+431.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrfjEGDXH8qQuLqUzpjM99UPbc_JIAUNGF40fi4h6l2fMjq7bckTyykEg0DahUFhLWyNDod2G0vIRgnaXKxAsi4C6ECPVn7FtYi7fzUKz79l-CZ9hDEjDnkgoEBSibUq8SVzUNqPVwig/s320/3+Dec+07+431.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">ginger bread for a smackeroo</div><br />The bill? US$15.75 - more expensive than breakfast, but infinitely more worth it.<br /><br /><u>The Grand Circuit</u><br /><br />After lunch, we hit the temple trail again. This time, we went the way of the Grand Circuit.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukXGZLbOKm96zGPefJc4B1qp9DCJc_73KQu_Tq9sj_hA_KsPw3hn1uA4o5NtJZjp3w9iuyKLhO_97bubRI_wQ7ebsdSQXJWOBmK0qWJMc2wXm8cuiAP99PWDk4Fsl3Nxn9-_u7EOjUKs/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+473.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukXGZLbOKm96zGPefJc4B1qp9DCJc_73KQu_Tq9sj_hA_KsPw3hn1uA4o5NtJZjp3w9iuyKLhO_97bubRI_wQ7ebsdSQXJWOBmK0qWJMc2wXm8cuiAP99PWDk4Fsl3Nxn9-_u7EOjUKs/s320/3+Dec+07+473.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Pre Rup - the funerary temple</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHn6n0EYRGZ0fXJddDJQjPUlhuUfyhPrMcMx3QaJZrkfUJSpEfsD-qjrMBY01PiIX4GQD4akHfDIl7lqCC2P9_nQmxTWdzzU2Ng05nMmvnWZPrG-P2hvD6VTPXPgFiSEd2rvWeGjBw-9Y/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+446.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHn6n0EYRGZ0fXJddDJQjPUlhuUfyhPrMcMx3QaJZrkfUJSpEfsD-qjrMBY01PiIX4GQD4akHfDIl7lqCC2P9_nQmxTWdzzU2Ng05nMmvnWZPrG-P2hvD6VTPXPgFiSEd2rvWeGjBw-9Y/s320/3+Dec+07+446.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a closer look</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikN_HLlINysxulk2FfUiyEVW3Pou49oHj92M24_6DBWdwXH-431WmND_W50GvY-haT8xTq6ZtTouJ4SPM0HiN7feTzfNzmSRhutFcSINb-SHIIjsD_FLqRXHBoiaPOSzuQyGG_tnwT1PE/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+463.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikN_HLlINysxulk2FfUiyEVW3Pou49oHj92M24_6DBWdwXH-431WmND_W50GvY-haT8xTq6ZtTouJ4SPM0HiN7feTzfNzmSRhutFcSINb-SHIIjsD_FLqRXHBoiaPOSzuQyGG_tnwT1PE/s320/3+Dec+07+463.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">view from above</div><br />Pre Rup was our favourite for the afternoon. Austere in its lack of ornamentation, it was a sombre place (that didn't stop us from nicknaming it the "hairy" temple though). We took our time, especially on top where we could contemplate the view in silence.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFu4ToOBESuL-2SjCSJOrS4x6E5WgyCjkoH1yizU_eyStWYTosmxAR8D8RS8lWIbPptTaNPtXh1a7bGzkr97Z28oQwt7t4smC1cetIVVmeP3FtYae6LkU_6w0DjMAolsjBQiNAP5fkL4/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+500.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFu4ToOBESuL-2SjCSJOrS4x6E5WgyCjkoH1yizU_eyStWYTosmxAR8D8RS8lWIbPptTaNPtXh1a7bGzkr97Z28oQwt7t4smC1cetIVVmeP3FtYae6LkU_6w0DjMAolsjBQiNAP5fkL4/s320/3+Dec+07+500.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a quick glance at East Mebon</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMinKF0Avy3dJ6FUWYf48zN2m_kcUXL7BuruLZbD0PdugDXavCZ66Ebye8KM07IyxwEBgXl4BxeVM4x1ArfnwDYbizM55btwdH1hUmEyRkKm6DbyLIqBF8qpLu1LeiPxllCr3SD_dtrB0/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+496.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMinKF0Avy3dJ6FUWYf48zN2m_kcUXL7BuruLZbD0PdugDXavCZ66Ebye8KM07IyxwEBgXl4BxeVM4x1ArfnwDYbizM55btwdH1hUmEyRkKm6DbyLIqBF8qpLu1LeiPxllCr3SD_dtrB0/s320/3+Dec+07+496.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">mystery feet</div><br /><br />The afternoon was glaringly hot. Fortunately it wasn't too humid. Still, it was nice to be able to hop into the airconditioning of Narin's car once in a while. As we tumbled in and out of temples, Narin ran a little sideline from the boot of his car - selling shoes, overruns from a local factory, to the other drivers and the local people living in the vicinity of the temples. We watched in amusement as he hocked his wares, although he never failed to put an abrupt end to his wheeling and dealing as soon as he saw us coming.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0esYMMQdHZZSz1jY78Oa0nZU7wkegd1LC0j9y7HeOlUjtgZdXdcheMf_QJqxaazG41M5sdM75sKAiAb22hECvYXXphBcdDXMzTU09ThDVlmo3wH7YYWHwzfjN1Qa2vVutGq2vN45RrXE/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+526.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0esYMMQdHZZSz1jY78Oa0nZU7wkegd1LC0j9y7HeOlUjtgZdXdcheMf_QJqxaazG41M5sdM75sKAiAb22hECvYXXphBcdDXMzTU09ThDVlmo3wH7YYWHwzfjN1Qa2vVutGq2vN45RrXE/s320/3+Dec+07+526.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Ta Som</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWGIk9qHdWDedtSTy471d26ilvzrq4_afULzSBGD9HaXGXshTwR_4sY-IkhPXAYZveAqzJ2gyRip25T1-UbxxBdvWAq8eMv1sETL-XvSnF55f-s-Uv0nDX8e0kEcpX1BMu3L_cHRb9os/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+521.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWGIk9qHdWDedtSTy471d26ilvzrq4_afULzSBGD9HaXGXshTwR_4sY-IkhPXAYZveAqzJ2gyRip25T1-UbxxBdvWAq8eMv1sETL-XvSnF55f-s-Uv0nDX8e0kEcpX1BMu3L_cHRb9os/s320/3+Dec+07+521.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">first taste of tree wrapped temple</div><br />It was Narin who told us to run right through Ta Som, to the other side, where we would get a preview of Ta Prohm's temple-in-the-jungle feel.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_nUdweEt4q_ntH9rXbwn0LIzPUMBDfSXudd2yK8k-JbDn_JPZ26jbgQNqClBrld-Px9TRScTL2o5VkZWfSFM_OsofI13t_Rl9-IOQ32jCn3nOHmTn5OHTqgph95fQ8jOH8qC7XIEfSM/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+484.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_nUdweEt4q_ntH9rXbwn0LIzPUMBDfSXudd2yK8k-JbDn_JPZ26jbgQNqClBrld-Px9TRScTL2o5VkZWfSFM_OsofI13t_Rl9-IOQ32jCn3nOHmTn5OHTqgph95fQ8jOH8qC7XIEfSM/s320/3+Dec+07+484.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">eh look, so rustic</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyT4dyeo8EsLVdlE8YPJyBgZPhRh9eo-iAcjtxI5_R7uSyLryBgNb-_S5A_Ig58c9ksOBsqGlpg3KQdATs-fDTCbCVClyH6s523nhsdeOdzQ_JcN5mr5BA7IVGjEo0I7e9An9th_TwEKI/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+527.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyT4dyeo8EsLVdlE8YPJyBgZPhRh9eo-iAcjtxI5_R7uSyLryBgNb-_S5A_Ig58c9ksOBsqGlpg3KQdATs-fDTCbCVClyH6s523nhsdeOdzQ_JcN5mr5BA7IVGjEo0I7e9An9th_TwEKI/s320/3+Dec+07+527.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the long walk in</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1r9Q0DwhHISHXQMFx5b5RhNtcOl7GpcyWbMYf7IkwMsZOlkKcFX3LUPuk3rNLbUIuSyzebYdox9H1o4M49LkKIByi7MB-8vpJCCbK6O3hKvwkEuzquEmOFRL7BZnqzKSYInKR1nqS6yc/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+535.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1r9Q0DwhHISHXQMFx5b5RhNtcOl7GpcyWbMYf7IkwMsZOlkKcFX3LUPuk3rNLbUIuSyzebYdox9H1o4M49LkKIByi7MB-8vpJCCbK6O3hKvwkEuzquEmOFRL7BZnqzKSYInKR1nqS6yc/s320/3+Dec+07+535.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a friendly passerby</div><br />Much of the afternoon's ramble was made more pleasurable by the long walks through picturesque scenery.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYo2Di001HDfL_VSPP3AH-5-VG-nerOEYaYEZGhe8mT2kn9-MIYizCLKk02336lPCL0nr8bsC95VRvUUJ9RLYhLc-qP8yvNXLypHVgm8lyDGqs747rzHdc7YVWpxLwZOCOc7sqXhUn2fc/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+540.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYo2Di001HDfL_VSPP3AH-5-VG-nerOEYaYEZGhe8mT2kn9-MIYizCLKk02336lPCL0nr8bsC95VRvUUJ9RLYhLc-qP8yvNXLypHVgm8lyDGqs747rzHdc7YVWpxLwZOCOc7sqXhUn2fc/s320/3+Dec+07+540.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Neak Prean - something completely different</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFIozfoY2rHbYqvFlrOPpnSlBgMxe_nzourj6efSTeJe1uv6ojQCCM-24-xu953Le0ArjK0L_TLBq8pc4qYRveaUWfsyKHFbRyvmjcWDe0yGMjz0FNjKN4LwAFLrOuoKkqmiu0K8fNuQ/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+549.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFIozfoY2rHbYqvFlrOPpnSlBgMxe_nzourj6efSTeJe1uv6ojQCCM-24-xu953Le0ArjK0L_TLBq8pc4qYRveaUWfsyKHFbRyvmjcWDe0yGMjz0FNjKN4LwAFLrOuoKkqmiu0K8fNuQ/s320/3+Dec+07+549.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a horse is a horse of course of course</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrmWc3lQHbsJ-f4II61iVyfmVGj8s3NGTqYBDBVrH5Gpo2CbTE_CVd-sqn-tzZI5v4MbPYiY0fXllZAyh53c76MtOrKko3YZW8uYqC56hB4TwSgUp5JoOIUMNQRExoWEDozpYZlr6xM0/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+562.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrmWc3lQHbsJ-f4II61iVyfmVGj8s3NGTqYBDBVrH5Gpo2CbTE_CVd-sqn-tzZI5v4MbPYiY0fXllZAyh53c76MtOrKko3YZW8uYqC56hB4TwSgUp5JoOIUMNQRExoWEDozpYZlr6xM0/s320/3+Dec+07+562.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">first view of Preah Khan</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1BctCWyGIHWhyphenhyphenHOhC-XY7fUXfA7mn0-wGP41crDC84F2IRlUf9c0-wS8ZOj3X4NuXGJiebr-a3R3q0qJkyIG8s5A2VpOZVHcCX9IQFTq2NqXC3vmXI-fP0ij80UNVweJav-QxVv3Yg8/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+569.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1BctCWyGIHWhyphenhyphenHOhC-XY7fUXfA7mn0-wGP41crDC84F2IRlUf9c0-wS8ZOj3X4NuXGJiebr-a3R3q0qJkyIG8s5A2VpOZVHcCX9IQFTq2NqXC3vmXI-fP0ij80UNVweJav-QxVv3Yg8/s320/3+Dec+07+569.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">by anonymous</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXyYA_1vrCFmkzp57o5n7SFs3M-zOJV8rzGHW9A8mx1ZH1nP8XInMFhrfp6yePMpFGzsfmlGTe20J3nrBi4e4Yt9lEBvnXLhgQhHGje9TPkj8ctE2oXp97WNCkGWEty3iquViYEij3w4/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+591.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXyYA_1vrCFmkzp57o5n7SFs3M-zOJV8rzGHW9A8mx1ZH1nP8XInMFhrfp6yePMpFGzsfmlGTe20J3nrBi4e4Yt9lEBvnXLhgQhHGje9TPkj8ctE2oXp97WNCkGWEty3iquViYEij3w4/s320/3+Dec+07+591.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">entwined destinies</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGeeSXxEXzzs_443OLuyJWEDdcci-GwbcXEyqHeryYkHR1DOu_1lXZq85MU7wwNv0OrsBuHSoV8jg7V4fQjVBuENAjDrTbfURnE4W1wMZzM5T10nWYmFzYZAOy-AddL-H4CKonLu9OKTE/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+598.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGeeSXxEXzzs_443OLuyJWEDdcci-GwbcXEyqHeryYkHR1DOu_1lXZq85MU7wwNv0OrsBuHSoV8jg7V4fQjVBuENAjDrTbfURnE4W1wMZzM5T10nWYmFzYZAOy-AddL-H4CKonLu9OKTE/s320/3+Dec+07+598.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Man proposes, Nature disposes</div><br />To end a most rewarding day at the temples, we returned to Angkor Wat for what was left of the afternoon.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKBCKci07G6-vx718PzX28EIinFOeTZZGLzLr9Z6aQcLfNSNqJUn9jMKOImIgAOFb82hm5EB-tqIyjvx6Pz5rAsnWE-zIX8d94g-ZXqnCWDSGJL7jqM0qz_pZMcWtrU85ox3NiDn_9yg/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+612.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKBCKci07G6-vx718PzX28EIinFOeTZZGLzLr9Z6aQcLfNSNqJUn9jMKOImIgAOFb82hm5EB-tqIyjvx6Pz5rAsnWE-zIX8d94g-ZXqnCWDSGJL7jqM0qz_pZMcWtrU85ox3NiDn_9yg/s320/3+Dec+07+612.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">back to Angkor for the sunset</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00D7mYTXGsmaxnY1mY_uG6w2IBpSp2nIqe8FYA0uv6SmgqkvfzITEjVTKD9QXRp6gyXLGpcsRpMIIVitT4LyhDjXvsjY-oyn_tUvV45n2OhB9rt_d_ALJFOjuvRzQFMiPoAhIbKVStTo/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+628.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00D7mYTXGsmaxnY1mY_uG6w2IBpSp2nIqe8FYA0uv6SmgqkvfzITEjVTKD9QXRp6gyXLGpcsRpMIIVitT4LyhDjXvsjY-oyn_tUvV45n2OhB9rt_d_ALJFOjuvRzQFMiPoAhIbKVStTo/s320/3+Dec+07+628.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the reliefs - the Kaurava army advancing into the Battle of Kurukshetra</div><br />This time we had a little more time to take in the details.<br /><br /><u>Dinner at Khmer Kitchen</u><br /><br />That evening, we returned to Pub Street, to look for THE khmer restaurant. We found it, aptly named "Khmer Kitchen".<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIe4g0e076fMXdo_ez-0p3oBs8t0xc0mVgzH3i6btIHpwyZ0Vstl6zQEndlNqTV4X1H4BsG4tZ1Kga4FDcOahyphenhyphenUJvXmGoDWdYJRT2WUpC_kddEgMX7XEDbW5jWt1m9O6l_uKU2ap7LfQI/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+647.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIe4g0e076fMXdo_ez-0p3oBs8t0xc0mVgzH3i6btIHpwyZ0Vstl6zQEndlNqTV4X1H4BsG4tZ1Kga4FDcOahyphenhyphenUJvXmGoDWdYJRT2WUpC_kddEgMX7XEDbW5jWt1m9O6l_uKU2ap7LfQI/s320/3+Dec+07+647.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the flavour of home</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkvYaBowtIsF_Dj3svjg0S7yE8GVwuto04El-V8tIr6GwhWkpHCwO5XjUXJgQ_enu1iIzvE-7GGadiluK3rE1ynJon6zsMYyB_l2qwODKSFhogupoYKsgfIPNdmGgfzi1UOyB4DZMAi8/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+652.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkvYaBowtIsF_Dj3svjg0S7yE8GVwuto04El-V8tIr6GwhWkpHCwO5XjUXJgQ_enu1iIzvE-7GGadiluK3rE1ynJon6zsMYyB_l2qwODKSFhogupoYKsgfIPNdmGgfzi1UOyB4DZMAi8/s320/3+Dec+07+652.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">pretty plate I</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiva8_2zf0FIIUglwJrcbClvXNTfugwComL4oCaILIXM8rZTnZ7CXzKoO7-yW7Bk2Lqtg57jdRjtGRbkg2fvGB-u7Eulr1F1jXQ7hH0UHXnSoejidPBmH7hZ16Kb1qeNUKfX11oYi_u8/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+649.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiva8_2zf0FIIUglwJrcbClvXNTfugwComL4oCaILIXM8rZTnZ7CXzKoO7-yW7Bk2Lqtg57jdRjtGRbkg2fvGB-u7Eulr1F1jXQ7hH0UHXnSoejidPBmH7hZ16Kb1qeNUKfX11oYi_u8/s320/3+Dec+07+649.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">pretty plate II</div><br />Here's what we ordered:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-B3drdeUlzOJNq1USHDdqFlULJshFVnGdLJVbrQXEuMFtA3CsbmsJ7b_hEyfd_G5K0Htfs4WXo_tQN0CIXgemCWJKvtjOix5MrqKrPWdF2BQrDgBYUkMutEpqCIWW265WIPvrGkCdUg/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+655.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-B3drdeUlzOJNq1USHDdqFlULJshFVnGdLJVbrQXEuMFtA3CsbmsJ7b_hEyfd_G5K0Htfs4WXo_tQN0CIXgemCWJKvtjOix5MrqKrPWdF2BQrDgBYUkMutEpqCIWW265WIPvrGkCdUg/s320/3+Dec+07+655.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">lemongrass tea</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCW5605fu2nDGhcMZ37yiSYpBYAuky1ONbaeESz6lYQps04bWG8nHIjc0jN0Jd7l-Ti3PRKRmmrTRpQAcqB1jGzehxcp-3_f64K1z23Exgl6z0dwH1ADLYmowUPapMYXYLpIWpLPqILf0/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+653.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCW5605fu2nDGhcMZ37yiSYpBYAuky1ONbaeESz6lYQps04bWG8nHIjc0jN0Jd7l-Ti3PRKRmmrTRpQAcqB1jGzehxcp-3_f64K1z23Exgl6z0dwH1ADLYmowUPapMYXYLpIWpLPqILf0/s320/3+Dec+07+653.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">khmer soup with shrimp</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJNi2ygoEbCZA-oTZfIWqGL4_R4OzK3ZvDZsAD9T-en9pvIVnCiCHCfCcOsqA1-0xP5-uEVdcEIB6mEdELfCEJ2ddcJH2dkYyK3C0iq-WWxWnCsAHY5ewgMKFxKktoSpqezL__DXUvpU/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+657.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJNi2ygoEbCZA-oTZfIWqGL4_R4OzK3ZvDZsAD9T-en9pvIVnCiCHCfCcOsqA1-0xP5-uEVdcEIB6mEdELfCEJ2ddcJH2dkYyK3C0iq-WWxWnCsAHY5ewgMKFxKktoSpqezL__DXUvpU/s320/3+Dec+07+657.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">oven baked pumpkin with minced chicken</div><br />Finally, an outstanding meal! We were really pleased with the food. It was simple, yet tasty and satisfying. The baked pumpkin in particular was a revelation. And at US$6.50 for the meal plus drinks (lemongrass tea and a diet coke), it was a steal.<br /><br />It was a fitting end to a very gratifying day. It was difficult not to be impressed by the scale and grandeur of the temples which time had not dimmed nor nature destroyed, not that we had any intention of denying the impact the experience had had on us. Even HM who would blatantly have sworn that all wats looked alike, she who had not been moved by Ayuthaya's ruins or Bali's many puras and who had initially agreed to but ONE day at the temples, was looking forward to a second day of temple-hopping.blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649241099028598071.post-59001083112440029252007-12-27T04:54:00.000-08:002008-01-26T09:10:30.291-08:00Day 3: Gone to the Temples Again<u>Another Sunrise at Angkor</u><br /><br />5.00 a.m. We were on our way to the temples once again, this time armed with a ginger loaf.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XPfshH-jBlRqiITGWVCr7xCsxAV3tuIgFj3hSw2SyMIN6UUULT9GX-x3PTrYUmcM4XXFUsQVA7Kv5Cx2JSBl2Tar5GM4DaIWzVyyhvEl1d9vZyINXZBjHnKQkXSTteNiJWKwzZoIPv4/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XPfshH-jBlRqiITGWVCr7xCsxAV3tuIgFj3hSw2SyMIN6UUULT9GX-x3PTrYUmcM4XXFUsQVA7Kv5Cx2JSBl2Tar5GM4DaIWzVyyhvEl1d9vZyINXZBjHnKQkXSTteNiJWKwzZoIPv4/s320/4+Dec+07+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Disneyland.... NOT!</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCkGqmG-oILeS9LXiktUnin9mHRG-HrWR89tlutUPCHSb7XwGruzG7p_TH8KJgFSKiCa1IMxkgCmrOTCzoSU1Ubj-NOzbt846571kKTpD_OioB7lnJvNgMEig_wW7fV-t0GfWYj0tPco/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+038.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCkGqmG-oILeS9LXiktUnin9mHRG-HrWR89tlutUPCHSb7XwGruzG7p_TH8KJgFSKiCa1IMxkgCmrOTCzoSU1Ubj-NOzbt846571kKTpD_OioB7lnJvNgMEig_wW7fV-t0GfWYj0tPco/s320/4+Dec+07+038.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">an unforgettable sight</div><br />This time we knew what to expect and were much more confident about moving around to get a good view. We settled down on the main causeway to munch on our bread (which was excellent) and take photos.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaiONL64AWXLn3Fi1xg7PleOQ6uMAv_JRIygvQGRSpcLc5mK17sJ3oa5IuAT6JHiq4xJtR0Cfv2G1dzGYgAfP4eib2sG6aS4IT8iHd77_37iRlogk_VXGe0Cm5FsWZkfLHhODvuCL4FE/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+054.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaiONL64AWXLn3Fi1xg7PleOQ6uMAv_JRIygvQGRSpcLc5mK17sJ3oa5IuAT6JHiq4xJtR0Cfv2G1dzGYgAfP4eib2sG6aS4IT8iHd77_37iRlogk_VXGe0Cm5FsWZkfLHhODvuCL4FE/s320/4+Dec+07+054.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">sharing the sunrise with the hordes</div><br />All too soon our second and last sunrise at Angkor Wat was over. Our agenda for the rest of the morning was the temples on the Little Circuit, but first a little breakfast was in order.<br /><br /><br /><br /><u>Breakfast at Khmai Village Restaurant</u><br /><br />We were about to ask Narin to bring us to a better restaurant for breakfast when he announced that we would be proceeding to a restaurant nearer the temples of the Little Circuit. Phew...<br /><br />The Khmai Village restaurant proved to be a much nicer place, not least because the family running the place looked like they took good care of their pets!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kOCidSkh2g5rZSsOWRGo9Pfd0OQ0L8fWTUvUFMB64dSPdB6eGwdhMQXAyUW5dzNy-_A6FsKo3a1aynTyTqX6qHzN8gK-RxQFzVE4fWf4no8T3761SWjeVAkxPJM6zLoC1042tiVY848/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+096.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kOCidSkh2g5rZSsOWRGo9Pfd0OQ0L8fWTUvUFMB64dSPdB6eGwdhMQXAyUW5dzNy-_A6FsKo3a1aynTyTqX6qHzN8gK-RxQFzVE4fWf4no8T3761SWjeVAkxPJM6zLoC1042tiVY848/s320/4+Dec+07+096.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKXKe5PdaXxI4pNipxugpsnn-JIcNAypcAQzYpTPXMEhwuOy6Q7i5twBrlmVXKXlll6qANcxeA8CEh8zg93NPt9DgxyD6NRpfrMKH5nNtKF4wod_83FpOE4-Tx5GE8_Yhh8AFIgND8gU/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+102.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKXKe5PdaXxI4pNipxugpsnn-JIcNAypcAQzYpTPXMEhwuOy6Q7i5twBrlmVXKXlll6qANcxeA8CEh8zg93NPt9DgxyD6NRpfrMKH5nNtKF4wod_83FpOE4-Tx5GE8_Yhh8AFIgND8gU/s320/4+Dec+07+102.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br />We sat and watched the critters while our breakfast was being cooked. We had:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9qXjZf7j9s0a6x5k1VeddBb4TGu18MpvruHwiQbFbnPUKQQldCD6EnjOy9yPR-sZuENjNWAG34NZxcrrQeIb9Dhtp-WeCqWCTCxdznXw-Tg2qTmNu6VbhqNv0QqQH5vdZbuXvaSJ4is/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+089.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9qXjZf7j9s0a6x5k1VeddBb4TGu18MpvruHwiQbFbnPUKQQldCD6EnjOy9yPR-sZuENjNWAG34NZxcrrQeIb9Dhtp-WeCqWCTCxdznXw-Tg2qTmNu6VbhqNv0QqQH5vdZbuXvaSJ4is/s320/4+Dec+07+089.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">coffee</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zL2VTIlWVWpJdtJMMWBIynP35RcLPoJWjprDk-aeLHjkxKgGTKQo-J3mzAMvv6-zv5_aklZeuxwek19YHSj_SZN9IvrwXee4PX8VDM0IYaxbg5i4DaRVZjkvpL4aKCpXnd3Zca7eiXw/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+098.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zL2VTIlWVWpJdtJMMWBIynP35RcLPoJWjprDk-aeLHjkxKgGTKQo-J3mzAMvv6-zv5_aklZeuxwek19YHSj_SZN9IvrwXee4PX8VDM0IYaxbg5i4DaRVZjkvpL4aKCpXnd3Zca7eiXw/s320/4+Dec+07+098.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">noodle soup with chicken</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYj1LlJsUwQA8npp6RF6Joy31WjfbEkuDXqFQbGXGa1L29bWKwlCc2tN-xznpMU_Y53pzG0-A9KkNI_7f0IbxK0a1lKC03dAdmLhac1TzsyxK8b5zbBf0Qf85BQd7I7yk3Vu_m8cIDpOI/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+101.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYj1LlJsUwQA8npp6RF6Joy31WjfbEkuDXqFQbGXGa1L29bWKwlCc2tN-xznpMU_Y53pzG0-A9KkNI_7f0IbxK0a1lKC03dAdmLhac1TzsyxK8b5zbBf0Qf85BQd7I7yk3Vu_m8cIDpOI/s320/4+Dec+07+101.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">fried noodles with pork and vegetables</div><br />The food was fresher, tastier than that of the previous day's restaurant, the people friendlier, and the bill only came up to US$6.50.<br /><br /><br /><u>The Little Circuit</u><br /><br />Satiated, we were ready to face a day of templing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoWfSMZgQm4w1CjV2JMYwIaz23YVQGhKiTjLQ6dfqJvY9DwzlQX-boJYilRHTcd1HhOxF4A49qHY1df6rhg0hdLOAp3ZKc4Po5_URHVinmcP7ogXWERTmeJY65j-wecwvTNZIdkKBBKw/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+105.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoWfSMZgQm4w1CjV2JMYwIaz23YVQGhKiTjLQ6dfqJvY9DwzlQX-boJYilRHTcd1HhOxF4A49qHY1df6rhg0hdLOAp3ZKc4Po5_URHVinmcP7ogXWERTmeJY65j-wecwvTNZIdkKBBKw/s320/4+Dec+07+105.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">local visitors at Sra Srang</div><br />Our first stop was Srah Srang. Narin who peppered our drive with little pithy comments termed this the "giant swimming pool for the king's 2000 concubines". In his words, life was good for the king in those days.<br /><br />Opposite Srah Srang was the quiet, pretty temple of Banteay Kdei.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwhy26vmVReJI2qLRwW_c0HqbDlHgn8kp5FFl_ggnhTMmPUZhgIBWCemEBiMQyWjRMlxiK5-12WoPtt3uggDXhAH1O-dEfHcUlpgObCYkKsMuU0GbaNqUE1lJhebD6mUpolGbv2bNRlM/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+119.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwhy26vmVReJI2qLRwW_c0HqbDlHgn8kp5FFl_ggnhTMmPUZhgIBWCemEBiMQyWjRMlxiK5-12WoPtt3uggDXhAH1O-dEfHcUlpgObCYkKsMuU0GbaNqUE1lJhebD6mUpolGbv2bNRlM/s320/4+Dec+07+119.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">entrance to Banteay Kdei</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mz-xIxdWTOzdefwS9qPwxDNoJ09tGhOtadpUMImpo8T6-YVD7LGiXiToGZVHEKKDv-Ll_Uhv-nfZ7g9FD4quGSQXEBcZO1STYoGQNt9kyPvYerIZq4AOVSfOl4CxUsdljfccpsZoWi0/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+133.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mz-xIxdWTOzdefwS9qPwxDNoJ09tGhOtadpUMImpo8T6-YVD7LGiXiToGZVHEKKDv-Ll_Uhv-nfZ7g9FD4quGSQXEBcZO1STYoGQNt9kyPvYerIZq4AOVSfOl4CxUsdljfccpsZoWi0/s320/4+Dec+07+133.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">still a place of worship</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpDakF14acWn5wAMgiOSDMhWSrIbRWJuSMiWXSnoYW9Z5wxnbdPtfsHYSWeiLZ347MJs8aDn9IrrbyMtk1lo23V0i8-iZBMEEw2SbQTctgBpWJ-cgnEkr180z_TWgsiC-ff_qpWBOyr0/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+149.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpDakF14acWn5wAMgiOSDMhWSrIbRWJuSMiWXSnoYW9Z5wxnbdPtfsHYSWeiLZ347MJs8aDn9IrrbyMtk1lo23V0i8-iZBMEEw2SbQTctgBpWJ-cgnEkr180z_TWgsiC-ff_qpWBOyr0/s320/4+Dec+07+149.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">with a little modern help</div><br />We marvelled at how everything was being held together but we could not afford to dawdle, not if we wanted to get to the ever popular Ta Prohm temple - sadly now renowned as the site of the Tomb Raider movie - before the crowds arrived.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8Veo1eoll2J5f_nvxDnEpAUjEEgdVVxZK-VOVgmULNb-jKpBsWfZ4h-X5o6qX8XWGVTadDU_2N8XQ9tdriRHA2b2uhi2hyLlW3xKWe-Om2R20rtmNEb3PdCwE_XFgdxDvUz4bZhVwgg/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+193.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8Veo1eoll2J5f_nvxDnEpAUjEEgdVVxZK-VOVgmULNb-jKpBsWfZ4h-X5o6qX8XWGVTadDU_2N8XQ9tdriRHA2b2uhi2hyLlW3xKWe-Om2R20rtmNEb3PdCwE_XFgdxDvUz4bZhVwgg/s320/4+Dec+07+193.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">first view of Ta Prohm</div><br />Ta Prohm's real claim to fame is the fact that the temple is just partially reclaimed from the jungle, not wholly cleared like Angkor Wat.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2Diehro_ayawHV6OZxGAlwVWU4Gg7smWkZ3eNJLk1ogMAlLWgaEqnzIqbiO26DxvAgvOHp6GCGQJbzNkY6ShSRXq629hywbaa1tPeD9Oduo3Bi5F2vOq1N5YvdEbhQOopab-waZ2JAM/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+163.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2Diehro_ayawHV6OZxGAlwVWU4Gg7smWkZ3eNJLk1ogMAlLWgaEqnzIqbiO26DxvAgvOHp6GCGQJbzNkY6ShSRXq629hywbaa1tPeD9Oduo3Bi5F2vOq1N5YvdEbhQOopab-waZ2JAM/s320/4+Dec+07+163.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ESVauhGilaHUcZQn42vIKLbfuCvPY_W167xut7d6x4UIIDzxliNtwAiJmykSVotbYaR2IsGxGAJwx45mi2_rVNi-8IUIYr5-dOb94seR1eh7yxe3V_bjfkmfH8hJJbQuXmLGesDELJw/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+173.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ESVauhGilaHUcZQn42vIKLbfuCvPY_W167xut7d6x4UIIDzxliNtwAiJmykSVotbYaR2IsGxGAJwx45mi2_rVNi-8IUIYr5-dOb94seR1eh7yxe3V_bjfkmfH8hJJbQuXmLGesDELJw/s320/4+Dec+07+173.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br />Sadly, we had arrived a little too late. As much as the ruins were fascinating, the ebb and flow of the crowds proved too much for us. It was frustrating to say the least.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-U3_W-NrywE4V42ZFaZtyCDd4hohqfmWuqkZqFxuYD6wYxkPlb0sPr4pehl4vjrbmrES4Gr9_VtfR2YClA0QOu-6BrvuLftdX5RLCityE5UX9tAy8mhTqxzWpz5ZtzQm3lU8nce3oeU/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+276.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-U3_W-NrywE4V42ZFaZtyCDd4hohqfmWuqkZqFxuYD6wYxkPlb0sPr4pehl4vjrbmrES4Gr9_VtfR2YClA0QOu-6BrvuLftdX5RLCityE5UX9tAy8mhTqxzWpz5ZtzQm3lU8nce3oeU/s320/4+Dec+07+276.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">egad, people everywhere</div><br />In the end, we left without even having seen the redbreasted parakeets that are resident at Ta Prohm. (That's just me; HM was not concerned about not seeing them.) We vowed to return, perhaps before we flew home to Singapore.<br /><br />We pottered around the Little Circuit for a while more.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVFX7jpzVINi7gPQT6GTaDB2O_o-YwfVstjXjfFwPiTaYgzMrv5rnBVjO5ZHKuaED4YoRiM6JZFYN7I5mvgMPYdn9QClCHX9R1DuneOnhetX86M6w19-PJ_S2y0m5lGcLE0K5Msv0fQg/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+307.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVFX7jpzVINi7gPQT6GTaDB2O_o-YwfVstjXjfFwPiTaYgzMrv5rnBVjO5ZHKuaED4YoRiM6JZFYN7I5mvgMPYdn9QClCHX9R1DuneOnhetX86M6w19-PJ_S2y0m5lGcLE0K5Msv0fQg/s320/4+Dec+07+307.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the unfinished temple, Ta Keo</div><br />Narin told us that Jayavarman V had had to stop the construction of Ta Keo because the temple was struck by lightning, not once but twice. If that wasn't a BIG no-no sign from the heavens, he didn't know what was. The temple was therefore left unadorned and henceforth abandoned.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVCxiXiU5F81UWQWAB7J-m0UYeI0VAFGn-IkeV1tWyNMijJ1JLu4tjMcviKmWELWDgXNTWYhemXs2TrGS95ESYQqR628nWu6gte7QaJZ7gSdAhCWXTmJ7xvKjI12653RxdXhFokdOezE/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+312.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVCxiXiU5F81UWQWAB7J-m0UYeI0VAFGn-IkeV1tWyNMijJ1JLu4tjMcviKmWELWDgXNTWYhemXs2TrGS95ESYQqR628nWu6gte7QaJZ7gSdAhCWXTmJ7xvKjI12653RxdXhFokdOezE/s320/4+Dec+07+312.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the remains of a bridge</div><br />Then we passed by a bridge. Narin's comment - the Angkorians were better at building temples than bridges...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWjsQdZVgcfo_RqT0rt7dai0l6vott3RvRhOGYsvmw8DJqKG7NtuArlbFf-zCkZrzr5Hx5WcaFi_Mh8CLzAHA6TD7_Na0ciRY3WtPFJmZhl_cVFv8gGQx0xosbgzmfdI5PX68InWDo50/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+331.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWjsQdZVgcfo_RqT0rt7dai0l6vott3RvRhOGYsvmw8DJqKG7NtuArlbFf-zCkZrzr5Hx5WcaFi_Mh8CLzAHA6TD7_Na0ciRY3WtPFJmZhl_cVFv8gGQx0xosbgzmfdI5PX68InWDo50/s320/4+Dec+07+331.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><em>devatas</em> at Thommanon</div><br />We finished up at two smaller temples, Chao Say Tevoda and Thommanon. Not having spent as much time as we would have liked at the temples, particularly Ta Prohm, it was too early for lunch. We ended up pushing our afternoon's programme forward, so off we went to Banteay Srei.<br /><br /><br /><u>Banteay Srei</u><br /><br />The drive to Banteay Srei, 20 plus km outside of Siem Reap, took a while. To tide us over till lunchtime, Narin surprised us with pineapple from a roadside vendor, something I doubt we would have had the guts (literally) to buy for ourselves, for fear of spoiling our holiday with the runs. With the chilli, salt and sugar mix, it was just the thing for a refreshing snack.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeAOSTU1HQWlABml6ZHnn3huNA4f-Lnq5yw8VkYBptGA0VAnbWDgcgFEZlH6QRPSE1YHzSQSgIsiLRLJdX_UKfU4TVoEbvInTuLxqUsQZNNR2lqjuZfu-KwUzn-z3IwjEm5tcgf65O3c/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+350.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeAOSTU1HQWlABml6ZHnn3huNA4f-Lnq5yw8VkYBptGA0VAnbWDgcgFEZlH6QRPSE1YHzSQSgIsiLRLJdX_UKfU4TVoEbvInTuLxqUsQZNNR2lqjuZfu-KwUzn-z3IwjEm5tcgf65O3c/s320/4+Dec+07+350.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">playground</div><br /><br />Banteay Srei, the "women's temple" was the prettiest lil temple ever. Made from pink sandstone, it was ornately and exquisitely carved.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJANaMsjzKK3o-b9P5cvf0Csw_JNd4SnCPZRFBJRjSI72L8NDsW3uiDw7aUIgfqvuKGVCOLXWJCI8_0YM1ryfoSNHrK8y2ipPaKjc5Cj2-zW4HhQWIFX372tnCEMZXZOTbB-6mgsfSdf0/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+362.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJANaMsjzKK3o-b9P5cvf0Csw_JNd4SnCPZRFBJRjSI72L8NDsW3uiDw7aUIgfqvuKGVCOLXWJCI8_0YM1ryfoSNHrK8y2ipPaKjc5Cj2-zW4HhQWIFX372tnCEMZXZOTbB-6mgsfSdf0/s320/4+Dec+07+362.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtsSB6TIo5fo-rGLzz5JYE3e0eNeWctvcqKaapvxEkTuQw_eRBA07JDu5hcAKpTBDxdvkhywEDtYnZkEsYLODHE0B9HNr2Bm3tqB0og1Kbx_hk2ZWqiDN3Uy3gceFiJyCHBvEDJdaebM/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+383.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtsSB6TIo5fo-rGLzz5JYE3e0eNeWctvcqKaapvxEkTuQw_eRBA07JDu5hcAKpTBDxdvkhywEDtYnZkEsYLODHE0B9HNr2Bm3tqB0og1Kbx_hk2ZWqiDN3Uy3gceFiJyCHBvEDJdaebM/s320/4+Dec+07+383.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCx39yrM8hYyFftJw7jD4KfJ3g9k7VeRsXVB9BUbIdRqIaeoblw76b9brTCHe6vHqC99SYCCXlzH37JyttjPhctcchT5xHGLEQFFxwh5NqzTr_JO_aUE6tjv55V8F9-v8PIsUmFAXCpzw/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+385.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCx39yrM8hYyFftJw7jD4KfJ3g9k7VeRsXVB9BUbIdRqIaeoblw76b9brTCHe6vHqC99SYCCXlzH37JyttjPhctcchT5xHGLEQFFxwh5NqzTr_JO_aUE6tjv55V8F9-v8PIsUmFAXCpzw/s320/4+Dec+07+385.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br />By this time, the sun was blazing overhead, not a good time for photography, and the temple was not one of those under a canopy of trees. Moreover, the tourists had caught up with us, by the busload. It was time to move on.<br /><br /><br /><u>Kbal Spean</u><br /><br /><br />12 p.m. We were hungry and Narin offered to drive us to a restaurant, but I had gotten it into my mind that it was the Blue Pumpkin or nothing. I figured we may as well swing past Kbal Spean, the "River of the Thousand Lingas", and then rush back to town. I would later find out that I figured wrong.<br /><br />The road to Kbal Spean was our first unpaved road in Cambodia. Every car coming from the other direction was covered in red dust.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCqszmGXsxXWrOjON2jmXQCJukPaZLFDFbyoBdhxTcDTZ3QsgifdA0kKbwE6UBaiRbVbM7KyKLu_cDY2_99UKFaLYi-yM-90O-bmJC0yupouhBaoNbq8GPmDSIWb9w7LHG-bq209zgxkY/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+413.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCqszmGXsxXWrOjON2jmXQCJukPaZLFDFbyoBdhxTcDTZ3QsgifdA0kKbwE6UBaiRbVbM7KyKLu_cDY2_99UKFaLYi-yM-90O-bmJC0yupouhBaoNbq8GPmDSIWb9w7LHG-bq209zgxkY/s320/4+Dec+07+413.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">smoke screen</div><br />We turned into a carpark at the foot of a hill. Narin parked his car and told us that he would wait while we climbed Phnom Kbal Spean. He said the climb would take 45 min or so and then we should take lots of water with us. That's when I realised that there wasn't going to be a lookout point of some sort that we could drive up to, that it wasn't going to be a hop, skip and jump. When he saw me balk, Narin realised, with a start, that we didn't know what we were getting ourselves into. Apparently, the fact that we had come armed with our own itinerary had led him to think that we had also done our research in this area. Oh well, we were there. I decided we would climb the hill, at double speed if we needed to, with a good lunch as our incentive.<br /><br />As it turned out, the climb wasn't as bad as it looked. It did involve a little bit of clambering up rocks and some potentially slippery slopes with loose sand, but the dirt track was sheltered by trees and the incline was relatively gentle, with the difficult bits nicely spaced out. HM who had skipped ahead reached the top first and even had time to circle down to the lower levels. I, with some huffing and puffing, got there eventually.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXKubsDH9XrvbhkWXnwoL7sIOurZkzjs2rGnTmPs9b6bWc52bsLJ7o6WEYYl-ApIscfp_yJ68jZ_O7fQ3MuPopz1rsjdClV6igti3L3WVljJLokzngAOC0kh6ZzrKWIfTbyjAleFyCfo/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+417.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXKubsDH9XrvbhkWXnwoL7sIOurZkzjs2rGnTmPs9b6bWc52bsLJ7o6WEYYl-ApIscfp_yJ68jZ_O7fQ3MuPopz1rsjdClV6igti3L3WVljJLokzngAOC0kh6ZzrKWIfTbyjAleFyCfo/s320/4+Dec+07+417.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">at the top</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GUY6xq2ZgvwBa2nrcCqa2kfFK-s-FZnnn4ANCqDs6IYVQSPYfURdriFIRJs0sKGm2cpigYnNF5-nhEfPo2T1sZK-cS5RjiGqI6_56WMFeXG1Y62XRDCMHIvZDbILuWXXl9lsglTKOXI/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+431.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GUY6xq2ZgvwBa2nrcCqa2kfFK-s-FZnnn4ANCqDs6IYVQSPYfURdriFIRJs0sKGm2cpigYnNF5-nhEfPo2T1sZK-cS5RjiGqI6_56WMFeXG1Y62XRDCMHIvZDbILuWXXl9lsglTKOXI/s320/4+Dec+07+431.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the sacred carvings with Vishnu reclining, and some of the linga</div><br />The water rushing down would eventually bless the modern day residents of Angkor, just as it had in the days of Udayadityavarman II (hehe isn't that such a cool name?) After a brief break to catch our breath, we headed back down the hill. Now that we knew what to expect, we took a little more time to enjoy the sights.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LBtvkOu3w0EAFdDZyYa_HrFhWw_H4UWjZseFPX2uA-Jot9kKgVVwtqqAaVTmgxdCG-2qOYUiDnLjS3MgQruiznXCiIE_5nFBVJzhXIz1tvQ35uB9ooPeeiJ54gyYhfo_nFsdcPIbm4E/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+438.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LBtvkOu3w0EAFdDZyYa_HrFhWw_H4UWjZseFPX2uA-Jot9kKgVVwtqqAaVTmgxdCG-2qOYUiDnLjS3MgQruiznXCiIE_5nFBVJzhXIz1tvQ35uB9ooPeeiJ54gyYhfo_nFsdcPIbm4E/s320/4+Dec+07+438.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">scavenging for shellfish in the mud</div><br />At the bottom, we surprised Narin who, expecting us to take a good while longer, looked like he had had lunch and was taking a nap at one of the local shacks.<br /><br />On the way back, Narin suddenly pulled the car over at a roadside stall, hopped out and then came back with snacks for us.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQNfkABdo5H1ZDFKHWEoIYq83Xk869rjfdP7gO3sH__BI7pi2fryWZXV3WunYIslWt4cS-l4JNweBEFzph-C7AubpeoJxtVeE_q1W9TiA6mNxhrlKWL372AFBOPhNACutbvgEu1aM2Aw/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+443.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQNfkABdo5H1ZDFKHWEoIYq83Xk869rjfdP7gO3sH__BI7pi2fryWZXV3WunYIslWt4cS-l4JNweBEFzph-C7AubpeoJxtVeE_q1W9TiA6mNxhrlKWL372AFBOPhNACutbvgEu1aM2Aw/s320/4+Dec+07+443.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a pink <i>pao</i>!</div><br />These were filled with simmered vegetables such as turnip and pork but, except for the filling and the odd colour, similar to the Chinese <em>paos</em> we get back home in Singapore. No wonder too, for, according to Narin, the stall was run by a Taiwanese family who had settled down in Cambodia.<br /><br /><br /><u>Banteay Samre</u><br /><br />Just when I thought lunch was within my graps, Narin stopped the car again. I had quite forgotten about Banteay Samre. Now I understood why Narin had thought it necessary to feed us a snack.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSvjO2qOzaVdtaK2it-hFIDRx9qiGv9MhBQlxrl3J9x63W6Wl3E5gkQzLvcSkMjgthtRM5MKrU0XvogV-izRFvb9ud3LXAf47Ds-G5IQZst2mR71qEOqV6R2x5hkIABvIiD9pPfsQ3Dg/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+448.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSvjO2qOzaVdtaK2it-hFIDRx9qiGv9MhBQlxrl3J9x63W6Wl3E5gkQzLvcSkMjgthtRM5MKrU0XvogV-izRFvb9ud3LXAf47Ds-G5IQZst2mR71qEOqV6R2x5hkIABvIiD9pPfsQ3Dg/s320/4+Dec+07+448.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">finally, a quiet deserted temple</div><br />Notwithstanding our hunger pangs and tiredness, not giving Banteay Samre a miss was a good decision. We were practically the only ones there. There were two other tourists, both on their own, a fortune teller and a guard of some sort. That had to be our quietest moment for the day; even at Kbal Spean, we met at least ten people at various points, going up and down the hill. If only all temple visits could be this peaceful!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1rDpkakixM6YESezp1TeKRzGY0ub-rc2T7bJiYfklUmmpap0vV_B37J4T85AzvAJKLKfktsQO78r2zXGa2frKtaeXWW4x__Gn7PEUTFZQIIcFmp_btRylOE60CfqfnQVsnHVX95WKy0/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+464.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1rDpkakixM6YESezp1TeKRzGY0ub-rc2T7bJiYfklUmmpap0vV_B37J4T85AzvAJKLKfktsQO78r2zXGa2frKtaeXWW4x__Gn7PEUTFZQIIcFmp_btRylOE60CfqfnQVsnHVX95WKy0/s320/4+Dec+07+464.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a carved lintel</div><br />Finally, it was time to leave and not a moment too soon. Truth be told, we were just a little bit "templed out". Back in Siem Reap town, we parted ways with Narin. I had other plans for the next day, a trip across the Tonle Sap lake to Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary and Village, while HM wanted a day of leisure. Before he left, we paid Narin US$90 plus another US$10 tip for the two and a half days, and asked him to remind Soryar, on our behalf, about the driver we would need for the drive to Phnom Penh.<br /><br /><br /><u>Tunch at the Blue Pumpkin</u><br /><br />It was practically tea time by the time we had sat down, ordered and gotten served. Late as it was, it was a well-deserved treat.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ESU_fSg5Gmj8WNASr00I1s11ZpM7QmcHRhJXzAh_wdxBtsbM1OYCULk6L0smAGzLHA0scNkuEdKaEBSxuZJRYPUucasoyjmo4LTmQHT_VNxauGJBFPnsh9o10Ihb78Qo1Jpi-5p_9cA/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+473.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ESU_fSg5Gmj8WNASr00I1s11ZpM7QmcHRhJXzAh_wdxBtsbM1OYCULk6L0smAGzLHA0scNkuEdKaEBSxuZJRYPUucasoyjmo4LTmQHT_VNxauGJBFPnsh9o10Ihb78Qo1Jpi-5p_9cA/s320/4+Dec+07+473.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">masala chai and latte</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9domt2XV8z9sAi26C0YA3tpYfSwG2SwAZ9K2nOMtLwMlDPuPPQONgH_xelDXNpcHn1choTcGGGtYt3LUuze1eRHXnzgF886G9wKzL4h6_CTiEYUYEisG1qvLVheSZeAseMm5w0w05gu8/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+476.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9domt2XV8z9sAi26C0YA3tpYfSwG2SwAZ9K2nOMtLwMlDPuPPQONgH_xelDXNpcHn1choTcGGGtYt3LUuze1eRHXnzgF886G9wKzL4h6_CTiEYUYEisG1qvLVheSZeAseMm5w0w05gu8/s320/4+Dec+07+476.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">sauteed tofu and black sesame salad</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUK22JmQItaE9kt7GTHx6fX0qdJH8tEWX79gpCDYUHq0e8pIrh67-48F2OcMWsZGXdpRoc-1az5MBLko3buPsHBNMH9xb8rSSHu_xEQjHl3qc-MCDOTSI8m3XtPgY90lPPRtJPOT-XDjM/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+477.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUK22JmQItaE9kt7GTHx6fX0qdJH8tEWX79gpCDYUHq0e8pIrh67-48F2OcMWsZGXdpRoc-1az5MBLko3buPsHBNMH9xb8rSSHu_xEQjHl3qc-MCDOTSI8m3XtPgY90lPPRtJPOT-XDjM/s320/4+Dec+07+477.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">baby lobster and pumpkin soup</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjU8MfV5Z55bXxpQFfVNv3Cq9kuHzcq7jnqY717TMm46xHjDGPm0SNQTIkxCq_srZnFUvcYtY34LKicryYOG333pnJfPLSoYVp72qGt2s_WVK-NQiIgoMQzGQu0v2rKR-13dFr4ig2HU/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+480.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjU8MfV5Z55bXxpQFfVNv3Cq9kuHzcq7jnqY717TMm46xHjDGPm0SNQTIkxCq_srZnFUvcYtY34LKicryYOG333pnJfPLSoYVp72qGt2s_WVK-NQiIgoMQzGQu0v2rKR-13dFr4ig2HU/s320/4+Dec+07+480.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><i>tau you bak</i> or stewed pork in black soy sauce</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2E64YZm7XhT2GHKSLKpZDv8aQDUNpUviXg1WbWjjmpNPRBIs3ftCwjt1F-1mJJi_1Qn00J03jAFEVt_qojeDQWdaKWhqt4xlL2J-GnIHssojv5cGiwQawMsrGFMwkxNqPEUs0x28bocY/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+482.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2E64YZm7XhT2GHKSLKpZDv8aQDUNpUviXg1WbWjjmpNPRBIs3ftCwjt1F-1mJJi_1Qn00J03jAFEVt_qojeDQWdaKWhqt4xlL2J-GnIHssojv5cGiwQawMsrGFMwkxNqPEUs0x28bocY/s320/4+Dec+07+482.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">caramel and cashew, and cinnamon</div><br />Again, everything was delicious. It was a little strange finding tau you bak on the menu - it's the kind of thing my mother would cook -but it was well executed. HM who normally doesn't like the dish couldn't get enough of the fragrant sauce, nicely infused with star anise and ginger. Before we left, we picked up yet another loaf, this time an olive one. Altogether, the bill came up to US$17.75.<br /><br /><br /><u>Back at Shinta Mani</u><br /><br />We took our first tuk tuk of the trip back to Shinta Mani. While HM went off for an evening at Shinta Mani's award-winning spa, I entertained myself with a little birdwatching next to the pool and writing up my notes for this blog, downloading photos, that kind of thing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoxijvRLo-u2uYXaPHefE4cH2zQ97yPk3Gu49XduStf_atqgeV6m9TXK5IR_NOg2K-EAGnBZJfbJrQ8VnXGSISbKoUX_xecIXxzUzoiQqUMylrctqqhZHqoGPSV04w3MN9K7rDwky9Bs/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+494.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoxijvRLo-u2uYXaPHefE4cH2zQ97yPk3Gu49XduStf_atqgeV6m9TXK5IR_NOg2K-EAGnBZJfbJrQ8VnXGSISbKoUX_xecIXxzUzoiQqUMylrctqqhZHqoGPSV04w3MN9K7rDwky9Bs/s320/4+Dec+07+494.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">yellow vented bulbul</div><br />As agreed with HM, I would order something from room service while she was gone, so that when she came back, a light dinner would be ready. That was easier said than done, and quite unexpectedly so. This is what transpired: I browsed the room service menu then called the restaurant. The person who answered my call seemed to have problems locating the items on the menu. I repeated the items several times but to no avail. In the end, he decided to take down the names of the items anyway and told me that he would call me back. Five minutes later, there was a knock on the door. An apologetic elf had appeared to explain that the room sevice menu I had was outdated. He offered me a new menu and waited while I made my selection. Five minutes later, there was a call. The items that I had requested for, from the "new" menu, were no longer available either. It took another five minutes before the matter was finally settled.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7gRKyf6reyv2FnOuU56SjhElyfE-kC8rL3DVY2Jeh9FONERcDfUInUEea8YYTLi9yJ2-1Ew04b1W4ARVrkXhIEoqRxNM_U0RaIpQaPQd0kFPE8qc9-1tuLQ8PLH0KZA_t2csbgix3Ls/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+503.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7gRKyf6reyv2FnOuU56SjhElyfE-kC8rL3DVY2Jeh9FONERcDfUInUEea8YYTLi9yJ2-1Ew04b1W4ARVrkXhIEoqRxNM_U0RaIpQaPQd0kFPE8qc9-1tuLQ8PLH0KZA_t2csbgix3Ls/s320/4+Dec+07+503.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">chicken tikka sandwich</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPbF8DV1yRA3FulkCz5Lsc08EbZT7_vmZbFL9-M9SBHDCXcErnCvYyQJIbAY1PL7PguWgfpHWMbsbzOlLZMv6veH6hDyxO3GJPnWlC2iC4X7N403YJgfv1k3u82mdWAlAaqegMoRBPC4/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+501.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPbF8DV1yRA3FulkCz5Lsc08EbZT7_vmZbFL9-M9SBHDCXcErnCvYyQJIbAY1PL7PguWgfpHWMbsbzOlLZMv6veH6hDyxO3GJPnWlC2iC4X7N403YJgfv1k3u82mdWAlAaqegMoRBPC4/s320/4+Dec+07+501.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">turmeric rice with grilled vegetables</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Xpk81w5dmUYT3lVwPhIAPl1JHNdvjfn2BMvVm6rMDRvbtuuZrh-dIGR7dxnzsJ0I2ptK3r_dpCKdxIovdd5nYAK37p3gsgRpE027GVhWnmCtLThmZ4fT-GqzmDqt2THMe-zQVnx4QEg/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+506.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Xpk81w5dmUYT3lVwPhIAPl1JHNdvjfn2BMvVm6rMDRvbtuuZrh-dIGR7dxnzsJ0I2ptK3r_dpCKdxIovdd5nYAK37p3gsgRpE027GVhWnmCtLThmZ4fT-GqzmDqt2THMe-zQVnx4QEg/s320/4+Dec+07+506.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">prawn fritters, courtesy of the spa</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbUgxR7SVaz5auvehOUNDR_ELQ42SbKrrsXfap_RbPiTgZXwRplphPix5580juFOIG2juMugIURpeqYaqSz_blRxYWgCFroAQeT_rd80DpPYajTeBAyUYw6HumdDiOMJ66zQ6MDPbi-w/s1600-h/4+Dec+07+508.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbUgxR7SVaz5auvehOUNDR_ELQ42SbKrrsXfap_RbPiTgZXwRplphPix5580juFOIG2juMugIURpeqYaqSz_blRxYWgCFroAQeT_rd80DpPYajTeBAyUYw6HumdDiOMJ66zQ6MDPbi-w/s320/4+Dec+07+508.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">cute glass of coke</div><br />HM returned, with a good review of Sanctuary Spa's services and facilities, and a platter of prawn fritters. Her 3½ hour-long package comprised a herbal bath, scrub, banana leaf wrap, massage and facial. At US$102, it wasn't the cheapest in Southeast Asia, at least not when compared to Bali or even Thailand, but it was way cheaper than what was available in Singapore. HM's final verdict? Good, well worth a try.<br /><br />It had been a long day and I had an even longer day ahead of me. Other than my day trip, we were booked to watch an apsara dance in the evening. An early night it was.blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649241099028598071.post-15646929395654392912007-12-26T07:02:00.000-08:002008-04-11T19:54:23.304-07:00Day 4: A Day on the Tonle Sap6.00 a.m. I was at the foyer of Shinta Mani, waiting for the guide from Osmose to pick me up. This day trip, to Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary, hadn't been the easiest to arrange. I had emailed Osmose, but for some reason, I had not received a reply. This wasn't the only email to Cambodia that had gone astray, so I wasn't too worried at first. Once in Siem Reap, I tried calling them, but each time, it was an answering machine and one in Khmer too. At this point, the trip looked increasingly unlikely to happen.<br /><br />Soryar and Narin offered to make alternative arrangements for me, but I was reluctant. I wanted to hold out for Osmose, an eco-conservation organisation that aimed to protect the Prek Toal biosphere and its people, because these tours funded its projects and served as an additional source of income for the residents of Prek Toal, one of the poorest communities in Cambodia. Finally, it was through the good work of the Shinta Mani receptionists that Osmose and I successfully made contact - US$95 for everything, the guide, the driver, the boat, the entrance fees, and meals.<br /><br />6.05 a.m. A Toyota Camry pulled up and an enthusiastic young man bounded out, introduced himself as Piep (that's what his name sounded like), and bundled me into the back seat of the car where my fellow day-trippers were already seated. (I never did find out their names, but they were ethnic French from Mauritius. That much I knew so I shall call them Philippe and Marie for easy reference.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisSByvPU9F8bhWRW-wK9ZhNU60I5ZBATqk7jvrqiV3ZHgZeJwcAR_Xg0Y4oVxFX9vxsTqsODz3sCCytfdh99HwhfOp29WtJhCfNBw1eT1zuA2QMmMJk1ideX17S4Y9mvlsWbg8vtAB10/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisSByvPU9F8bhWRW-wK9ZhNU60I5ZBATqk7jvrqiV3ZHgZeJwcAR_Xg0Y4oVxFX9vxsTqsODz3sCCytfdh99HwhfOp29WtJhCfNBw1eT1zuA2QMmMJk1ideX17S4Y9mvlsWbg8vtAB10/s320/5+Dec+07+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">sunrise</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-7nAxG2kRoNoXLbydzlRqqW5eVB5SODxXssm_JlvNJNyYebT6bHHt_3BGPjshS1OFhvsRtp6Y2T4NPhmvRYVB3CS_xFQ-CyDhvgaZEmyKd7IyorOVaLXqdpE1e-3aeZs2t7pUkRoXDQ/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-7nAxG2kRoNoXLbydzlRqqW5eVB5SODxXssm_JlvNJNyYebT6bHHt_3BGPjshS1OFhvsRtp6Y2T4NPhmvRYVB3CS_xFQ-CyDhvgaZEmyKd7IyorOVaLXqdpE1e-3aeZs2t7pUkRoXDQ/s320/5+Dec+07+019.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Cambodian gas station</div><br />It was a short ride, punctuated by two pit stops, one to take photos of the sunrise and one to top up fuel at a friendly neighbourhood petrol kiosk. We were headed to Chong Kneas Village where our boat awaited. Before boarding, Piep showed us around an exhibition on the Tonle Sap. We peered through the dim light as Piep told us about the different types of birds we would see (including the endangered Greater Adjutant and the Lesser Adjutant), the two types of fish that were harvested ("black" fish and "white" fish) and the many types of people who lived on the Tonle Sap ("People think that everyone who lives in the floating village is Vietnamese, but that is not true. Only 30% are.") And then we were off.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBiBLN8btXDrvuNHDLDgANLfyj6Cti5M_UJVn6wvnPGKfQrwdwhebCtXP1w3dYCuP50AH_n-8ilyULOCpdQxTBQcRoHs-EG0nuqu2C-WRsr80liCJT6SthKyUdX-REeaaN02mRvRldVQ/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBiBLN8btXDrvuNHDLDgANLfyj6Cti5M_UJVn6wvnPGKfQrwdwhebCtXP1w3dYCuP50AH_n-8ilyULOCpdQxTBQcRoHs-EG0nuqu2C-WRsr80liCJT6SthKyUdX-REeaaN02mRvRldVQ/s320/5+Dec+07+021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">leaving Chong Kneas Village</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdot1JwGonJRQC8hGNglSLzloe1dtxt2TK4WP5q4L9KWxQoJmjWzofyQCWexO2yOcUOSU4TL1HGtotZ9T6NQLas60Q7fCmCh_2Xft6I158jhjf3o70YYivBKM6OI2q9ExVtxeNoyPQEk/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+050.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdot1JwGonJRQC8hGNglSLzloe1dtxt2TK4WP5q4L9KWxQoJmjWzofyQCWexO2yOcUOSU4TL1HGtotZ9T6NQLas60Q7fCmCh_2Xft6I158jhjf3o70YYivBKM6OI2q9ExVtxeNoyPQEk/s320/5+Dec+07+050.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">heading out through the marshland</div><br />The boat was comfortable, covered by a shelter and with rattan chairs that we could recline in. More importantly, it was reassuring to find life jackets within easy reach.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ULedXpfjUPSl_4KQCEvdeePmd5PEbPDgHFm8WVM1z7QiTkstNtEEUTqkVlPGFD9e8FGegOF9MOkqsy-CRM3Jrc64c4m2elQEJNLqkZoSq_xb9JIzF67772kdZPtMwqsdBbmnZq9MbYY/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+072.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ULedXpfjUPSl_4KQCEvdeePmd5PEbPDgHFm8WVM1z7QiTkstNtEEUTqkVlPGFD9e8FGegOF9MOkqsy-CRM3Jrc64c4m2elQEJNLqkZoSq_xb9JIzF67772kdZPtMwqsdBbmnZq9MbYY/s320/5+Dec+07+072.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">crossing the Tonle Sap</div><br />The ride across the Tonle Sap was an exhilarating one, with many a seafaring bird flying overhead. The sight kept us glued to our binoculars, following one flock of birds after another. Even so, we managed to partake of a simple breakfast, served to us by Piep - banana cake (from the Blue Pumpkin), coffee in tupperware tumblers, and bananas.<br /><br />As we reached the other side, our first encounter was with a grey-headed bald eagle.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmHJancV7HVzavtv_ewVBElLJ3K1NJCBiaEq6xnWvH4ydxQzDZDHDpOWeU1-q_f-9ayPyvV6RufRTKjYPnV5KRuO7jGdnzdDTZkwBUhec4gCD3TGJCNexVaT8JdD8f7ohgo2lsOStz8w/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+056.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmHJancV7HVzavtv_ewVBElLJ3K1NJCBiaEq6xnWvH4ydxQzDZDHDpOWeU1-q_f-9ayPyvV6RufRTKjYPnV5KRuO7jGdnzdDTZkwBUhec4gCD3TGJCNexVaT8JdD8f7ohgo2lsOStz8w/s320/5+Dec+07+056.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">our first sighting</div><br />The boatman brought the boat to a halt as we snapped away. Bobbing up and down though wasn't so good for my head and my stomach. As much as I enjoyed watching the eagle, I was glad when we pulled away, headed to Prek Toal Village.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-R9hPlqBnJf_OWflQGeIxxIz6tWD76YzWkUqc28aVJOAHW6cbEFULtdkDr3mOEbvenDjyONdxe1hlLjdKnfZQAsZBkJccFqyXs5pYWa6tUY5ogY6pIN8UW1VY_hkaGar09UGrDi1IHGU/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+077.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-R9hPlqBnJf_OWflQGeIxxIz6tWD76YzWkUqc28aVJOAHW6cbEFULtdkDr3mOEbvenDjyONdxe1hlLjdKnfZQAsZBkJccFqyXs5pYWa6tUY5ogY6pIN8UW1VY_hkaGar09UGrDi1IHGU/s320/5+Dec+07+077.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">coming into Prek Toal Village</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FZp3cpypseIjI9YEIV2WRAY2sah165fFfDaR5cVF7BDjF5alVHKQFPdk1JQV-eXbzyOeE2m457Fm0qOXjC9QPvSlDmtF2C8kOIIftu2y0EUuFkJ_VT-io6sUt_XxFnF7akT1EPPIbEw/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+076.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FZp3cpypseIjI9YEIV2WRAY2sah165fFfDaR5cVF7BDjF5alVHKQFPdk1JQV-eXbzyOeE2m457Fm0qOXjC9QPvSlDmtF2C8kOIIftu2y0EUuFkJ_VT-io6sUt_XxFnF7akT1EPPIbEw/s320/5+Dec+07+076.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">collecting firewood</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5j1eGBdxjOckQvdh8cSssn90xVHpgPQ9H-V4ovY9dxPlXwAi6DIqhIHV-U94EBL7XYxhHEjh3uzGxDNSwKmt2GfX1hNv-Q2_Ek0z4wCZ9Hx_S5jjWezJAcfbsMMt8n2xPTNLHAI2PFs/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+078.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5j1eGBdxjOckQvdh8cSssn90xVHpgPQ9H-V4ovY9dxPlXwAi6DIqhIHV-U94EBL7XYxhHEjh3uzGxDNSwKmt2GfX1hNv-Q2_Ek0z4wCZ9Hx_S5jjWezJAcfbsMMt8n2xPTNLHAI2PFs/s320/5+Dec+07+078.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a family affair</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MSGHp7MDZy9aq7LcKlcKkky-riEIGah6tXMO_4mq4Q88IS_-YKDYfBsQSqxs5QZ8HXGwv_7vVmMb-3mJUYog4EgfWp3_ZQ9bfnQsCc_-BcEiSx_ruEBdnSd7ddn9mR90n-JUrX6ih_0/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+082.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MSGHp7MDZy9aq7LcKlcKkky-riEIGah6tXMO_4mq4Q88IS_-YKDYfBsQSqxs5QZ8HXGwv_7vVmMb-3mJUYog4EgfWp3_ZQ9bfnQsCc_-BcEiSx_ruEBdnSd7ddn9mR90n-JUrX6ih_0/s320/5+Dec+07+082.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">floating home</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHd0Z1DmeqH5soeoXfY7YOu_kFwQmLfWkm_PkEFaVz7qwVirsOIPyknrwb0j4jg6Uki6NIrICEaqZ8WjHvIl_OM1YHHg5Z337JzZ5Aeg_QejKhyphenhyphendSJRDCpwTX5UULr4zXd1xSdIl8uHnY/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+091.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHd0Z1DmeqH5soeoXfY7YOu_kFwQmLfWkm_PkEFaVz7qwVirsOIPyknrwb0j4jg6Uki6NIrICEaqZ8WjHvIl_OM1YHHg5Z337JzZ5Aeg_QejKhyphenhyphendSJRDCpwTX5UULr4zXd1xSdIl8uHnY/s320/5+Dec+07+091.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">an itinerant hawker?</div><br />We stopped at the Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary's office before proceeding back out to the sanctuary itself.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGn7YRLoaWvWeFbZwhlCSgxKk_PgM9pTmOMzRTy-shVCTMT2fq8M1amnL1S41jNpjUDut11kP5vlO8nws1K0rL01E42Iw9eeoqfJxAAkNhv_SY8TtNqBbvniUBWIG7vybz5RcOcZXPb0/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+102.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGn7YRLoaWvWeFbZwhlCSgxKk_PgM9pTmOMzRTy-shVCTMT2fq8M1amnL1S41jNpjUDut11kP5vlO8nws1K0rL01E42Iw9eeoqfJxAAkNhv_SY8TtNqBbvniUBWIG7vybz5RcOcZXPb0/s320/5+Dec+07+102.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">greyheaded fish eagle keeping watch at a fish farm</div><br /><br /><u>Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary</u><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZyUIRLajDPnFqf82tWMlfy2xfaDjvNqF7aOGXD0jsbH4Rok4XtIzIBrBrT4jwVN25z7wtZ6ECLT8XIP4iQlfiIi65DhqazMfVt4dihWIc6g_LStEXhDrWsO-JrjynN6B-wvgX7CGpag/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+104.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZyUIRLajDPnFqf82tWMlfy2xfaDjvNqF7aOGXD0jsbH4Rok4XtIzIBrBrT4jwVN25z7wtZ6ECLT8XIP4iQlfiIi65DhqazMfVt4dihWIc6g_LStEXhDrWsO-JrjynN6B-wvgX7CGpag/s320/5+Dec+07+104.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">trees submerged</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSGoXWJ-pLG5bSPEHsrTGM_PK_aMu-gJJj3HdoON4e-TVt0OauEBULmGF80Z3efATNK4IduwLpfSWXMlgRoBa6pIqqQ5BP8ga-e3TIT3Rp43jzOFdEbnuCEdROIOj1iQ7wVMPeppm22c/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+114.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSGoXWJ-pLG5bSPEHsrTGM_PK_aMu-gJJj3HdoON4e-TVt0OauEBULmGF80Z3efATNK4IduwLpfSWXMlgRoBa6pIqqQ5BP8ga-e3TIT3Rp43jzOFdEbnuCEdROIOj1iQ7wVMPeppm22c/s320/5+Dec+07+114.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">oriental darters drying their wings</div><br />The boat took us around the sanctuary. Unfortunately, my camera zoom was not powerful enough to capture much of what we saw. The highlight was stopping at the ranger's station where we climbed up to a viewing platform. From there, we took turns to look at the Greater Adjutant and the Lesser Adjutant through the ranger's telescope.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdqZutKjQrXK2kupkQS3LmW2aN2j9X-x53uex_V2tBznX6ewIfH95-xwNwfJM2899OCPPz6_OVy5-uiNE0Nv8C2N3tuo4ian2dE365NnSNicxZNiLF3L9POHF5PzqR4SYSA9-XMHilpg/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+136.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdqZutKjQrXK2kupkQS3LmW2aN2j9X-x53uex_V2tBznX6ewIfH95-xwNwfJM2899OCPPz6_OVy5-uiNE0Nv8C2N3tuo4ian2dE365NnSNicxZNiLF3L9POHF5PzqR4SYSA9-XMHilpg/s320/5+Dec+07+136.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">ranger's post - note the platform on top</div><br />We finished up with a tour of the nesting grounds for various birds such as the oriental darters.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEPeDRUmfbjDnkUoAcTDvMELt7YspnnsiWTIUa0zuaKJbLaIrAI1BIkDLcTFXXX8S44O-4wR349AAL2Q42KRa1mJG-W8xusUIYbjdm2Lwt9O4jXOvGuop8rPAcqtqlaM0-FCeWNM87KA/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+146.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEPeDRUmfbjDnkUoAcTDvMELt7YspnnsiWTIUa0zuaKJbLaIrAI1BIkDLcTFXXX8S44O-4wR349AAL2Q42KRa1mJG-W8xusUIYbjdm2Lwt9O4jXOvGuop8rPAcqtqlaM0-FCeWNM87KA/s320/5+Dec+07+146.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWC9a9MmxabdX_T8kCoRyqEZW9nMdfRqXrFIp9XaFQuGIDDDtVuBPj05rnYFvS5Ki8bjc3_kOjYyikIXjaiFCLeqqxqOlgjpfqofBLaGOWXHJ-ibiWKW6eNEtziQdRFczSliexH8h-8Q/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+147.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWC9a9MmxabdX_T8kCoRyqEZW9nMdfRqXrFIp9XaFQuGIDDDtVuBPj05rnYFvS5Ki8bjc3_kOjYyikIXjaiFCLeqqxqOlgjpfqofBLaGOWXHJ-ibiWKW6eNEtziQdRFczSliexH8h-8Q/s320/5+Dec+07+147.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglK8CmF5zMrPOAAQOCBY2EmZhTdF57dwpgFHJNNpb2w298fBDL9C-aIrFM6uiFaGR9vbpChLCEzqrGF_NjOdeRpAtFitlWUElSNubIg8-IC2gwoNyYBJ0-3BY-pB4uzroG1-Uwc3yM6Ao/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+151.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglK8CmF5zMrPOAAQOCBY2EmZhTdF57dwpgFHJNNpb2w298fBDL9C-aIrFM6uiFaGR9vbpChLCEzqrGF_NjOdeRpAtFitlWUElSNubIg8-IC2gwoNyYBJ0-3BY-pB4uzroG1-Uwc3yM6Ao/s320/5+Dec+07+151.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br />Then it was time for lunch.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6zZhQhysEQmmjLxibmzxSgFcci-cZhj7oooA2LlU-EsVgt4e4Fx5yr19QUh_jd89uCtw5M4MXwGEY6fcTj6DhBoPHbkTss6Ed-BfRXrDornw7EsHfnM7YuagVbsMIEx1SJgJFJ41258/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+153.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6zZhQhysEQmmjLxibmzxSgFcci-cZhj7oooA2LlU-EsVgt4e4Fx5yr19QUh_jd89uCtw5M4MXwGEY6fcTj6DhBoPHbkTss6Ed-BfRXrDornw7EsHfnM7YuagVbsMIEx1SJgJFJ41258/s320/5+Dec+07+153.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">heading back to Prek Toal Village</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3BLcGyOL-xM0s_JX9fd9k2xACWh7lZakkjYETZ_eEZSqUUbPVtE8judtTcg-WSKlbsGtWDNAI0khBolYlxCT2-vQHZLgXpTlqZOOCQ_mGOc6RDkQcesyg25F_Xoegs4DR65AESrmyrU/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+158.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3BLcGyOL-xM0s_JX9fd9k2xACWh7lZakkjYETZ_eEZSqUUbPVtE8judtTcg-WSKlbsGtWDNAI0khBolYlxCT2-vQHZLgXpTlqZOOCQ_mGOc6RDkQcesyg25F_Xoegs4DR65AESrmyrU/s320/5+Dec+07+158.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">heading to school</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4xmFWPZOjiNgPN8S1YS8Jh0rPsF_Jm5OmYueSFJLimmFuZDdk9c8jtyt__Qra2_bFfpngL2Xy4ABqbFMdyZJ9jzcLZ-EJN6gTIELJG3QSAxZRt-IXsxTHmUpapHzEJHGww6vt-y7fiI/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+161.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4xmFWPZOjiNgPN8S1YS8Jh0rPsF_Jm5OmYueSFJLimmFuZDdk9c8jtyt__Qra2_bFfpngL2Xy4ABqbFMdyZJ9jzcLZ-EJN6gTIELJG3QSAxZRt-IXsxTHmUpapHzEJHGww6vt-y7fiI/s320/5+Dec+07+161.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">floating hardware store</div><br /><br /><u>Lunch at a Local Home</u><br /><br />Before lunch, we "toured" the local home and the family's crocodile farm. Piep explained that Prek Toal Village, like most of the Tonle Sap community, was one of the poorest in the country. Already there were fears that the Tonle Sap ecological system might be under threat and fish stocks were running low. To supplement their income, it was traditional for many families to run their own crocodile farm. Sadly, even this could potentially have a negative impact on the ecosystem; the lake's water snakes were being harvested in large numbers to feed their reptilian relatives, so much so that water snake stocks were also being depleted.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2xFYmevuo7hBiZXCMeyEwrS49HcRZrI45m03L98XxUa05hz-wJszYtIZU3_B5UKI-Z4Pp1Ce34urQU5jne3W0blLMHV2mOHo4vhI8Kl9wquEYPGeWdprmhFu9CShtrOBkWu9IKcZ3UE/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+167.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2xFYmevuo7hBiZXCMeyEwrS49HcRZrI45m03L98XxUa05hz-wJszYtIZU3_B5UKI-Z4Pp1Ce34urQU5jne3W0blLMHV2mOHo4vhI8Kl9wquEYPGeWdprmhFu9CShtrOBkWu9IKcZ3UE/s320/5+Dec+07+167.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the family's crocodile farm</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCa7TPIBWb401LaDs8RKfvQa8DWEEy786j_gvrg-cP2XNafXWf15GPk8Vss11WPHYnl4T9ra3aHY1ObeKsng8bBvAmPsqVrjTBfnzgVmitj-79fdGCEh3Vxwr8qBHftu8GCxDfc98xrTg/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+175.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCa7TPIBWb401LaDs8RKfvQa8DWEEy786j_gvrg-cP2XNafXWf15GPk8Vss11WPHYnl4T9ra3aHY1ObeKsng8bBvAmPsqVrjTBfnzgVmitj-79fdGCEh3Vxwr8qBHftu8GCxDfc98xrTg/s320/5+Dec+07+175.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the family's store of firewood</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uoFgm3ZancdWeNqY1g13grNW1AJ5xBiyjINVaoFWRIQ7rEFD5zb4KNF3WJTRwZgH6wE3kfqPcUS2zqdRNqN4H6w7G3dtBe7jzfvluJGPEUejCG2PjJAbrNcr6uAtZ4Q3zE_mmhFKDUo/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+190.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uoFgm3ZancdWeNqY1g13grNW1AJ5xBiyjINVaoFWRIQ7rEFD5zb4KNF3WJTRwZgH6wE3kfqPcUS2zqdRNqN4H6w7G3dtBe7jzfvluJGPEUejCG2PjJAbrNcr6uAtZ4Q3zE_mmhFKDUo/s320/5+Dec+07+190.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">from this kitchen came a great meal</div><br />Without the luxury of money, life on the lake was as traditional as it got. Then again, for the ordinary Cambodian, life anywhere in Cambodia was pretty basic. Under the circumstances, a little help from above didn't hurt.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-z0Xhxg6_kkkEzDQdBNYRw20P0NbfF3Y90Xqg-Ssr9B7znWbaRwtwpzvqVZsIE7wftPxbBkuB7GyU0skRY8D1Hy0WBER-ifSHxSwEFd9ggcqcBxO6qpsS9uAqcy7qZaAalit82fZ3w9A/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+176.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-z0Xhxg6_kkkEzDQdBNYRw20P0NbfF3Y90Xqg-Ssr9B7znWbaRwtwpzvqVZsIE7wftPxbBkuB7GyU0skRY8D1Hy0WBER-ifSHxSwEFd9ggcqcBxO6qpsS9uAqcy7qZaAalit82fZ3w9A/s320/5+Dec+07+176.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the family altar</div><br />Over lunch, Piep explained that the Osmose project, like many run by the numerous NGOs in the country, attempted to remedy the situation by helping the poor, the destitute and the disabled learn new skills and new trades, and/or discover new opportunities provided by the burgeoning tourist market. Our lunch was one such opportunity - Osmose paid the host families to cook meals for ecotourists like us. At another floating village nearby, host families provided accommodation for overnighters. Osmose would buy spring mattresses - a small "luxury" these poor families would never be able to afford on their own - for the ecotourists and leave these behind for the families.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbw7maCkyqOkhZcqM8luSaDfJ94D6XxaGZ-RTrgvzj08p4YOYnC2owGsNkBHxTMdUdh_T36xmIbdKCfnNLyNiWz_uXvi7lfaysW4Qx_G_1phmsQJ1TjP6CPW0RZ1VRGwU2uZdBTy7BjlA/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+180.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbw7maCkyqOkhZcqM8luSaDfJ94D6XxaGZ-RTrgvzj08p4YOYnC2owGsNkBHxTMdUdh_T36xmIbdKCfnNLyNiWz_uXvi7lfaysW4Qx_G_1phmsQJ1TjP6CPW0RZ1VRGwU2uZdBTy7BjlA/s320/5+Dec+07+180.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">lunch</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4vyySMasyTQTE16ldj-1o3xTZHCMDnwgdSQRe_f3zL3xDCwshl5Z7tGBeI0TiX_tazGMdBL0eCOcKG8FmB76oXFiPfP1cDyuZMLNdJ2Z-X0JhUe5sPpi_wULYuQMzte1ve75asp7RBk/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+184.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4vyySMasyTQTE16ldj-1o3xTZHCMDnwgdSQRe_f3zL3xDCwshl5Z7tGBeI0TiX_tazGMdBL0eCOcKG8FmB76oXFiPfP1cDyuZMLNdJ2Z-X0JhUe5sPpi_wULYuQMzte1ve75asp7RBk/s320/5+Dec+07+184.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">dessert</div><br />Lunch itself was a tasty homecooked meal, made with fresh fish (black or white, I wasn't sure). There was deepfried fish with mango salad, stirfried vegetables, khmer fish soup, all eaten with rice. Then it was time to sit back, belch gently, pick one's teeth and watch the world go by.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKqWGmj-BskTWffYFUvyjFf3IWeGtXcmDWs-aQhZ3ITmTVsWt8C-A5Oze0-kGMdISgvRksu-f7JyAdFJVLmXJKWrKgrOagry2wMYZSG5bS4bkPOWVUNS_H082QGnD3CGn7fpC9OA13Yw/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+183.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKqWGmj-BskTWffYFUvyjFf3IWeGtXcmDWs-aQhZ3ITmTVsWt8C-A5Oze0-kGMdISgvRksu-f7JyAdFJVLmXJKWrKgrOagry2wMYZSG5bS4bkPOWVUNS_H082QGnD3CGn7fpC9OA13Yw/s320/5+Dec+07+183.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the neighbourhood "car pool"</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin366dK7XtWLpUaMr64u4-8rqzM-LA3G5na4mWbugfL_a4Fo7kRnR1ughEARVJWN5QVBcvy7h-si9bzJIwp5MgiznxoK_J3CvSLRUUV6t211GrzdbEMe5uai_9WEZUaN1I7YksbxHNgKE/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+187.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin366dK7XtWLpUaMr64u4-8rqzM-LA3G5na4mWbugfL_a4Fo7kRnR1ughEARVJWN5QVBcvy7h-si9bzJIwp5MgiznxoK_J3CvSLRUUV6t211GrzdbEMe5uai_9WEZUaN1I7YksbxHNgKE/s320/5+Dec+07+187.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the view from the house</div><br />Just before we sank completely into a post-lunch stupor, Piep rounded us up for a tour of the village.<br /><br /><br /><u>Prek Toal Village Tour</u><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7PIO_Q9_JAdOWHZfwpf6r2NhB9S-2D-3i9uxKar3MrC_b62beTjtifnmMkF8tfdRwH8_sRUIfddUUFWgVdvpffNuOnJrj1DSg_GiM2CJqvF9w9hVWznga_AyPs3CeHt8jf12KsRNoUs/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+209.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7PIO_Q9_JAdOWHZfwpf6r2NhB9S-2D-3i9uxKar3MrC_b62beTjtifnmMkF8tfdRwH8_sRUIfddUUFWgVdvpffNuOnJrj1DSg_GiM2CJqvF9w9hVWznga_AyPs3CeHt8jf12KsRNoUs/s320/5+Dec+07+209.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">off on our village tour</div><br />For this part of the itinerary, Piep had us climb gingerly into small wooden boats, similar to the <em>sampans</em> common throughout Southeast Asia, and handed us homemade wooden parasols. Not without a little irony, I noted that we well-meaning tourists were being ferried around by "boatmen" who looked barely 16.<br /><br />Our first stop was Osmose's water hyacinth project. This project aimed to kill two birds with one stone: rid the Tonle Sap of the overprolific weed threatening to choke rivers and waterways, and then turn these into handicrafts that can be sold.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjRQAYAM1JPrSZC6AuFC12jc7ihXDP50Dv8PUGRRD7Wzdbjed4XtZdf08rfAxOUVD5bcIRWJivg17IcBdOYugyhJ9qQ72uCciNwMNQycXFt6KsFUb3FHu25Pxg3UdFa_US1VppOHC82o/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+263.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjRQAYAM1JPrSZC6AuFC12jc7ihXDP50Dv8PUGRRD7Wzdbjed4XtZdf08rfAxOUVD5bcIRWJivg17IcBdOYugyhJ9qQ72uCciNwMNQycXFt6KsFUb3FHu25Pxg3UdFa_US1VppOHC82o/s320/5+Dec+07+263.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">harvesting water hyacinth</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOBCwpJGF-zTRxr80bm6Vl9M857AuiAqJSjFdr4PsMK1QeMh2LA7p6Vib0PSrKPmPJvMKbVcLt8f3EWWuTL18_bT2M11LCLpZoMxHiQBYa4oBIiwFLKsTfpv4lgDt6SfRo0QiAjnTcRU/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+197.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOBCwpJGF-zTRxr80bm6Vl9M857AuiAqJSjFdr4PsMK1QeMh2LA7p6Vib0PSrKPmPJvMKbVcLt8f3EWWuTL18_bT2M11LCLpZoMxHiQBYa4oBIiwFLKsTfpv4lgDt6SfRo0QiAjnTcRU/s320/5+Dec+07+197.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">water hyacinth, before and after</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRf3cLUdYamfIyfGYJp0_rSH0ptW8rELjRreZyimITyVFHaVZuv0T1VcDq2y2mci7X_nNB58YTyslO5LiG0zORbqeEqrx_YIakLtRlKDiwozSUhFsCqzuDfS3p_W6eCTuIvo6iNUOphc/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+198.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRf3cLUdYamfIyfGYJp0_rSH0ptW8rELjRreZyimITyVFHaVZuv0T1VcDq2y2mci7X_nNB58YTyslO5LiG0zORbqeEqrx_YIakLtRlKDiwozSUhFsCqzuDfS3p_W6eCTuIvo6iNUOphc/s320/5+Dec+07+198.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">flattening the dried stems</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2VfwaH8DSJzVqRsXu2QCTY89TjGLN424b11H-QDXMH0RfnCx_3_tcjzx46Twu0WEivj4KKKexWPbahHGWml6BrBF0wOEsfbjAxT4DFZmMyXodcZPohJFWAoXEbtv-_mNVzHBqZBaKqU/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+199.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2VfwaH8DSJzVqRsXu2QCTY89TjGLN424b11H-QDXMH0RfnCx_3_tcjzx46Twu0WEivj4KKKexWPbahHGWml6BrBF0wOEsfbjAxT4DFZmMyXodcZPohJFWAoXEbtv-_mNVzHBqZBaKqU/s320/5+Dec+07+199.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">making baskets</div><br />After that, we moved on to other Osmose projects - providing start-up funds and skills for villagers to set up floating fish farms and vegetable gardens.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtkBp4y6ffTTVuYBPvpKTjLLJEX3LXJPsCt_3qXUHwVr_lN0ue0eeBa3hRS-7vdHlkteET-vSLzcEGnlS0BPkSNMxXKTd6q3DV9wrwTJZEqMQ4sfIZd4_nU-6g9AEZqlwfg1yjJz7vL4/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+214.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtkBp4y6ffTTVuYBPvpKTjLLJEX3LXJPsCt_3qXUHwVr_lN0ue0eeBa3hRS-7vdHlkteET-vSLzcEGnlS0BPkSNMxXKTd6q3DV9wrwTJZEqMQ4sfIZd4_nU-6g9AEZqlwfg1yjJz7vL4/s320/5+Dec+07+214.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">fish farm</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3LNdsNO6UNrt3PYD4LwoSAwMBzewsf4nDjTl9UWQnfLEX3uEV1u1SFgPxuVxtlAUeOfEKa-lRl0G-AUuVgmmQTx9ydM04a52vTy_-aef24IxuVqkCgitkO07_QSIt1QauYfPC19UcL4/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+218.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3LNdsNO6UNrt3PYD4LwoSAwMBzewsf4nDjTl9UWQnfLEX3uEV1u1SFgPxuVxtlAUeOfEKa-lRl0G-AUuVgmmQTx9ydM04a52vTy_-aef24IxuVqkCgitkO07_QSIt1QauYfPC19UcL4/s320/5+Dec+07+218.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">floating vegetable farm</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsssBGmZQj5JGDvMake6tT0UgfiqjdbIT9LAzeV8ECPXqTSr-GMcQLtoZK8mOTdEynRn869TQOuf5KpWAYquDdDiYSW4lDc-jqVqxjt_nzAk8hvk9lamb-EMphsY1y0aDVmv-5xYH04uU/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+282.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsssBGmZQj5JGDvMake6tT0UgfiqjdbIT9LAzeV8ECPXqTSr-GMcQLtoZK8mOTdEynRn869TQOuf5KpWAYquDdDiYSW4lDc-jqVqxjt_nzAk8hvk9lamb-EMphsY1y0aDVmv-5xYH04uU/s320/5+Dec+07+282.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">floating husbandry</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XzfNhcfTAKlhmmZBwnuvD63uJmX0ca0kKAmBtIexFRKHwm2kA8LHebqlZblmgwx4gRSSkA05jwM-zE1PMHijpfFi0ccYuoN_8aXYC82eKepk7IUQKufEPgE6l1w5wfQs2BD05mVyB9U/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+290.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XzfNhcfTAKlhmmZBwnuvD63uJmX0ca0kKAmBtIexFRKHwm2kA8LHebqlZblmgwx4gRSSkA05jwM-zE1PMHijpfFi0ccYuoN_8aXYC82eKepk7IUQKufEPgE6l1w5wfQs2BD05mVyB9U/s320/5+Dec+07+290.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">floating gas station</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinH99n8Bwjd4gf3zF78pq5AOdD-qfHq88wubhbs7C39NcTMsieOaYzE6fKPLhfn7s1oIwCKkq58shHS0rkhyphenhyphentWaZZsSXJiMkBwsZLMNDkGzGaK22YCQ0D3zZgtlq_0o7JRY1TLOlqaPC8/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+267.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinH99n8Bwjd4gf3zF78pq5AOdD-qfHq88wubhbs7C39NcTMsieOaYzE6fKPLhfn7s1oIwCKkq58shHS0rkhyphenhyphentWaZZsSXJiMkBwsZLMNDkGzGaK22YCQ0D3zZgtlq_0o7JRY1TLOlqaPC8/s320/5+Dec+07+267.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a good day for laundry</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSZXnwtw_sLJ21J_rKXgn1YJc5-IO8r_NAISILvTEhoCloyFY4SGNqGcGpM43EF0JDAWaLLIlurFS8gDS5UkyxPerh6TrpFuklFdBKcK_TnwEyySSKdwFAUYQGv-jRB0J1FYFmYD1INs/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+243.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSZXnwtw_sLJ21J_rKXgn1YJc5-IO8r_NAISILvTEhoCloyFY4SGNqGcGpM43EF0JDAWaLLIlurFS8gDS5UkyxPerh6TrpFuklFdBKcK_TnwEyySSKdwFAUYQGv-jRB0J1FYFmYD1INs/s320/5+Dec+07+243.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">you gotta build them high</div><br />And indeed being able to float ensured that the villagers could move to where the fish were, depending on the season. We saw a floating home being towed to a new location.<br /><br />And then it was off to the rest of the village, to visit local "celebrities" and find out what life on the Tonle Sap was like.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GCmhIbwyZADXi8AHtpMYxB8FLBnpEeIMQsYMLn_By3vtJDpJsnv15hdp-RBFSJ-s0JBiFaGe_ZnLj-xc7sizcFsfbhql5fuavT6SSxg_hhLr4PJBGWST9X37onqa7cq8Rl9Bovs_zDU/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+230.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GCmhIbwyZADXi8AHtpMYxB8FLBnpEeIMQsYMLn_By3vtJDpJsnv15hdp-RBFSJ-s0JBiFaGe_ZnLj-xc7sizcFsfbhql5fuavT6SSxg_hhLr4PJBGWST9X37onqa7cq8Rl9Bovs_zDU/s320/5+Dec+07+230.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the village hero</div><br />We stopped to say hello to a man whom Piep and the girls called the village hero. A strong swimmer since young, he had been responsible for saving the lives of those who fell into the water. According to Piep, this man would respond to the villagers' cries for help. In his words, if the man arrived at the scene in time, he would save a life. If he did not, he would retrieve the body. Either way, the grateful villagers would give him a token of appreciation. Hard times seem to have befallen this man though; he did not have kith or kin and seemed sick. At this point, we were asked if we would like to see him retrieve something from the water, a watch perhaps, keys or a pair of sunglasses. An awkward moment ensued - clearly the man was destitute but no one was comfortable commissioning what would essentially be a grotesque sideshow. We stayed there for a while, Piep and the girls engaging the man in what looked like affectionate conversation, before Piep finally moved us on, sparing us further discomfort.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFizU3OULAXeo8-VNO1kklLram7eEv8yOsgnPkVnTW7POUwjjjuiFcsVIppeSgcZ1_fQOp68hmOWG4RH3G8rHq-F_isxb5TK98frupj0lt5Sxfs2oF_tNyOJQHmVs8ayOrTVNjROfDoG8/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+235.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFizU3OULAXeo8-VNO1kklLram7eEv8yOsgnPkVnTW7POUwjjjuiFcsVIppeSgcZ1_fQOp68hmOWG4RH3G8rHq-F_isxb5TK98frupj0lt5Sxfs2oF_tNyOJQHmVs8ayOrTVNjROfDoG8/s320/5+Dec+07+235.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the village "hospital"</div><br />One of the places we passed by was the village "hospital". This was run by a private organisation and the extent of the medical help was the presence of two nurses. From our boats, we could see patients in hospital beds on the porch, complete with drips.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgi84RaGMV8pEatwj2I8tWh6QWJt9CjBdNAcqjIhYkxSMiIisvH6ExohtKEPkLCSLfMeizCXT9_lItOUU9Kg3XXgkAvOWxBV2hXodOfGoz9ctcJ7V_Ta5Ah61inkcB0gYW3Sklv7nIJWI/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+245.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgi84RaGMV8pEatwj2I8tWh6QWJt9CjBdNAcqjIhYkxSMiIisvH6ExohtKEPkLCSLfMeizCXT9_lItOUU9Kg3XXgkAvOWxBV2hXodOfGoz9ctcJ7V_Ta5Ah61inkcB0gYW3Sklv7nIJWI/s320/5+Dec+07+245.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">scion of the village faith healer</div><br />Then we stopped by the village faith healer's house. Piep told us how the faith healer had been an ordinary joe until he fell ill as a young man and was "cured" by a spirit. Since then he was passing on the blessing by healing others. We met him briefly much later, and in the meantime we made the acquaintance of his young son.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoVVNd3YXo-c-Wpa8RBNzCOCht_Ol-DHRip2o6kBm-sL8a87MKm7Hdtedn56t0fhOIGxxc6DIshv9q0hyphenhyphen2e12xaKV7tTYgrhzdUDhh4cFh9WYKACSMrzpuVbGDVUGDzK_Ylx7KshxGnI/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+258.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoVVNd3YXo-c-Wpa8RBNzCOCht_Ol-DHRip2o6kBm-sL8a87MKm7Hdtedn56t0fhOIGxxc6DIshv9q0hyphenhyphen2e12xaKV7tTYgrhzdUDhh4cFh9WYKACSMrzpuVbGDVUGDzK_Ylx7KshxGnI/s320/5+Dec+07+258.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the village church</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWU58WZVsOhcRlvGLhX7jEnWqL6JPWUTfvSmcruf1oD9Gxmw5YIIiGidKwgi8_CDdzDQvjmXuTUZfIf2cOcA4WiJ6WZygCmXAWES8NehcTNFeMFu9QDRlROeGC8nH-rWXRd0KgbKDTgU/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+265.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWU58WZVsOhcRlvGLhX7jEnWqL6JPWUTfvSmcruf1oD9Gxmw5YIIiGidKwgi8_CDdzDQvjmXuTUZfIf2cOcA4WiJ6WZygCmXAWES8NehcTNFeMFu9QDRlROeGC8nH-rWXRd0KgbKDTgU/s320/5+Dec+07+265.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">young believers</div><br />It was interesting to note the way in which this particular sector of Cambodian society was multicultural. On the one hand, minorities seemed well assimilated. It was difficult for our foreign eyes to differentiate between, say, the ethnic Khmers and the Vietnamese. (Piep did let on that, unlike the ethnic Vietnamese women who would choose to wear printed tops with plain bottoms or vice versa, the Khmer women often wore clashing prints.) On the other hand, a certain amount of religious diversity was evident.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDEvPinR405rwUyK4ZCuGTBgAykDIOAn4sVuaE-_zxPdoWIVLomuYG_lpWu2a9skG1sGYb2lAItIAwNfd1VudB8szeTM1YkVZwGfTGbtG-yH6vU3N12Zh_Pe568w8iTkCdTW7HwbbKZw/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+274.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDEvPinR405rwUyK4ZCuGTBgAykDIOAn4sVuaE-_zxPdoWIVLomuYG_lpWu2a9skG1sGYb2lAItIAwNfd1VudB8szeTM1YkVZwGfTGbtG-yH6vU3N12Zh_Pe568w8iTkCdTW7HwbbKZw/s320/5+Dec+07+274.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">heading back</div><br />All too soon, it was time to head back. We crossed the Tonle Sap in dismal weather. The rain was intermittent but heavy enough to slowly but steadily soak us. The lifejackets finally came in handy as rain shields!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hSHq6pY42dbvjOKIPtdKKImJ3_TETzweTzecYhHutHZQjq28_P4SKqH6aFwqDZhajOdnM_17EpXH6Wy_vawLUQO687I8RWAtb301wxanIWB95jbf3-ik2gEtXMRlExQ79fkGJrNrRac/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+297.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hSHq6pY42dbvjOKIPtdKKImJ3_TETzweTzecYhHutHZQjq28_P4SKqH6aFwqDZhajOdnM_17EpXH6Wy_vawLUQO687I8RWAtb301wxanIWB95jbf3-ik2gEtXMRlExQ79fkGJrNrRac/s320/5+Dec+07+297.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">no running water</div><br />All too soon the ride came to an end. We were back in Chong Kneas Village. The day had been a real eye-opener.<br /><br /><br /><u>Apsara Dance at Angkor Village</u><br /><br />Back at Shinta Mani, HM who had spent the day relaxing by the pool and reading was all ready to go. I had just enough time to shower and get dressed before heading out with HM to Angkor Village Hotel for a night of Apsara dance.<br /><br />With no idea which Apsara dance was the best in town, we opted for the dinner and dance at Angkor Village Hotel (coincidentally where Philippe and Marie were staying at and indeed we saw them having drinks in the foyer that night) on the basis of its signature wooden theatre building.<br /><br />The space was certainly atmospheric with an old world ambience. We were seated in the traditional way, on the floor at low tables. The night started with dinner.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmVR2H3KHLnwr_pwOQ7dKLnFrtPhe_nLeKs4XGLvZZ-M2P-_Yvdb0LE1KSKMctcAjcICfyeSJRokMZIQG2yaFTF9ABD-UBRuWOlOigEWzC1yF9Qe5UMN2fWUVp_i8C4vUWpjRmeHaDCo/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+318.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmVR2H3KHLnwr_pwOQ7dKLnFrtPhe_nLeKs4XGLvZZ-M2P-_Yvdb0LE1KSKMctcAjcICfyeSJRokMZIQG2yaFTF9ABD-UBRuWOlOigEWzC1yF9Qe5UMN2fWUVp_i8C4vUWpjRmeHaDCo/s320/5+Dec+07+318.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">chicken lemongrass soup</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4cUS1RvcTxXhXozH5j6rZ38pSsxEx8kYToZadeFtHre7glbje6VbX5RpUbWBNrLDLeC4jtWU4hTDmlpTQPJeH1_gBQSdfkLW01OcGZ3F1wFZrl5Vv-R0sB4Wfm3GPOXPuWsr2OqBHUiE/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+319.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4cUS1RvcTxXhXozH5j6rZ38pSsxEx8kYToZadeFtHre7glbje6VbX5RpUbWBNrLDLeC4jtWU4hTDmlpTQPJeH1_gBQSdfkLW01OcGZ3F1wFZrl5Vv-R0sB4Wfm3GPOXPuWsr2OqBHUiE/s320/5+Dec+07+319.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">samosas, popiahs (spring rolls) and prawn fritters</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4ZAJE0BCQQnCowMSrNf1HbGQbkAI85E0cnWHT-2NQEf8jm9anN8xBfY9KKcCaozwXRgKRvxxkLA4gXRX6uOb5BCNvL2A1e-cArB5PdetRPiONqrarvrwzhZc9XTE6Z9cb_e86o7V5rw/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+320.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4ZAJE0BCQQnCowMSrNf1HbGQbkAI85E0cnWHT-2NQEf8jm9anN8xBfY9KKcCaozwXRgKRvxxkLA4gXRX6uOb5BCNvL2A1e-cArB5PdetRPiONqrarvrwzhZc9XTE6Z9cb_e86o7V5rw/s320/5+Dec+07+320.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">pork curry</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaogMNzyorNtlORp9ICRhf-lgifez3jOpD3y1qdNozbVk2iZOA5zmyd3xM8aNY7lAMoFYhS9HNgfdRfZhicDvsgsGcYJ60f8IIfDAceeddRdW2Fo4JWgIz7UxAqwk-fOjoDTFANg12YiE/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+359.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaogMNzyorNtlORp9ICRhf-lgifez3jOpD3y1qdNozbVk2iZOA5zmyd3xM8aNY7lAMoFYhS9HNgfdRfZhicDvsgsGcYJ60f8IIfDAceeddRdW2Fo4JWgIz7UxAqwk-fOjoDTFANg12YiE/s320/5+Dec+07+359.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">coconut pudding with fruit</div><br />Once we had been served, the orchestra struck up and the evening's performance began.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ngq-EAem2VqXnfA5dBKWY3XS3RiBUdGCHY7A258X99EPEFpB-oWnBzTR-_rHAhuLV2sBqVC9yW4uIdm3mdgdSc2TBDm7UWyZvdq6CycqJbbcguA5O2JsMSoLN7nt11PeFTPM9T5z5zk/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+361.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ngq-EAem2VqXnfA5dBKWY3XS3RiBUdGCHY7A258X99EPEFpB-oWnBzTR-_rHAhuLV2sBqVC9yW4uIdm3mdgdSc2TBDm7UWyZvdq6CycqJbbcguA5O2JsMSoLN7nt11PeFTPM9T5z5zk/s320/5+Dec+07+361.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the orchestra and the audience</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGK_QiemN0vlFbq6fKDoUuvpnc_duHOOUJJhhYJEcWsWEcKBIN8pEAIrAstrwlCWLv6ILPzmGJ1VrGeMMc_qwf31TwSyKEuFiCWGBYjsVznA5mnj0JK-l5xgGajiagygbjfnVwp3zJHto/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+331.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGK_QiemN0vlFbq6fKDoUuvpnc_duHOOUJJhhYJEcWsWEcKBIN8pEAIrAstrwlCWLv6ILPzmGJ1VrGeMMc_qwf31TwSyKEuFiCWGBYjsVznA5mnj0JK-l5xgGajiagygbjfnVwp3zJHto/s320/5+Dec+07+331.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">welcome dance</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEaboK0ypZOY7CpU1yFBoicFgiyXZAeiTDXCzK7gKYVUxBxNg5KnQ_yqiKzYrFTEEPE8T3GEKyg26gn5TUAXZOKX7_jNLwclHCmDAVXTbG_SVrc8UoNGdk2sncU01hBrJUrMPtg1AmfI/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+336.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEaboK0ypZOY7CpU1yFBoicFgiyXZAeiTDXCzK7gKYVUxBxNg5KnQ_yqiKzYrFTEEPE8T3GEKyg26gn5TUAXZOKX7_jNLwclHCmDAVXTbG_SVrc8UoNGdk2sncU01hBrJUrMPtg1AmfI/s320/5+Dec+07+336.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">fisherman's dance</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqz70nD6LlIGasxAvLxR6hAv6c9UPQ5uFwlghKEtNnQXsDpyyntq1m4eRoqXgz_Aul6y4zcPRPCcwwy85hFiyCfns14bjRAveLW0wvRnIpBpdNY_wcLZg0zDgYDpYCas3OdgCx5nLwqjE/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+345.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqz70nD6LlIGasxAvLxR6hAv6c9UPQ5uFwlghKEtNnQXsDpyyntq1m4eRoqXgz_Aul6y4zcPRPCcwwy85hFiyCfns14bjRAveLW0wvRnIpBpdNY_wcLZg0zDgYDpYCas3OdgCx5nLwqjE/s320/5+Dec+07+345.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">good vs evil</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcV6n4ODS7MGyVJHgK32hWElmaGNp8juvUqACseoKws7FgXHJM8E_WUVx0w6pRz_ejLkKIEPT9nI2bWiTi93brw0mb4UWtawJjn6Da2U0iJU2h3ezGQwy1WUoFDCY2ZsUO7QeYHb_qeA/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+351.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcV6n4ODS7MGyVJHgK32hWElmaGNp8juvUqACseoKws7FgXHJM8E_WUVx0w6pRz_ejLkKIEPT9nI2bWiTi93brw0mb4UWtawJjn6Da2U0iJU2h3ezGQwy1WUoFDCY2ZsUO7QeYHb_qeA/s320/5+Dec+07+351.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">coconut dance</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9018YnAW4qG1TTnnvy2hqI2hUdTovapZDcxpMrL0Uvc6olPaOBoyaNMfAA7TRYsFiD1R8M42uDqGqMcxE5UdPVaBifbghx7FmFVgnOruu4LMQH4FqQ9CGLHSbC3c8uGQnz631maFrmA/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+357.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9018YnAW4qG1TTnnvy2hqI2hUdTovapZDcxpMrL0Uvc6olPaOBoyaNMfAA7TRYsFiD1R8M42uDqGqMcxE5UdPVaBifbghx7FmFVgnOruu4LMQH4FqQ9CGLHSbC3c8uGQnz631maFrmA/s320/5+Dec+07+357.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Rama and Bro</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVAZnLRSrcazPSbGYHcY30P7eUQCfOpxVcy7yV-1-MqISTgbz968zwYDCnIFBEPnpcKdERLgWPYEIW6fxOqjxefqCVxQBTo0JUOFUh8mS1_90QtRgybrgMMZVgb0QmqjixkccLE2Mp7Y/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+372.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVAZnLRSrcazPSbGYHcY30P7eUQCfOpxVcy7yV-1-MqISTgbz968zwYDCnIFBEPnpcKdERLgWPYEIW6fxOqjxefqCVxQBTo0JUOFUh8mS1_90QtRgybrgMMZVgb0QmqjixkccLE2Mp7Y/s320/5+Dec+07+372.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the battle between Rama and Ravana</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9uxoUYrKeA5EJJn5yky2P-3cc7AK_2UtW1QuOLr9Gt2r0OUn1eiMwf65IDR8c20EsSdHQAkWpo7DScGvwK8bMIKYJHn_JwjnD_NgaEwpE55bXP2UyN1GXUiC1-5ps44jMUl5b58CdsUU/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+378.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9uxoUYrKeA5EJJn5yky2P-3cc7AK_2UtW1QuOLr9Gt2r0OUn1eiMwf65IDR8c20EsSdHQAkWpo7DScGvwK8bMIKYJHn_JwjnD_NgaEwpE55bXP2UyN1GXUiC1-5ps44jMUl5b58CdsUU/s320/5+Dec+07+378.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the ring</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvSNHKlZCZYSSk78uqNtbzMZ4jUK1IPGqttVYH_zJEoeCWltTZfkt-fjWej5iu7rSogp2m4YMSzbNLnkLavfdFfM5pEakaV9zurwb-H53YOMDO0mYo-C3XqLcDSDRBqwtubNAcaQymLU/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+380.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvSNHKlZCZYSSk78uqNtbzMZ4jUK1IPGqttVYH_zJEoeCWltTZfkt-fjWej5iu7rSogp2m4YMSzbNLnkLavfdFfM5pEakaV9zurwb-H53YOMDO0mYo-C3XqLcDSDRBqwtubNAcaQymLU/s320/5+Dec+07+380.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">goodbye</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYPv6TjpRxaegbadbgB9lOnjFG3MhCq15Dqzvy5C7SsNr_QveJ4yo9SlS3k-j2MWuGpQduuSY87kKOXvsuIJLyjrvZsj8QIAGXtUPhPl3iCJZwHfMSYSTvb-G2UPDYb2HZOdKZVBiof0/s1600-h/5+Dec+07+384.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYPv6TjpRxaegbadbgB9lOnjFG3MhCq15Dqzvy5C7SsNr_QveJ4yo9SlS3k-j2MWuGpQduuSY87kKOXvsuIJLyjrvZsj8QIAGXtUPhPl3iCJZwHfMSYSTvb-G2UPDYb2HZOdKZVBiof0/s320/5+Dec+07+384.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">curtain call</div><br />Sadly, the dancing was rather amateurish. It was spectacle, but was it dance? Only two of the dancers looked like they had had any form of training. Accustomed as we were to the high standards of even the community dance troupes elsewhere in Southeast Asia, we could not but feel a little let down. In any other context, we would have condemned it as a scam for ignorant tourists. However, given that Cambodia had all but seen its dance traditions and an entire generation of dancers decimated in the Pol Pot years, we wondered if this was evidence of that loss. At least we had had an entertaining evening and, as HM was wont to add, a pretty good meal, albeit a somewhat expensive one at US$49 in total.<br /><br />That night we returned to Shinta Mani to pack for the next phase of our journey through Cambodia.blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649241099028598071.post-67070343686656849582007-12-25T07:22:00.000-08:002008-05-02T03:00:37.207-07:00Day 5: Onward to Phnom Penh<u>Leaving Shinta Mani</u><br /><br />It was our last morning at Shinta Mani. We would eventually return to Siem Reap before flying home, but we had made plans to stay elsewhere. While waiting for our transport, we tucked into a hearty breakfast at the hotel. The buffet offered the usual suspects - eggs, ham and bacon, yogurt, fruit and pastries as well as local staples like fried rice.<br /><br />After breakfast, we had a momentous decision to make. Shinta Mani offered various ways for us rich tourists to contribute directly to the welfare and wellbeing of the ordinary Cambodian. For a relatively small sum of money, we could sponsor a student at Shinta Mani's school of hospitality for a year, half a year or even three months. We could pay for a well to be dugged, or buy a pair of piglets, for a poor farming family. The well would ensure a clean supply of water for the family. The piglets would bear offspring that could be sold for much-needed supplementary income. Sponsoring a student was out of the question. Let's be frank, "thank you" letters and regular updates on progress were all well and good, but we couldn't see ourselves keeping in touch with our beneficiary. It seemed churlish to sponsor someone and then reject the contact, so we decided to go with the other option and of course pigs are way cuter than wells. For US$70, some family became the proud owners of a pair of piglets, yay!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvu5wtwnVgsIvvSUxdadjqKrOxw-XrBYEe2YxI8z4HHxndqwTG3wQRqOaal0nAYQOU7m8IUCSAN4v90rWUkjKxP4rA7PJg5UrKD1qt7SZrq6IViWejj4ar1ZxPHMI_HS1io9bZYRuXbFw/s1600-h/Our+Little+Pigs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvu5wtwnVgsIvvSUxdadjqKrOxw-XrBYEe2YxI8z4HHxndqwTG3wQRqOaal0nAYQOU7m8IUCSAN4v90rWUkjKxP4rA7PJg5UrKD1qt7SZrq6IViWejj4ar1ZxPHMI_HS1io9bZYRuXbFw/s320/Our+Little+Pigs.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">proud parents by now?</div><br />At 8.30 a.m. Soryar appeared with a young man in tow. His name was Maraka and he was to be our driver for the day. I asked Soryar if it would be possible for us to stop at various points of interest on the way, to take photographs and so on. There was in fact one major temple complex on route, a short detour from the highway running between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. Soryar assured us that Maraka spoke good English and that we would have no problem working this out with him. Maraka would, in fact, also be helping us arrange for a friend to drive us from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville in the south. I asked Soryar if we could detour to Kep and Kampot, two small towns on the south coast enroute. Soryar seemed unsure - he said something about the condition of the roads being questionable, nothing like Highway 6, the road between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, he said. No worries, Maraka would settle everything.<br /><br />Before he left, Soryar expressed his utmost gratitude for our custom and offered his blessings for our wellbeing and that of our families. He then presented HM and I with a gift each. We would find out later, when we got round to opening the boxes, that the scarfs he had presented us with were emblazoned with details of his various businesses, including advertisements for the family guesthouse, the Golden Mango Inn. We had to give it to him - the man's forte was PR.<br /><br /><br /><u>To Phnom Penh, from Siem Reap</u><br /><br />Our drive to Phnom Penh started with a visit to another makeshift "gas station" to top up the gas tank. Maraka asked me for an advance from the US$55 fee Soryar had negotiated for him, to pay for the gas. For a split second, I hesitated but then I remembered how Narin had said that gas was really expensive for the average Cambodian.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqZUC7P0_L850ErH7uVj7Y_OzDXsR2bMuF-4FDCy-kp6hO7vgh63Cqc8nhsh5NWq64h3ogL5F8b_1aimN1aP57epPbXzk9ELNGFW4eJXaSrLCURqo5hym9h4cnYY7aoss8CkylcIGMD0/s1600-h/6+Dec+07+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqZUC7P0_L850ErH7uVj7Y_OzDXsR2bMuF-4FDCy-kp6hO7vgh63Cqc8nhsh5NWq64h3ogL5F8b_1aimN1aP57epPbXzk9ELNGFW4eJXaSrLCURqo5hym9h4cnYY7aoss8CkylcIGMD0/s320/6+Dec+07+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">hill myna at the petrol kiosk</div><br />While waiting for the tank to be filled, I tried engaging Maraka in a discussion about a possible detour to that temple complex. Maraka's response was most discouraging. All he could say was that it was a long way from the highway. I countered by showing him the map, how it was but a short distance from Kompong Thom, a major town we would be passing through. He refused to budge. Oddly enough, at no point did he ask for more money. I considered offering him more but somehow I didn't think the money was the point.<br /><br />Indeed, Maraka drove like a bat out of hell. We weren't wasting any time on this drive, no sirree, not if he could help it. With that, the whole point of engaging our own driver went out the window. We could have taken one of the buses for only US$9 but then we would not have been able to stop to do any sightseeing. I figured this way we could have it both ways - a faster drive and the flexibility to stop as and when we pleased. I figured wrong. Maraka drove with a vengeance, sounding his horn at all and sundry and overtook others at will. We didn't dare interrupt him, fearing dire consequences if we did. We watched, resigned, as the scenery whizzed past.<br /><br />It wasn't that there was anything terribly wrong with Maraka. We hired him to drive and he drove. He just wasn't about to explain to us why the hay stacks in this part of Cambodia seemed different from those around Siem Reap. We were just beginning to realise that the level of service offered by Soryar and Narin was not typical of other drivers - the effort to go out of their way to show us what was typically Cambodian, the witty comments delivered drily. They were both driver and guide. When we saw people transporting car batteries on the back of their motorcycles, for example, Narin explained to us that the majority of Cambodian households, located as they were outside cities, did not have electricity, but, like most of the world, Cambodians were addicted to the tele. People would hook their TV sets up to car batteries which, for a few bucks, could be charged to last for a month. He added that Cambodians would rather part with hard-earned dollars than miss their favourite soap operas. To be fair, Narin and Soryar, though much older than Maraka, seemed much better educated. I wouldn't have been surprised to find out that they were graduates. Maraka on the other hand seemed to be pretty much a working class lad.<br /><br />In the end, we drove across the Japanese Friendship Bridge, into Phnom Penh, in four hours flat, a record of sorts I am sure.<br /><br /><br /><u>The Pavilion, Phnom Penh</u><br /><br />Getting to Phnom Penh was one thing, locating our hotel was another. First, Maraka thought it was the Paragon Hotel we were looking for. Fortunately, the Paragon on Sisowath Quay was not far from where the Pavilion was supposed to be. I told him that the Pavilion was behind Wat Botum aka Botum Pagoda, according to the printout taken from the hotel's website. We circled around the area several times but to no avail. Maraka parked the car along the road, coincidentally opposite the Singapore Embassy, and sat there, stumped. Meanwhile, all I could think of was that a toilet would be nice! Finally, he took my printout from me, took one look at it and went, "Oh, I know where it is." Right.<br /><br />We drove back to Wat Botum and Maraka stopped the car at a nondescript wooden door opposite it, one flanked by two guards. Next to the door, a small discreet sign said, "The Pavilion". We had finally found the place, phew. Before leaving, Maraka promised to be back in three days with our driver for the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville run. I wasn't so sure this was a good idea, but what other option did we have...<br /><br />The Pavilion was a French colonial style villa turned hotel. We hadn't been been able to secure a room in the main building (where there was free wireless access) for the first part of our stay, but our room in the newly built annex came with a private pool, a nice bit of "compensation" I must say.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTffgF2z7k3yZ7iuwNbZIUHxuDHjnUZvYx8lg7pRUQ-dHgZm9wKq5metshMqTcP97tm_nq7ve-q563pPtwtsBipcq2Bf7Ev17V29KuEvzU5RXMj3_OIP4JEx9B6bY8rbSmERKjUoq-aw/s1600-h/6+Dec+07+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTffgF2z7k3yZ7iuwNbZIUHxuDHjnUZvYx8lg7pRUQ-dHgZm9wKq5metshMqTcP97tm_nq7ve-q563pPtwtsBipcq2Bf7Ev17V29KuEvzU5RXMj3_OIP4JEx9B6bY8rbSmERKjUoq-aw/s320/6+Dec+07+019.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">our room, from the outside</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6t1G8PINxCH5iqT1KlYJiQE0l355SMKM-36NcTVmWyL7Xic9d670F5hQR8RgsNjY-Qs9qfH0usOt5Gzhhvu67cIJo1rM59e6h6FeyoWmxep0a-fLUQqkDMu7xD4XUJpgHYDzhhrqKOI/s1600-h/6+Dec+07+062.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6t1G8PINxCH5iqT1KlYJiQE0l355SMKM-36NcTVmWyL7Xic9d670F5hQR8RgsNjY-Qs9qfH0usOt5Gzhhvu67cIJo1rM59e6h6FeyoWmxep0a-fLUQqkDMu7xD4XUJpgHYDzhhrqKOI/s320/6+Dec+07+062.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the hall outside our room</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyWIfmjp1UhZUaOK5A1HrVA39Ko8bxMGM6bOXA2G3cUiJqYym4KBfK3BFZrH6yH90R22WnRj6qpI7cNXh3LeTsA5PfYdhKTY9NdQkS42H9Hw-T8MqU7VjRO6zC9MtonOjOmmzBGvBsWc/s1600-h/6+Dec+07+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyWIfmjp1UhZUaOK5A1HrVA39Ko8bxMGM6bOXA2G3cUiJqYym4KBfK3BFZrH6yH90R22WnRj6qpI7cNXh3LeTsA5PfYdhKTY9NdQkS42H9Hw-T8MqU7VjRO6zC9MtonOjOmmzBGvBsWc/s320/6+Dec+07+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">our bed in Room 11</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcHViMHNdfgoO6CiUdGCc2dclic3Wlru3qggLOVvrLQEN-_g3BTxpC3RSBuUNvXWB4rfQK6a-2a2sudvDhO6ey216DV5Q_iIlel4KaqRRjvhA27uHfaEopAKPC6z3DWxRilhUmHhAupw/s1600-h/6+Dec+07+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcHViMHNdfgoO6CiUdGCc2dclic3Wlru3qggLOVvrLQEN-_g3BTxpC3RSBuUNvXWB4rfQK6a-2a2sudvDhO6ey216DV5Q_iIlel4KaqRRjvhA27uHfaEopAKPC6z3DWxRilhUmHhAupw/s320/6+Dec+07+017.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">good solid facilities though not luxurious</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9cAdMthY9ejs_OVtUsr5NQHVnAHEJ6Y6LTuMLoI1G0dbz9mmCnI6sj_OWoHBrByqQYTPH3kD5m_rATn5Z49liMPXtbdkuC-zlR9VzhqERNMB6mGfABmFSclMp7W-clnCfjTBGTSSI5w/s1600-h/6+Dec+07+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9cAdMthY9ejs_OVtUsr5NQHVnAHEJ6Y6LTuMLoI1G0dbz9mmCnI6sj_OWoHBrByqQYTPH3kD5m_rATn5Z49liMPXtbdkuC-zlR9VzhqERNMB6mGfABmFSclMp7W-clnCfjTBGTSSI5w/s320/6+Dec+07+010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">at least it had a TV</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WllPM1eUb8HtOd5mRMozRuptwD90IVLnCaw1HstYJT9Ta4t4TVBhBD_gR9ABZA1a9Iyous8rObs6vhSn6d_wHDqYqFB5KNsIrJN2YuV2pi8tzLs8eXnUU4Tsr9IIsCIRnQZzwO9JByw/s1600-h/6+Dec+07+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WllPM1eUb8HtOd5mRMozRuptwD90IVLnCaw1HstYJT9Ta4t4TVBhBD_gR9ABZA1a9Iyous8rObs6vhSn6d_wHDqYqFB5KNsIrJN2YuV2pi8tzLs8eXnUU4Tsr9IIsCIRnQZzwO9JByw/s320/6+Dec+07+011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">our first glimpse of our private pool</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHOL7JUTCZAFk2PYuH6Etr08iKee2xyWCXsGLbBlku35ntzcUcdcRQtNfT2Y5KDZAu5ib5MA5eN9jVrD2q0zOUbEBuLZkCTre0Sc0lmKHrjvlpM7DVAasPi4oaKt2mqspqR3AAcOnk3o/s1600-h/6+Dec+07+061.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHOL7JUTCZAFk2PYuH6Etr08iKee2xyWCXsGLbBlku35ntzcUcdcRQtNfT2Y5KDZAu5ib5MA5eN9jVrD2q0zOUbEBuLZkCTre0Sc0lmKHrjvlpM7DVAasPi4oaKt2mqspqR3AAcOnk3o/s320/6+Dec+07+061.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">so Miami!</div><br />It wasn't five-star luxury but it was most aesthetically pleasing in a shabby chic sort of way, as HM put it. We looked forward to adding this little hotel to our list of favourites, all small but unique hotels.<br /><br /><br /><u>The Shop</u><br /><br />Walking out of the Pavilion in search of a late lunch, we first went one way along Ph 19, to look for a pho shop near the Independence Monument. Unfortunately the shop appeared to have been replaced by some other eatery since the current edition of Lonely Planet was published.<br /><br />In the glare of the afternoon sun, I almost succumbed and suggested walking into the nearest airconditioned cafe. It was HM who pointed out that the said eatery was devoid of customers, not exactly a sign of good food. We walked back the other way along Ph 19, till we got to the famed Ph 240, an avenue lined with trees and the trendiest boutiques, spas and cafes this side of the Tonle Sap river. That's where we found The Shop, Phnom Penh's to-go cafe for expatriates hankering after the good life.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfraMZOfQ49khyD_Xu-7yK5n-ZJkM-BIde4KPcebJb0jtK6RYEQJbzXj_BMZ3rNB8GfCDQRc5AnlF5TqRlUPU9CvlR-rojDBslAvQf2mdpnh-ePHxexiAtsM6kG7WZWvIpKYfQU_TCk8/s1600-h/6+Dec+07+046.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfraMZOfQ49khyD_Xu-7yK5n-ZJkM-BIde4KPcebJb0jtK6RYEQJbzXj_BMZ3rNB8GfCDQRc5AnlF5TqRlUPU9CvlR-rojDBslAvQf2mdpnh-ePHxexiAtsM6kG7WZWvIpKYfQU_TCk8/s320/6+Dec+07+046.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">one of our favourite eateries in Phnom Penh</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXM9f9NQBHW0GHia_QZxIgnIRY43WU0o6_4PKNx3crXp7bsBCnfBOaLN52Zqo-veUWEmTXYN2dCTl-F7Zhj2NJ-NacL_47L5nkbKGye7_M4Gh5DYBcQJRC6kxQU55rmBEKqkYfsVBghs/s1600-h/6+Dec+07+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXM9f9NQBHW0GHia_QZxIgnIRY43WU0o6_4PKNx3crXp7bsBCnfBOaLN52Zqo-veUWEmTXYN2dCTl-F7Zhj2NJ-NacL_47L5nkbKGye7_M4Gh5DYBcQJRC6kxQU55rmBEKqkYfsVBghs/s320/6+Dec+07+025.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a quiet afternoon inside</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGeOEp3ukOLeVIelVRpPYY-DQcpQ5muBSmFDEHNMxWiH3pa-HodpoWF74i5IdWvoT-fWsSF7OwIHF08pwxeCqrHFCFP4F2zoDjMR5lAgeUs_DOn9M49W40uaYBBBvAFczlZpjmEb7uS8/s1600-h/6+Dec+07+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGeOEp3ukOLeVIelVRpPYY-DQcpQ5muBSmFDEHNMxWiH3pa-HodpoWF74i5IdWvoT-fWsSF7OwIHF08pwxeCqrHFCFP4F2zoDjMR5lAgeUs_DOn9M49W40uaYBBBvAFczlZpjmEb7uS8/s320/6+Dec+07+031.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">check out that ceiling!</div><br />We wasted no time in ordering a huge lunch.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tskYAfOro-JJ1De-G8lgIYSlNYuoq6CUxqZMh577n96qHyefcNEjbwK-9pk6k1_89pur3UhqtYE83OiH4p10b8derYXmymx2cJaNJ7FtaBK96rfqtSYwy9EFfSw2d3NwyIIXgW78hkw/s1600-h/6+Dec+07+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tskYAfOro-JJ1De-G8lgIYSlNYuoq6CUxqZMh577n96qHyefcNEjbwK-9pk6k1_89pur3UhqtYE83OiH4p10b8derYXmymx2cJaNJ7FtaBK96rfqtSYwy9EFfSw2d3NwyIIXgW78hkw/s320/6+Dec+07+029.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">lychee and mint cooler (right) and pear and honey smoothie (centre), in chic glasses</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3t0KJsdonoCqj4PVHKJEhOtqEQAAxhLbL7ToLl1LqHDPUBKLj4resWxrlS7hKJCKv5bfqCJ7OZtKm68aKPgqqNAhBi1a97JasivPw3wUsI1r2c8k6DvNSooQKIwYpfEnyfynK43LnBWE/s1600-h/6+Dec+07+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3t0KJsdonoCqj4PVHKJEhOtqEQAAxhLbL7ToLl1LqHDPUBKLj4resWxrlS7hKJCKv5bfqCJ7OZtKm68aKPgqqNAhBi1a97JasivPw3wUsI1r2c8k6DvNSooQKIwYpfEnyfynK43LnBWE/s320/6+Dec+07+033.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">pumpkin and goat's cheese salad, with sundried tomatoes</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6t3WvAUW5bXRQKxxL5IbOXBOIPJvlo2Y0jaZQitInqlpyxOx1pyI8xFik1Hn54Kp9qPcP58yXsHyxUmsTLheoFhrKi7u_O-BazH1THh_qgZsMEwYTs3P4cVVWN7K9CBkVeu7Py_w5OsY/s1600-h/6+Dec+07+034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6t3WvAUW5bXRQKxxL5IbOXBOIPJvlo2Y0jaZQitInqlpyxOx1pyI8xFik1Hn54Kp9qPcP58yXsHyxUmsTLheoFhrKi7u_O-BazH1THh_qgZsMEwYTs3P4cVVWN7K9CBkVeu7Py_w5OsY/s320/6+Dec+07+034.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">roast lamb and pesto sandwich</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWyShKhDXW-L3P9mVcZlQj_q-pHbZV9pHCpZgmf8epiudwcFYanKVYVJF4BQWUYXoPoP4f6Xu1h9zN4IqIr0Tnk2P_pHcJ7QRjumMshPkp2imOjF2GzNiIpapNJewKR2BpQhyphenhyphenEBb7mJk/s1600-h/6+Dec+07+038.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWyShKhDXW-L3P9mVcZlQj_q-pHbZV9pHCpZgmf8epiudwcFYanKVYVJF4BQWUYXoPoP4f6Xu1h9zN4IqIr0Tnk2P_pHcJ7QRjumMshPkp2imOjF2GzNiIpapNJewKR2BpQhyphenhyphenEBb7mJk/s320/6+Dec+07+038.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">coarse country pate</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0SvLUZHuXpZvVPgm3ZcKF1U4JIwRZTxdTY3ujH3GKZ0qcha9WbZElACVuUfcToI3BPreLXsbIffVioNN1V0CAMLIOTH814mdBGSxD_5NOms5YVQuyyApCE0ueYtzoNuyWlIB3GczV9M/s1600-h/6+Dec+07+042.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0SvLUZHuXpZvVPgm3ZcKF1U4JIwRZTxdTY3ujH3GKZ0qcha9WbZElACVuUfcToI3BPreLXsbIffVioNN1V0CAMLIOTH814mdBGSxD_5NOms5YVQuyyApCE0ueYtzoNuyWlIB3GczV9M/s320/6+Dec+07+042.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">walnut (foreground) and lemon and chocolate tartlets</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpXXLFA6fcjwL3elNHyXfUbFc1ejc_d4fsEBVHBHKpKDwD1CCF19T_Z0tXUJmp7-KqSGYWFmv3yqXf0xtQk7lcfIDfWpZ3mzecCxpj9k9q1h3PHm4ri0FmtjYKdKt_B4SLj-_ttCSWKU/s1600-h/6+Dec+07+043.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpXXLFA6fcjwL3elNHyXfUbFc1ejc_d4fsEBVHBHKpKDwD1CCF19T_Z0tXUJmp7-KqSGYWFmv3yqXf0xtQk7lcfIDfWpZ3mzecCxpj9k9q1h3PHm4ri0FmtjYKdKt_B4SLj-_ttCSWKU/s320/6+Dec+07+043.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">cafe au lait</div><br />The food ranged from good to excellent. The salad could have used a stronger flavoured green like rocket, in contrast to the intense flavours of goat's cheese and sundried tomatoes, but we conceded that rocket may be a little hard to find in Cambodia. Other than that, everything was top notch, particularly the breads and pastries. The pear and honey smoothie came highly recommended and indeed it was sensational. The best part was the bill only came up to US$14.25.<br /><br />Satiated, we headed back to the Pavilion for a little downtime by the pool. Cool!<br /><br /><br /><u>A Walk Around Sisowath Quay</u><br /><br />In the evening, we went out for a walk, to explore the surrounding area. The sun was already starting to set, so there were few photo opportunities. I was content to just soak in the sights on this first night; there would be time and opportunity for pics later on.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEXzgeMRAAREqtnMnZIXORR4kWZ4igmvwHW4eFQOK_b_yc4xIG5XJGirgzXXWGfsNruioQjN_x4DogsKsuhiWdjBg-4WBfYFyqaZxXgdb_GBvXI009L7xsU157jj8xybjygVwitkpQ7I/s1600-h/6+Dec+07+066.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEXzgeMRAAREqtnMnZIXORR4kWZ4igmvwHW4eFQOK_b_yc4xIG5XJGirgzXXWGfsNruioQjN_x4DogsKsuhiWdjBg-4WBfYFyqaZxXgdb_GBvXI009L7xsU157jj8xybjygVwitkpQ7I/s320/6+Dec+07+066.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">what building is this?!</div><br />We walked all the way past the Royal Palace and up Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh's riverfront boulevard. Unfortunately much of the riverfront was behind hoardings, undergoing some kind of redevelopment, so we focused our attention on the strip of hotels, guesthouses, bars, restaurants and travel agencies that formed the nucleus of Phnom Penh's tourist district.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRjM7cuGjJHtwIJ0K7vX_FbS6KIbe5fv3uDGVAIEyINN1HPa3-9WDT2W-_pN9hVHvYfbnNpcATvtZ1hgGjlg1tfKY8_3ncZ-m2KfIjdLgBip11zs3FvXLij83mKufF_AQXEjImJOIq1A/s1600-h/6+Dec+07+069.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRjM7cuGjJHtwIJ0K7vX_FbS6KIbe5fv3uDGVAIEyINN1HPa3-9WDT2W-_pN9hVHvYfbnNpcATvtZ1hgGjlg1tfKY8_3ncZ-m2KfIjdLgBip11zs3FvXLij83mKufF_AQXEjImJOIq1A/s320/6+Dec+07+069.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Camory cookie boutique</div><br />In between the usual suspects were smaller establishments such as a Singaporean-owned cookie boutique, Camory. The latter packaged Cambodian cookies for a tourist/expatriate clientele. From the Japan Credit Bureau sticker on the door, I'd say it was popular with the Japanese. Predictably, HM was enamoured by the cookie flavours (JCB sign = HM likes!) and we left with half a dozen "num khmer" cookies (honey flavoured?) and cinnamon cookies, for US$2.<br /><br /><br /><u>Dinner at Khmer Borane</u><br /><br />The onslaught of traffic noise, vehicle exhaust, and tuk tuk drivers, restaurant touts and child vendors all hawking their services and wares concurrently, wore our nerves down after a while. We decided to step into a restaurant, not because we were hungry (we were in fact still stuffed from the afternoon's feasting at The Shop), but because we needed a break from the continual buzz outside.<br /><br />Khmer Borane was a Lonely Planet recommendation. When we sat down, there was only one other patron inside, a fellow traveller, not an encouraging sign. Perhaps we were early for dinner...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlgXxE3Xvwr5vTG7quw57RVdwwEJyYIcNLJPA2nNfIdeqGkgBI7DkITW8FMwpXdNsrvBngTMObTEd8M0SMJB16N9vvFP22uTTnEuw_6uNUvgGQF4TMlr5PZKDdVAhO_GHUMdPoWScwHI/s1600-h/6+Dec+07+074.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlgXxE3Xvwr5vTG7quw57RVdwwEJyYIcNLJPA2nNfIdeqGkgBI7DkITW8FMwpXdNsrvBngTMObTEd8M0SMJB16N9vvFP22uTTnEuw_6uNUvgGQF4TMlr5PZKDdVAhO_GHUMdPoWScwHI/s320/6+Dec+07+074.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><em>lok lak</em> or grilled beef salad</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dM1oQmg1G_Zo7ESYHCHYEaDgj2CRraOcwSUAEC6MTPBQ_ZObZ0GOojC7P-z3BhUhY-RZa_bgNbxwoVbxDl-OmcT_BnPzEdErcLshv8TwfGLYmdQWZGMnxbBEr3viLKVvRLUpVYeTnnc/s1600-h/6+Dec+07+076.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dM1oQmg1G_Zo7ESYHCHYEaDgj2CRraOcwSUAEC6MTPBQ_ZObZ0GOojC7P-z3BhUhY-RZa_bgNbxwoVbxDl-OmcT_BnPzEdErcLshv8TwfGLYmdQWZGMnxbBEr3viLKVvRLUpVYeTnnc/s320/6+Dec+07+076.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">fish amok</div><br />The food was a let down, quite insipid really. The beef was chewy and the amok was so so. And the bill came up to US$10.50, for the food and two drinks (coke light and jasmine tea). A blotch on LP's track record!<br /><br />After that uninspiring dinner, we retreated to the sheltered confines of the Pavilion and the comfort of our four-poster bed. Guiltily, we had to concur with the memsahibs (or the French equivalent thereof) that a villa was necessary for one's sanity. (I found out later that the villa had in fact been built by King Sihanouk's ageing mother so that it would be easy for her to go to Botum Pagoda just across the road. The excesses of royalty, tsk.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRWx0ifERCsVob_VMXxfA1MTJScyYnAfUll4-beUUXNxozUtipEmu_ncCVMs51dIjSvOeBpLoxOoHu0u6M8qw9WPlRcI_jSFIXTlmMUBjuYWLP35iqhrGeXYD0g2-z55TzdlYecJOtdc/s1600-h/6+Dec+07+083.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRWx0ifERCsVob_VMXxfA1MTJScyYnAfUll4-beUUXNxozUtipEmu_ncCVMs51dIjSvOeBpLoxOoHu0u6M8qw9WPlRcI_jSFIXTlmMUBjuYWLP35iqhrGeXYD0g2-z55TzdlYecJOtdc/s320/6+Dec+07+083.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">inside the main building</div>blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649241099028598071.post-11903688495782805112007-12-24T08:02:00.000-08:002008-05-02T09:48:18.592-07:00Day 6: Historical Phnom Penh<u>Breakfast at the Pavilion</u><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbkPKjviYefht7Fe7CTG8AwfBrzm4_zGrJtVMFKQIvicajRLamBUlPcnH2ftCgbVs328ZePh2cfHJu4R0mYV31KpJGREz0eXc2TXAlioQFxzgWGRSDa6Fnvy4HCW-fXnJzdjqWdeLSvQ/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbkPKjviYefht7Fe7CTG8AwfBrzm4_zGrJtVMFKQIvicajRLamBUlPcnH2ftCgbVs328ZePh2cfHJu4R0mYV31KpJGREz0eXc2TXAlioQFxzgWGRSDa6Fnvy4HCW-fXnJzdjqWdeLSvQ/s320/7+Dec+07+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the main building and swimming pool</div><br />The next morning, we got up early. There was lots to see and lots to do before the heat became unbearable. Breakfast at the Pavilion was served at the poolside cafe, the perfect spot to enjoy the lush garden and the odd bird.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXQjz40wdKAwZmf1WomdiPr0whonijIHU-Pl1pdqpyaRZFOgWof_KsPRW-bBWmcU_aprizkeV8Q1sWCytpjPT8IxUiCN_CHGKqHwySUqsuO4AEzBXmi6SpSBVvQXJ60jju56CmysyOpg/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXQjz40wdKAwZmf1WomdiPr0whonijIHU-Pl1pdqpyaRZFOgWof_KsPRW-bBWmcU_aprizkeV8Q1sWCytpjPT8IxUiCN_CHGKqHwySUqsuO4AEzBXmi6SpSBVvQXJ60jju56CmysyOpg/s320/7+Dec+07+007.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">oriental magpie robin</div><br />Breakfast for two was included in the price of the room. The only catch with it was that it had to be a continental breakfast - pastries, juice, fruit, and a hot beverage each, no sausage, eggs or bacon. We didn't miss the latter - the bread more than made up for the lack of meat. You have to give it to the French - their former colonies produce the best bread. Good coffee, great bread - what's not to like?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihYRhNTbv-rx_gOqpmQiaB75VFjDDXAGZb7fOdQkDmlX8nF20y4mB5pJKs6yCaaVlAIFVmECewmmpSvqyIiXDHtiP7b90XxXL7SXgcj5zinqQa_A0ZnzVEttM8kSTU3KbwgoyQAymunY/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihYRhNTbv-rx_gOqpmQiaB75VFjDDXAGZb7fOdQkDmlX8nF20y4mB5pJKs6yCaaVlAIFVmECewmmpSvqyIiXDHtiP7b90XxXL7SXgcj5zinqQa_A0ZnzVEttM8kSTU3KbwgoyQAymunY/s320/7+Dec+07+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">served with butter and jam</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5c0FW9CGuN6_kRI2iIa_EyPS7G1EfUgwQVa1huh-59Yj5LAZtnoR9sQSLqooWVouJ2N57wurEMmNSxZ4cFbrQ-x8Ycc47qsrr0r251pMHrCiGn7_kXdTdWrl5-YwKgjtoDpRdDh_yio/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5c0FW9CGuN6_kRI2iIa_EyPS7G1EfUgwQVa1huh-59Yj5LAZtnoR9sQSLqooWVouJ2N57wurEMmNSxZ4cFbrQ-x8Ycc47qsrr0r251pMHrCiGn7_kXdTdWrl5-YwKgjtoDpRdDh_yio/s320/7+Dec+07+009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">cawfeeeee</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhyYVeKJDXL5VVddObLgHKt5GOaA6HGJKA3XrNWFhxBXK746YswObjGGwGjpZp9jMkFbvcnNCZnJ8isf0OJ5Zd0qQqEZb3RQfKbdP_jl2vI3R2tgBkhMSg-Ahyphenhyphen03hvTLqD4RlL5w9_n4/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhyYVeKJDXL5VVddObLgHKt5GOaA6HGJKA3XrNWFhxBXK746YswObjGGwGjpZp9jMkFbvcnNCZnJ8isf0OJ5Zd0qQqEZb3RQfKbdP_jl2vI3R2tgBkhMSg-Ahyphenhyphen03hvTLqD4RlL5w9_n4/s320/7+Dec+07+011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">passion fruit juice, a French obsession according to HM</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLB46pHnlGLJ9TKkYjwa8ATsMc0CY-8yxlijPZBzhyioTVVnZh6ZAbG-SegrO0FRJIYcHT_A2xjFfli09yedqzmOMzhyn1DZabOWGwgcaQmFmASZtNnKiXGM_2osCMfgvk668sMa2t5g/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLB46pHnlGLJ9TKkYjwa8ATsMc0CY-8yxlijPZBzhyioTVVnZh6ZAbG-SegrO0FRJIYcHT_A2xjFfli09yedqzmOMzhyn1DZabOWGwgcaQmFmASZtNnKiXGM_2osCMfgvk668sMa2t5g/s320/7+Dec+07+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">part of our daily quota of fibre and vitamins</div><br /><br /><u>The City of Phnom Penh</u><br /><br />Having emptied the bread basket, we were ready to face the world. Or at least Phnom Penh. In the light of the morning, the city seemed a completely different place. By night, the city had seemed a little seedy, a little dangerous. The streets, even in this most central of areas, weren't terriby well lit. The pavements, with their slightly uneven surfaces, offered the occasional protrusion for unsuspecting tourists to stub their toes against. The walls reeked of urine. It was all a little depressing. By day, what was old and rundown, nay, decrepit even, provided a certain pictureque quality to the place, a certain charm. In the days to come, we would find this to be true even in the more local, less gussied up areas; we certainly couldn't accuse Phnom Penh of being sanitised or antiseptic.<br /><br /><br /><u>The Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda</u><br /><br />Today was the designated sightseeing day for the Phnom Penh leg of our trip. Our first pit stop was the Royal Palace and within its compound, the Silver Pagoda.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPbhVU6Tc0w9couMKx-wpjUCmm4qgd2OQT0uFG4ZeqeMtm-zrEP5JgKn79qhZCMTgIXDvfc4x_FlXiWIwiGHdl90omz0l1DDJZp2oekcwLACZqUcLyVQvwLObgau9isUHv17v-N20d2s/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPbhVU6Tc0w9couMKx-wpjUCmm4qgd2OQT0uFG4ZeqeMtm-zrEP5JgKn79qhZCMTgIXDvfc4x_FlXiWIwiGHdl90omz0l1DDJZp2oekcwLACZqUcLyVQvwLObgau9isUHv17v-N20d2s/s320/7+Dec+07+014.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the boulevard outside the Royal Palace</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGGyZ1_5l_Y5QOtFoY3rzu2Dp8ESd9XsZUpkbN3aNwY-QhRf3I6IPFGotw8wjepOh8rcaFP66FWmGLvUcdCup4Wbk8Wb8TPDAHztNwlHvWLbPJo3QBU2JrBrkaDrAvE-UTv3sN2AbtIg/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGGyZ1_5l_Y5QOtFoY3rzu2Dp8ESd9XsZUpkbN3aNwY-QhRf3I6IPFGotw8wjepOh8rcaFP66FWmGLvUcdCup4Wbk8Wb8TPDAHztNwlHvWLbPJo3QBU2JrBrkaDrAvE-UTv3sN2AbtIg/s320/7+Dec+07+021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">at the palace gate, well, one of them anyway</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU15HTaqhc7IpusIE9LPXTPK0sfKzdgu3iINloj7lSmwoec4YmwNKGFvoUULGtlYJY3EHlEf2rRR94Hzvbub1OG1SQbRbkDac1yy3atkHzYB8-EG-HlTppqaNUOB_OYAu29PByBFGrwgk/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU15HTaqhc7IpusIE9LPXTPK0sfKzdgu3iINloj7lSmwoec4YmwNKGFvoUULGtlYJY3EHlEf2rRR94Hzvbub1OG1SQbRbkDac1yy3atkHzYB8-EG-HlTppqaNUOB_OYAu29PByBFGrwgk/s320/7+Dec+07+023.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">THE image most associated with the Royal Palace</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQHXCwwU9PhYBJCPMP4YIqGz4BgZQSbX01Wy6ER1m4llLXbQy6kZosTKvV1ZIhPLkYdMGpdmc3KthfCi6eyUiP2Ntdbm_RR2lyHYAYXENyEjUiLZf6mhced51UL4WDYq9ZKH_Cowsk7g/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQHXCwwU9PhYBJCPMP4YIqGz4BgZQSbX01Wy6ER1m4llLXbQy6kZosTKvV1ZIhPLkYdMGpdmc3KthfCi6eyUiP2Ntdbm_RR2lyHYAYXENyEjUiLZf6mhced51UL4WDYq9ZKH_Cowsk7g/s320/7+Dec+07+026.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">portrait of King Sihamoni, the current monarch</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyq4PStfNC3kHl03nvj5qIqriBWXlCM2rFzSdnvNd5ROTiu7WKqFCUXZwvokvbH_pDqNKycRKQgNeEublxRN0AljiS6CiGPihVpUW3QrctBkk4lP-8zMenKG_K7zQgxwyEckvyU0v9bQ/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+027.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyq4PStfNC3kHl03nvj5qIqriBWXlCM2rFzSdnvNd5ROTiu7WKqFCUXZwvokvbH_pDqNKycRKQgNeEublxRN0AljiS6CiGPihVpUW3QrctBkk4lP-8zMenKG_K7zQgxwyEckvyU0v9bQ/s320/7+Dec+07+027.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the plaza opposite the palace</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pOskUVLtyYl7C7FS8rPMR6tOBzcaaOLiBh2lq92WkZWQZL1TIN6zCPVPexprmNgveF1gbyV3Yn1BjI6BoQKWV6IBYyLiwSrEsM7djVusrZ5tV0dx5GYL9zRQzWee_3roQkKXHXECs9I/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+038.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pOskUVLtyYl7C7FS8rPMR6tOBzcaaOLiBh2lq92WkZWQZL1TIN6zCPVPexprmNgveF1gbyV3Yn1BjI6BoQKWV6IBYyLiwSrEsM7djVusrZ5tV0dx5GYL9zRQzWee_3roQkKXHXECs9I/s320/7+Dec+07+038.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">students on a field trip</div><br />Inside, the Royal Palace was a heady mixture of the kitschy and the extravagant. The halls were filled with plenty of royal memorabilia, right down to the incongruous, like the teapot collections.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkF74UKDPJ7ESCtxQaLPYChcFtmC-OG010x4ePBYKitppNJjMkMhPrNKjUKnkzZDhupuE5nDrtMIYrrPGzX4iyK0qClAqbUGLxj18WZhG-o_62IXavEfIuwUxDwLsJmCt_9aOYXj3V_mw/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+042.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkF74UKDPJ7ESCtxQaLPYChcFtmC-OG010x4ePBYKitppNJjMkMhPrNKjUKnkzZDhupuE5nDrtMIYrrPGzX4iyK0qClAqbUGLxj18WZhG-o_62IXavEfIuwUxDwLsJmCt_9aOYXj3V_mw/s320/7+Dec+07+042.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">echoes of Bayon?</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqinnrRlr6jBqNtpTE3IkL2GUqLRv200q8yw2LopWWzxBYPvTZIG0UeJ-EzpO183L9glAlypOLAz7s7BalXqw-bAsjdpqLM-1nr7F1Kfwbglt1cCPJ5KR145zbUEv0ERpkn5RvFIfyYNM/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+063.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqinnrRlr6jBqNtpTE3IkL2GUqLRv200q8yw2LopWWzxBYPvTZIG0UeJ-EzpO183L9glAlypOLAz7s7BalXqw-bAsjdpqLM-1nr7F1Kfwbglt1cCPJ5KR145zbUEv0ERpkn5RvFIfyYNM/s320/7+Dec+07+063.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">who dropped this building here?!</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVc0i0DKrzpGtGwLLyvkT-h8H4DD_pu2QrKJbOzKfaRCGW6jKfWI_gInxnaOuemgVqpGTGPEMhhiSBT17bLTjLktt3xsfazr2mu9wbpMKwAAfr3DHjI_cymfJ5slya7BovcCBgYkLJZMc/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+074.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVc0i0DKrzpGtGwLLyvkT-h8H4DD_pu2QrKJbOzKfaRCGW6jKfWI_gInxnaOuemgVqpGTGPEMhhiSBT17bLTjLktt3xsfazr2mu9wbpMKwAAfr3DHjI_cymfJ5slya7BovcCBgYkLJZMc/s320/7+Dec+07+074.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">east meets west</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeCy5BNsLE892B327BB0nad0DGzZ2RcjhZnbJHMCZXC_67plkuM1-cInXFLvB4BRoiJYwUeWVEHxPB6K3gg-wiuENF1G9eat1VQiB-SO4nJB_7OJcwB5sbYNcyyjuN2RLh7B82JZrZUs/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+082.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeCy5BNsLE892B327BB0nad0DGzZ2RcjhZnbJHMCZXC_67plkuM1-cInXFLvB4BRoiJYwUeWVEHxPB6K3gg-wiuENF1G9eat1VQiB-SO4nJB_7OJcwB5sbYNcyyjuN2RLh7B82JZrZUs/s320/7+Dec+07+082.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">strangely reminiscent of St Petersburg</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3uKmerVR0kMkwViLZ8X1wsuUkTSo-qkVRZuaz1kGdqGd-QwDQEm4MccPFYfazAdq-V1XqNNSbwAmz9b01yByI3Eu5CZCR9CwXpYVGxoeGRcWAqSf9_1pVHIf4JvpRnZMmzydb_9zBqI/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+097.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3uKmerVR0kMkwViLZ8X1wsuUkTSo-qkVRZuaz1kGdqGd-QwDQEm4MccPFYfazAdq-V1XqNNSbwAmz9b01yByI3Eu5CZCR9CwXpYVGxoeGRcWAqSf9_1pVHIf4JvpRnZMmzydb_9zBqI/s320/7+Dec+07+097.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a dispenser or a wash basin?</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyDTycalBn4ythhtAv5aVexvh_4Mqs6N_1w7CdNDHLV0BEKTiLbY-eaRIxURRZfxyttCJc-wpceC91XsjjTkR5AWWbYStAx2bV0ooVueSeaSbCLcV83cwi3anMqRPuPsCwuEwvNFnPW4/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+098.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyDTycalBn4ythhtAv5aVexvh_4Mqs6N_1w7CdNDHLV0BEKTiLbY-eaRIxURRZfxyttCJc-wpceC91XsjjTkR5AWWbYStAx2bV0ooVueSeaSbCLcV83cwi3anMqRPuPsCwuEwvNFnPW4/s320/7+Dec+07+098.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday... (I'm not kidding)</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWjAEJxeobn68zdiFKXjxcn3bg2yXAaXsFbEeMHPMDumeU9ahps85Hb5Fp-fgv1IvUgpGOUAOs7hOkY7_Qji355O4nrsrqk4vu74vlw6KTF6qGHm3sGL6Qi36mkuBkjql5os8j68qT3E/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+110.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWjAEJxeobn68zdiFKXjxcn3bg2yXAaXsFbEeMHPMDumeU9ahps85Hb5Fp-fgv1IvUgpGOUAOs7hOkY7_Qji355O4nrsrqk4vu74vlw6KTF6qGHm3sGL6Qi36mkuBkjql5os8j68qT3E/s320/7+Dec+07+110.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a royal stupa</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy14LkZ5T5zBmyXdmSBY70wB7Nf_Rrfz87kTAzKhXALaRVuKvHK09txUw14NvQPLogfnQ8yo5WfuGC9evF-PmIHFFAY0fMNJpNf2dqhbQ8zbdMcABTcJeJHnDEKdpw7_6VgEnnPZ8BPN0/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+140.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy14LkZ5T5zBmyXdmSBY70wB7Nf_Rrfz87kTAzKhXALaRVuKvHK09txUw14NvQPLogfnQ8yo5WfuGC9evF-PmIHFFAY0fMNJpNf2dqhbQ8zbdMcABTcJeJHnDEKdpw7_6VgEnnPZ8BPN0/s320/7+Dec+07+140.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the Silver Pagoda, renowned for its silver-tiled floor</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4OibXdH6lxR_CrlQybNZWBLy0XeIJTZwAe712WiQVDKyBxzH11zOiVmL6-rUv3Ot3dqeFvCYVRtvOLRCL2J_r0_i0JsB6D9bJB6JMrEK1wW17U6YKDe4KoKoLfsafQD6jjJVmq3ejEM/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+120.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4OibXdH6lxR_CrlQybNZWBLy0XeIJTZwAe712WiQVDKyBxzH11zOiVmL6-rUv3Ot3dqeFvCYVRtvOLRCL2J_r0_i0JsB6D9bJB6JMrEK1wW17U6YKDe4KoKoLfsafQD6jjJVmq3ejEM/s320/7+Dec+07+120.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a home for some</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsFhU6YGAfEhqYSx3fDuZlJVAcCk2dI3o1juiI6NY6Zc2bKqSWM0_nBzXH45_spEqCNJxgc0gmoPYQJymR_IAxCQ4-KhxHwfwOs5UbN0McltjTOvv6LuoBIa6OZb_y3N5iIsUwRaZd0Q/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+127.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsFhU6YGAfEhqYSx3fDuZlJVAcCk2dI3o1juiI6NY6Zc2bKqSWM0_nBzXH45_spEqCNJxgc0gmoPYQJymR_IAxCQ4-KhxHwfwOs5UbN0McltjTOvv6LuoBIa6OZb_y3N5iIsUwRaZd0Q/s320/7+Dec+07+127.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">St Petersburg, again?</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGNXyC-l5STN-s-OScyGnfi-9JK3Ld5U5DvEKuE5PMijR20OXUJBrudglUKYW8D8pI7hiKX6_0VHD4JBX-RKVoCFH99AgHmbkYlw2zeMpLRLvpZDDj96l3wszF4KyPXPRA3b1O01BfOs/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+138.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGNXyC-l5STN-s-OScyGnfi-9JK3Ld5U5DvEKuE5PMijR20OXUJBrudglUKYW8D8pI7hiKX6_0VHD4JBX-RKVoCFH99AgHmbkYlw2zeMpLRLvpZDDj96l3wszF4KyPXPRA3b1O01BfOs/s320/7+Dec+07+138.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">still a place of worship</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiV39zVIdq05EYzO9w1PZ3SVWbFLXpcO3WYoovy4hOGXLW2y9Q0CDc-krAiR8Iw4d9CGvBAr5aeK8DCMFJ-w-21jeyscaJxYtucRUOW-VJwuSmSvKC4Mq3oA3JxSiGzYe0230zmKI2vgk/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+150.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiV39zVIdq05EYzO9w1PZ3SVWbFLXpcO3WYoovy4hOGXLW2y9Q0CDc-krAiR8Iw4d9CGvBAr5aeK8DCMFJ-w-21jeyscaJxYtucRUOW-VJwuSmSvKC4Mq3oA3JxSiGzYe0230zmKI2vgk/s320/7+Dec+07+150.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">why bother climbing up Phnom Bahkeng or taking a ride on the Angkor balloon (yes indeed there is one) when this view is available here at the Royal Palace...</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcanrVngXjFXnKh3nmgXq8sKohs4Rwh6Iws4oxVpk2iavFfva3Ze3N4u_4San4dF0ZkkmkuPC1XytQjvMU24UQ-WPiWszwvFGHAmUPkJbp7ve493hgkCKGK2ShP8gFIo7MSeYR6qdao0/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+165.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcanrVngXjFXnKh3nmgXq8sKohs4Rwh6Iws4oxVpk2iavFfva3Ze3N4u_4San4dF0ZkkmkuPC1XytQjvMU24UQ-WPiWszwvFGHAmUPkJbp7ve493hgkCKGK2ShP8gFIo7MSeYR6qdao0/s320/7+Dec+07+165.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">royal thorn amongst the roses</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ORrHzHhNY78ocxr9KiTNdO7Imc7tWvW2CE_9notiZ7gm9hZaNdhYiPoimVuh0eMa5TYLCLtGbB6kTn5DXCdP_Vpy2mESah290x9nze7MnCeAwgQvZ0sNl8FIShbKkQrRjSe574BcVl0/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+180.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ORrHzHhNY78ocxr9KiTNdO7Imc7tWvW2CE_9notiZ7gm9hZaNdhYiPoimVuh0eMa5TYLCLtGbB6kTn5DXCdP_Vpy2mESah290x9nze7MnCeAwgQvZ0sNl8FIShbKkQrRjSe574BcVl0/s320/7+Dec+07+180.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">what a wonderful world</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GoLZ3Qwp8cVwptPvql94siCMYR_qFTFPErIx29vhmxlEHQisjkBMUNxb1eGMBiDK4fGQjLnKN_0YYLk7Y9vYrXepQPo2G5VZ-YLZ6GwAFtpbD0nWCz5azAEs63R_ierMiI44gFFp1gU/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+186.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GoLZ3Qwp8cVwptPvql94siCMYR_qFTFPErIx29vhmxlEHQisjkBMUNxb1eGMBiDK4fGQjLnKN_0YYLk7Y9vYrXepQPo2G5VZ-YLZ6GwAFtpbD0nWCz5azAEs63R_ierMiI44gFFp1gU/s320/7+Dec+07+186.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">traditional costumes</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtUg8HOH7IW34hUQdgA8Zt-FH9ywmF9GAszck9WH2x5WsyNwxjCTggOX8bZJJT2FIaljKhTnfFlJTIN9v0RE0xlVJN5spl3vqpfH2wEhbZPxKhLZI1pstHg0scWkuE3N17Cbaoc739G8/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+212.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtUg8HOH7IW34hUQdgA8Zt-FH9ywmF9GAszck9WH2x5WsyNwxjCTggOX8bZJJT2FIaljKhTnfFlJTIN9v0RE0xlVJN5spl3vqpfH2wEhbZPxKhLZI1pstHg0scWkuE3N17Cbaoc739G8/s320/7+Dec+07+212.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">HM's favourite scene from the Reamker (the Khmer Ramayana), the Churning of the Sea of Milk, reproduced here in the palace compound</div><br />There was also a special exhibition commemorating the ascension of King Sihamoni to the throne.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfwPO4Sw451GgceTY7Eig6sCFcXZM0AVLmx8EfnWTQFCPt0xpivvqpTvzpHDDTC2CaKOcSxFj3iAUq3mc8tZXEhaN8XVXVzhKOvG_blefxCbUFgkVDEmjRZkBPOevtBG8b0EiGSz3xvY/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+217.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfwPO4Sw451GgceTY7Eig6sCFcXZM0AVLmx8EfnWTQFCPt0xpivvqpTvzpHDDTC2CaKOcSxFj3iAUq3mc8tZXEhaN8XVXVzhKOvG_blefxCbUFgkVDEmjRZkBPOevtBG8b0EiGSz3xvY/s320/7+Dec+07+217.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a tableau depicting the coronation of King Sihamoni</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJ9x5obcgmd8Z2tC6VJ6z3S-5VlVLiyEqkVA_hHIqiMhc4ayBHJtJVJjlEhkWERitJf0F2X_imwmwrvQZofhoWikfqO8yillAMlbLGOfFz3xBTanPzvv6pk2t-zB0Wg4gdWQdgCYDt6o/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+220.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJ9x5obcgmd8Z2tC6VJ6z3S-5VlVLiyEqkVA_hHIqiMhc4ayBHJtJVJjlEhkWERitJf0F2X_imwmwrvQZofhoWikfqO8yillAMlbLGOfFz3xBTanPzvv6pk2t-zB0Wg4gdWQdgCYDt6o/s320/7+Dec+07+220.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">why does that look Catholic or Greek Orthodox?!</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDALaZkGzqQ3xi4INbJ1ZFH3dXqpHtW5BbiB7KHk8dITupx3-Y7_BI1u8_sKdczAD0Fln0rIOCTN9zhr6atdI6__dEZya2FLhPXX_299wT8BhMA_reMN0V35VYyj_RRrLELaDNgcJSttQ/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+221.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDALaZkGzqQ3xi4INbJ1ZFH3dXqpHtW5BbiB7KHk8dITupx3-Y7_BI1u8_sKdczAD0Fln0rIOCTN9zhr6atdI6__dEZya2FLhPXX_299wT8BhMA_reMN0V35VYyj_RRrLELaDNgcJSttQ/s320/7+Dec+07+221.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the court</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfYloDKnjy6tlDMSVsPcoyhgQ2MNJMligP6Y_G1zIHSGpZW_haTAf_Zfo2HY91AWQLD_tsAX8KR7etI2xjk3YPMvVm1a9raVzcwH7Ww3Qh_k58JEnlpJC5_cIkqPlCeMNFyxkX4UAudE/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+229.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfYloDKnjy6tlDMSVsPcoyhgQ2MNJMligP6Y_G1zIHSGpZW_haTAf_Zfo2HY91AWQLD_tsAX8KR7etI2xjk3YPMvVm1a9raVzcwH7Ww3Qh_k58JEnlpJC5_cIkqPlCeMNFyxkX4UAudE/s320/7+Dec+07+229.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the man himself or at least his wax replica</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5lvo5XzKhspZOy594I0wVzrG0fUbg1tExIymkw4TIKcQygVEOadGFaLbsBDRYqZEVJI0g7wgKknAxoJVm-9fK89wmTAgq9r5l0I3qGzHBgLzE8B0lauzkjLHoaqv31U0bgLj50e_S6A/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+232.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5lvo5XzKhspZOy594I0wVzrG0fUbg1tExIymkw4TIKcQygVEOadGFaLbsBDRYqZEVJI0g7wgKknAxoJVm-9fK89wmTAgq9r5l0I3qGzHBgLzE8B0lauzkjLHoaqv31U0bgLj50e_S6A/s320/7+Dec+07+232.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a lucky cat i.e. one that brings good fortune (the Cambodians consider tri-coloured cats to be lucky)</div><br />While our visit to the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda was entertaining, it wasn't exactly educational. Perhaps we should have hired a guide.<br /><br /><br /><u>The National Museum</u><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcVve5Flfgctea5mgp0QgPX3irfPGShDSDPFZcPQfO0l7StSbtMKxUjWfkDQyW67HzTkQ73Azi0wDqyBbbWZ10-uoOWKnQiXRTF-hzTjT0nh71S14YqoNPZu0Gc94u1tOAEDIv9fw0gY/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+235.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcVve5Flfgctea5mgp0QgPX3irfPGShDSDPFZcPQfO0l7StSbtMKxUjWfkDQyW67HzTkQ73Azi0wDqyBbbWZ10-uoOWKnQiXRTF-hzTjT0nh71S14YqoNPZu0Gc94u1tOAEDIv9fw0gY/s320/7+Dec+07+235.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">The Museum</div><br />The National Museum next door on the other hand was chockful of interesting artifacts and displays. Even though we had already been to the Angkor Temple Park, we found lots to marvel at. The displays took visitors from the prehistory of the region through to the heights of Angkorian civilisation, and then abruptly stopped there. There was nothing on modern Cambodia, let alone the turbulent history of the last 80 years.<br /><br />The only thing I was bummed about was not being able to take photographs inside the museum. I only realised this <strong>after</strong> I had paid the US$4 fee to bring my camera in; photographs were only allowed in the grounds of the museum, not in the buildings.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrruQQrzMJzvFL34AHnIvfEEtWtM2OnwUMFJve0a5o9_2xPFMXdKPXPGooq4lm9b7SbjXAf05tAV2Zn2t5qGox1ynt_wh7BzMtAfhTSLc228vv1yCtCvmvWGOiZPfItvlfpOIutWcL1g/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+246.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrruQQrzMJzvFL34AHnIvfEEtWtM2OnwUMFJve0a5o9_2xPFMXdKPXPGooq4lm9b7SbjXAf05tAV2Zn2t5qGox1ynt_wh7BzMtAfhTSLc228vv1yCtCvmvWGOiZPfItvlfpOIutWcL1g/s320/7+Dec+07+246.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">not exactly the most modern of museums</div><br /><br /><u>Lunch at Friends</u><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDa09t0vFcPgYrwdYvSnwmjPLyoDZXIbSoAxcXeS7pYi2XEMFkPIOt3aZzzHGPmSD1FDpPyC6p5Ufr_qMmx-wTEroRqfyVCwNd5tmCA2Di9jukDUkh4qUYPdORd6i-59obwBheGCSgb9s/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+304.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDa09t0vFcPgYrwdYvSnwmjPLyoDZXIbSoAxcXeS7pYi2XEMFkPIOt3aZzzHGPmSD1FDpPyC6p5Ufr_qMmx-wTEroRqfyVCwNd5tmCA2Di9jukDUkh4qUYPdORd6i-59obwBheGCSgb9s/s320/7+Dec+07+304.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><br /><br />We took a much needed breather at one of Phnom Penh's culinary institutions, the Friends restaurant, right round the corner from the Museum.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZSt_QHPd47HHjeTg1AnMikpNWYRAZ-j_axYV8lAOuDzJWFp18cc-GPByaEnhZ4t6UzBFIqqe1uL5ahcL974iAfOyFdAvzGUAUF3xz9lOmQxzSrQ-iOEVqjjDwag3cMMO7S9QgaQicZc/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+275.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZSt_QHPd47HHjeTg1AnMikpNWYRAZ-j_axYV8lAOuDzJWFp18cc-GPByaEnhZ4t6UzBFIqqe1uL5ahcL974iAfOyFdAvzGUAUF3xz9lOmQxzSrQ-iOEVqjjDwag3cMMO7S9QgaQicZc/s320/7+Dec+07+275.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Inside Friends</div><br />Mith Samlanh, the organisation behind Friends, runs programmes for street children. Coming out of 30 years of war, Cambodia has more than its fair share of children who live and/or work on the streets. Friends is one of Mith Samlanh's ventures which seek to train street children in vocational skills so as to improve their employability and give them and their families a chance at a viable future.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEuE6nm3Bxrv3TFctWDqlRvkFnAnbNHIIyui4cvf9UbrEymDcfrnWXwyMkbvZIw_Hgd-WjQQ8RWU-5ld1qusjlDT4VrQqLGOWTY4hmp2wY91LYC-GUlB6rYOC3tqz7h02aQNIoOfATR8/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+278.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEuE6nm3Bxrv3TFctWDqlRvkFnAnbNHIIyui4cvf9UbrEymDcfrnWXwyMkbvZIw_Hgd-WjQQ8RWU-5ld1qusjlDT4VrQqLGOWTY4hmp2wY91LYC-GUlB6rYOC3tqz7h02aQNIoOfATR8/s320/7+Dec+07+278.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the menu at Friends</div><br />Friends serves its food in tapas-sized portions, presumably so that patrons can sample more of its specialties. Looking through the menu, we had to concur: tapas-sized portions were a good idea!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuvo4MmeQiGi1eprCyzKrlJM3FoUmrijws6hHEVhJMtA-VoDcdLYRVDo3pOM14urEQT_C29ovI1dtR2HYglYkIXiqv5TgdOqj_k50R5a28DGiqxzdfBQa_PqtBezTK0bqeArYWrHenGU/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+282.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuvo4MmeQiGi1eprCyzKrlJM3FoUmrijws6hHEVhJMtA-VoDcdLYRVDo3pOM14urEQT_C29ovI1dtR2HYglYkIXiqv5TgdOqj_k50R5a28DGiqxzdfBQa_PqtBezTK0bqeArYWrHenGU/s320/7+Dec+07+282.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">strawberry and green peppercorn martini</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkcVwnCwsaYThY2cDZE1yBMiV1HxYx_Oj7c0Tq_Ds3GnS1EUo1Scf_gZMwrXVjPY3P7LZgTyBd0zkJCdyDAj_hEaEIT2_bDq2mFadvPVav6t1CCTeCfzCTFfueDkQ14_0nEifZVJTHF8/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+286.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkcVwnCwsaYThY2cDZE1yBMiV1HxYx_Oj7c0Tq_Ds3GnS1EUo1Scf_gZMwrXVjPY3P7LZgTyBd0zkJCdyDAj_hEaEIT2_bDq2mFadvPVav6t1CCTeCfzCTFfueDkQ14_0nEifZVJTHF8/s320/7+Dec+07+286.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">pineapple, mandarin orange and ginger fizz</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqpXHWgOCSl62AkECkOczZ7m7DxyazwM8e_TcyTxkmE_HIUOgQ9BMuKQy9e2lPcdZKmujPrysv_opFcr7emKzW8hBFD1dfvLUlEg1JibDsRNGlCpfhjaCWceZsLI67S9gD1lsq4sFwxg/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+287.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqpXHWgOCSl62AkECkOczZ7m7DxyazwM8e_TcyTxkmE_HIUOgQ9BMuKQy9e2lPcdZKmujPrysv_opFcr7emKzW8hBFD1dfvLUlEg1JibDsRNGlCpfhjaCWceZsLI67S9gD1lsq4sFwxg/s320/7+Dec+07+287.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">sundried tomato hummus on crispy wantan skin</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEEZKwbzjc-SDeCkujsEDAQ-Bi_Bkx0JyCtWUnxBweBM4pGX1r00jF2_itZOYCvzkbTHNVp6AIf8pg-9GsLDO-qTdDbhccGLOCQMg6PcfnlUSHwZPfKOCsHFHUT28xLLOdjnhDSjSimCo/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+289.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEEZKwbzjc-SDeCkujsEDAQ-Bi_Bkx0JyCtWUnxBweBM4pGX1r00jF2_itZOYCvzkbTHNVp6AIf8pg-9GsLDO-qTdDbhccGLOCQMg6PcfnlUSHwZPfKOCsHFHUT28xLLOdjnhDSjSimCo/s320/7+Dec+07+289.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">grilled vegetables with tapenade (olive paste)</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAsjGtN0IMYpF2Gjy5LcCoSqJWKsX0eAMw-XBDtWwQy-qXBbNPk37iyoVvSw_pseWYm_aMtiaRWXYyLYkHMUKckykf6a3Buy-ZBzDAFPa95xP1eYJbOLJhsQLavyGLi5tWsR-JS42xbk/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+292.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAsjGtN0IMYpF2Gjy5LcCoSqJWKsX0eAMw-XBDtWwQy-qXBbNPk37iyoVvSw_pseWYm_aMtiaRWXYyLYkHMUKckykf6a3Buy-ZBzDAFPa95xP1eYJbOLJhsQLavyGLi5tWsR-JS42xbk/s320/7+Dec+07+292.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">cucumber and mint salad</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHhcwuXLWLry0joMfPZh3PlAJnCofdtlHsugTXSwRbPRz5T88_tXIKmiy9S-iRl51j1Zl4T5fGSZ7qUIPpTy1R48RWHObgIOJHLuFnErAjHQoT3gwFLBXw0ibJU1DPM-dDA3rYha_Mj8/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+294.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHhcwuXLWLry0joMfPZh3PlAJnCofdtlHsugTXSwRbPRz5T88_tXIKmiy9S-iRl51j1Zl4T5fGSZ7qUIPpTy1R48RWHObgIOJHLuFnErAjHQoT3gwFLBXw0ibJU1DPM-dDA3rYha_Mj8/s320/7+Dec+07+294.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">cambodian chicken curry</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsCgQ2J6_A3kQDRlPTHh7Fx5JlTjdbK1_nzPppVm4O5cN4BiNRRoA69HCWAM82g6bOylHlGqZOzvHGo2IOTVYehnbpBU1ZdnU6Kj_nkHlGwfBH4YqbntAYFWXY58xQEaJKSeJ33TIjC0/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+297.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsCgQ2J6_A3kQDRlPTHh7Fx5JlTjdbK1_nzPppVm4O5cN4BiNRRoA69HCWAM82g6bOylHlGqZOzvHGo2IOTVYehnbpBU1ZdnU6Kj_nkHlGwfBH4YqbntAYFWXY58xQEaJKSeJ33TIjC0/s320/7+Dec+07+297.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">crepe with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce</div><br />Friends had got it right. A meal at this restaurant was no hardship tour for bleeding heart liberals trying to change the world one good deed at a time. Even dry-eyed conservatives who think that everyone, including the limbless, should pull themselves up by the bootstraps would have no problems parting with their hard-earned cash here, as long they are genuine foodies of course. The food was seriously good.<br /><br />After lunch, we decided to go next door to the Mith Samlanh centre where there was a thrift shop. After all, our bill at Friends only came up to US$21.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9hZfhUxdWkVMUTa9fN9b8aDhnLF1sQcncSsTUwcNCGyk81lNeA9DuRypHVrNJ0ZH1kUkdpYPxis-AW3bydoLRqNokaLb8ZPpm4g1hdJ_LY-33XP0CNyx4BsKtbDjrOZNHu_1VgN0yyQ/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+305.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9hZfhUxdWkVMUTa9fN9b8aDhnLF1sQcncSsTUwcNCGyk81lNeA9DuRypHVrNJ0ZH1kUkdpYPxis-AW3bydoLRqNokaLb8ZPpm4g1hdJ_LY-33XP0CNyx4BsKtbDjrOZNHu_1VgN0yyQ/s320/7+Dec+07+305.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Mith Samlanh</div><br />We try not to buy a product that we don't need or use a service that is substandard, just so we can make a donation. In our books, that would be condescending and, ultimately, insincere. Having said that, we still came away with US$31' worth of stuff like bibs, story books, t-shirts, post-cards (featuring the children's artwork), and, get this, a School Atlas of Cambodia complete with Teacher's Guide!<br /><br /><br /><u>Back to the Pavilion</u><br /><br />By this time, it was past noon and too hot to be outside. HM had wilted so we trudged back to the hotel. While HM had a nap, I had a mission. My job was to accost the cleaning girls who hung around the annex and offer them a bag of laundry to do for us. That was part of my plan to reduce the amount of luggage we would have to lug with us on our two day trip to Sihanoukville, that and leaving a bag or two in the Pavilion's store room. Hey, there was a lot of Angkorian dust on those clothes!<br /><br />The Pavilion itself did not provide a laundry service. In the words of its management, it preferred to allow the guests to deal directly with the service staff, so that the locals would have an additional source of income. There was in fact a laundry just down the road from the hotel, but we liked the look of these girls who went about their duties so cheerfully. As HM put it, they had yet to develop the calculativeness of their counterparts in the region's big cities.<br /><br /><br /><u>Tuol Sleng</u><br /><br />Mission accomplished, I retired to the room to find HM up and about. As we pottered around the room, the shadow of Tuol Sleng loomed large. How could we visit Phnom Penh without going to the infamous Khmer Rouge security prison turned genocide museum? And yet, a visit to Tuol Sleng isn't the kind of thing one looks forward to. HM, she whom I had to drag to the War Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, in particular wasn't keen. We sat around and did some reading, until we could ignore the elephant in the room no longer.<br /><br />Outside the Pavilion lay several tuk tuk drivers in waiting. We picked the one with the most honest face whom, just between us, we took to calling "Uncle".<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKjokf6LnJUf6ZMREviCOlaE9NuWwRd1t12J1Di8wHstNaA7SgHc46USb3nzdlRCU0SspP-vXDsnZ1J-2EeF6d_hoBU0RpeqUdas5XfDk5sB9p-zlmLdjCxvMQbKdNdfXo9bDeoTj59g/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+307.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKjokf6LnJUf6ZMREviCOlaE9NuWwRd1t12J1Di8wHstNaA7SgHc46USb3nzdlRCU0SspP-vXDsnZ1J-2EeF6d_hoBU0RpeqUdas5XfDk5sB9p-zlmLdjCxvMQbKdNdfXo9bDeoTj59g/s320/7+Dec+07+307.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">riding across town</div><br />It took less than 15 minutes for us to reach Tuol Sleng, the former Security Prison 21 or S-21. From the outside, the place looked most innocuous which made it all the more disconcerting. A school building initially, it had been appropriated by the Khmer Rouge after the fall of Phnom Penh to incarcerate and/or otherwise eliminate enemies of the regime. Ironically, the bulk of its victims were the Khmer Rouge themselves, at least the elements considered to be "traitors to the Revolution".<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokXzag5hchux487G9BG4J9r_NhxAvl-JaBKBwvWblwO_M2Sm1YDlkqCukPb8xV7jo7n_h5y-6308CmWBIHA651qscPvWCTzpEz7Y_uzSscr7HFUrG30XTWeqPz5azzXCA7JxVDQAXoKs/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+314.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokXzag5hchux487G9BG4J9r_NhxAvl-JaBKBwvWblwO_M2Sm1YDlkqCukPb8xV7jo7n_h5y-6308CmWBIHA651qscPvWCTzpEz7Y_uzSscr7HFUrG30XTWeqPz5azzXCA7JxVDQAXoKs/s320/7+Dec+07+314.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">rules and regulations</div><br />The Khmer Rouge meant business. It was estimated that something like 17000 prisoners were held there, in small cells carved out from the building's many classrooms. The prisoners were interrogated, tortured and eventually killed, at Tuol Sleng itself or, later on, at Cheong Ek aka the Killing Fields. In any case, only 12 people are believed to have survived.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxv-QqrqRAq39zgBIW_YhWyzK7DCpSyqrJKtkS8-FtaVyxj_FdufTO7qS0gKxrczilNQhpRhIvFq770r7M0qvKJ-0QgJTfXsrKyF4X5us0gm095iAwMHye9ezWrwHQ-P1g7tI86RKTSI/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+317.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxv-QqrqRAq39zgBIW_YhWyzK7DCpSyqrJKtkS8-FtaVyxj_FdufTO7qS0gKxrczilNQhpRhIvFq770r7M0qvKJ-0QgJTfXsrKyF4X5us0gm095iAwMHye9ezWrwHQ-P1g7tI86RKTSI/s320/7+Dec+07+317.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">where prisoners were bashed</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIagMnap0Ftgiizzlzqd77HZRDh6doR-r96rcUwvV8JfoebPTWJuXap3UIrXB-yAAtNn88RithIq5XwO0YnUus3NrwI33xm-bGnDP8UAU2XoGxbArLqpmHwWJz7_VvpSa6iIsWoBxUJsc/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+321.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIagMnap0Ftgiizzlzqd77HZRDh6doR-r96rcUwvV8JfoebPTWJuXap3UIrXB-yAAtNn88RithIq5XwO0YnUus3NrwI33xm-bGnDP8UAU2XoGxbArLqpmHwWJz7_VvpSa6iIsWoBxUJsc/s320/7+Dec+07+321.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the gallows</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHX7IBc1TnFLZPGIzav-GqrvbdTJKuZbZ89D7OQlDzONM0NuELIbegTTLemoCVEoJDZcJszz3znrWexziajH2CCAMqd9JMFKiJRbEh8HZCnLu-TzkESwTqeG471OjFbrpUlSw2jDkgDw/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+325.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHX7IBc1TnFLZPGIzav-GqrvbdTJKuZbZ89D7OQlDzONM0NuELIbegTTLemoCVEoJDZcJszz3znrWexziajH2CCAMqd9JMFKiJRbEh8HZCnLu-TzkESwTqeG471OjFbrpUlSw2jDkgDw/s320/7+Dec+07+325.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the victims of Tuol Sleng, as documented in the Khmer Rouge's own meticulous records</div><br />There was an excellent exhibition by DC-Cam (Documentation Centre, Cambodia) comprising photographs of some of the victims accompanied by excerpts from their life stories as extracted from their "confessions" or as told by their surviving relatives. It gave a human voice to what had transpired there, particularly since many of the victims were themselves at some point the perpertrators.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDTW1wfm7wHeFBzBQ3LMHoWIIV6B7I-M8PbF9jre4dvNPnF9XCoMpebtIOR1dOGbACOlzouij1tHjt28c76j8x_Ao0A81Xd7U9vP21hcaE_Md6fMXm51C-D0cjkCOeF46LbbbsSBLw-E/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+329.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDTW1wfm7wHeFBzBQ3LMHoWIIV6B7I-M8PbF9jre4dvNPnF9XCoMpebtIOR1dOGbACOlzouij1tHjt28c76j8x_Ao0A81Xd7U9vP21hcaE_Md6fMXm51C-D0cjkCOeF46LbbbsSBLw-E/s320/7+Dec+07+329.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">vilified and hated</div><br />After emerging from the various displays, we sat in the playground and pondered: what kind of madness would drive a people to fall on themselves like that? It was a question that had no easy answers. As dusk fell, we left the premises, to find Uncle waiting for us. The ride back was a quiet one.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4GJQvz5o9VPEcutYtMwX5GMDwtnXKQZ3L1Kz8zH_iVK-eUQO6Cm8p8yCWpBRCuJ7OAQN96kcw_oZ6anFhTEsy4D7qDSyyOsTfJfVIr8lcZKJJPytutWpyXKQur-9E14y4nuFhwD2NKM/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+332.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4GJQvz5o9VPEcutYtMwX5GMDwtnXKQZ3L1Kz8zH_iVK-eUQO6Cm8p8yCWpBRCuJ7OAQN96kcw_oZ6anFhTEsy4D7qDSyyOsTfJfVIr8lcZKJJPytutWpyXKQur-9E14y4nuFhwD2NKM/s320/7+Dec+07+332.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">passing by the Independence Monument on the way home</div><br /><br /><u>Apsara Dance at Souvanna Phum</u><br /><br />The visit to Tuol Sleng left us with knots in our stomachs. To alleviate the unease, HM suggested that we try and catch another apsara dance. There was one that night by Souvanna Phum, a community-based performing arts troupe.<br /><br />Stepping out of the hotel, we didn't see Uncle, so we gave the job of driving us to the venue to a different tuk tuk driver, a younger man who insisted on waiting for us. When we told him that we had no idea how long we would take, he said confidently that he would be back an hour and a half later, to pick us up.<br /><br />Souvanna Phum's premises were nondescript. Except for the fact that it was one of the few lit places along the generally dark road, there was little to indicate that one of Phnom Penh's better known cultural events was about to take place.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpYZwjI5Wtts5Bz8WMJHmEP1vcF00rGkUm14pM-BP3tP0pJ8YWzu0-egDRC7gvWsgQzZahQ4oLJvSAp-9rk5ITzB63A2r2Ukn9P1LjWWVnQdYH20C-CQF7aSNCuLGjpq1e062cc93nl4/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+346.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpYZwjI5Wtts5Bz8WMJHmEP1vcF00rGkUm14pM-BP3tP0pJ8YWzu0-egDRC7gvWsgQzZahQ4oLJvSAp-9rk5ITzB63A2r2Ukn9P1LjWWVnQdYH20C-CQF7aSNCuLGjpq1e062cc93nl4/s320/7+Dec+07+346.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br />The place was empty, save for the two people manning a makeshift ticket counter within the compound. We bought our tickets, US$5 per head, and then took a stroll up and down the road in search of food. There was none to be had. We headed back to Souvanna Phum, hungry.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qSBjfpk0dTrCs8xXY4XHRIUBf52sUYcvgiuqoiXCeW8o8aL-LHK_Vp9hj12ncmcbUbiPThurchNjV0AMN65DxMPMc0_T3cq4EXdmoz-T7KxoTVLKx77zmrtxSlVI8UW1rRAQMY_HIIg/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+349.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qSBjfpk0dTrCs8xXY4XHRIUBf52sUYcvgiuqoiXCeW8o8aL-LHK_Vp9hj12ncmcbUbiPThurchNjV0AMN65DxMPMc0_T3cq4EXdmoz-T7KxoTVLKx77zmrtxSlVI8UW1rRAQMY_HIIg/s320/7+Dec+07+349.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a piece of Down Under in the vicinity of Souvanna Phum</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOaNntRtSY9CnXLL91uVsgDVdHkBVx_A3r18T5-uPNfstjZfE6p73zMd4DX4f44ys02mBr03eHenEbWDceH2nzLtLO9VZkVK1FJYLPy0TIR3mtmA4xAs2mViO5VKLQUPjW_gLm8n1LV8/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+342.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOaNntRtSY9CnXLL91uVsgDVdHkBVx_A3r18T5-uPNfstjZfE6p73zMd4DX4f44ys02mBr03eHenEbWDceH2nzLtLO9VZkVK1FJYLPy0TIR3mtmA4xAs2mViO5VKLQUPjW_gLm8n1LV8/s320/7+Dec+07+342.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">inside the Souvanna Phum space</div><br />We wandered around the small foyer space for a while before settling down in the seats. Despite the seeming lack of patrons, we were told where to sit. We had lots of time to take in the small stage (circa 1970s Singapore primary school), the hard wooden benches and the primitive lighting system. THIS was community theatre!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaf3JEMUiYLvD8oAqDgsbfhcrB8dMev65V-83ihyZLFeNAKUVq6Y8ADuHu3Kt_tsJ_ZQDsRSmwd4WRzvInoFK3c5FGxeB7Ang1_tRB46K2kA0QCFrl12eXyff6hKe2OP4UgJIql_SfVA/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+351.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaf3JEMUiYLvD8oAqDgsbfhcrB8dMev65V-83ihyZLFeNAKUVq6Y8ADuHu3Kt_tsJ_ZQDsRSmwd4WRzvInoFK3c5FGxeB7Ang1_tRB46K2kA0QCFrl12eXyff6hKe2OP4UgJIql_SfVA/s320/7+Dec+07+351.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the bare basics</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsEsEJTw4MUFCwV8a_wBU_ayFSTARL7FW9yiheAsJWwGyOpH1r4G0sNh3lOZo3kIFwFzeHesGR5vcWbK0-RsQro5NjVVoaOwbiTKFJI5SrYcZkMw8y562B3mc5iu7kH-PT1E6FMserJ0/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+359.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsEsEJTw4MUFCwV8a_wBU_ayFSTARL7FW9yiheAsJWwGyOpH1r4G0sNh3lOZo3kIFwFzeHesGR5vcWbK0-RsQro5NjVVoaOwbiTKFJI5SrYcZkMw8y562B3mc5iu7kH-PT1E6FMserJ0/s320/7+Dec+07+359.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the musicians</div><br />We waited in anticipation. Remarkably, the seats filled up. It was a full house - <em>ang mo</em> expat families with kids in tow, obviously out for the cultural exposure. Some of our fellow audience members came with sandwiches and drinks. Clearly, they had been forewarned!<br /><br />The seats may have been hard, but this was the real deal. While the repertoire of dances was similar to that of the Siem Reap debacle, the quality of the dancing was clearly superior. The gestures were more refined. Even the folk dances were earthier.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3OqPfKBO0oxUGFqqHvZGga8S6CBrQsrsGldubIWwyjRxsJ-NsMMqBZMM_XlR3OYyon9avW6s-uW0ziyb-0QuUjWfzwgiSw0ZqyuYdErgzagUKsriQ7oagutF3IO3Yn9Apb3kAIz648XQ/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+373.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3OqPfKBO0oxUGFqqHvZGga8S6CBrQsrsGldubIWwyjRxsJ-NsMMqBZMM_XlR3OYyon9avW6s-uW0ziyb-0QuUjWfzwgiSw0ZqyuYdErgzagUKsriQ7oagutF3IO3Yn9Apb3kAIz648XQ/s320/7+Dec+07+373.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">evidence of real skill</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGIMGWTl3iiqvy8Kio5NKdxAX2IevDfw0Zq48rCaj78CWL_2YYqNXiLHF_iYHbrovLd2oBOCAE2rObz0GiAEnIPrwQMGJVdlErq8zhAta-N4DvS8brUkWfq6bHwgEpxcifB4FxhQTp_E/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+389.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGIMGWTl3iiqvy8Kio5NKdxAX2IevDfw0Zq48rCaj78CWL_2YYqNXiLHF_iYHbrovLd2oBOCAE2rObz0GiAEnIPrwQMGJVdlErq8zhAta-N4DvS8brUkWfq6bHwgEpxcifB4FxhQTp_E/s320/7+Dec+07+389.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Rama and Bro again</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYE6e-CuHQEVkAFIsP1e-btTeoPewZWwtfW-YIM6dGaT0XwLyT1X0fhtrP4pBYykPeJn2NSaxajq50loUJ2CJOOM9gkKsuaMdudT_ZdWslA6z_jRNmG4W06S5yvoFKmVz4sF4lM0KIGk/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+413.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYE6e-CuHQEVkAFIsP1e-btTeoPewZWwtfW-YIM6dGaT0XwLyT1X0fhtrP4pBYykPeJn2NSaxajq50loUJ2CJOOM9gkKsuaMdudT_ZdWslA6z_jRNmG4W06S5yvoFKmVz4sF4lM0KIGk/s320/7+Dec+07+413.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">more flirting</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCvj6cDRng6zpZXfxqA9yA8ae9Tg42riT9ww1hGYdJDxgyaMvKG2qri3xd4WyCwws7A_jLeP8qk40ibHkv78kytFSNuFSGFc58FkeZ1HRT28N1FPBr3cgwxlUwBWmnn-BxxgsK3jNhkU/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+449.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCvj6cDRng6zpZXfxqA9yA8ae9Tg42riT9ww1hGYdJDxgyaMvKG2qri3xd4WyCwws7A_jLeP8qk40ibHkv78kytFSNuFSGFc58FkeZ1HRT28N1FPBr3cgwxlUwBWmnn-BxxgsK3jNhkU/s320/7+Dec+07+449.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">"You want the magic ball? Come and get it..."</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8HJoJFxTitMEJQA_vCXKG_4gd664aUsRhRtRmvYxKEBLtxVr7pgjXa2hpeBJo9NTd024v0XuI2aQvjFp7SqggszwDUt1rUdMfkzq39J1-zs5Sl5NS2Dy4-8BcBFRPFpPRkHNDS8E6Bg/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+504.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8HJoJFxTitMEJQA_vCXKG_4gd664aUsRhRtRmvYxKEBLtxVr7pgjXa2hpeBJo9NTd024v0XuI2aQvjFp7SqggszwDUt1rUdMfkzq39J1-zs5Sl5NS2Dy4-8BcBFRPFpPRkHNDS8E6Bg/s320/7+Dec+07+504.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">tea-plucking up in the hills</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvfqTRMca4EHhNiQyNI1joa6mQYFDIt7OfMC0nAo_XqLt9HfzvLOYhJJVWVVFPkevUraj6p6uzs57XnqbqaU7UWJT6-WHIHeGnOGj9_WDY6vWLOGlBTU9A-bEkMkCHXMhprowGZsaUdA/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+515.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvfqTRMca4EHhNiQyNI1joa6mQYFDIt7OfMC0nAo_XqLt9HfzvLOYhJJVWVVFPkevUraj6p6uzs57XnqbqaU7UWJT6-WHIHeGnOGj9_WDY6vWLOGlBTU9A-bEkMkCHXMhprowGZsaUdA/s320/7+Dec+07+515.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">in the darkness there was light</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYwyXPeu7lhz884ssmZEKKhzFudixJ9g5Jlt4WsCLnuLeQD3l7IgrbjqlwnjPRH0nH5BVA8gh2Q8rBmVymJOaUafLA-JOYTMkciuFoBrrQW7lnmkXlSOfI6C1ixv4bOOB3dqD70FDMEs/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+530.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYwyXPeu7lhz884ssmZEKKhzFudixJ9g5Jlt4WsCLnuLeQD3l7IgrbjqlwnjPRH0nH5BVA8gh2Q8rBmVymJOaUafLA-JOYTMkciuFoBrrQW7lnmkXlSOfI6C1ixv4bOOB3dqD70FDMEs/s320/7+Dec+07+530.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">looks Filipino somehow</div><br />The evening drew to a close and not a moment too soon. I was starving. Our tuk tuk driver was waiting to drive us back to the hotel, but we had made up our minds to end our day at Comme ala Maison, one of Phnom Penh's most well-known French restaurants.<br /><br /><br /><u>Comme ala Maison</u><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeXeCVIgk8qIvuvct2_yvbrNC3JMDmkWRaD44h4tn3wBDduvdJPQ3jLIzUpamR4Nlp8-jH9PQ-tOLlI7xEwIZBprDCCMf104k_q95i_-Iv83l3e-z69vNhg9jLNIYANxij21i_-VPIjc/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+546.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeXeCVIgk8qIvuvct2_yvbrNC3JMDmkWRaD44h4tn3wBDduvdJPQ3jLIzUpamR4Nlp8-jH9PQ-tOLlI7xEwIZBprDCCMf104k_q95i_-Iv83l3e-z69vNhg9jLNIYANxij21i_-VPIjc/s320/7+Dec+07+546.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a cosy outdoor space</div><br />We found Comme ala Maison amidst a stretch of what looked like residential buildings. (Most restaurants in Phnom Penh seemed to be housed in former homes.) Fortunately for us, the kitchen was still open, so we managed to place our order, despite the lateness of the hour.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWH59zPMouRTj6Yli4LaOw6HhY1bdXM_3s-5KrPMnZybcT4R1A4-fJweTlU7Ua2OBuyj11FJAY_LKoSi0T2nXVGCaal4LVn7tv_738h7kn7ETM3c1dDMysxXO7HBZyP06t_Ji4at-SDb0/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+552.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWH59zPMouRTj6Yli4LaOw6HhY1bdXM_3s-5KrPMnZybcT4R1A4-fJweTlU7Ua2OBuyj11FJAY_LKoSi0T2nXVGCaal4LVn7tv_738h7kn7ETM3c1dDMysxXO7HBZyP06t_Ji4at-SDb0/s320/7+Dec+07+552.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">green salad with fried duck liver</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFewk5eNdy1J2LFC1doV_jHn-MLX40J8gw9CgFA2fYlB4vh9dJZ5mYk4WfNqfpN7I2jk9DUbAbWClcUmLKNtY4VRWEqGPIovcz9l5PtmoBKvqyebLG63XIi7vQ3Y7AOoWTKSC5iR08sw/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+553.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFewk5eNdy1J2LFC1doV_jHn-MLX40J8gw9CgFA2fYlB4vh9dJZ5mYk4WfNqfpN7I2jk9DUbAbWClcUmLKNtY4VRWEqGPIovcz9l5PtmoBKvqyebLG63XIi7vQ3Y7AOoWTKSC5iR08sw/s320/7+Dec+07+553.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">baked chicken leg with onions, herbs and fresh pasta</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3ELTmif3SWiostByN1Ly4n2pVElMSypsOW_kQoB84f5pk8eFXVlPqCTBIFM3GBE6MACSmTzxa905-8jaW_LAzN6CrAapzOxlFe3wV5JP9Pokeoubus7hatJ6aesVShc8wx3bWPWj58w/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+557.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3ELTmif3SWiostByN1Ly4n2pVElMSypsOW_kQoB84f5pk8eFXVlPqCTBIFM3GBE6MACSmTzxa905-8jaW_LAzN6CrAapzOxlFe3wV5JP9Pokeoubus7hatJ6aesVShc8wx3bWPWj58w/s320/7+Dec+07+557.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">roast duck leg with green olive sauce, and spinach and cheese ravioli</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGp0MXxKSwiZY_OsJP0J15LsnAI4mYGG9SmKt4YwZvuZvS6LAYWeEQ6eYaeIcsQ-6T2zESW-xlSXed2BES2xzWCK6sFta86uXuIEyAXJrOKC048C9mo-z90nunWrQGXPiiY1xyLRpqGY/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+558.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGp0MXxKSwiZY_OsJP0J15LsnAI4mYGG9SmKt4YwZvuZvS6LAYWeEQ6eYaeIcsQ-6T2zESW-xlSXed2BES2xzWCK6sFta86uXuIEyAXJrOKC048C9mo-z90nunWrQGXPiiY1xyLRpqGY/s320/7+Dec+07+558.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the bread the bread the bread</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsvJpqJtdfy5_vd7X1YOrhz4YDj1vSnAa8aHmVJ19-o4us0UdsD5sKL4Yq77CNjVtlRw2bMHAHoDUZ5siNhb41Dc_eoSjz24wGxSd-Na66n_3xCO5-NiP0vImcIGiz1us5ml1XRIcKTk/s1600-h/7+Dec+07+561.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsvJpqJtdfy5_vd7X1YOrhz4YDj1vSnAa8aHmVJ19-o4us0UdsD5sKL4Yq77CNjVtlRw2bMHAHoDUZ5siNhb41Dc_eoSjz24wGxSd-Na66n_3xCO5-NiP0vImcIGiz1us5ml1XRIcKTk/s320/7+Dec+07+561.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">green apple sorbet</div><br />The food at Comme ala Maison was good solid fare - we certainly couldn't accuse it of nouveau cuisine - and we enjoyed it all the more for having waited so long. The damage? The bill only came up to US$29.<br /><br />As our tuk tuk driver drove us back grumpily ("You said one hour. Now two hours..."), our minds were still abuzz. From the extravagance of royalty, to the horrors of genocide, it had been a stimulating day indeed, with much to digest.blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649241099028598071.post-43269919978968320962007-12-23T00:52:00.000-08:002008-05-02T09:47:22.494-07:00Day 7: To Market, To Market<u>Wat Phnom</u><br /><br />Our morning started with a visit to Wat Phnom, Phnom Penh's most prominent temple. According to Cambodian tradition, a woman by the name of Lady Penh found some Buddhist statues floating in the river. To house these artefacts, she not only built a temple (wat) but also the hill (phnom) it sat on. Over time, a city grew around the hill and what else could they have named it but Phnom Penh.<br /><br />Wat Phnom itself was more or less the typical modern Southeast Asian temple, purportedly Buddhist in essence but as always housing other deities. Why not cover all bases eh?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9GX6tJA-IqmTNTO17iqOPqj5T5YB3wIs2ML5RlTL3x7j3vCMtjzCaI3JBZR2hQL64ht630uRZQBIh8zRUYIeWzKTiGJc4P-GonI0s2RBlGX4hiKD8U06uy6URgSjkuripWqwQmYGln6w/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+067.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9GX6tJA-IqmTNTO17iqOPqj5T5YB3wIs2ML5RlTL3x7j3vCMtjzCaI3JBZR2hQL64ht630uRZQBIh8zRUYIeWzKTiGJc4P-GonI0s2RBlGX4hiKD8U06uy6URgSjkuripWqwQmYGln6w/s320/8+Dec+07+067.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">inside the <em>vihear</em></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMNRFqLuYjO_0NbXaFkS7aoJDkB6rvICbHqpS0yQX3Lb_3u1n-pJwjkO388nL-Se6vMoOktLzAPSy2kY9ge207pouhbmlr8CSyCFjRQCDuUDIc8h0BGdWiKXLsvXNpBTjhesf7Ag4o1E/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+042.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMNRFqLuYjO_0NbXaFkS7aoJDkB6rvICbHqpS0yQX3Lb_3u1n-pJwjkO388nL-Se6vMoOktLzAPSy2kY9ge207pouhbmlr8CSyCFjRQCDuUDIc8h0BGdWiKXLsvXNpBTjhesf7Ag4o1E/s320/8+Dec+07+042.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">educational murals covered the walls, some depicting the life of Buddha...</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4mLptV7SksQovP5VpVkawhs78bLo1oP6mTwcFHA8N9sJlCQ3qTvcKA2XKlX0W4repVvLslgWLoqp5G0brxCSmi0DK2GBY9auq-OfhY9jsac5fLxckmP_r4Ub7HKbxr13iyemJ-fBGkw/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+052.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4mLptV7SksQovP5VpVkawhs78bLo1oP6mTwcFHA8N9sJlCQ3qTvcKA2XKlX0W4repVvLslgWLoqp5G0brxCSmi0DK2GBY9auq-OfhY9jsac5fLxckmP_r4Ub7HKbxr13iyemJ-fBGkw/s320/8+Dec+07+052.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">... others retelling the story of the Reamker, the Cambodian Ramayana</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBGHxQ2nbDTSuv26rXHPkXdTtxqKwN05Tb1B9zDDbcGO37AwRrNZR0zy8l3bE-PTkYOtNUYldvDvmbMeOSMdcYJMMdaL-mcKzrbvc8Q_meGUkJQvS82RIYzlWOpuV0AFFm835ZlWae88/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+050.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBGHxQ2nbDTSuv26rXHPkXdTtxqKwN05Tb1B9zDDbcGO37AwRrNZR0zy8l3bE-PTkYOtNUYldvDvmbMeOSMdcYJMMdaL-mcKzrbvc8Q_meGUkJQvS82RIYzlWOpuV0AFFm835ZlWae88/s320/8+Dec+07+050.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">well, it costs money to run a temple...</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqeaicPzLtzZYKdp72e2yg_emCD54_aoIyizMLK68Xmo27sPns8dubJGy5byBgiGE-SsWtivUxKaH9QGP0CInl47dMW8ikbpp4ei6uGvXdwvKrRSXasN-647Z-vMvi9PAZTDBjXmwfhk/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+030.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqeaicPzLtzZYKdp72e2yg_emCD54_aoIyizMLK68Xmo27sPns8dubJGy5byBgiGE-SsWtivUxKaH9QGP0CInl47dMW8ikbpp4ei6uGvXdwvKrRSXasN-647Z-vMvi9PAZTDBjXmwfhk/s320/8+Dec+07+030.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">outside, a shrine to Lady Penh</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaYyjRL77iPzw1UKa-ekbg7Hf9qH-yAEtCXN4GrgTMv8zuMEM5ctpiAABmRXgElXfyT-gI3Cv1MRBJUBwcnPRFTJSWRDfakaeqpS7nmN8yCUhmz3r4f3uHBTTvSo4bssQLeE-WEFhn94/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+094.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaYyjRL77iPzw1UKa-ekbg7Hf9qH-yAEtCXN4GrgTMv8zuMEM5ctpiAABmRXgElXfyT-gI3Cv1MRBJUBwcnPRFTJSWRDfakaeqpS7nmN8yCUhmz3r4f3uHBTTvSo4bssQLeE-WEFhn94/s320/8+Dec+07+094.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the pantheon</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXioLajBFCT8hgpZK9z59bod7fasTaZUHgl0ngMrPUUr8AW6qRic1I1xnVBcgLk_CAQ3Yk9n0ayUTnrtFN8rRUhEo4Vm1t4amlcVk5GdxajXno60HKJlXJkVmpfR30RpqD3ft-PMObMUI/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+090.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXioLajBFCT8hgpZK9z59bod7fasTaZUHgl0ngMrPUUr8AW6qRic1I1xnVBcgLk_CAQ3Yk9n0ayUTnrtFN8rRUhEo4Vm1t4amlcVk5GdxajXno60HKJlXJkVmpfR30RpqD3ft-PMObMUI/s320/8+Dec+07+090.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">and just in case (one never knows)</div><br />We were early still so it was relatively quiet. Other than the odd devotee, there were two or three beggars stationed at the entrance to the temple. Even so, as we strolled around the leafy compound, the vendors started to arrive.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HKtl6f7Qn47ZR-no0kOFHpAc_HFgvXqK5yaYup_G_IwsXr6B4T0UNTKa_9sF2B56KlID7XUxzjJcO3nHOpcxpm_jD_Nf4CCZYQkcI61GuSwCAh8UaLAzNhMHIVRFqMdLQxhA3qP4Hrg/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+072.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HKtl6f7Qn47ZR-no0kOFHpAc_HFgvXqK5yaYup_G_IwsXr6B4T0UNTKa_9sF2B56KlID7XUxzjJcO3nHOpcxpm_jD_Nf4CCZYQkcI61GuSwCAh8UaLAzNhMHIVRFqMdLQxhA3qP4Hrg/s320/8+Dec+07+072.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">itinerant snack peddler</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9uTa03ZT3-urWq4CKo-ic0z17RwX-U7CDyEYeQDF5jGfO7eli5am3jitRXOHqfuv44Jf-WeFW1nGGp2mtB9BCpNDi2sIr_nMKykj1uayRSeIEg-YkyrhpmoVCi55iWrQNKrs0Y1s_1A/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+083.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9uTa03ZT3-urWq4CKo-ic0z17RwX-U7CDyEYeQDF5jGfO7eli5am3jitRXOHqfuv44Jf-WeFW1nGGp2mtB9BCpNDi2sIr_nMKykj1uayRSeIEg-YkyrhpmoVCi55iWrQNKrs0Y1s_1A/s320/8+Dec+07+083.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">an opportunity to accumulate some good karma... or be scammed</div><br />One can buy the freedom of one of these birds. Rumour has it though that the birds have been trained to return to the security of their cage, once the do-gooders are gone. Therein lies a metaphor for the human condition...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUejUsNiq1gl80juh0H55Gg_TdNJ0BIo5zPaAj1baL-uRAGj1HrU6UICNWQkAmh_4dVyw8EpfhSmGy6RJkyW6L2vxY5l2f1pPkiZYxRy2ttUJpBCCgON9vw4TxhQo0keYGeTWydJj5Bc/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUejUsNiq1gl80juh0H55Gg_TdNJ0BIo5zPaAj1baL-uRAGj1HrU6UICNWQkAmh_4dVyw8EpfhSmGy6RJkyW6L2vxY5l2f1pPkiZYxRy2ttUJpBCCgON9vw4TxhQo0keYGeTWydJj5Bc/s320/8+Dec+07+026.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">well, cats were worshipped in earlier times, if not quite in this part of the world</div><br /><br /><u>Psar Thmei</u><br /><br />Wat Phnom was but the appetizer for the day. We were ready for our main activity of the day - checking out Phnom Penh's markets. We're big on markets, HM for the shopping, me for the anthropological aspect.<br /><br />We headed first for Psar Thmei, or Central Market. Like most buildings in Phnom Penh, the market had seen better days but its architectural innovativeness was still evident.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGV7g23KK3teV1ynMyR35y9rVS4J2DAFJKy5tVXsNnXy2uz9XRPzcitobDbh88R6CDAF9cnxis2ghW2n16lPS45xHeUZtlsycI-MCVp2G3cANooyiu9DzdBlhABz3rZpJJnT7Zp9HAUuA/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+102.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGV7g23KK3teV1ynMyR35y9rVS4J2DAFJKy5tVXsNnXy2uz9XRPzcitobDbh88R6CDAF9cnxis2ghW2n16lPS45xHeUZtlsycI-MCVp2G3cANooyiu9DzdBlhABz3rZpJJnT7Zp9HAUuA/s320/8+Dec+07+102.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">famous for its ziggurat shape</div><br />Inside, the market was unexpectedly cool, a result apparently of the dome-shaped design.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmEH4lJVKblt5u9QYlMvK9FNS6fSDf1kC8Jo25xDgm_L7BWm_Ds5GOQQWGirflgkFizHfDT-rWTB9R6V_WtG2crbQ3u5DEwTyo1ko2avfShr6qls5bXZT_PTIMeoIqyuWKvzufDx59UYc/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+132.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmEH4lJVKblt5u9QYlMvK9FNS6fSDf1kC8Jo25xDgm_L7BWm_Ds5GOQQWGirflgkFizHfDT-rWTB9R6V_WtG2crbQ3u5DEwTyo1ko2avfShr6qls5bXZT_PTIMeoIqyuWKvzufDx59UYc/s320/8+Dec+07+132.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">inside the market</div><br />We were at Psar Thmei more for a look-see than for serious shopping - we had been told that the Russian Market was a much better place to shop at, for its lower prices and better variety - and indeed there was plenty to see.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRqFoVy3oa8FuhBXMYMiSHq8Asy6nSwThyphenhyphen6IsdQzBGwfS6vcxjh4cwooa1jZsl99l5C2ihglcYHdXCDvqu_tUlTMznQU3-vFBZbeCV1JtgI-FiyLRCbaZFVfgBOPb1npu-syXJqvT6mU/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+111.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRqFoVy3oa8FuhBXMYMiSHq8Asy6nSwThyphenhyphen6IsdQzBGwfS6vcxjh4cwooa1jZsl99l5C2ihglcYHdXCDvqu_tUlTMznQU3-vFBZbeCV1JtgI-FiyLRCbaZFVfgBOPb1npu-syXJqvT6mU/s320/8+Dec+07+111.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">flowers for sale</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNu0So-GX1PXpZ41PlKtmuNFg-fhC-DSqHkVtcQXGSvE8iLx-Pm7XrP8E2WpdynbzAF8UFMIxmW2KolM8ZFhQEDcrmJ0_DmzvA5KO0M3NwudKq1H5rrHOoQD1TPPuCmxihwjxe0s4RhfU/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+114.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNu0So-GX1PXpZ41PlKtmuNFg-fhC-DSqHkVtcQXGSvE8iLx-Pm7XrP8E2WpdynbzAF8UFMIxmW2KolM8ZFhQEDcrmJ0_DmzvA5KO0M3NwudKq1H5rrHOoQD1TPPuCmxihwjxe0s4RhfU/s320/8+Dec+07+114.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">vases galore</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yNOy3UzrE1aLd98ydSAscGXA2TQU08k6QpxPmv4qguB7raJPGlGWC8NgYBCDjB5rSZEtUNV2ilUFNvvnwdztnbX90kheCmOT5UJL5i9aa2lNaUcwsFpgJajKktyAg-m7UPRRlI0RSmE/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+123.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yNOy3UzrE1aLd98ydSAscGXA2TQU08k6QpxPmv4qguB7raJPGlGWC8NgYBCDjB5rSZEtUNV2ilUFNvvnwdztnbX90kheCmOT5UJL5i9aa2lNaUcwsFpgJajKktyAg-m7UPRRlI0RSmE/s320/8+Dec+07+123.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">variant on a regional theme</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4OX29FbaGR35U8NWaMKyMVtWqxot-16jVQ0cdnCAaUpTrzi_qHPsXZC2qTE2ZeuuuAgxmm8vyns24jIf_QD9IaSVNG9kzxVYMWopn-FZg-eHr-SqdLofWGCZkGCl-mfDuBw2scLKHq0/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+125.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4OX29FbaGR35U8NWaMKyMVtWqxot-16jVQ0cdnCAaUpTrzi_qHPsXZC2qTE2ZeuuuAgxmm8vyns24jIf_QD9IaSVNG9kzxVYMWopn-FZg-eHr-SqdLofWGCZkGCl-mfDuBw2scLKHq0/s320/8+Dec+07+125.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">buyer, beware - genuine gemstones or cut glass?</div><br />From the mundane to the kitschy, the goods on sale provided insight into contemporary life in Cambodia.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnN05UNViVnI66ifhiqd9mP02FuUq-ISOupfhrTmiLqlgozYEcoTe6-Wsf_rsHjaU_u8GR5Bs6joajYYCqC6VKMMN99YtUclglRYgujBLVSa_7GoFSBFWllh_tfjiKy66SO3-Y9nyxK6c/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+139.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnN05UNViVnI66ifhiqd9mP02FuUq-ISOupfhrTmiLqlgozYEcoTe6-Wsf_rsHjaU_u8GR5Bs6joajYYCqC6VKMMN99YtUclglRYgujBLVSa_7GoFSBFWllh_tfjiKy66SO3-Y9nyxK6c/s320/8+Dec+07+139.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">What time is it? Angkor time...</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMGqtbS6eGl0Qt2-DaRtr6rHw20GIh3OCDoYB5oQ5eRWX_wlG5CamiHpN2GsIzMjakE-BKCuHOntJfYgbjsZQDU1xaqVdYZOyo8InOzfdzfx9yVyerc7D72ssNLL2E8LGvVwGmTF2b7c/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+141.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMGqtbS6eGl0Qt2-DaRtr6rHw20GIh3OCDoYB5oQ5eRWX_wlG5CamiHpN2GsIzMjakE-BKCuHOntJfYgbjsZQDU1xaqVdYZOyo8InOzfdzfx9yVyerc7D72ssNLL2E8LGvVwGmTF2b7c/s320/8+Dec+07+141.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">I can just see this one hanging inside a Cambodian home</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwXrzBFRN1DQuEhHgQK-S2YJo04ANlCpjRHY8t2hBWLkFWzniVFECPfLcmQ-JyF4Vuz0eC3C35_wT9RbEGx6GOoaRsaL0ZIqBj1K2pH59cOAZjzuhn40liPyjVvXxuXA3h9jr1qqSTpw/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+189.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwXrzBFRN1DQuEhHgQK-S2YJo04ANlCpjRHY8t2hBWLkFWzniVFECPfLcmQ-JyF4Vuz0eC3C35_wT9RbEGx6GOoaRsaL0ZIqBj1K2pH59cOAZjzuhn40liPyjVvXxuXA3h9jr1qqSTpw/s320/8+Dec+07+189.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">winter jackets, for those Cambodian blizzards...</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjODeLs3d_oS9Gt0zQG_-etFs81qUv0IVvrcf5GILAU4AqPAK7hqe2OsywlOv1K1sEv03bNQkUJpvtvWFpdwEG8yYrR5N7MUfscyHSJp8E_XpwuODg5pmCInx4tKRGWluVVmjsSIR_mQ/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+197.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjODeLs3d_oS9Gt0zQG_-etFs81qUv0IVvrcf5GILAU4AqPAK7hqe2OsywlOv1K1sEv03bNQkUJpvtvWFpdwEG8yYrR5N7MUfscyHSJp8E_XpwuODg5pmCInx4tKRGWluVVmjsSIR_mQ/s320/8+Dec+07+197.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">furry slippers to warm little toes</div><br />As for the food, the variety ranged from the almost familiar to the downright bizarre.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_PaLZ4zn1jbZoLg-Ca-897lir2z9jRqpX_9-SqtDt0DAb_hXroqNKeePJKMz8-DSZktJNoKEZU0Eq1HhjfJE1Zw5o5cwtWPVK6SZ0arWHtNOlLAOD3SquSFbLSBi9pYyhR2jwDEjpuw/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+157.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_PaLZ4zn1jbZoLg-Ca-897lir2z9jRqpX_9-SqtDt0DAb_hXroqNKeePJKMz8-DSZktJNoKEZU0Eq1HhjfJE1Zw5o5cwtWPVK6SZ0arWHtNOlLAOD3SquSFbLSBi9pYyhR2jwDEjpuw/s320/8+Dec+07+157.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">pickled olives</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoDz3bjtwzLxQWPASVDm2VHI6Z1rQRFYk0jV0lBAcmhyphenhyphencOmVNbE_H78JP_Wn98M7WFkLR2IcpMtcCUmGdk0HgtUGymmsgX_9P4R2PCR4EgI5WdgIpyn-Vexahs4L6djz9qx7RBdmi9ds/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+191.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoDz3bjtwzLxQWPASVDm2VHI6Z1rQRFYk0jV0lBAcmhyphenhyphencOmVNbE_H78JP_Wn98M7WFkLR2IcpMtcCUmGdk0HgtUGymmsgX_9P4R2PCR4EgI5WdgIpyn-Vexahs4L6djz9qx7RBdmi9ds/s320/8+Dec+07+191.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">more <em>kiam kanna</em></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Ap6xoeIL0xRE-KJo20CjDY53_2lVoH-iHoUadwScs4bXl1aZUTrdCWcDsUwnaoNikb_HCdcBGKFHhd87CtxafUVQnTvFG-RrpHMdiJjmx_tqVtPVB6zybXi-CqB1DkvZM0Lk8RxTwtY/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+159.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Ap6xoeIL0xRE-KJo20CjDY53_2lVoH-iHoUadwScs4bXl1aZUTrdCWcDsUwnaoNikb_HCdcBGKFHhd87CtxafUVQnTvFG-RrpHMdiJjmx_tqVtPVB6zybXi-CqB1DkvZM0Lk8RxTwtY/s320/8+Dec+07+159.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">steamed rice cakes with fillings</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVxrW0AmJeMFG3bDm2rWTc_v37wX1w7MKMJIwezI3T60hxhwlChgJF_8gvF1NrKljn1_S0CDHQxtWC-zRui9Ct_UeYD9RGPo6p9m6cTOzuWq9Fd_J2ukdR8Wue1Z_ODIf4uxo4VE9wo8/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+160.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVxrW0AmJeMFG3bDm2rWTc_v37wX1w7MKMJIwezI3T60hxhwlChgJF_8gvF1NrKljn1_S0CDHQxtWC-zRui9Ct_UeYD9RGPo6p9m6cTOzuWq9Fd_J2ukdR8Wue1Z_ODIf4uxo4VE9wo8/s320/8+Dec+07+160.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">those pumpkins looked a little stuffed</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTVRHOvPxUkmexl9ly_xmh2pBBhB2MJC39E4Q0p89dU3RtRKxEuyAtxwuhY1WAOrTTW11Tts40SM5NzzEMzZ5SdGoGlwqe-lwMuFj_93VgoP0pR4L5o1lnypN0vGS4llutw0q-w0aK-Q/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+164.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTVRHOvPxUkmexl9ly_xmh2pBBhB2MJC39E4Q0p89dU3RtRKxEuyAtxwuhY1WAOrTTW11Tts40SM5NzzEMzZ5SdGoGlwqe-lwMuFj_93VgoP0pR4L5o1lnypN0vGS4llutw0q-w0aK-Q/s320/8+Dec+07+164.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">voila, they are stuffed!</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3quEIPB01m5APM3W6B3o3xJDZHuSYjMR7nPtmNeHsxtVJAYvsTJaNJBxBYdtDXcLSqWVi_r8JHd0q-mONMfv_xTksgdPE-0YQ-FU251o9ya5mBf-fNMTQow1Z8L73c1VVoMwNbcTHR-U/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+163.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3quEIPB01m5APM3W6B3o3xJDZHuSYjMR7nPtmNeHsxtVJAYvsTJaNJBxBYdtDXcLSqWVi_r8JHd0q-mONMfv_xTksgdPE-0YQ-FU251o9ya5mBf-fNMTQow1Z8L73c1VVoMwNbcTHR-U/s320/8+Dec+07+163.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">dried fish</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1bFpqX1c1GQwszP3H8Z_Su3y_0ZwawaoqAV-dySVEOnmFO-_VXGpZokXPG0BfPf2VqqS67JdiL81dioMFKwuyrA6kyO8LChbDl85dLP8p8hfWgLKZiDx-aGPoG0Zh4hAbwx8lzLlO-4/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+167.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1bFpqX1c1GQwszP3H8Z_Su3y_0ZwawaoqAV-dySVEOnmFO-_VXGpZokXPG0BfPf2VqqS67JdiL81dioMFKwuyrA6kyO8LChbDl85dLP8p8hfWgLKZiDx-aGPoG0Zh4hAbwx8lzLlO-4/s320/8+Dec+07+167.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><em>kueh kueh</em></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglm_uql5Gp1rUFGk175jpanZGP6Z9SJ86yhp-hcB0g-U1NmX5J_PZChZF7cAsWng2iEBy-YzJHrG6G1MWjcM1QJog0l4zdHxIDeBF7zpQDiSyABoDkJ1qU8WvXhTGxHtV3HDwsbURyrlE/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+169.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglm_uql5Gp1rUFGk175jpanZGP6Z9SJ86yhp-hcB0g-U1NmX5J_PZChZF7cAsWng2iEBy-YzJHrG6G1MWjcM1QJog0l4zdHxIDeBF7zpQDiSyABoDkJ1qU8WvXhTGxHtV3HDwsbURyrlE/s320/8+Dec+07+169.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">gee, mooncakes!</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxfOLc4bKacrrwsMoWepAPYa7awD7uUV5VF_uv042xLRsli0VXxBNrO0q5NcMG3aAHhPVxTW_ZTcfL0RJOxPSTRYIDywVn7Q5j_-eCQSvp0rCZXM2ieJVKgI03oORPpqcDiE8EN_SsVk/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+172.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxfOLc4bKacrrwsMoWepAPYa7awD7uUV5VF_uv042xLRsli0VXxBNrO0q5NcMG3aAHhPVxTW_ZTcfL0RJOxPSTRYIDywVn7Q5j_-eCQSvp0rCZXM2ieJVKgI03oORPpqcDiE8EN_SsVk/s320/8+Dec+07+172.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">so they're not round, they're still melons</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNwKRszYKkjYrMbcFo3Zn7-zFpCau4oIgkWpKwrWgoYPntBmzGsPp5RGLGqKu3kHa_g7kJI6-0UoHlw0rjidjcGrYr9JPTkYCAH-mxsrvf_-rUcEIXm0ouav6xJ7l3pN7uGJ1AsnVJQ4/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+174.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNwKRszYKkjYrMbcFo3Zn7-zFpCau4oIgkWpKwrWgoYPntBmzGsPp5RGLGqKu3kHa_g7kJI6-0UoHlw0rjidjcGrYr9JPTkYCAH-mxsrvf_-rUcEIXm0ouav6xJ7l3pN7uGJ1AsnVJQ4/s320/8+Dec+07+174.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">some kind of <em>chin chow</em>, <em>agar agar</em>, definitely dessert material</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfrT-uFoEOPK6V_TAP59fzMyPOXfv2bUKikW6yyr9DPvvGENHVYPpBHmkP23c0j7xMR34ypRCiiZDlwURSS_oV0SaeqsvL30AEqp7ZKzBS9d8cgi4NNQC5Cj8_XL_6_s1RKWHesHZTqw/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+190.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfrT-uFoEOPK6V_TAP59fzMyPOXfv2bUKikW6yyr9DPvvGENHVYPpBHmkP23c0j7xMR34ypRCiiZDlwURSS_oV0SaeqsvL30AEqp7ZKzBS9d8cgi4NNQC5Cj8_XL_6_s1RKWHesHZTqw/s320/8+Dec+07+190.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">desserts like these (see above)</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvL2KkBxStiuRfkfs2ubZ5LX97tb7aZs0jeK30Sn560H8sPBp1WfQPCmXszlZbDAjsYNRwac2SoqbBwGTFIbTBy0Y4YecSOsn6rm-aCKFLMW2m1Gm1ce1TFry97x0GIpgAUtauwk_6TOE/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+194.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvL2KkBxStiuRfkfs2ubZ5LX97tb7aZs0jeK30Sn560H8sPBp1WfQPCmXszlZbDAjsYNRwac2SoqbBwGTFIbTBy0Y4YecSOsn6rm-aCKFLMW2m1Gm1ce1TFry97x0GIpgAUtauwk_6TOE/s320/8+Dec+07+194.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">duck eggs, chicken eggs and quail eggs</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlq0RsLDCGGyFuTA_kfYYF90Eb1f580f5F9ShTQ-uX3Q4HU1Ff8sKgiQu77ZvwcpQiuFV3yjK-leuPyC86z0Siv8ufr52PHas4Zi9DBXEyAwKFBlvK4OA6nnwNQS-MwCuXpakFO5kdvZo/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+196.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlq0RsLDCGGyFuTA_kfYYF90Eb1f580f5F9ShTQ-uX3Q4HU1Ff8sKgiQu77ZvwcpQiuFV3yjK-leuPyC86z0Siv8ufr52PHas4Zi9DBXEyAwKFBlvK4OA6nnwNQS-MwCuXpakFO5kdvZo/s320/8+Dec+07+196.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">could be <em>apom</em></div><br />Seafood is obviously an important part of the local diet. Little wonder too, given the number of waterways and water bodies criss crossing the country.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpsa_6kLoYoAJ6XlJXMk4Gc5z82CLzfNUbPSpgiSPjNHYM24IWj-DnD3KaR1COloh1pKWe3PPa1jRjYZxTr-RMh7EwmyjJsc-BcASJqbAIUN9VS6JySSiuvzV0ktxwsKsOO9J3eEcc2E/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+181.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpsa_6kLoYoAJ6XlJXMk4Gc5z82CLzfNUbPSpgiSPjNHYM24IWj-DnD3KaR1COloh1pKWe3PPa1jRjYZxTr-RMh7EwmyjJsc-BcASJqbAIUN9VS6JySSiuvzV0ktxwsKsOO9J3eEcc2E/s320/8+Dec+07+181.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">those prawns look good</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJ2oGhPoJ71CV3FPuZYukQ7opNCEW7AvFRcoY1gQ0Zc7L4MHpHD-NQf7iLVebg6BU2T7cyACHvR937gy31SD2oifI7bxHnNjVjSLUnJDQl3hTFXBf8GyE0RWRa6f7_wGqY5GwuQj-O-c/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+182.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJ2oGhPoJ71CV3FPuZYukQ7opNCEW7AvFRcoY1gQ0Zc7L4MHpHD-NQf7iLVebg6BU2T7cyACHvR937gy31SD2oifI7bxHnNjVjSLUnJDQl3hTFXBf8GyE0RWRa6f7_wGqY5GwuQj-O-c/s320/8+Dec+07+182.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">groupers probably</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXuwHyNYtL1PydLll1jgNWTbvdt8YEnmSP5VfLRhfPNmN2XEjXWnyQW075OkQuXEJPS4tj2eHYLImt_es5l3PdLnk6Xzhs6yMcFcvrwbb0BGUQVaIgGU7ISMLTKYyKEQrbT4hmbmi3jA/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+183.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXuwHyNYtL1PydLll1jgNWTbvdt8YEnmSP5VfLRhfPNmN2XEjXWnyQW075OkQuXEJPS4tj2eHYLImt_es5l3PdLnk6Xzhs6yMcFcvrwbb0BGUQVaIgGU7ISMLTKYyKEQrbT4hmbmi3jA/s320/8+Dec+07+183.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">snakehead fish?</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFZVHMSLO2peiD_qI0BPZNe9MW-9YaBoWcq01r7lRbiBBfSWsqcTB0_nc7QCnbJolRSguHxuTAz3UCGlXQ9_5u7oOvHb1N4xC8mZR9qNnTpD_x4c8kIYlxmUJA844Y1vINjafpFgBII4/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+185.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFZVHMSLO2peiD_qI0BPZNe9MW-9YaBoWcq01r7lRbiBBfSWsqcTB0_nc7QCnbJolRSguHxuTAz3UCGlXQ9_5u7oOvHb1N4xC8mZR9qNnTpD_x4c8kIYlxmUJA844Y1vINjafpFgBII4/s320/8+Dec+07+185.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">local crabs</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjiwov3NfkC-lpz1SA4HSru0gWWAQonec1SN1EbNgg1fj8CJcTonwIs4E_9x6osOW0F61KE7O-i7TvLILUgxLIErqNLoRo2MpOfIW6TD394wsWYvqce1CQ8ghO6sfu4pKnaenoyvAAOc/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+187.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjiwov3NfkC-lpz1SA4HSru0gWWAQonec1SN1EbNgg1fj8CJcTonwIs4E_9x6osOW0F61KE7O-i7TvLILUgxLIErqNLoRo2MpOfIW6TD394wsWYvqce1CQ8ghO6sfu4pKnaenoyvAAOc/s320/8+Dec+07+187.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">local shellfish</div><br />And as with other developing countries, particularly those that are still agrarian in nature, everyone's favourite cheap and easily available source of protein was on sale.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBvgtm1vwD2oD13mx80713Fql5FlXQySo3c2uAOWqG6OyduWct8hLREKp4dh7yXJAUYGhw3YdkLutZGxoYL7-tyH61yXjpmvUAAHFaJ3X1Q3MdEimT2ERkhIsHfB0hnpz9Xckv60B3YM/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+203.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBvgtm1vwD2oD13mx80713Fql5FlXQySo3c2uAOWqG6OyduWct8hLREKp4dh7yXJAUYGhw3YdkLutZGxoYL7-tyH61yXjpmvUAAHFaJ3X1Q3MdEimT2ERkhIsHfB0hnpz9Xckv60B3YM/s320/8+Dec+07+203.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">grubs</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtDynD94IKDLe9HEITvXmOpNXXaK8ot2WU1qssF3HY1oMWskNaDCJ6CYNp5TZ2Aa_M7H8bO2e7qJS-jsmE2JSCdoJ-HrnfME-YsiGeDzWOVDtf1OO9VaW3egb_xv9ULO0YpA41TFDt38/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+204.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtDynD94IKDLe9HEITvXmOpNXXaK8ot2WU1qssF3HY1oMWskNaDCJ6CYNp5TZ2Aa_M7H8bO2e7qJS-jsmE2JSCdoJ-HrnfME-YsiGeDzWOVDtf1OO9VaW3egb_xv9ULO0YpA41TFDt38/s320/8+Dec+07+204.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">scorpions, we think</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESuAgu2J30XkAfQ_cdk7rIU4fmnTv7nQIox8CKs2k5ns7Wk2EzmhL1lW1190t3DL25qeka3clrF8lFDjhpy2SVANTy3869VeYLOwiyMUh4onDFWBgpllpwmzwhuh1DRn_Ah6Z-ttEC8U/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+205.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESuAgu2J30XkAfQ_cdk7rIU4fmnTv7nQIox8CKs2k5ns7Wk2EzmhL1lW1190t3DL25qeka3clrF8lFDjhpy2SVANTy3869VeYLOwiyMUh4onDFWBgpllpwmzwhuh1DRn_Ah6Z-ttEC8U/s320/8+Dec+07+205.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">definitely giant cockroaches</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJLS5JdASGZaI9SUvYGNZa4w9aWYV-JERYTnUo3HUGf3TGeTL3Q_Y9rT3oamL-zasc_NV2WNa1QCu6YbMlfCtAAfzBOzHWyvLUhWLsL_kt1Jpil76wpD1ScRlJY5YnC5S9IJ0-YUXsuY/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+206.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJLS5JdASGZaI9SUvYGNZa4w9aWYV-JERYTnUo3HUGf3TGeTL3Q_Y9rT3oamL-zasc_NV2WNa1QCu6YbMlfCtAAfzBOzHWyvLUhWLsL_kt1Jpil76wpD1ScRlJY5YnC5S9IJ0-YUXsuY/s320/8+Dec+07+206.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">locusts maybe?</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBlVLZrP2sMx9mHiHWDLheL33cTcYNg9FirpCgAUrdox1NEWbWywCQv2aMTRicSsxGuhm6Bw5QftEDE9xsNTm9wgp7M8SFoMss-IwPw5XZ2Q7w4YdTMtpe47VmeIfLPfzAgeHENr1V_s/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+207.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBlVLZrP2sMx9mHiHWDLheL33cTcYNg9FirpCgAUrdox1NEWbWywCQv2aMTRicSsxGuhm6Bw5QftEDE9xsNTm9wgp7M8SFoMss-IwPw5XZ2Q7w4YdTMtpe47VmeIfLPfzAgeHENr1V_s/s320/8+Dec+07+207.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">ok, I give up - some kind of crunchy bug</div><br />Did we dare sample the goodies on sale? Let's just say the overall standard of hygiene did not look inspire confidence. We chickened out and opted to watch others eat instead.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6CTcarj8wRs57PC7vkGG_v4lAuHxjCvytvHRHYruJB0sguTMTXiAcsslGUuZKUZzcOPnM-cRt6GqxKU4qpuZGOSw4XSzbNpM-B4Wrxw4UT_rI9-6guqNYNjYKrj52yVW_JVASQLSk5Q/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+168.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6CTcarj8wRs57PC7vkGG_v4lAuHxjCvytvHRHYruJB0sguTMTXiAcsslGUuZKUZzcOPnM-cRt6GqxKU4qpuZGOSw4XSzbNpM-B4Wrxw4UT_rI9-6guqNYNjYKrj52yVW_JVASQLSk5Q/s320/8+Dec+07+168.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">some things looked possible - freshly fried <em>png kueh</em> (rice cakes)</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89Vmvr9DqpAcvtQQTM4BL4Q_GW56Q_ek-ZBjunIN83Nr_PlEEkrbZYDTBCRxK58pUVee7CU48cB1UWsQlWPiHmDaedRB8OWbbIN2Av7eHAsevh91xx83Klx6RHxNuJUrVKhQn6vCXRiY/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+199.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89Vmvr9DqpAcvtQQTM4BL4Q_GW56Q_ek-ZBjunIN83Nr_PlEEkrbZYDTBCRxK58pUVee7CU48cB1UWsQlWPiHmDaedRB8OWbbIN2Av7eHAsevh91xx83Klx6RHxNuJUrVKhQn6vCXRiY/s320/8+Dec+07+199.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">then again, maybe not</div><br />Finally, the market was a good place to people watch.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqshncUlnLqHL2Mpl7Pa6ELUFq-vsVkge-TaBRQhrD2XlixvVg5XSr8ektV-qWPWINmCc1ReEB7rVcu4e5OlAAMLppfArp2Ht-TGvDhPOg398Qa_DXabtFiwj8tZc2FOWusbZIQu5HUM/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+201.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqshncUlnLqHL2Mpl7Pa6ELUFq-vsVkge-TaBRQhrD2XlixvVg5XSr8ektV-qWPWINmCc1ReEB7rVcu4e5OlAAMLppfArp2Ht-TGvDhPOg398Qa_DXabtFiwj8tZc2FOWusbZIQu5HUM/s320/8+Dec+07+201.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">ekeing out a living selling whatever was on hand</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJrII-CmW_Zvuuwx95LUB45LCetLBqrqW0g8JYWpWMt3E5jJjQrJ712eGhg7kolPsLne92kP4OO3D8hfWAfaMvd7PIAcySIjmaTBXsoDgs90UepxKO93viPM0aReOzc-0VhjY209uCbs/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+149.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJrII-CmW_Zvuuwx95LUB45LCetLBqrqW0g8JYWpWMt3E5jJjQrJ712eGhg7kolPsLne92kP4OO3D8hfWAfaMvd7PIAcySIjmaTBXsoDgs90UepxKO93viPM0aReOzc-0VhjY209uCbs/s320/8+Dec+07+149.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">young craftsman in training</div><br /><br /><u>Rajana Arts Association</u><br /><br />When we emerged from Psar Thmei, it was almost time for lunch. We hopped onto Uncle's tuk tuk and putt-ed to the Russian Market in the vicinity of which there were a number of cafes worth checking out.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISzvIahWemCqpxNnbrtmJmGIt-7o4xBg9BUmWQGSYLf-WyQOZE6Vd0BT7f7_5CNE75sfPWdADPMjprOhvYHlKTdYoHCbBajlUzrawngOgVL423HMu7d9_ba00LiPyBTRfDrK8XiuPlv8/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+215.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISzvIahWemCqpxNnbrtmJmGIt-7o4xBg9BUmWQGSYLf-WyQOZE6Vd0BT7f7_5CNE75sfPWdADPMjprOhvYHlKTdYoHCbBajlUzrawngOgVL423HMu7d9_ba00LiPyBTRfDrK8XiuPlv8/s320/8+Dec+07+215.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">outside the Russian Market</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmUatUrbQFjhD_DFWDnfBZPtB2_Oh5T4vflymVwNyQTSJVoGGkfcY9_TsoxSiYTZ-iR53DG1WWbedCQLlfFDNJFX0HrcKcp7wzVCFyXBJFtMuZUK68-VYam1WGwcRcR55nLbtXSpic0M/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+216.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmUatUrbQFjhD_DFWDnfBZPtB2_Oh5T4vflymVwNyQTSJVoGGkfcY9_TsoxSiYTZ-iR53DG1WWbedCQLlfFDNJFX0HrcKcp7wzVCFyXBJFtMuZUK68-VYam1WGwcRcR55nLbtXSpic0M/s320/8+Dec+07+216.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">bananas on wheels</div><br />While searching for a cafe named Jars of Clay, we chanced upon an outlet of Rajana Association, yet another local NGO providing skills training and employment opportunities for the poor.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnhHV5PVB8eZfIJbjeXDdXiAZotx9IcNi1roG2mfZLMMl32ZiP2mg4APsP8G4K-z0w4kHu4yWr5oZzm93qB0AxcBVjNgHEN0R3BD8RtVSWM9rq6MOb7VyWOOlEPQ6ktzNAwmzbuMK50Q/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+220.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnhHV5PVB8eZfIJbjeXDdXiAZotx9IcNi1roG2mfZLMMl32ZiP2mg4APsP8G4K-z0w4kHu4yWr5oZzm93qB0AxcBVjNgHEN0R3BD8RtVSWM9rq6MOb7VyWOOlEPQ6ktzNAwmzbuMK50Q/s320/8+Dec+07+220.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">outside Rajana</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQcSvOayZoT5sUTzPadXCakCN5OKXBzHkcbIdrIjFm2Y90FXYcvtkt4tTj9FjMCuKDHYyvMrWgGAg7ibtcQrvLb4_b7wR62Q77BALmtlzNI1yraVNKTLHLckLd9YzjTFuy8HjmFm_WoQ/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+218.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQcSvOayZoT5sUTzPadXCakCN5OKXBzHkcbIdrIjFm2Y90FXYcvtkt4tTj9FjMCuKDHYyvMrWgGAg7ibtcQrvLb4_b7wR62Q77BALmtlzNI1yraVNKTLHLckLd9YzjTFuy8HjmFm_WoQ/s320/8+Dec+07+218.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">who's who in Rajana</div><br />Like Artisans D'Angkor, its emphasis was Cambodian arts and crafts, but its products were less high art, more everyday. The shop carried products from clothes to cards, to costume jewellery and carvings. Everything felt less polished, compared to what Artisans D'Angkor produced. The quality was more like that of flea markets, produced by student entrepreneurs perhaps. Within the small shop, HM found a cotton t-shirt with a beautiful tree design to buy for just US$4.50.<br /><br /><br /><u>Jars of Clay</u><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnqGqzLx7XrRwmqxCiIygHntirHegunI3FeUBjuSCws_ftDAc9Hib8-Ek5eQWIGaxLcHQZwyw6NCVYZtsVWNmMooMa1cHDOA08nMGThoVuQJMHhKp9MvDzi28_8mcRxH8dlp82vTslRc/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+233.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnqGqzLx7XrRwmqxCiIygHntirHegunI3FeUBjuSCws_ftDAc9Hib8-Ek5eQWIGaxLcHQZwyw6NCVYZtsVWNmMooMa1cHDOA08nMGThoVuQJMHhKp9MvDzi28_8mcRxH8dlp82vTslRc/s320/8+Dec+07+233.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Jars of Clay</div><br />We finally found Jars of Clay down another small lane and not a moment too soon.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDE4Bqd-IUnvi4DwEUq3r4sUw3q47geVI6DlBoenZ_dpXWXEIeF8yP6oXmg-kyyQ23XM5pMrydenJb1CIqa5Fx4M1BeZ6phHpAHU4pBxnWzsjlbU69dZ_D4KcGEN5eML95dV7fDeFnXHg/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+223.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDE4Bqd-IUnvi4DwEUq3r4sUw3q47geVI6DlBoenZ_dpXWXEIeF8yP6oXmg-kyyQ23XM5pMrydenJb1CIqa5Fx4M1BeZ6phHpAHU4pBxnWzsjlbU69dZ_D4KcGEN5eML95dV7fDeFnXHg/s320/8+Dec+07+223.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">inside Jars of Clay</div><br />Run by four women who had decided to that "doing it for themselves" was the way to go, this little cafe was a cool respite in the heat and glare of Phnom Penh. The space was very low key, small but cosy, with bright touches to make it sunny and cheerful. And the smell of baking permeated the air.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegF9Mj7YhJlUjjoL06l2m2Dm__vyT9CSFukegNCuU6ir1zl2Hhun6N6FyqCqN94GOmt-9CBAeBlX1PNVrYqI1Z6TmA6cI2E5wTIZQCPaKLd8K4C11uzOT9l8Rlim6Nykzu_O4qN4Or4Y/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+231.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegF9Mj7YhJlUjjoL06l2m2Dm__vyT9CSFukegNCuU6ir1zl2Hhun6N6FyqCqN94GOmt-9CBAeBlX1PNVrYqI1Z6TmA6cI2E5wTIZQCPaKLd8K4C11uzOT9l8Rlim6Nykzu_O4qN4Or4Y/s320/8+Dec+07+231.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Ploughman's lunch - ham, cheddar cheese, pickled onions, chutney, butter, bread, half an apple</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pZai_e66ocI3SkiHfw5DGevEhgObARcFVKIXzcBDLulR9iZdiC4cAZl18pSUUj957FXpGAWXRt0dCk7q4vvO58AIpDHwDCVjYdHYyp-50Xg9AGW65Zi7PAe53919bdfH-448YCBGjYg/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+227.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pZai_e66ocI3SkiHfw5DGevEhgObARcFVKIXzcBDLulR9iZdiC4cAZl18pSUUj957FXpGAWXRt0dCk7q4vvO58AIpDHwDCVjYdHYyp-50Xg9AGW65Zi7PAe53919bdfH-448YCBGjYg/s320/8+Dec+07+227.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">cinnamon roll</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOf7Y_hsMRxeA2xjH949Swkhb1y7goHeodr41hAghvbXGQCbXXz4NVd13wLrIDaC1pIMOr518IVvrrLMpctW4SXf2snLPk18N7a0A1fKhXdVs9NVFDw7ZbvRPRTL4Ol65wYETAhWnS30/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+229.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOf7Y_hsMRxeA2xjH949Swkhb1y7goHeodr41hAghvbXGQCbXXz4NVd13wLrIDaC1pIMOr518IVvrrLMpctW4SXf2snLPk18N7a0A1fKhXdVs9NVFDw7ZbvRPRTL4Ol65wYETAhWnS30/s320/8+Dec+07+229.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">khmer coffee and laotian coffee</div><br />It was too hot to eat much, so we decided on some light finger food. The Ploughman's Lunch was just what we needed, cold and easy to eat, while the cinnamon roll was oh so soft and fluffy. The coffee was necessary, to perk us up. Laotian coffee was bitter compared to khmer coffee. All that came up to a mere US$6.50.<br /><br /><br /><u>The Russian Market</u><br /><br />Revived by the snack, we sallied forth into the narrow maze of stalls known as the Russian Market (named in the 1980s when most of the tourists were Russians who used to frequent the place). Where Psar Thmei was well laid out, with clearly defined areas, this was more haphazard, just rows and rows of stalls.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6sPxCOGbxVrsaBIZQ9n7-o8C2OBHbKtS2JPAejRLQwPYn4pgfTqxHucHWkmpaKOD88LP1SsdV7uVsde1XisrVymAJUyBycVA6-okZLFwGWhFVC6VP1PbpjF8oG1ekZrp-gUiTJjaJUs/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+237.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6sPxCOGbxVrsaBIZQ9n7-o8C2OBHbKtS2JPAejRLQwPYn4pgfTqxHucHWkmpaKOD88LP1SsdV7uVsde1XisrVymAJUyBycVA6-okZLFwGWhFVC6VP1PbpjF8oG1ekZrp-gUiTJjaJUs/s320/8+Dec+07+237.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">giving ye olde antiques a little, uh, helping hand</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9C8lEYIJZZU05Vrj4jUdl9SsaFexfOMFLvQBU6jdzWtOXdg41kQxRAJDvWDt2vp2fL0O8xejQtNJ7IqOTVP3d6F_A4wwqhd1MtGdkWIamUY_rv44oAfq5NbE8aZwbDBRjy-SO7ni8x0c/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+243.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9C8lEYIJZZU05Vrj4jUdl9SsaFexfOMFLvQBU6jdzWtOXdg41kQxRAJDvWDt2vp2fL0O8xejQtNJ7IqOTVP3d6F_A4wwqhd1MtGdkWIamUY_rv44oAfq5NbE8aZwbDBRjy-SO7ni8x0c/s320/8+Dec+07+243.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Chinese <em>hu</em> or flasks</div><br />The Russian Market definitely had a more interesting variety of goods, at least to us. While Psar Thmei had more of the usual touristy products like copy goods and cheap electronics, this place had a better selection of antiques, collectibles, and textiles.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZd-V64Z0K_UylQoeDaVmk7QTrnSJrqc55O4A3vShcLUQaSySED0a3nZiM0QKRRzYWQMvdoE_-EZ6QvX2AnfOcWmNkXsnpTFrrj26U7AWDOH7PxIK_8AhZM7JVIilWMzHC4r0fLUvLAE/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+250.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZd-V64Z0K_UylQoeDaVmk7QTrnSJrqc55O4A3vShcLUQaSySED0a3nZiM0QKRRzYWQMvdoE_-EZ6QvX2AnfOcWmNkXsnpTFrrj26U7AWDOH7PxIK_8AhZM7JVIilWMzHC4r0fLUvLAE/s320/8+Dec+07+250.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">we bought silk here</div><br />There was Cambodian silk in all forms. We bought silk blouses for the two Mums, household furnishings for my sister, and two different colours of fabric for HM. If we had so wanted, we could have had something custom-made there and then. There was a whole row of tailors just waiting for our business, but not having any precise ideas of what we wanted to turn the silk into, we shelved the idea.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWDNLS91ul0tr5e0q5AAKc7Yf-Jjjmh9OLsigGp0xpqVfSs30aXxDgIoGHKftl2yOOqY0xsAexu3XeJ5kR9tnUUDO7YvVt0Wi8YwkvWljglZ0_LJ1Kh0d2DwUp-mVHMikDNvezSemdppE/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+245.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWDNLS91ul0tr5e0q5AAKc7Yf-Jjjmh9OLsigGp0xpqVfSs30aXxDgIoGHKftl2yOOqY0xsAexu3XeJ5kR9tnUUDO7YvVt0Wi8YwkvWljglZ0_LJ1Kh0d2DwUp-mVHMikDNvezSemdppE/s320/8+Dec+07+245.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Saville Row ala Cambodia</div><br />And after a little searching, we found a jeweller recommended by a trusted online source. Mrs Mony, we think, approved of our purchases that day - a yellow sapphire and diamond ring plus a pair of yellow sapphire ear studs. She had a humongous variation on the theme on <strong>her</strong> hand!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZ3CX1n2rMidlnzvPty8YLVXwcjre9oa_GN5OnrG7tBdKaztTz5LEKQOA0emGNEWUd9D7dLISUAPc-Astua_PItNs2cVlP-jKBSnr2wxo-_adaJwe9edS23RChMxd7irEGwOPAHBX4lg/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+256.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZ3CX1n2rMidlnzvPty8YLVXwcjre9oa_GN5OnrG7tBdKaztTz5LEKQOA0emGNEWUd9D7dLISUAPc-Astua_PItNs2cVlP-jKBSnr2wxo-_adaJwe9edS23RChMxd7irEGwOPAHBX4lg/s320/8+Dec+07+256.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">we made her happy</div><br />After a sweltering afternoon in the Russian Market, we decided to head back to the hotel, for some R and R.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1eE16yMwOY7aNiNC7fqkJRz2pGvP0R6lOjPRB0I-FH2SVq5Wte8Vv09mF5k_I0UFMYbxMSZkcwFJhO9LLQhH-hGilE_v5yWbVa3DZls3CW79grHr1EAkuhaTGO8FO0S4vv2XZd1_h8yM/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+257.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1eE16yMwOY7aNiNC7fqkJRz2pGvP0R6lOjPRB0I-FH2SVq5Wte8Vv09mF5k_I0UFMYbxMSZkcwFJhO9LLQhH-hGilE_v5yWbVa3DZls3CW79grHr1EAkuhaTGO8FO0S4vv2XZd1_h8yM/s320/8+Dec+07+257.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">back to our hotel with our spoils</div><br /><br /><u>Back to the Pavilion</u><br /><br />At the hotel, we discovered that the girls had finished our laundry! So much for leaving it with them so that we would have less to carry to Sihanoukville. The bill for two pairs of pants, six t-shirts, and two sports bras came up to US$3.50, not cheap by Cambodian standards but a substantial contribution to the income of these young girls.<br /><br />We spent the next hour or so relaxing and taking advantage of our private pool, before heading out to Street 240 for tea and some indulgence.<br /><br /><br /><u>The Shop</u><br /><br />We returned to The Shop where we had a slightly (but only slightly) less successful meal. But first we had the most divine drinks.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERYpqgrxi7mE2OTYT1S0TFSu-PTr36kklSXRrypOH33-CshDrbmvltOIgTOXlCNkAGBUp3UR8H76kYMuFv42CLFJpKjkniXF830BAi-ivHrKLWjP-OOj6qhnaBpPnH-6QKFGbiTTSHWA/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+266.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERYpqgrxi7mE2OTYT1S0TFSu-PTr36kklSXRrypOH33-CshDrbmvltOIgTOXlCNkAGBUp3UR8H76kYMuFv42CLFJpKjkniXF830BAi-ivHrKLWjP-OOj6qhnaBpPnH-6QKFGbiTTSHWA/s320/8+Dec+07+266.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the signature banana, dates and molasses smoothie, and apple, carrot and ginger juice</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mgmcWeF9pdnvlJW10uFTGEdx_Wz1dtZTmHfRaqcl_IJ8L41VSRcsNHdz_vbPLI_HRK8KHpPLZ3Auvvuk6HNdYokVFXqDvLrtYjo3QDX7pMIXGs6ntLIaiCEHSPKmufWSsefF-6vnZCY/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+267.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mgmcWeF9pdnvlJW10uFTGEdx_Wz1dtZTmHfRaqcl_IJ8L41VSRcsNHdz_vbPLI_HRK8KHpPLZ3Auvvuk6HNdYokVFXqDvLrtYjo3QDX7pMIXGs6ntLIaiCEHSPKmufWSsefF-6vnZCY/s320/8+Dec+07+267.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">pastrami on rye</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UaU1MGcRgOQ0xAVZqRxM68lLVQnYGb9Ihwj4nUpEhh6vkPQ_L6bck1-Nv1nZiP3PoEDv5eMVzCGJpgbTaSyM1yxKp1viW0ataaxEmymOW5RZ00rTPiiShjpiEcjPGfeJqTUkryEMw7Y/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+270.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UaU1MGcRgOQ0xAVZqRxM68lLVQnYGb9Ihwj4nUpEhh6vkPQ_L6bck1-Nv1nZiP3PoEDv5eMVzCGJpgbTaSyM1yxKp1viW0ataaxEmymOW5RZ00rTPiiShjpiEcjPGfeJqTUkryEMw7Y/s320/8+Dec+07+270.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">fresh salmon pie</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xn9LvSfZn5LCGmeE249Gjss_sGpHsczF8Ln73hccHbTaFzZk1mr7WN3TGch-4oQobi-Qdkccao9TLlcP4xNL16m09X7CrcJ6BxOrmUVmDZC3t8rV87hBA7UPRFdJVi43hECCAYUkeTI/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+271.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xn9LvSfZn5LCGmeE249Gjss_sGpHsczF8Ln73hccHbTaFzZk1mr7WN3TGch-4oQobi-Qdkccao9TLlcP4xNL16m09X7CrcJ6BxOrmUVmDZC3t8rV87hBA7UPRFdJVi43hECCAYUkeTI/s320/8+Dec+07+271.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">creamy mushroom soup, with croutons and cheese</div><br />Of the food, we both liked the soup, but HM thought the pie too fishy and too dry. I thought the pie was very good, but we both wondered why the pastrami was like ham. Still, the bread was excellent as usual.<br /><br /><br /><u>Street 240</u><br /><br />After tea, HM traipsed next door to Spa Bliss, Phnom Penh's premier spa, for a hot oil massage. Bliss started life as a boutique cum home decor store, like a Lim's slash Meng Kee slash Pure Earth hybrid. Several years ago, the owner decided to add a spa and the rest is history, as they say.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1LNHK4wjYTcyhiPqo5J1xswtUOb9uzYuasrp_whUExGdoEgRuCq92ofZfpvcZN_Rq598zL1oiaOZTgDTwehRFFGZTIN5swcnz29XaImpfblxrk7TKitPRKtIfOsw7hDcWv-D7P1vFyM/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+276.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1LNHK4wjYTcyhiPqo5J1xswtUOb9uzYuasrp_whUExGdoEgRuCq92ofZfpvcZN_Rq598zL1oiaOZTgDTwehRFFGZTIN5swcnz29XaImpfblxrk7TKitPRKtIfOsw7hDcWv-D7P1vFyM/s320/8+Dec+07+276.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Bliss</div><br />I decided to go for a walk. Street 240, some claim, is the heart of Phnom Penh's expatriate life, with its boutiques and restaurants, most of which are housed in lovely Peranakan style houses with their courtyards, skylights and ornate tiles.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tyvfFzyiw0dUjqqp-p2v6XmBoRdTjs_A2SVmBXqANaw0qCuvUzjrK92hNrqetsJiaHc0nTrteEtCe4r9jhT5OVQRCVAKszi7P5S6tZmDKbxEA9QXME333iMdfjLGzMqvrI28XI3CE2U/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+275.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tyvfFzyiw0dUjqqp-p2v6XmBoRdTjs_A2SVmBXqANaw0qCuvUzjrK92hNrqetsJiaHc0nTrteEtCe4r9jhT5OVQRCVAKszi7P5S6tZmDKbxEA9QXME333iMdfjLGzMqvrI28XI3CE2U/s320/8+Dec+07+275.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a chi chi Asian-inspired home decor boutique</div><br />At the end of Street 240, I crossed Norodom Boulevard to Monument Books, just down the road from the Singapore Embassy. There, I bought a road map, to find out more about the roads from Kampot to Sihanoukville.<br /><br />Down the other end of Street 240, I wandered over to the Palace, only to discover that the Palaice is not lit at night, perhaps because the King's portrait had been taken down.<br /><br />By this time, HM had finished her treatment. Her verdict? The massage was way too gentle, perhaps because the masseuse seemed inexperienced. The space was lovely though, very "aesthetic", she said. At US$22, it wasn't too bad a deal.<br /><br /><br /><u>Sisowath Quay and FCC Phnom Penh</u><br /><br />On our last evening in Phnom Penh, it seemed like too nice a night to retire just yet. We ambled along Street 19, until our surroundings got noticeably darker and smellier. That's when we decided it was wiser to hop out to Sisowath Quay. At least there we only had to deal with the beggars and street children who were out in full force, it being a Friday night I presume.<br /><br />We eventually ended up at FCC Phnom Penh, an institution in Phnon Penh's nightlife, for drinks.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKClHVF-UK4LXe8vgk5VtC8U67J7BhBeNsHwqJVv6cK4kqWbxZ_qKvdEohTk2rG-rQ8DFe70GmgZ5sfGbSbXfhLZYY99RJMkkFsVlsJCUWC3Ytk_oWWUjNyOfsJALodJGKTIvLv6ojhb8/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+326.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKClHVF-UK4LXe8vgk5VtC8U67J7BhBeNsHwqJVv6cK4kqWbxZ_qKvdEohTk2rG-rQ8DFe70GmgZ5sfGbSbXfhLZYY99RJMkkFsVlsJCUWC3Ytk_oWWUjNyOfsJALodJGKTIvLv6ojhb8/s320/8+Dec+07+326.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">coke light and a cranberry mojito</div><br />Seated on the balcony, we had a good view of the goings-on on the street below, touts approaching tourists, tuk tuk drivers hustling for business, raucous groups of foreigners having too much to drink...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rAdtzSTkRdt4v99iMcN0cZ9ahLwdSRnoNCubwL4J_DEysWkBkSjO-U4iqbDbYSPAMRwuyI5L_4PlenvR6jEAjuotyISJ7TBoRto19slo8nLc2hoWDaY2ugUW9O-zKyAr_RERA4980hw/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+346.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rAdtzSTkRdt4v99iMcN0cZ9ahLwdSRnoNCubwL4J_DEysWkBkSjO-U4iqbDbYSPAMRwuyI5L_4PlenvR6jEAjuotyISJ7TBoRto19slo8nLc2hoWDaY2ugUW9O-zKyAr_RERA4980hw/s320/8+Dec+07+346.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">watching the comings and goings on Sisowath Quay</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtCCV7DjuUJ74lFfBOLTEyO65YbTy_SzyZT-5Z6SqJPw71EuAzBVZtcw0DbF50E7vfNtT8X7dBQNV354lG_dS5z_Fd97JUPo2eX_L4z_WP9RIclhsmiCXOhUJ7MZEepa8r6bfw2TW_hc/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+333.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtCCV7DjuUJ74lFfBOLTEyO65YbTy_SzyZT-5Z6SqJPw71EuAzBVZtcw0DbF50E7vfNtT8X7dBQNV354lG_dS5z_Fd97JUPo2eX_L4z_WP9RIclhsmiCXOhUJ7MZEepa8r6bfw2TW_hc/s320/8+Dec+07+333.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">hey, how patriotic</div><br />Before we called it a night, I persuaded HM to have a bite. After all, the FCC's burgers are famous in their own right.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qMvsZ04un24N4KuE2WwYyqT2yQxp1kl935V1_o2_iffGrK5F66c_1GFyMClQux2DmxgQuPoTSxzJalUsTWLpUmLE8LsHfW8HOr9T6DsVknBNHcrW7V3PaTyL2CUOw17o_abNZrP6xoA/s1600-h/8+Dec+07+343.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qMvsZ04un24N4KuE2WwYyqT2yQxp1kl935V1_o2_iffGrK5F66c_1GFyMClQux2DmxgQuPoTSxzJalUsTWLpUmLE8LsHfW8HOr9T6DsVknBNHcrW7V3PaTyL2CUOw17o_abNZrP6xoA/s320/8+Dec+07+343.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">beef burger, with onions, mushrooms and bacon</div><br /><br />The burger was noteworthy - juicy and sinful!<br /><br />All too soon, our time in Phnom Penh had come to an end. The next day, we would be heading for Sihanoukville.blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649241099028598071.post-5464141374090310032007-12-22T09:55:00.000-08:002008-05-04T08:38:30.391-07:00Day 8: South to Sihanoukville<u>Leaving Phnom Penh</u><br /><br />We checked out of the Pavilion after breakfast, having arranged for two of our bags to be kept in the store room. Maraka had arrived with his friend, a much older man in his 50s or 60s, whom we shall also call "Uncle". Although we hadn't had the best of experiences with Maraka, I was in fact glad to see him. I had left my brand-new though by now much loved Keen sandals in his car, under the driver's seat, and he kindly brought them back. He wasn't about to be swayed though by my request to detour to the coastal towns of Kep and Kampot. The roads, he said, were bad. I decided to keep quiet for the moment. I had done my homework and checked with Matt, the manager of our Sihanoukville hotel, who assured me that the roads were in decent condition. We waved goodbye to Maraka and made our way out of town.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFpQnKeIKQa7riDFux7_0jGajEAAcV8xcqO-YE_wqoJvAmfh4Y09h3pvgeRra2veDgX6ON8h01UFRtYj0GmKs9KXV3m-sXL9_nS_QwO-3We6w3moWWPQ-nWk-ZHY7I1r4rXUoetIThnU/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFpQnKeIKQa7riDFux7_0jGajEAAcV8xcqO-YE_wqoJvAmfh4Y09h3pvgeRra2veDgX6ON8h01UFRtYj0GmKs9KXV3m-sXL9_nS_QwO-3We6w3moWWPQ-nWk-ZHY7I1r4rXUoetIThnU/s320/9+Dec+07+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the dusty roads of outer Phnom Penh</div><br />I waited till we stopped at a gas station to top up the tank before broaching the subject with Uncle. He scratched his head but did not say "no". I paid for the gas and we got back into the car. Suddenly, he whipped out his handphone to make a call. Oh no, I thought. True enough, he had called Maraka. The two of them jabbered away in Khmer for a while, then Uncle passed me the phone and indicated that Maraka wanted to speak to me. Finally, the moment had arrived - they wanted more money for a detour. I asked how much more. Maraka said US$90 in total, US$40 more than the US$50 for the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville run. I protested - it was but a small detour, two hours more than expected. Maraka countered by saying that by the time we reached Sihanoukville and Uncle had rested, it would be late in the day and the drive back would be tiring. Should we bypass Kep and Kampot just to save US$40 when that was but a small sum for us? After all, we had come all this way to experience what Cambodia had to offer. Moreover, Uncle seemed like a much more reasonable man. I sensed that he himself was not too concerned about the money. Whatever his arrangement with Maraka was, he seemed to feel Maraka had to have a say. If Maraka was taking a cut, the less we paid, the less Uncle would get too, I reasoned. In the end, I succumbed.<br /><br /><br /><u>From Phnom Penh to Kep</u><br /><br />Compared to Maraka, Uncle drove at a much more measured pace. At least the scenery wasn't a complete blur this time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1yAR2shdCqIJ8xH0Qm5vjfBSDBv7lqGbHDbb6x5cl22DzZ7nLxbkH_z8iicqb_vHmxHxpfnriUpM44d1p8G_X5hr2jbU5Z41I-4Wnktth8hjGbE8LKqgZcbaCwtGpWcc59dhnxTk9qlw/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1yAR2shdCqIJ8xH0Qm5vjfBSDBv7lqGbHDbb6x5cl22DzZ7nLxbkH_z8iicqb_vHmxHxpfnriUpM44d1p8G_X5hr2jbU5Z41I-4Wnktth8hjGbE8LKqgZcbaCwtGpWcc59dhnxTk9qlw/s320/9+Dec+07+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a different type of traffic jam</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxhr8ax5aILconvGyNAnapaAViGI8nUY_H6OJqxRBwhhlz_q06im_QTlvGMLWD2toC9TpDZR6wUfve3AJsda8mwyeNFXfX72rdKHk1ppsroWLyoMNEsVzqLRDtmASmgEbj7XjehZlIzE/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxhr8ax5aILconvGyNAnapaAViGI8nUY_H6OJqxRBwhhlz_q06im_QTlvGMLWD2toC9TpDZR6wUfve3AJsda8mwyeNFXfX72rdKHk1ppsroWLyoMNEsVzqLRDtmASmgEbj7XjehZlIzE/s320/9+Dec+07+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the countryside</div><br />As we wound our way south, I kept track of our progress with my map. Uncle's standard of English didn't seem to go beyond "toilet" and the names of the towns we were passing through, but it was sufficient. Four hours into the drive, we finally reached the coast.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpBQCH0Dp6fNpmopL-ppLMK2WXuFHql89rIgxz1Iowedtei1tdKKs_HVjVbH3ao3Q3H0QdCRKpL1mTMNyvF3El_V76sQUz6WSFc83zX-odAY5j2Y0aky1cXTajJlXY2yQJlqzjF_Pqqc/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpBQCH0Dp6fNpmopL-ppLMK2WXuFHql89rIgxz1Iowedtei1tdKKs_HVjVbH3ao3Q3H0QdCRKpL1mTMNyvF3El_V76sQUz6WSFc83zX-odAY5j2Y0aky1cXTajJlXY2yQJlqzjF_Pqqc/s320/9+Dec+07+013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the sea!</div><br /><br /><br /><u>Lunch in Kep</u><br /><br />Kep was once Cambodia's Riviera, the resort town for the moneyed classes. Since the outbreak of war and hostilities, its seaside villas have been abandoned and fallen into disrepair. We cruised around for a bit, Uncle driving by the old buildings for us to have a look. The place was a ghost town. Kep's current draw was its seafood, in particular, crab, and that was what we were there for.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWj54uJqipQ7RXOFg47fyuk1eNNwClTNYXCW7m0062nhg7puhxEsk-FGpEmCQKw1OAIV61A56R8VsczMbyy-ttFEUJHNIsER21n9jIo54OY8gHe3LNCnQBeaHai7v6ZiU-Pf4p9DgK_Fs/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+055.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWj54uJqipQ7RXOFg47fyuk1eNNwClTNYXCW7m0062nhg7puhxEsk-FGpEmCQKw1OAIV61A56R8VsczMbyy-ttFEUJHNIsER21n9jIo54OY8gHe3LNCnQBeaHai7v6ZiU-Pf4p9DgK_Fs/s320/9+Dec+07+055.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">take your pick of seafood joints</div><br />We parked the car and headed for the first restaurant with an English Language signboard.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsl0WmKvEd0E9J_4lxrAxezHlYC3D19eX28TYDsygR_GM8O0sYus2vV3ZCGSFLMZJQDU7cmEOyofcdKgEQbejDmmtDh2JL2_SXz-s8IcCrgg_nIhhxNoGyLSLXJln866GzQsR74u6OMI/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+053.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsl0WmKvEd0E9J_4lxrAxezHlYC3D19eX28TYDsygR_GM8O0sYus2vV3ZCGSFLMZJQDU7cmEOyofcdKgEQbejDmmtDh2JL2_SXz-s8IcCrgg_nIhhxNoGyLSLXJln866GzQsR74u6OMI/s320/9+Dec+07+053.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">our choice</div><br />The place looked reasonably clean. To our delight, the place was full of local customers, a plus point in our eyes. This was, in my eyes, our very first <strong>local</strong> meal.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkmHevq82burRzWOjSqW9uqOdTUwexXj5b2kmsoIYfWfYTNkNCteS-tQB13AqFxENDF0bZN7gq34wgUsjmGks5zDlgZh_h2GD_uckLlVKAcSUBFRAxvQfLPsCDIL0ayYA4_l9UBACkZY/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkmHevq82burRzWOjSqW9uqOdTUwexXj5b2kmsoIYfWfYTNkNCteS-tQB13AqFxENDF0bZN7gq34wgUsjmGks5zDlgZh_h2GD_uckLlVKAcSUBFRAxvQfLPsCDIL0ayYA4_l9UBACkZY/s320/9+Dec+07+021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">local patrons - alright!</div><br />Having placed our orders, we sat back to enjoy the view.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrkmU_FCh7MStSaaOT0pGP-_vt_lnWnNGwhaDbWU5VK8etKWEd7jjMr4Wty4-Av8lNjCshQsYGd1t5zfyiJ6Edul5qaKRHWaEFN4QZMrUH82_ksUwtOkUHNtyXIwb8NNl9dEzTrLR1Ws/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrkmU_FCh7MStSaaOT0pGP-_vt_lnWnNGwhaDbWU5VK8etKWEd7jjMr4Wty4-Av8lNjCshQsYGd1t5zfyiJ6Edul5qaKRHWaEFN4QZMrUH82_ksUwtOkUHNtyXIwb8NNl9dEzTrLR1Ws/s320/9+Dec+07+028.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">an agrarian utopia - the Cambodian Dream it seems</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7UxbZMgHXz4hA6-xOVN5edKhoExHZGGkpLTBpjiITY94JDFkyJCTN80RD-PWd-VFfHjXwlzTz6onnZESxKWnD0xae3PSPRDtRXTuCikYm-LSZmSMXvHrWyjMhKMRvNKnr7PMHFxsG9o/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+048.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7UxbZMgHXz4hA6-xOVN5edKhoExHZGGkpLTBpjiITY94JDFkyJCTN80RD-PWd-VFfHjXwlzTz6onnZESxKWnD0xae3PSPRDtRXTuCikYm-LSZmSMXvHrWyjMhKMRvNKnr7PMHFxsG9o/s320/9+Dec+07+048.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">you can't get seafood fresher than this</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaF3UTQ5VIPk9ctc3AzjFVFdANtiLoZHHP7uhEP2E79TA1VKXIFVNhTWOKLIRHxBH-zvxNH6u2psIjXaiX5ugTDsmdRQ4eF5tEjt-oMXTGXAA9-nUFMoFuT9fY_8XqDQls4GKSTMombI/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+046.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaF3UTQ5VIPk9ctc3AzjFVFdANtiLoZHHP7uhEP2E79TA1VKXIFVNhTWOKLIRHxBH-zvxNH6u2psIjXaiX5ugTDsmdRQ4eF5tEjt-oMXTGXAA9-nUFMoFuT9fY_8XqDQls4GKSTMombI/s320/9+Dec+07+046.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">our lunch being harvested?</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hjwKwkZWdIbG-QLpwrOtJxo62zpXzMccAecPZ8EPEOPJEmyLLjnnlEXGx4lmhxhCMHnyS3T-lZ335vmTDMvU5LyRtOw8HebUDYXtJPGtxrUneguKhO9jEXWqxfhUzidwLTEiRlS8jHo/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hjwKwkZWdIbG-QLpwrOtJxo62zpXzMccAecPZ8EPEOPJEmyLLjnnlEXGx4lmhxhCMHnyS3T-lZ335vmTDMvU5LyRtOw8HebUDYXtJPGtxrUneguKhO9jEXWqxfhUzidwLTEiRlS8jHo/s320/9+Dec+07+036.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">we could have bought some crabs to go too</div><br />The highlight of our meal was the area's signature dish - Kep crab stirfried with Kampot's famous pepper. It was unbelievably fragrant, and well worth the aggravation of dealing with Maraka, the extra transport cost and the extra time spent driving, in my humble opinion.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Em14PNV8hBJm_4hWuQNvVqfHiXRU7UyKGGe15HvWNCpCcviryju7WDMRSQcL3eXoKSNl2GudBy5x0ZII1RO4ZQc1oWKxD7MTCQAxQDIqsu99YQ4PjmTPUD0uUnj91I16rG7UJg2Z8MU/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+030.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Em14PNV8hBJm_4hWuQNvVqfHiXRU7UyKGGe15HvWNCpCcviryju7WDMRSQcL3eXoKSNl2GudBy5x0ZII1RO4ZQc1oWKxD7MTCQAxQDIqsu99YQ4PjmTPUD0uUnj91I16rG7UJg2Z8MU/s320/9+Dec+07+030.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">fried crabs with green peppercorns</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRFJmyxqD7wHkXByjFrltojpqEyt2FsO-bhZpNnlYAtNJ-WrPubkswaGok9BEu8k7hylYqCa_9YdXK4stznpklUgAN4to-EFKPub150qdvG2wF8jUO3EIX0aXZQPvUg_cyYI-WxG4ZhQ/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+042.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRFJmyxqD7wHkXByjFrltojpqEyt2FsO-bhZpNnlYAtNJ-WrPubkswaGok9BEu8k7hylYqCa_9YdXK4stznpklUgAN4to-EFKPub150qdvG2wF8jUO3EIX0aXZQPvUg_cyYI-WxG4ZhQ/s320/9+Dec+07+042.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">fried morning glory</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAi6KmFDZ8Chb6PriFJmM4ZEmpasQQtzCdeejgHjBGHZo0UNQBGiTqjoRWMCfs9EU6L9JKYrmBBr5oYI6YXbg2BZBOKA_5ycI51jXJegJPchUfyE5klNzktxGaBlqf1ZtoNijbk3avlME/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAi6KmFDZ8Chb6PriFJmM4ZEmpasQQtzCdeejgHjBGHZo0UNQBGiTqjoRWMCfs9EU6L9JKYrmBBr5oYI6YXbg2BZBOKA_5ycI51jXJegJPchUfyE5klNzktxGaBlqf1ZtoNijbk3avlME/s320/9+Dec+07+033.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">fried noodles with prawns</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOqmUT2GIa_GH8bdNq_oRQgZwQMDog8G-BgJnjcTL6-ZBn8cN8N-lDTHheNHPLSK3hkVcRfBG-GMJUo2rvYfqoRIq-iP9KSukhrmXXl3aFMOtGVg-SrDnlAzeUbCnUMo_LUfyIA5Sivc/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+035.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOqmUT2GIa_GH8bdNq_oRQgZwQMDog8G-BgJnjcTL6-ZBn8cN8N-lDTHheNHPLSK3hkVcRfBG-GMJUo2rvYfqoRIq-iP9KSukhrmXXl3aFMOtGVg-SrDnlAzeUbCnUMo_LUfyIA5Sivc/s320/9+Dec+07+035.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">fried rice with prawns</div><br />The bill for lunch came up to US$12.50, inclusive of three cans of Coke, one for each of us. While Uncle had a cigarette before hitting the road, we entertained ourselves by drooling over the grilled fish being sold just outside the restaurant.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdEpfx7TI-mV1BWxg5R0n2O5BAhC0pAlzKu-eMOROUbNLR4umH6T0jQFz4f7U7TjtmhwU6OkxFQS45TV30LNY4BWzPEFC3qdOS-yyr9JmuFmqk1A3zl_WTaWPYU-aXgxzSafVwFBpcgQ/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+050.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdEpfx7TI-mV1BWxg5R0n2O5BAhC0pAlzKu-eMOROUbNLR4umH6T0jQFz4f7U7TjtmhwU6OkxFQS45TV30LNY4BWzPEFC3qdOS-yyr9JmuFmqk1A3zl_WTaWPYU-aXgxzSafVwFBpcgQ/s320/9+Dec+07+050.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">fish onnastick - tempting...</div><br /><br /><u>On to Kampot and Sihanoukville</u><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqVtNBc30iCAYTEjRr0vLuzIzFh2lY1NX81081MEllUF3Yc1CpyM7F-zwuj92_NlrlsZPsbzt67Daqe1T7MsLIGw1qYbwBv2p0GDlPWj_6Np9IweUAnVkTSEzMT0gANrssH-wp3YaoBo/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+057.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqVtNBc30iCAYTEjRr0vLuzIzFh2lY1NX81081MEllUF3Yc1CpyM7F-zwuj92_NlrlsZPsbzt67Daqe1T7MsLIGw1qYbwBv2p0GDlPWj_6Np9IweUAnVkTSEzMT0gANrssH-wp3YaoBo/s320/9+Dec+07+057.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">on the road again</div><br />The next part of the ride was uneventful. The roads were excellent. The only noteworthy moment was driving through Kampot which reminded me of Malaysia in the 1960s or 70s. Other than that, the drive was punctuated by short naps.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGHvdXFcCwFOOR-uPoOoUWmil_MrP4xc8_uSwl3kv4XIb7HJWo9wLMLEDYb5j5CIOG2iluNNsQfpMxs_2vc-SP3HJ37FVvRZmaSvolKMl_obhm-PyU6gLuFj-vm9HzF3T2dTpQ4Ul9zg/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+063.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGHvdXFcCwFOOR-uPoOoUWmil_MrP4xc8_uSwl3kv4XIb7HJWo9wLMLEDYb5j5CIOG2iluNNsQfpMxs_2vc-SP3HJ37FVvRZmaSvolKMl_obhm-PyU6gLuFj-vm9HzF3T2dTpQ4Ul9zg/s320/9+Dec+07+063.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">are we there yet?</div><br /><br /><u>Reef Resort in Sihanoukville</u><br /><br />We finally arrived in Sihanoukville at 3.00 p.m. Uncle managed to find Reef Resort with no trouble at all. After helping us unload our bags, he left with US$80 in his pocket. The balance owing was US$72 (I had already paid US$18 for the gas) but I thought a tip of US$8 not unwarranted.<br /><br />Check in at Reef Resort was quick and easy. Matt, the manager who had been so helpful online, was not around; he was away in Phnom Penh, of all places.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6g_QLzPsXoSnPXxfHWtUOG389hE7yvFrlLD1ZQ3dfm2ghf9z45pIwIRhEZIMZ1vSaMEnoaMPbznZR-_srsWOn5UTp52qMqzLElzLkldD_qI-3YMPxA2jHPC4_szellVqsPt4hEGYFUs/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+065.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6g_QLzPsXoSnPXxfHWtUOG389hE7yvFrlLD1ZQ3dfm2ghf9z45pIwIRhEZIMZ1vSaMEnoaMPbznZR-_srsWOn5UTp52qMqzLElzLkldD_qI-3YMPxA2jHPC4_szellVqsPt4hEGYFUs/s320/9+Dec+07+065.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the pool as viewed from our porch</div><br />We were pleased to find Reef Resort extremely clean and comfortable, if not luxurious. It reminded us of Tegal Sari, our favourite little hotel in Ubud, Bali, in that great pains had been taken to ensure that everything was just so.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcFONJ_OwAQ7O-jQNFtR4Ff3GoMRXzsfxdOCzXJZGsxb4hlsKBeAWT4VK86W0q3rEXiOXWfZKOqDKV7ckyRJS4GUBphg0DXrC17asT0qA7bhey03KwXa0JUoMWbP-sf9erQLPmTU19DQ/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+068.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcFONJ_OwAQ7O-jQNFtR4Ff3GoMRXzsfxdOCzXJZGsxb4hlsKBeAWT4VK86W0q3rEXiOXWfZKOqDKV7ckyRJS4GUBphg0DXrC17asT0qA7bhey03KwXa0JUoMWbP-sf9erQLPmTU19DQ/s320/9+Dec+07+068.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">someone had taken the trouble to make the place look nice</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpJTCmwMmm-CCW1Au0OjzC0BYprTJxC6Z7PRgQ2JdAkM64tuW77daymObkC31OIZNbRbddmQX-N7XBaZdgU9wJqGaDPmSrqbd7fWhPVJR2zXHsPvPUYbi_ZKZ5MKk89mKpU1VH8bU2d4/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+076.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpJTCmwMmm-CCW1Au0OjzC0BYprTJxC6Z7PRgQ2JdAkM64tuW77daymObkC31OIZNbRbddmQX-N7XBaZdgU9wJqGaDPmSrqbd7fWhPVJR2zXHsPvPUYbi_ZKZ5MKk89mKpU1VH8bU2d4/s320/9+Dec+07+076.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">lots of storage space and a safe</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ccg1wXI_D_pI9chfLyX8AHCcAT5dqifwBMRUuZatjvtpN74_o5cZNOqr4gnIx33zf22CS7dIMPu8Y1WlOTW5KHbMgEkVuxWRB7sRwQ1n7FTIuDb5UbWv3RhqK1xj0MFve01YL3oNqY0/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+066.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ccg1wXI_D_pI9chfLyX8AHCcAT5dqifwBMRUuZatjvtpN74_o5cZNOqr4gnIx33zf22CS7dIMPu8Y1WlOTW5KHbMgEkVuxWRB7sRwQ1n7FTIuDb5UbWv3RhqK1xj0MFve01YL3oNqY0/s320/9+Dec+07+066.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">hey toothbrushes and toothpaste!</div><br />Somewhat worn out by the long drive and the glare, we were glad to be able to get into the shower and spend the rest of the afternoon in the cool of the room.<br /><br /><br /><u>Ochheuteal Beach</u><br /><br />As dusk fell, we hopped out for a quick trot around. Reef Resort's main drawback, for some, might be its location. It was five minutes from the beach, rather than on the beach itself, and getting to the beach required walking down a rocky path.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKUAHNi2BrUepCEOFeywxmME1MosE6Lb3IdXmYs-KFGNbPtDficVOd9NJ1_4uaYE7IuRiZ2CuK16EpCUymaqYP9eafxa8qEGlpBMinRPJDWVsa3VeDk5sII5bUYYyk-zzwRLoESMZgEI/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+081.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKUAHNi2BrUepCEOFeywxmME1MosE6Lb3IdXmYs-KFGNbPtDficVOd9NJ1_4uaYE7IuRiZ2CuK16EpCUymaqYP9eafxa8qEGlpBMinRPJDWVsa3VeDk5sII5bUYYyk-zzwRLoESMZgEI/s320/9+Dec+07+081.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">our first look at Ochheuteal Beach</div><br />In the fading light, the beach itself was not spectacular, spoilt as we have been by the beaches of Thailand and Australia, but we could see why it would be popular with the backpackers and expatriates keen to party hardy on a shoestring budget. The place was crowded with bars, barbecue joints and guesthouses, and could boast of a mean sunset.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLCcjqJjyS0iLoXyx_aWT3ndd2XvqGqL2YJaU7yLgmn7CsY8x3lTJ5qWgyBFpUhKFiDgNR3ilQqz7C9pht_3DRXV6K_W10D6KM3a5adwCvAAEzqvK_evAZdH5kJPQRHMKG2kgog6g8Mk/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+090.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLCcjqJjyS0iLoXyx_aWT3ndd2XvqGqL2YJaU7yLgmn7CsY8x3lTJ5qWgyBFpUhKFiDgNR3ilQqz7C9pht_3DRXV6K_W10D6KM3a5adwCvAAEzqvK_evAZdH5kJPQRHMKG2kgog6g8Mk/s320/9+Dec+07+090.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the highlight of Occheauteal Beach</div><br /><br /><u>Dinner at Mick's and Craig's</u><br /><br />On the other side of Reef Resort was the Golden Lion roundabout, a landmark in Sihanoukville. The most noteworthy building on that side was a casino. We were increasingly unimpressed by Sihanoukville.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSjNPN8S_2VtoN7qqlQGq2K-ItS_pCNVxhcWMQE1I6RVZG7qXHvwedoapvpWbiX_b3tH5RV6aR4HxRdgwHhaA9YE4ZmrLJUH3aINwSApuMyfyqWVnnSgw8jC3wzqTJ_beHKBpCxMms_Y/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+102.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSjNPN8S_2VtoN7qqlQGq2K-ItS_pCNVxhcWMQE1I6RVZG7qXHvwedoapvpWbiX_b3tH5RV6aR4HxRdgwHhaA9YE4ZmrLJUH3aINwSApuMyfyqWVnnSgw8jC3wzqTJ_beHKBpCxMms_Y/s320/9+Dec+07+102.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Reef Resort's neighbour</div><br />We chanced upon Mick and Craig's Guesthouse, a couple of doors down from Reef Resort. The signboard outside proudly advertised its Sunday roasts. Ever suckers for Brit nosh, for its novelty value if nothing else, we wandered in and ordered exactly that.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEr4SVbaBlIRzCdkKUsQk5YlOSf2UjfWHChBs47JcrAzWALuRA98LpzRnhlFSUakvy3yeFgFBem5xrWxjG9Rf3UMlRbcDVUMr-aT3LB4-9pzJv_PbDUvPfCmThDGJbzkVWuqt4OibVqGA/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+099.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEr4SVbaBlIRzCdkKUsQk5YlOSf2UjfWHChBs47JcrAzWALuRA98LpzRnhlFSUakvy3yeFgFBem5xrWxjG9Rf3UMlRbcDVUMr-aT3LB4-9pzJv_PbDUvPfCmThDGJbzkVWuqt4OibVqGA/s320/9+Dec+07+099.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Sunday Roast Part I</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4wUb_U6jovKzbDMLKEL_yiSO8BEayiEbfznC8nYPG_l1RHvE08NahhdgrCHG-MJ2I2dCmqD6taRZieKPOeeh3XwhhApO8u-Hk01jd3TyeAjZitN7ScD4YiCxq6PrT5dljlJGAwxnrx8/s1600-h/9+Dec+07+101.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4wUb_U6jovKzbDMLKEL_yiSO8BEayiEbfznC8nYPG_l1RHvE08NahhdgrCHG-MJ2I2dCmqD6taRZieKPOeeh3XwhhApO8u-Hk01jd3TyeAjZitN7ScD4YiCxq6PrT5dljlJGAwxnrx8/s320/9+Dec+07+101.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Sunday Roast Part II</div><br />For US$12.50 in total, we had a choice of roast chicken or roast pork, to go with our cauliflower cheese, peas, onion hash, mashed potatoes, beetroot, carrots, potato wedges, deepfried sweet potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and brown sauce, plus soft drinks. As we tucked in, we must have looked like we were enjoying our food. The people at the next table decided to order the same thing. Unfortunately, they were French so it was unlikely that they derived as much pleasure from the meal as we did.<br /><br />And with that, our first day in Sihanoukville came to an end.blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649241099028598071.post-49228793629273270462007-12-21T07:18:00.000-08:002008-05-04T08:44:34.744-07:00Day 9: Sun, Sand and Sea<u>Breakfast at Reef Resort</u><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJDeqjgyNB04OMYNZ808iMFjseypn3rm5v0YNaeDMJWUhbby7bEA0lDaIpIk8uElHpiLuXAulhvvFj6x_3BoEMaAYEJKloOq4djwGKf0_oe-_HNAmnd63xGc8jWM31qQYE_bg_Y29MJ0/s1600-h/10+Dec+07+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJDeqjgyNB04OMYNZ808iMFjseypn3rm5v0YNaeDMJWUhbby7bEA0lDaIpIk8uElHpiLuXAulhvvFj6x_3BoEMaAYEJKloOq4djwGKf0_oe-_HNAmnd63xGc8jWM31qQYE_bg_Y29MJ0/s320/10+Dec+07+002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Reef Resort in the morning light</div><br />We started off with breakfast at Reef Resort's restaurant. Breakfast was included in the room tariff which was US$45 a night for a poolside room, and the breakfast menu was a nice change from the Pavilion's standard breakfast.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9lvhCZBm3-WGoof9q9VxqsDC7yIzHa4sR0JHf2iy6UYNss_ifUz3hQfL7gd13Jf744v1nyi-v5XMu9QGrQjlbsIzuQMwX8lVrqg8a-XbH-3IgavURByasP1FsU78ecGDRDCnuPSYAR8/s1600-h/10+Dec+07+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9lvhCZBm3-WGoof9q9VxqsDC7yIzHa4sR0JHf2iy6UYNss_ifUz3hQfL7gd13Jf744v1nyi-v5XMu9QGrQjlbsIzuQMwX8lVrqg8a-XbH-3IgavURByasP1FsU78ecGDRDCnuPSYAR8/s320/10+Dec+07+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">HM's 3-egg omelette, with tomatoes, mushrooms and cheese</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyf7CFh_jt-SObC56DL2JNh3MdzRpgfnmQMhyhQTF1gNnx1GoMr2jH783mqwKy9-hRej9Zoflkx1_EBC1VaqAP1AIaLVo3pEt2wYoLRTEACNUK9MS3ADFtc98J2ZedBLj_2mLqmQVDTAw/s1600-h/10+Dec+07+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyf7CFh_jt-SObC56DL2JNh3MdzRpgfnmQMhyhQTF1gNnx1GoMr2jH783mqwKy9-hRej9Zoflkx1_EBC1VaqAP1AIaLVo3pEt2wYoLRTEACNUK9MS3ADFtc98J2ZedBLj_2mLqmQVDTAw/s320/10+Dec+07+010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">my homemade pork and beef sausage, with egg and baco, on a soft bun</div><br />The breakfast was excellent. Macca's - eat your heart out. The sausage sandwich is what McMuffins aspire to be (and if they don't, they should!)<br /><br /><br /><u>Ochheuteal Beach</u><br /><br />While Sihanoukville wasn't exactly a one-horse town, it was clear that there wasn't much else to do except hang out at the beach, unless one preferred the delights of the massage parlours and casinos. We walked along the long narrow stretch of beach, looking for a good spot to settle down, but try as we did, we could not seem to find one. The beach was pretty by day, the sand reasonably fine and white, and the water certainly clear, but somehow we weren't excited. Perhaps the problem lay with us. If we were truly honest with ourselves, our beach bum days were over. Either that or we had turned into beach snobs.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowv3L3vv2A6wnv6idkinFEhUxHY0ijjLOZbWe5oMYPZvIKAqZNI4FO4Wik-2pktqPgrWqlWSRDlDYNRcuuO2ppuUieMxR6pDvZ7i8N_EZWoweGueaYO5lIhibQvnOyTWibCiC5NTrTCM/s1600-h/10+Dec+07+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowv3L3vv2A6wnv6idkinFEhUxHY0ijjLOZbWe5oMYPZvIKAqZNI4FO4Wik-2pktqPgrWqlWSRDlDYNRcuuO2ppuUieMxR6pDvZ7i8N_EZWoweGueaYO5lIhibQvnOyTWibCiC5NTrTCM/s320/10+Dec+07+024.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">need help relaxing? check out the signboard</div><br />Our day at the beach turned into a long walk, punctuated by the occasional happening.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3VEOvtML045rYvck_FmvBbT6vrbbmIKzilF54dUfoQWVC7eJufPaHu89Iu-Yl0P4ZqvIiQxeMcCgmJrk0SPoqwz1qE-e-Uynq76unIkCFiJ3Y_5FfMP9CNYauHtdCSJ8zmL1PKne54o/s1600-h/10+Dec+07+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3VEOvtML045rYvck_FmvBbT6vrbbmIKzilF54dUfoQWVC7eJufPaHu89Iu-Yl0P4ZqvIiQxeMcCgmJrk0SPoqwz1qE-e-Uynq76unIkCFiJ3Y_5FfMP9CNYauHtdCSJ8zmL1PKne54o/s320/10+Dec+07+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the one we didn't manage to save</div><br />We found these sea creatures drying out on the beach, left there by the receding tide. At one point, HM made me pick up one with a leaf and put it back in the water.<br /><br />Ochheuteal Beach is just one of several in the Sihanoukville area, but it's the most established, most developed and most popular one, not just for expatriates from Phnom Penh on weekend jaunts but for locals as well.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijthhwk5ZUD3gp5a1-NP4EOYvzQH4AyUT3nyp1H3-VMjdRdefd50421TV4GBmdWUD7t74vZlXQm8ZuRSYAXgW2weZJmZNTAluUxTQsErpDUJDrka7yeE0CRxlb03YKFHBlMQ9FH4_4P0/s1600-h/10+Dec+07+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijthhwk5ZUD3gp5a1-NP4EOYvzQH4AyUT3nyp1H3-VMjdRdefd50421TV4GBmdWUD7t74vZlXQm8ZuRSYAXgW2weZJmZNTAluUxTQsErpDUJDrka7yeE0CRxlb03YKFHBlMQ9FH4_4P0/s320/10+Dec+07+019.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">local kids having fun</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10S1wAKCwhf1qXsNB7JhnWCn0N494CVxtZPaudaN-mqCsUP65dZwlDjmdk7yzYv3YUR4TW2lCYn3aqBTXjnIM05z8_3cOxJcTQVHFYeGuATK8W8iptiRVibWI7UHclYwKI1shr3gvkXg/s1600-h/10+Dec+07+027.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10S1wAKCwhf1qXsNB7JhnWCn0N494CVxtZPaudaN-mqCsUP65dZwlDjmdk7yzYv3YUR4TW2lCYn3aqBTXjnIM05z8_3cOxJcTQVHFYeGuATK8W8iptiRVibWI7UHclYwKI1shr3gvkXg/s320/10+Dec+07+027.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">rambutans for sale</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZVVKV-i1rrPhyphenhyphenWB9-UWMvJWeG2iklgB9ORsFBvVPJ-RFYMcFikhc2L9iV9uVjHnA-JV4sNo3nkLh-5UpxNFKe8iAWuyFfXFJZVyvp2psBFMzYlveryuOLuovD8TzFafN3iToXFU8SmM/s1600-h/10+Dec+07+036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZVVKV-i1rrPhyphenhyphenWB9-UWMvJWeG2iklgB9ORsFBvVPJ-RFYMcFikhc2L9iV9uVjHnA-JV4sNo3nkLh-5UpxNFKe8iAWuyFfXFJZVyvp2psBFMzYlveryuOLuovD8TzFafN3iToXFU8SmM/s320/10+Dec+07+036.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">pencil boats are apparently popular just about everywhere</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpQMzuZOtLJK_aEWkisiGkcoyDRo8ML7zNtkbHHchGBziWButjfqeY830nrlh2V3gMkGixn_htb5zvUbnOqE5aCkI5uDIl3594X1JlEgx7SYdCc1C6IkhTvnvv7w0KEdwoz0bB8sWVCo/s1600-h/10+Dec+07+039.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpQMzuZOtLJK_aEWkisiGkcoyDRo8ML7zNtkbHHchGBziWButjfqeY830nrlh2V3gMkGixn_htb5zvUbnOqE5aCkI5uDIl3594X1JlEgx7SYdCc1C6IkhTvnvv7w0KEdwoz0bB8sWVCo/s320/10+Dec+07+039.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">harvesting shellfish</div><br />We met an old lady, possibly a vagrant, looking for shellfish. What fascinated us was how she held the plastic bag in which she stored her finds - hanging from the one tooth she had remaining.<br /><br />Eventually, we wandered into a beachfront bar run by the Eden guesthouse. This was situated at the quieter end of the beach, the perfect place to just sit back and relax.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhKHWg54mvYSUbPq_BNv6MjaJ_AbjqF64WUBES9aFeoVjHuVis7NR3Pn2gtT0A4yZAG6kIHAbDfU11uxBXuGVPMspgxWGYj_NsZ4gKyAdcgxehHxYbfk78h3EDlC_YxYZEyiCFyaH3IA/s1600-h/10+Dec+07+054.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhKHWg54mvYSUbPq_BNv6MjaJ_AbjqF64WUBES9aFeoVjHuVis7NR3Pn2gtT0A4yZAG6kIHAbDfU11uxBXuGVPMspgxWGYj_NsZ4gKyAdcgxehHxYbfk78h3EDlC_YxYZEyiCFyaH3IA/s320/10+Dec+07+054.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the way to Paradise?</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglY2DJ9Z17OzL_ByYA4uiF-W8FNvUH4bg21He1yw0UCMBlS1_C2pp02cAqFCS_tRLbplgdAovSY_MISwtJp0pwkYSP87aDxyCuCkwul9LZv05yyYseVgaafmcQ_dE9gCmIZjhicZ799bk/s1600-h/10+Dec+07+056.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglY2DJ9Z17OzL_ByYA4uiF-W8FNvUH4bg21He1yw0UCMBlS1_C2pp02cAqFCS_tRLbplgdAovSY_MISwtJp0pwkYSP87aDxyCuCkwul9LZv05yyYseVgaafmcQ_dE9gCmIZjhicZ799bk/s320/10+Dec+07+056.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">freshness in a glass... or two</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNxyEz6MxWTP5kOwnLQLc3vVJ62ve7W1PjAwMJGJIb4goPtyZTaPapTlvYViVo7pKV74hngK_46VRUmEjAQe0v4RT2oMuMpU5YokbHBy8XfYWFosqDouBiPKY1WYvbsTBn1aKUh2Umg0/s1600-h/10+Dec+07+064.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNxyEz6MxWTP5kOwnLQLc3vVJ62ve7W1PjAwMJGJIb4goPtyZTaPapTlvYViVo7pKV74hngK_46VRUmEjAQe0v4RT2oMuMpU5YokbHBy8XfYWFosqDouBiPKY1WYvbsTBn1aKUh2Umg0/s320/10+Dec+07+064.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a paradise for man and animal</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFAeblQZ1GCFpHD_dGmnO2rt56-RvyAZYR_35phbIpKduRvjHCvlkpXV1eEQZ3elT9Wnvtzh0_4zKhPIxa05kNG91Nq18znI2Eqn9Q8v2U5Rpgw5vIop2aqEu24hhgc7_9tfYRuvSGNY/s1600-h/10+Dec+07+077.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFAeblQZ1GCFpHD_dGmnO2rt56-RvyAZYR_35phbIpKduRvjHCvlkpXV1eEQZ3elT9Wnvtzh0_4zKhPIxa05kNG91Nq18znI2Eqn9Q8v2U5Rpgw5vIop2aqEu24hhgc7_9tfYRuvSGNY/s320/10+Dec+07+077.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">picture perfect</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztZcS4NiwkvEvgYOXqT1kn5DpzW-stStqqrYzNYLdlAqMSWh0mgEwJ_yFsBXGxExTWN12qTTDSYGS9EvhjD-EhO4cnrzWvONr1dY1fi8qdrw2ZrrbsF57-OxsO12jq09gzr25QmeBqNM/s1600-h/10+Dec+07+086.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztZcS4NiwkvEvgYOXqT1kn5DpzW-stStqqrYzNYLdlAqMSWh0mgEwJ_yFsBXGxExTWN12qTTDSYGS9EvhjD-EhO4cnrzWvONr1dY1fi8qdrw2ZrrbsF57-OxsO12jq09gzr25QmeBqNM/s320/10+Dec+07+086.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">not taking "no" for an answer</div><br />The only splotch on our picture of calm was a persistent young lady who insisted that HM buy the bracelets she was selling ("I made them myself. You see all the different designs...") She stopped several times to "talk" to HM; the latter eventually caved in and bought two bracelets for US$1.<br /><br /><br /><u>An Afternoon at Reef Resort</u><br /><br />Even in the shade of the trees sheltering the Eden bar, the heat became an issue. We decided to return to Reef Resort.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZNfZKi9koWel9G4shyphenhyphenkVFF8QNPvPcwrgnce1uykUB_aK7gsAG8EB_7MQDg1QAk2Y1VIfcFEHxYnWSVNAw4-P_KWLCTcSTMq9UwuIxB-KH3ehOl3eqE4E3DFg1HAh8bzxrZqNnht1aCo/s1600-h/10+Dec+07+092.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZNfZKi9koWel9G4shyphenhyphenkVFF8QNPvPcwrgnce1uykUB_aK7gsAG8EB_7MQDg1QAk2Y1VIfcFEHxYnWSVNAw4-P_KWLCTcSTMq9UwuIxB-KH3ehOl3eqE4E3DFg1HAh8bzxrZqNnht1aCo/s320/10+Dec+07+092.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">at Reef Resort's bar</div><br />We sat at Reef Resort's bar for a while, quaffing down Coke Light while watching the young staff entertain a young guest. We had to give it to Reef Resort - they had the nicest, friendliest staff.<br /><br />Thirst quenched, we retreated to our room, for some holiday reading and football on the tele. When hunger set in, HM could not bear to venture out into the heat and so we ordered lunch in.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCslp1g0VntkW1US98Tj9axryb-TLp7mtfrWq1kWX-4YWuwgwb9j3O-hshmPUfj1cHrAZb7Wm5NlR3zVKtlcuscFRLuXFbXoSGt83LDunhjbKVUalAsBsYnu0KFgUGgMnx-Y3Q6YSa5s/s1600-h/10+Dec+07+094.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCslp1g0VntkW1US98Tj9axryb-TLp7mtfrWq1kWX-4YWuwgwb9j3O-hshmPUfj1cHrAZb7Wm5NlR3zVKtlcuscFRLuXFbXoSGt83LDunhjbKVUalAsBsYnu0KFgUGgMnx-Y3Q6YSa5s/s320/10+Dec+07+094.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">our lunch - before</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lVhCMagdHJlv8wg3Gdu09FshgwYFNSOKTQ-AP1XM-lg38nO6qF8_u1zl68qkU3AGiWZcwMsF1hVVsHrQnEZiD_d1uqrOb9qILn9TLwr6fGOUMTWHgKBhPg7mPGz6xr5uFP5piIxjyfU/s1600-h/10+Dec+07+095.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lVhCMagdHJlv8wg3Gdu09FshgwYFNSOKTQ-AP1XM-lg38nO6qF8_u1zl68qkU3AGiWZcwMsF1hVVsHrQnEZiD_d1uqrOb9qILn9TLwr6fGOUMTWHgKBhPg7mPGz6xr5uFP5piIxjyfU/s320/10+Dec+07+095.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">our lunch - after</div><br />We ate our lunch on the cool tiled floor, like a picnic. There was fresh barracuda and chips, homemade chicken and vegetable soup with croutons, and way too much salad; we had ordered a side salad not realising that the other items came with greens too. (We have to confess we stuck the leftover salad into the fridge and forgot all about it... Sorry, Matt and Co.)<br /><br />When the sun started to dip in the sky, we moved out to the pool. It was a saltwater pool no less. It was peaceful enough till a couple, an American GI type with his Asian girlfriend, appeared. She spent the next hour literally clinging on to him, legs wrapped around him in the pool, lying on him in the deck chair, and chattering, incessantly. The sight we could block out but the sound, the sound, we had to put up with till they picked up their towels, strolled out to his motorbike parked in front of Reef Resort and zoomed away. How sad.<br /><br /><br /><u>Dinner at Chez Mari-yan</u><br /><br />On our last night in Sihanoukville, I decided to go to a hilltop restaurant for the view. I had read somewhere that Chez Mari-yan, a guesthouse cum restaurant perched high on the hill, had the best view of the sunset and the Sihanoukville port, so we were headed there. But first we had to cut a deal with one of the friendly neighbourhood tuk tuk drivers. I found the tuk tuks in Sihanoukville expensive, compared to the ones in Phnom Penh, but I suppose it was a sellers' market. Unless we wanted to rent a motobike, and god forbid ride it unlicensed and untrained, we were at their mercy.<br /><br />The somewhat scenic ride took us across town to Victory Hill. Halfway up the hill, the tuk tuk driver stopped the vehicle at the mouth of a narrow unpaved lane. He explained that his tuk tuk could not access the last 100 m and that we would have to complete the journey on foot. He would wait for us at that very spot, for the journey home. To my dismay, the lane was unlit and the path underfoot was rocky. Going up wouldn't be a problem, but coming down in the dark was another story altogether.<br /><br />The trot up the lane brought us to a set of wooden bungalows laid out in a large garden. Out on a patch of grass, a group of French men and women were playing <em>boules </em>of all things. They acknowledged our presence with nods and smiles. We made our way to the main building, a large rather ramshackle structure, where a flight of stairs led up to a barely lit verandah. This did not seem promising. We stood there tentatively till Madam (we assumed she was Mari Yan) came and ushered us to a low coffee table with accompanying sofa.<br /><br />The verandah turned dining area overlooked the rather lush if unkempt garden but it was evident that this was no lookout point. We mentioned it to Madam who promptly asked a passing staff member to bring us up to the seaview rooms. We traipsed across the planks masquerading as wooden walkways and up wooden stairs till we reached the highest set of bungalows. There, on the verandah outside the seaview rooms, we could see all the way to the port.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-YowLHSnv8e9MLXAXQ54WwWvKoMOvjaE48xiFPdXJxU45sfF8bMp8l5MR8m0TcdaB0ERko7NUJO9yh9UsxaXThqb0uEVv7HdVyUQfsfBoquyq-9A-Vx01AbE_IG84DJ9v3SbwaKkN1w/s1600-h/10+Dec+07+104.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-YowLHSnv8e9MLXAXQ54WwWvKoMOvjaE48xiFPdXJxU45sfF8bMp8l5MR8m0TcdaB0ERko7NUJO9yh9UsxaXThqb0uEVv7HdVyUQfsfBoquyq-9A-Vx01AbE_IG84DJ9v3SbwaKkN1w/s320/10+Dec+07+104.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Port of Sihanoukville</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhivaIwJuw90b8FnmtdF1Sn3SPaSMiQPddhHgrb_RDD3O1V_3wGbSx7eaGK5vSw4KPxyHP3_ZOU2hgZvfuf-CJ3N4u8gF0lAjQfPHcq6hDreC4sBTUmVm1kceowQ8oDgjQX52jCyjysa8/s1600-h/10+Dec+07+106.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhivaIwJuw90b8FnmtdF1Sn3SPaSMiQPddhHgrb_RDD3O1V_3wGbSx7eaGK5vSw4KPxyHP3_ZOU2hgZvfuf-CJ3N4u8gF0lAjQfPHcq6hDreC4sBTUmVm1kceowQ8oDgjQX52jCyjysa8/s320/10+Dec+07+106.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">how romantic the town looks</div><br />It was a little odd being perched outside other people's rooms, so we didn't linger. We made our way back down to our sofa in the dining room. The space may have been romantic in some sense, a certain rustic charm, but all we could think about was the mozzies lurking under the table.<br /><br />Our dinner was a simple one, steamed rice with two dishes, and iced coffee for two.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib35JESDgfzjJ7PsKWyDLALHkA_s4jV_fj2yGuOF99S5O1IySNtf3EavGbfbthLVvm-3ZrBVzruPjr1CnY8dBFz_NQnkyR4rNXgzyelDE9jTC_twepm1lG9c4K6qS4YRU2XZjGW2eR-60/s1600-h/10+Dec+07+113.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib35JESDgfzjJ7PsKWyDLALHkA_s4jV_fj2yGuOF99S5O1IySNtf3EavGbfbthLVvm-3ZrBVzruPjr1CnY8dBFz_NQnkyR4rNXgzyelDE9jTC_twepm1lG9c4K6qS4YRU2XZjGW2eR-60/s320/10+Dec+07+113.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">khmer fish soup</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqsogH9IFuH3ZznC43W7_aet1eJUdzu-Y0xjCgkEInzCor7kJ5TOhUZimzQITVmDRppGgrUTci8mzxbmUllzurbOU2k1ep2yrv_irDiAay0boMwv2J8jqHTFbacedLTkGIO5C2T7wCmM/s1600-h/10+Dec+07+116.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqsogH9IFuH3ZznC43W7_aet1eJUdzu-Y0xjCgkEInzCor7kJ5TOhUZimzQITVmDRppGgrUTci8mzxbmUllzurbOU2k1ep2yrv_irDiAay0boMwv2J8jqHTFbacedLTkGIO5C2T7wCmM/s320/10+Dec+07+116.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">stirfried squid with ginger</div><br />The food was pleasantly homecooked in feel, and the bill only came up with US$9.10. We thanked Madam and made our way down the hill, fortunately, without incident.<br /><br />Our tuk tuk driver was waiting for us. We asked him to stop at a supermarket on the way, hoping to buy some snacks for our ride back to Phnom Penh the next day. He took us to Samudera Supermarket but we couldn't find anything that we would have liked. Too bad Sihanoukville's premier bakery, Starfish Bakery, had closed for the day.<br /><br />We arrived back at Reef Resort to finally meet Matt in person. He explained that he had been away in Phnom Penh to pick up supplies on, get this, his motorbike. We took the opportunity to tell him how helpful and friendly his staff were. We also decided to settle our bill which came up to US$117 for two nights' accommodation, one lunch, assorted drinks, and two bus tickets to Phnom Penh that Reef Resort had helped us to book. When Matt realised that we were due to leave early the next morning, he offered to come in early and ensure that the restaurant was ready for breakfast, a fact we were most grateful for, having failed to secure supplies for the trip. Three cheers for Reef Resort!blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649241099028598071.post-1618937568636152522007-12-20T11:40:00.000-08:002008-05-24T03:10:07.395-07:00Day 10: Back to Phnom Penh, Yay!<u>Our Last Breakfast at Reef Resort</u><br /><br />We woke that morning, happy in the thought of returning to Phnom Penh that day. Sadly, Sihanoukville was pleasant enough but there wasn't that much going for us, or perhaps we needed to stay longer to discover its hitherto hidden appeal. Before that though, we had another excellent breakfast to partake of, courtesy of Reef Resort.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNSCs5GQoIzN5wS4PFTvEuK_6RjUdGYnaiEwuHZ7UdwOSR0P1Sc4BlWTicJNNRPzq7lFVZc9LOGkR2SadhA-g7gDhPGOSmVD-CsrI04rVnSzuEvWq4tKLW9-tcpURz04fIkzalxtV5Lg/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNSCs5GQoIzN5wS4PFTvEuK_6RjUdGYnaiEwuHZ7UdwOSR0P1Sc4BlWTicJNNRPzq7lFVZc9LOGkR2SadhA-g7gDhPGOSmVD-CsrI04rVnSzuEvWq4tKLW9-tcpURz04fIkzalxtV5Lg/s320/11+Dec+07+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">HM's oats with maple syrup</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLC9piqAwXkYqxgvJqjsFoy6EFmNknfNWVA1HCqDrZKZq4yJGT3zWtPQrL86Kpr8TBpZZxnJeg65OF6U_IxGIPMMTZIlYTuarA3Bb1iB0Q2JunY4f7xE7abQrw1s99vK_fr6Akf1rIx50/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLC9piqAwXkYqxgvJqjsFoy6EFmNknfNWVA1HCqDrZKZq4yJGT3zWtPQrL86Kpr8TBpZZxnJeg65OF6U_IxGIPMMTZIlYTuarA3Bb1iB0Q2JunY4f7xE7abQrw1s99vK_fr6Akf1rIx50/s320/11+Dec+07+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">my breakfast - another bite of that sandwich</div><br />Before we left, we asked Matt if he had any recommendation for us <em>vis a vis</em> good food in Phnom Penh. His reply was unexpected - a stall selling pork noodle soup!<br /><br /><br /><u>From Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh</u><br /><br />A friendly neighbourhood tuk tuk driver took us to the bus station downtown, where our Mekong Express bus waited for us. While not as plush as the Thai long-distance buses, this was still pretty comfortable, particularly considering the fact that our tickets only cost US$6 each. Plenty of bang for our buck, I'd say.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5idEzlrtcskXFg8RaioGmWE-53yzMleQNCSoOA1HjoKSuNWxTdAHOIlFuY_73kI7o6B6gKQUZC0KhHwiAj8GLpH167eiDAizyNOFbkyh0hPUx1S6zZ83jNh3CBj-eAD8hZtEHcd02qU/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5idEzlrtcskXFg8RaioGmWE-53yzMleQNCSoOA1HjoKSuNWxTdAHOIlFuY_73kI7o6B6gKQUZC0KhHwiAj8GLpH167eiDAizyNOFbkyh0hPUx1S6zZ83jNh3CBj-eAD8hZtEHcd02qU/s320/11+Dec+07+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">check out those seat pads</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98u-WF2LllbvvDoC2XQN5MvxoXN46zdSfs_ga1AXd7lOjQE7IDDb9Zn9kQ9IMoWMUKuNe3KKXni4HRFoEw044sv-I3xJnIodPHu1QYKHvN7vFsySpFQJVsyr1vvXNpy2CfnAYUydVBVc/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98u-WF2LllbvvDoC2XQN5MvxoXN46zdSfs_ga1AXd7lOjQE7IDDb9Zn9kQ9IMoWMUKuNe3KKXni4HRFoEw044sv-I3xJnIodPHu1QYKHvN7vFsySpFQJVsyr1vvXNpy2CfnAYUydVBVc/s320/11+Dec+07+007.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">complimentary water</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8kcXrV3vvAf6HsYR4FWKqCJDwQgZq6-S_DJB2lQJnxVO29Iyn4lLJpkAZ7MowMoBEeWgCj9fYa9FTN1NqrLQMUTeuUV2OOH4XtycgzMbFOM90g21cH83wxVZHAYSPr8PddIEi_HWW_g/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8kcXrV3vvAf6HsYR4FWKqCJDwQgZq6-S_DJB2lQJnxVO29Iyn4lLJpkAZ7MowMoBEeWgCj9fYa9FTN1NqrLQMUTeuUV2OOH4XtycgzMbFOM90g21cH83wxVZHAYSPr8PddIEi_HWW_g/s320/11+Dec+07+009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a hostess with the mostest</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOX6R835Q6YuPzFi_zHEU0i68RF5byloI9o47XuFAY4U3CI6aq2pqMBz40LeKtRZEuKSU0fWPe5Dl_-TMIPyczhyphenhypheni53C-l6oLR-YUzNVoFDEdpztyNjx7_WwS62ulmqs3jrgqSpslokMg/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOX6R835Q6YuPzFi_zHEU0i68RF5byloI9o47XuFAY4U3CI6aq2pqMBz40LeKtRZEuKSU0fWPe5Dl_-TMIPyczhyphenhypheni53C-l6oLR-YUzNVoFDEdpztyNjx7_WwS62ulmqs3jrgqSpslokMg/s320/11+Dec+07+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">complimentary refreshments</div><br />The ride was pretty smooth, and they even threw in a mid-morning snack - bread stuffed with something that tasted and felt like fish floss (yummy!) and a faux cream-filled pandan cake (bleah!). Every now and then, the hostess would provide running commentary along the lines of "We are now passing a very famous temple. You cannot see it from here but...". In any case, the journey on Highway 4 wasn't a long one and there was something occasionally to look at.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuTP_LcROZA0okPDwoez8pPcKV3m8d8ZjFIPfEw1IPPKRTOV1rghMrfx7jVtMtRuULA5k6WfrOP0xQET_ausiFg-8KfFkmA3zVSfvh5zObyjYjYZRF7U9WAi69hPpiSbupP1pYuTG5vo/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuTP_LcROZA0okPDwoez8pPcKV3m8d8ZjFIPfEw1IPPKRTOV1rghMrfx7jVtMtRuULA5k6WfrOP0xQET_ausiFg-8KfFkmA3zVSfvh5zObyjYjYZRF7U9WAi69hPpiSbupP1pYuTG5vo/s320/11+Dec+07+013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">definitely the average Cambodians' favourite snack, judging from the number of carts on the streets</div><br />The highlight of our journey though was the soap opera played out in front of our very eyes. Picture this: seated a couple of rows in front of us: - on the left of the aisle, a Cambodian girl with a Caucasian man seated on her left, next to the window; on the right of the aisle, a Cambodian girl with a Caucasian man seated on her right, next to the other window, a mirror image. The men were obviously much older, in their 50s; the women were at most 20 or 21. The pair on the left spoke once in a while, quietly. The pair on the right barely interacted, but the man looked angry and the girl was distraught. In fact, the girl on the right sobbed for most of the journey, while the other girl comforted her. Were these marriages of convenience, we speculated. Was the crying girl upset at leaving home? Perhaps she had just realised she was getting the thin end of the stick. Was her man furious at her histrionics? We never got to the bottom of the "mystery".<br /><br />Four hours later, we were back in Phnom Penh and back at the Pavilion. The bus had dropped us off at one of the company's stations. This one, near Psar Thmei, was overrun with tuk tuk drivers hustling for business. Fortunately, the company had a kind of corral to keep us, the passengers, away from the grasping hands of the crowd. I looked around, trying to decide who to give our business to, and in the end went with a driver who carried a sign advertising himself as an English speaking driver. Oh well, that was as good a sign as any (pun intended).<br /><br /><br /><u>The Pavilion</u><br /><br />We checked into the Pavilion, collected our bags from the store room and were pleasantly surprised to be given the very best room in the house, Room No. 7.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEo5bAM986Jbbh5vRCLseIQNu84Q4Fgaqu7OnJdWf7FPtArKk595DfL750Cj_S89ivra1BYyEtlWFY2FhGBMSq1mjSV_Trr5KbmkeIKS74WP3KjyDcep2ojfJCBYxz2xXqsvR3B4TqN0/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEo5bAM986Jbbh5vRCLseIQNu84Q4Fgaqu7OnJdWf7FPtArKk595DfL750Cj_S89ivra1BYyEtlWFY2FhGBMSq1mjSV_Trr5KbmkeIKS74WP3KjyDcep2ojfJCBYxz2xXqsvR3B4TqN0/s320/11+Dec+07+014.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">our bit of the balcony</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5dgdDW4elWwY4gRN8B-Pgn3_0tO_QoGu4sdDSNQLk8UZatLKFKHaT7hSnXz5nTmbtXKTA9X_go08O16r36I4tcwUQpcvCwLpUCsHWCHh9WqelFEgI6h5aKFOKN9h8YgH2psQrVcQJ5g/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5dgdDW4elWwY4gRN8B-Pgn3_0tO_QoGu4sdDSNQLk8UZatLKFKHaT7hSnXz5nTmbtXKTA9X_go08O16r36I4tcwUQpcvCwLpUCsHWCHh9WqelFEgI6h5aKFOKN9h8YgH2psQrVcQJ5g/s320/11+Dec+07+017.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the main pool, as viewed from our balcony</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvjuPJjUC_xslgwGFna3cx15muPYEv5HpOUNOxNL5wV97gH5dBu-FcpLgn0qWx1ytjs6lnymR3aBiyNZzbSLyEyJtwjW7lUWX3QLnNa22p7yhPJ1SQI8mV3zkHx_nqz_MK7nDcO-Izgs/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvjuPJjUC_xslgwGFna3cx15muPYEv5HpOUNOxNL5wV97gH5dBu-FcpLgn0qWx1ytjs6lnymR3aBiyNZzbSLyEyJtwjW7lUWX3QLnNa22p7yhPJ1SQI8mV3zkHx_nqz_MK7nDcO-Izgs/s320/11+Dec+07+018.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">writing desk</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5vt6YoZqp9AWSizK7GezN7mqJEnluL-ansHs03Rnw70u6F2bBHZuyUSWA-MCAm93YJw4CelN1ygehcGGgKGAXWwDKlLNouRKOdHeJ9QJ7PpkIP0_gp4KmsHnxtxoT6zxDE1TlLa2YEko/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5vt6YoZqp9AWSizK7GezN7mqJEnluL-ansHs03Rnw70u6F2bBHZuyUSWA-MCAm93YJw4CelN1ygehcGGgKGAXWwDKlLNouRKOdHeJ9QJ7PpkIP0_gp4KmsHnxtxoT6zxDE1TlLa2YEko/s320/11+Dec+07+021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">lookit at the size of that room</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QnNl3LJv-diPmZ28v1zvo_Gks5Qhx7ln3WV08nilal0VCnAAPgNqG6YUVO6sh_GaEomHeaFNv-w7vhIO1XUbylKN6n6vfg4sR3FaKYPNeX8XVPsVyNdB2yl0UuLT0_Fn7F4T7eGTRHY/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QnNl3LJv-diPmZ28v1zvo_Gks5Qhx7ln3WV08nilal0VCnAAPgNqG6YUVO6sh_GaEomHeaFNv-w7vhIO1XUbylKN6n6vfg4sR3FaKYPNeX8XVPsVyNdB2yl0UuLT0_Fn7F4T7eGTRHY/s320/11+Dec+07+024.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">so pretty</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOJ4-u0_B90f1GsIhZKMH39bsMhUUzAxlEiN3zxliHC3XNSv0MwpB3ynKUcEvkZct2tcQ2vy7qGvfmf0t2tTj-QSj94oc378kUTH0b7FyrkuQzPRGxizqfr0o4faoVea0DPYTUHVcT0k/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOJ4-u0_B90f1GsIhZKMH39bsMhUUzAxlEiN3zxliHC3XNSv0MwpB3ynKUcEvkZct2tcQ2vy7qGvfmf0t2tTj-QSj94oc378kUTH0b7FyrkuQzPRGxizqfr0o4faoVea0DPYTUHVcT0k/s320/11+Dec+07+025.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">one half of the bathroom</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tefAgFhfai2kvFY8ettrUGQXs9J8yzVNM_JvsQrDl80BQjGZqgmmU5zqllkFDg6MOXbRtHhXsn3aJ0B0nODiNdCtQD2Sh4xBDBKwLi6Tq0Gyko1N_Pgi0jnKZoSrljTKvxkibEYkXLE/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tefAgFhfai2kvFY8ettrUGQXs9J8yzVNM_JvsQrDl80BQjGZqgmmU5zqllkFDg6MOXbRtHhXsn3aJ0B0nODiNdCtQD2Sh4xBDBKwLi6Tq0Gyko1N_Pgi0jnKZoSrljTKvxkibEYkXLE/s320/11+Dec+07+026.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the other half of the bathroom</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Q7nDesiR-uvFtC5cz6JsULWzhv7qSaw2BwseDQDc3FqviUfkIQqOEeWYO-AAcz7ROF6DWYhEttPX2S7Bz6TmmBvM3UVH2NcX_UFEGv0ge15IOIC0Qz_vecCoWvmjWyslNoNc7lXC-P0/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Q7nDesiR-uvFtC5cz6JsULWzhv7qSaw2BwseDQDc3FqviUfkIQqOEeWYO-AAcz7ROF6DWYhEttPX2S7Bz6TmmBvM3UVH2NcX_UFEGv0ge15IOIC0Qz_vecCoWvmjWyslNoNc7lXC-P0/s320/11+Dec+07+028.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">so retro, how cool</div><br />The room, like the other two rooms upstairs, opened up to the balcony overlooking the pool. The room itself, most likely the master bedroom in earlier times, was incredibly spacious and beautifully furnished. Tres magnifique!<br /><br /><br /><u>Lunch at a Local Coffee Shop</u><br /><br />Now that we were back in Phnom Penh, we couldn't wait to be out on the streets again. Off we went in search of Matt's pork noodle soup.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SJxhYF3iiIgKSwv5up-6JQLryAsCxH-vooQVMMhCh5iFcFLl-i-1Z9Yi4Yix2xEf8-fuZqFoQm7onaeS-_wsV_tnsSycH-kaDAhTBkdBHvVSqHUdeWbMEykRnvqxzzTOdA6cVzF6Jyg/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+038.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SJxhYF3iiIgKSwv5up-6JQLryAsCxH-vooQVMMhCh5iFcFLl-i-1Z9Yi4Yix2xEf8-fuZqFoQm7onaeS-_wsV_tnsSycH-kaDAhTBkdBHvVSqHUdeWbMEykRnvqxzzTOdA6cVzF6Jyg/s320/11+Dec+07+038.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">hey, a <em>kopi tiam</em></div><br />We found the eatery right outside Psar Thmei, as per Matt's instructions, and lo and behold, it was a very familiar setting indeed. While it wasn't exactly crowded, it got a steady stream of customers, locals in search of a bowl of noodles and tourists looking for a place to rest their feet after all that shopping.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAsJi3ntcXeCRujM3jY0SotN33k_K9zHDqoFmmzMz8TJotF96aIhF2UjOMHgrXfsoA0fheUDyPhB6CTu4i1idti0L2K-K1uQ0cX0MXnFzI6RJ6BsVMrYGQ2v_5ue6EamnkgIomijHG7w/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAsJi3ntcXeCRujM3jY0SotN33k_K9zHDqoFmmzMz8TJotF96aIhF2UjOMHgrXfsoA0fheUDyPhB6CTu4i1idti0L2K-K1uQ0cX0MXnFzI6RJ6BsVMrYGQ2v_5ue6EamnkgIomijHG7w/s320/11+Dec+07+031.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><em>kopi oh peng</em></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wSDpfFeiw5H4O2vWAbA_UpC89AJwuKhhIB_jWRq_zetV0FfGRpJw6HUwv0lu9D_VO7mwX3fYSsPUq-ZK7PVOwDC2-yTSSFN47de6PogETJbNgOKsxVtJab1lyyNnQZQckrW626O58K0/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+032.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wSDpfFeiw5H4O2vWAbA_UpC89AJwuKhhIB_jWRq_zetV0FfGRpJw6HUwv0lu9D_VO7mwX3fYSsPUq-ZK7PVOwDC2-yTSSFN47de6PogETJbNgOKsxVtJab1lyyNnQZQckrW626O58K0/s320/11+Dec+07+032.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><em>teh oh peng</em> of a dubious colour</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrSnEwwiIS4e2TmCqdBlgV_3abQaiGaMMAZ7SAUJ0g-t7ixQmRRxGGRAZgqD-UIipjSKiVa3ACvtVo03rwqojltih7K2dTFn9KMDR9pEbn58e5dFVSdsxpf10mc1TTo9oGH2yiK4ttYo/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+041.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrSnEwwiIS4e2TmCqdBlgV_3abQaiGaMMAZ7SAUJ0g-t7ixQmRRxGGRAZgqD-UIipjSKiVa3ACvtVo03rwqojltih7K2dTFn9KMDR9pEbn58e5dFVSdsxpf10mc1TTo9oGH2yiK4ttYo/s320/11+Dec+07+041.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">pork noodle (<em>bee hoon</em>) soup</div><br />The noodle soup was also very familiar, a bit like the kind of <em>bee hoon</em> soup we find in school canteens here in S'pore, but we could see why Matt thought the pork was excellent by Cambodian standards. It was good quality lean meat, not the cheaper fattier cuts sold by other establishments.<br /><br /><br /><u>Psar Thmei and its Surrounds</u><br /><br />After lunch, we decided to take a walk round the area. Outside, the sun was blazing which was good for some things!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmka5futpch2hKYjA7hAezYaCbCTN8ww2Tx7IlOZYxv8u6zarPzGqeW7ilavAWO6k3ZWbjp5iA_4MNiQV9m_L5nq0smANJ_KGAKmvf3EMlWGqyiC8E_ynDf00EZFogHOV37csHm7AWP2Y/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+044.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmka5futpch2hKYjA7hAezYaCbCTN8ww2Tx7IlOZYxv8u6zarPzGqeW7ilavAWO6k3ZWbjp5iA_4MNiQV9m_L5nq0smANJ_KGAKmvf3EMlWGqyiC8E_ynDf00EZFogHOV37csHm7AWP2Y/s320/11+Dec+07+044.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">yup, that's what cars are for...</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrecZygpKYnO0oqrhoLDYmx1VNW7f-FfFxtXO0XonKgs0IOqdg-71VUey6y7HE6ysipvKcUqtT9EPsf3s6TAaIwqGyfhyfuYGF-dIgvIuURnNxhqA-iEnSTeLztLBuz26bDjSXCsIpgM/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+047.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrecZygpKYnO0oqrhoLDYmx1VNW7f-FfFxtXO0XonKgs0IOqdg-71VUey6y7HE6ysipvKcUqtT9EPsf3s6TAaIwqGyfhyfuYGF-dIgvIuURnNxhqA-iEnSTeLztLBuz26bDjSXCsIpgM/s320/11+Dec+07+047.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">...and motorbikes</div><br />Inside Psar Thmei, business was at a lull, possibly because of the heat.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCsTW-WA9uxtWKkwhaEgYbAR3FG3HRTxNgGOBANkOiZ4cFjAP6v414lpkzEAayQWqwa_7P-agkwK6NHwhOrIfw5qbkADNkKqAvtHRk6IKaS3qqsTtFo6PF1MEui8dodMULSoqlZILafg/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+058.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCsTW-WA9uxtWKkwhaEgYbAR3FG3HRTxNgGOBANkOiZ4cFjAP6v414lpkzEAayQWqwa_7P-agkwK6NHwhOrIfw5qbkADNkKqAvtHRk6IKaS3qqsTtFo6PF1MEui8dodMULSoqlZILafg/s320/11+Dec+07+058.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">may as well take a nap</div><br />We eventually ended up at Phnom Penh's newest shopping centre, Soryar.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Xlo77OLpro5Sd6sL5PPmfuzl9AYVXeCwUotIlISkjcdwETze8TicABBgSz4-dkzSrPye5_jkBtyh00zFgFJUS0r5qLrOCLYWcBnjwz8_FNij5-FnhcJ8NFldy24kNmbB8gXqGOTxh8s/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+075.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Xlo77OLpro5Sd6sL5PPmfuzl9AYVXeCwUotIlISkjcdwETze8TicABBgSz4-dkzSrPye5_jkBtyh00zFgFJUS0r5qLrOCLYWcBnjwz8_FNij5-FnhcJ8NFldy24kNmbB8gXqGOTxh8s/s320/11+Dec+07+075.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Soryar Shopping Centre</div><br />Third world shopping centres can be so depressing. Often dimly lit and stuffed full of third rate goods, pirated or otherwise, with items priced out of reach of all but the most affluent locals, they are ironically looked on, by the rest of the populace, with awe. While tourists prefer the rustic charm and traditional feel of local markets, the locals themselves welcome the arrival of fast food chains (or local lookalikes), the proliferation of mobile phone shops and the luxury of shopping in airconditioned comfort, all of which spell modernity.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5ZoCwk1MaF5AiQ6LWPJ-EBI-WFxdXARZKgKM-tt7xO1nCpdy_H_m3AuGzT88Q3s-EGAy4Xhzl-w76DlG2mPB90Nk82Q3zUv24nTWg-Il_S_d8yoxwx8JStUTRkkOmnUdVvMierwwxz4/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+071.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5ZoCwk1MaF5AiQ6LWPJ-EBI-WFxdXARZKgKM-tt7xO1nCpdy_H_m3AuGzT88Q3s-EGAy4Xhzl-w76DlG2mPB90Nk82Q3zUv24nTWg-Il_S_d8yoxwx8JStUTRkkOmnUdVvMierwwxz4/s320/11+Dec+07+071.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the view from the top</div><br />On the top floor of the building, outside a (to us) dingy roller skating rink, we discovered a balcony overlooking the city. We were amazed - how did Phnom Penh manage to look so picturesque despite the dirt and grime? As they say, nice from far, perhaps far from nice...<br /><br />Downstairs there was a big supermarket. Here was an example of modernity put to good use - local produce all nicely packaged in clingfilm and styrofoam boxes. We finally bought some Kampot black pepper to bring home with us, and some fruit for tea.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyh45TdimvZgYYTklJ-mt-Zr0b3Ycko-kOr6MWzUCijmA8oqq1830Nmb8V-PgLRU41K152cFnyB9sE8WLTJy02KFKwccS64UoaRGuTFgDvNFItaoTeK8J-Gz8Fl-bwzh3IT-eRBW7xzNw/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+081.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyh45TdimvZgYYTklJ-mt-Zr0b3Ycko-kOr6MWzUCijmA8oqq1830Nmb8V-PgLRU41K152cFnyB9sE8WLTJy02KFKwccS64UoaRGuTFgDvNFItaoTeK8J-Gz8Fl-bwzh3IT-eRBW7xzNw/s320/11+Dec+07+081.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">let's up our fruit intake</div><br /><br /><u>Before Dinner</u><br /><br />We spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying our room, sitting out on our balcony occasionally. Before dinner, we took a walk out to the riverfront, in search of bus tickets for our return journey to Siem Reap. There were several agents for Mekong Express so we chose one and made our enquiries. Tickets were US$9 each and, the agent said, the bus would even pick us up from the hotel. Where were we staying, she asked. At the Pavilion, we replied. She looked at us blankly. We tried in vain to describe the location of the hotel, until I remembered that print out I had shown to our driver, Makara, when we first arrived in Phnom Penh. I whipped it out and showed it to her. She took one look at it and went, "Oh, now I know where it is". Instant <em>deja vu</em> - this was my opportunity to find out what was in that print out. "Oh, the elephants outside..." According to the agent, that's what the write up in khmer said, that the hotel was the compound with the elephant sculptures outside which was of course exactly as it was. For some reason, the English write-up made no mention of the pachyderms and I had assumed that the two write-ups would be the same, albeit in a different language. Now that the mystery had been solved, the bad news was we would NOT be getting picked up by the bus. Too obscure a hotel, I gathered from the agent. In any case, the bus station was at the other end of Sisowath Quay, not too far away, so I wasn't too perturbed.<br /><br /><br /><u>Dinner at Romdeng<br /></u><br />It was a nice balmy evening for a walk. From Sisowath Quay, we strolled all the way to Street 278 on the other side of the Independence Monument. Like Street 240, Street 278 was peppered with restaurants and boutiques, although perhaps not quite as upmarket as those on 240. Our target was another of Mith Samlanh's restaurant ventures, Romdeng.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6KWEgfwTH0Cc5k-NDydm8DzzVhoaWh2Y_ZEEslhzYrZbi4KeWFuzuTa_NU-EKUgYTyqNuCPtne63pR6bt84gr1D2ic8zzASCM6lxCpO51Ds6z4Af8EtoczzDpN0-2iFgcTjRL7eRZxc/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+185.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6KWEgfwTH0Cc5k-NDydm8DzzVhoaWh2Y_ZEEslhzYrZbi4KeWFuzuTa_NU-EKUgYTyqNuCPtne63pR6bt84gr1D2ic8zzASCM6lxCpO51Ds6z4Af8EtoczzDpN0-2iFgcTjRL7eRZxc/s320/11+Dec+07+185.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Romdeng from the outside</div><br />While most people opted for a table outside on the verandah, we were happy to be seated inside where we could admire the interiors of this painstakingly refurbished old house.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89_n3lDZG1CXKaVyPcAkLdKFI5Sih7q4PNsLGJ-Gbg70cOsJ6PS6mESMnVzRZkH2ZgJxcApU8nM18dpLghfM4oCQK23-VnuLW6eY27CJd8ZI-a9sP9mCJYaXL7_CoVEIuXXhgcn40_zE/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+164.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89_n3lDZG1CXKaVyPcAkLdKFI5Sih7q4PNsLGJ-Gbg70cOsJ6PS6mESMnVzRZkH2ZgJxcApU8nM18dpLghfM4oCQK23-VnuLW6eY27CJd8ZI-a9sP9mCJYaXL7_CoVEIuXXhgcn40_zE/s320/11+Dec+07+164.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">inside Romdeng</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoGSylCggvZi9LAwdJdTHGmJpUukTfg7OdgZKDL4_VfYNDc1voY2xW-DNt5wqE13TjNME3t76373rj1SxpanKjS5H1WcxQ1mOA6YMb8Iuwml8fEeVrrgieDPeUdyaDIkmkojpX1JPLAQ/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+167.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoGSylCggvZi9LAwdJdTHGmJpUukTfg7OdgZKDL4_VfYNDc1voY2xW-DNt5wqE13TjNME3t76373rj1SxpanKjS5H1WcxQ1mOA6YMb8Iuwml8fEeVrrgieDPeUdyaDIkmkojpX1JPLAQ/s320/11+Dec+07+167.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">inside Romdeng</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0l6TBouHqSUfLs6qRLye-UD8oOM4FUWVTEJH9owjpCxTGBOdXZK3oCQej3sQYgB3RhtoqdDLtI8FOMJuqc-xrbF8k8wnYOFq5yo8wsPrRufMFTo_sdwydCQNr5la13vyQLA7r31f7sE/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+178.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0l6TBouHqSUfLs6qRLye-UD8oOM4FUWVTEJH9owjpCxTGBOdXZK3oCQej3sQYgB3RhtoqdDLtI8FOMJuqc-xrbF8k8wnYOFq5yo8wsPrRufMFTo_sdwydCQNr5la13vyQLA7r31f7sE/s320/11+Dec+07+178.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">inside Romdeng</div><br />The decor was traditional Khmer, albeit fused with Western sensibilities, as befitting a restaurant serving "a taste of Cambodia's provinces". There was in fact spiders on the menu but we weren't feeling <em>that</em> adventurous!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSPbyh7mpcqp9RwUJ78IrQzPDasyErb7mcz43y2pe1zmiGHTTxBn5IBCX6hh_7t8QfC8BRUWeZMXrbS3_ufu391fkOnL6O8eci-KBKOQlGmsYLWnH8yuSYKNybcG3ZBacz0IJ0qWS7KU/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+161.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSPbyh7mpcqp9RwUJ78IrQzPDasyErb7mcz43y2pe1zmiGHTTxBn5IBCX6hh_7t8QfC8BRUWeZMXrbS3_ufu391fkOnL6O8eci-KBKOQlGmsYLWnH8yuSYKNybcG3ZBacz0IJ0qWS7KU/s320/11+Dec+07+161.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">watermelon and lime juice</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIzQPF0J9lsoUo_b3Rz19DzRAPq8ee2K8B8ew5L0qukXGmFl9XLriEXwT9Dbc5F4Wg8RZL0r2w6yLp0P0to8Ze_RAp8zDIaN78PcJNhnh-7XtoDJlrHmWDaxUfUk1EMhdlKn9ttpIBSs/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+163.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIzQPF0J9lsoUo_b3Rz19DzRAPq8ee2K8B8ew5L0qukXGmFl9XLriEXwT9Dbc5F4Wg8RZL0r2w6yLp0P0to8Ze_RAp8zDIaN78PcJNhnh-7XtoDJlrHmWDaxUfUk1EMhdlKn9ttpIBSs/s320/11+Dec+07+163.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">iced tea with lemon and mint</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfEkvgEcXq-Ff5xjALzrMuDKK5UfnNbFdxz91dVJsQCUXSqJryc728UCOJmO47wQ2jWPvPY_DPpbEYX4zImoqigTFhdtHmTr8C-kdGxOA9xqZi3OVEnNfAKJhnuK8G016bHP627p3wDo/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+171.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfEkvgEcXq-Ff5xjALzrMuDKK5UfnNbFdxz91dVJsQCUXSqJryc728UCOJmO47wQ2jWPvPY_DPpbEYX4zImoqigTFhdtHmTr8C-kdGxOA9xqZi3OVEnNfAKJhnuK8G016bHP627p3wDo/s320/11+Dec+07+171.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">two-coloured pomelo salad with shrimp</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBh1Y0TOyL6E93zGyG6Sgd8-2HdsBABy0BPP83OQyiZCLXx1ZFkqkg6mx9kl3rgJrN22WP3HNS67JtAcvMrA9lyI2GUJaEIJC6jEppaBW7R6aG7bLulnGQGP9sm5QsLT67ZG3aR9PjcU/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+173.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBh1Y0TOyL6E93zGyG6Sgd8-2HdsBABy0BPP83OQyiZCLXx1ZFkqkg6mx9kl3rgJrN22WP3HNS67JtAcvMrA9lyI2GUJaEIJC6jEppaBW7R6aG7bLulnGQGP9sm5QsLT67ZG3aR9PjcU/s320/11+Dec+07+173.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Battambang baby pork rib soup with preserved vegetables</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNINH46hWPbGKYBJfTSxVDJjrVt7UYMJa3kb-dfw1gKt4R0GIVyozQxX-RE-nwX0sgvVwlakaeKwWT5wEkc-B3-zDCuRBRlZO2qDxfVbuqPcpPfJB0oVqwokBwWThmxt0eijbLa2e8JHg/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+175.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNINH46hWPbGKYBJfTSxVDJjrVt7UYMJa3kb-dfw1gKt4R0GIVyozQxX-RE-nwX0sgvVwlakaeKwWT5wEkc-B3-zDCuRBRlZO2qDxfVbuqPcpPfJB0oVqwokBwWThmxt0eijbLa2e8JHg/s320/11+Dec+07+175.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">fish <em>amoc</em></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLnkIv5os4BYPEUGoJGpdG1-7mQ_TKwzFL6QUmFY8TmndDQs6Aed-aZbMukUNMPkNPdGhB1xWb9iJQriR1RkW3QFcz94j7TWMM8Y57Px4v7mP2IJ-PVuiGQ48I9k4gLOfmt7lZWUbuEw/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+176.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLnkIv5os4BYPEUGoJGpdG1-7mQ_TKwzFL6QUmFY8TmndDQs6Aed-aZbMukUNMPkNPdGhB1xWb9iJQriR1RkW3QFcz94j7TWMM8Y57Px4v7mP2IJ-PVuiGQ48I9k4gLOfmt7lZWUbuEw/s320/11+Dec+07+176.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">homemade honey rice wine</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeygpaN4cnpF0Ea_o_vvad9OB13j9k-AqGyW4cIBJlpZKA37taZuSnncJ56KfEPXNHkCnpaKdTARfYN3_GbIa92Uwy_v8AZfldVJRDaanaj4Us2gDP6lNC9RHzw2t23oqdK9YGETJzsU/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+183.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeygpaN4cnpF0Ea_o_vvad9OB13j9k-AqGyW4cIBJlpZKA37taZuSnncJ56KfEPXNHkCnpaKdTARfYN3_GbIa92Uwy_v8AZfldVJRDaanaj4Us2gDP6lNC9RHzw2t23oqdK9YGETJzsU/s320/11+Dec+07+183.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">rice flour turmeric crepes with palm sugar and coconut gelato</div><br />Overall, we were really happy with Romdeng's food, a rich yet subtle blend of flavours. I dare say it was the best Khmer food we had the whole trip, and for an affordable US$22.50 too. It was a fitting end to our first day back in Phnom Penh.blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649241099028598071.post-44580940774959979472007-12-19T06:22:00.000-08:002008-05-25T09:32:06.988-07:00Day 11: A Last Look at Phnom PenhOn a trip, the last day in any place is usually bittersweet. It passes in a blur, filled with frantic last-minute shopping and sightseeing, and more than a tinge of regret at having to give something a miss. The rush ends only when one is seated on the plane/train/bus, feeling unsettled at the lack of closure. Occasionally, the reverse is true. The day is spent in a leisurely manner, revisiting familiar spots, saying goodbye as it were. Our last day in Phnom Penh turned out to be one such day.<br /><br /><br /><u>Breakfast at The Shop</u><br /><br />We started off with breakfast at The Shop.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WFnoAYYRLxPmos-RLaNwpRwNJ-6InfgQsasfr9FS-4ghOf3yuQLGyluEzFemmYB8M1Jk5r5yGfih5ov4dfpuqGscqnoY9uxXwu_IZhPZ5lmoIOOR-z4L3Mu911Uxo79dvR_uZS_ZxgI/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WFnoAYYRLxPmos-RLaNwpRwNJ-6InfgQsasfr9FS-4ghOf3yuQLGyluEzFemmYB8M1Jk5r5yGfih5ov4dfpuqGscqnoY9uxXwu_IZhPZ5lmoIOOR-z4L3Mu911Uxo79dvR_uZS_ZxgI/s320/12+Dec+07+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Christmas decor</div><br />The place was bustling. Clearly, it was a favourite with wealthy locals and expats. There were even what looked like breakfast meetings being held. We people watched as we ate.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicnazk2zdO1-1kj_VNN2jUfueX4IRvmFOb5e2KZ7g9QPCHRBC4DeQPK6rXnm48HAdHT3Aee-SexoQNiuJngcqmCQTOHNBB2udhjFBkcS1TPCaKMO89ulRjGeHkDwLNxFMEVVQsAZiItc/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicnazk2zdO1-1kj_VNN2jUfueX4IRvmFOb5e2KZ7g9QPCHRBC4DeQPK6rXnm48HAdHT3Aee-SexoQNiuJngcqmCQTOHNBB2udhjFBkcS1TPCaKMO89ulRjGeHkDwLNxFMEVVQsAZiItc/s320/12+Dec+07+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">cafe au lait</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4w7P4fo_LSxveiDJlUi5ndvARnLJXrCqWCloSYAieVUk0TgeFK_DC30nTR5YptjPRuCZ3MkMMmibwYX4uv7N5bARvBlHhe5eWXRECGXBXKunnosumRy6NUD-At0HJCI69_tgz77SrJI/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4w7P4fo_LSxveiDJlUi5ndvARnLJXrCqWCloSYAieVUk0TgeFK_DC30nTR5YptjPRuCZ3MkMMmibwYX4uv7N5bARvBlHhe5eWXRECGXBXKunnosumRy6NUD-At0HJCI69_tgz77SrJI/s320/12+Dec+07+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">salt and pepper</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8NoEAvAQQqtJi8DOVSwhvzQhfRgh-TzFPL58Ewy2n371WqngEEN0_hNVu05JaU2blj48cE7Dm5gUG31sTNhkELqOo_YHL7dpFq4x1uAf_pTXbrLtN5evKOUEn3h1JBEozDkTKGBKTtY/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8NoEAvAQQqtJi8DOVSwhvzQhfRgh-TzFPL58Ewy2n371WqngEEN0_hNVu05JaU2blj48cE7Dm5gUG31sTNhkELqOo_YHL7dpFq4x1uAf_pTXbrLtN5evKOUEn3h1JBEozDkTKGBKTtY/s320/12+Dec+07+007.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">salmon and scrambled eggs on toast</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJHU-pS7_SYGLPYprILYhJ__KghVnbrUTGSo6rMtPXFmQQ8Cq6HpdwoKXdAS2VEaKC8crSQzMPvvKp1eRVwsxnI5Sr7J5ttygdgq7horo3PVHLW5iJkP1_1h6dA2uLMguazkNCy2ZaAE/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJHU-pS7_SYGLPYprILYhJ__KghVnbrUTGSo6rMtPXFmQQ8Cq6HpdwoKXdAS2VEaKC8crSQzMPvvKp1eRVwsxnI5Sr7J5ttygdgq7horo3PVHLW5iJkP1_1h6dA2uLMguazkNCy2ZaAE/s320/12+Dec+07+010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">omelette with mushroom, tomato and cheese</div><br />All too soon, our meal came to end. We paid the bill of US$11.50, took one last look around and left for a stroll.<br /><br /><br /><u>Around Sisowath Quay</u><br /><br />We headed for the riverfront, so I could get some photos and change some money.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_0jYf3Cf697DCT9-PLL16pKGxEcJCsfCRUPFnujcWwnFkOST3sxGQGLpjdkgURENedRnKBPT5bed2fZYs3sBeq6Zggo42HedquCoBnqhtA-Heg_Pbn0UMN1WtiS9eq2sxxRTWmqw5fs/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_0jYf3Cf697DCT9-PLL16pKGxEcJCsfCRUPFnujcWwnFkOST3sxGQGLpjdkgURENedRnKBPT5bed2fZYs3sBeq6Zggo42HedquCoBnqhtA-Heg_Pbn0UMN1WtiS9eq2sxxRTWmqw5fs/s320/12+Dec+07+022.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the morning rush hour</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PDBmFdkJfMoO1gKqL8CMYEkMovDkQcwXHRa2krki5efsHTqzwS0y0rUSa6qCMlP4T83XWwIeirdb64IxefCzu98LXlxfjRtREN4uOsZircezmQd5gztEiLbq2fot89qza7rdgpZm-ks/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+032.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PDBmFdkJfMoO1gKqL8CMYEkMovDkQcwXHRa2krki5efsHTqzwS0y0rUSa6qCMlP4T83XWwIeirdb64IxefCzu98LXlxfjRtREN4uOsZircezmQd5gztEiLbq2fot89qza7rdgpZm-ks/s320/12+Dec+07+032.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">life on the streets</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNr3HtfYzl7NrXScqckTvEhEoFa3padxxHQf4UOrOyps3hDaTqurGzG1fdgpSrppYZJmXmTs8laORiAuoA1B_yguCOi5FAbpumXnByyW0GxbSI8vYt_Z-1fpmJ13PAzTC5NVbb8D6F1o/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+037.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNr3HtfYzl7NrXScqckTvEhEoFa3padxxHQf4UOrOyps3hDaTqurGzG1fdgpSrppYZJmXmTs8laORiAuoA1B_yguCOi5FAbpumXnByyW0GxbSI8vYt_Z-1fpmJ13PAzTC5NVbb8D6F1o/s320/12+Dec+07+037.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">an example of the world at work</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrIWIuTmg3d0mKGwSFF2J5gocgL0YQGGKtE5HQzbjRsmQzlXNvk4D7EJ-BK0qBZOlTzSY6PzvchSUQ9n5aDa-SZgpbC53Q86QGEuQQ3ElYxVUt8hpvqEKsi5Hbp8S8PMjYIIfCEqDDjM/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+038.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrIWIuTmg3d0mKGwSFF2J5gocgL0YQGGKtE5HQzbjRsmQzlXNvk4D7EJ-BK0qBZOlTzSY6PzvchSUQ9n5aDa-SZgpbC53Q86QGEuQQ3ElYxVUt8hpvqEKsi5Hbp8S8PMjYIIfCEqDDjM/s320/12+Dec+07+038.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">hmmm, that sense of aesthetics...</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVP2eGrL6JTAxCKnH0A3LoLuHyx44fNIECCX5sFY36ShOQ0DpZZRESUI_TN-nYYsV5yzByCTYonPWkmqWR2Fq2Fmx77BU3v9GVkxVl5Odt438WowZLt6R67rDYdtMPJaMvJ0kXZLQKvs/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+042.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVP2eGrL6JTAxCKnH0A3LoLuHyx44fNIECCX5sFY36ShOQ0DpZZRESUI_TN-nYYsV5yzByCTYonPWkmqWR2Fq2Fmx77BU3v9GVkxVl5Odt438WowZLt6R67rDYdtMPJaMvJ0kXZLQKvs/s320/12+Dec+07+042.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">what of the Tonle Sap was visible</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTf2MCVyHbqNlvMrbiLFiL9whbgMZF3hwSPmdpxxNHGEXQIvRmM1Kx0WwxkN130xYND97H2hHhLArhdhQhECABS6yM6CXrTZUppCP6agLQ9S8jTBDax9YfZcfCmUujWG6VPR81_iWwRnA/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+048.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTf2MCVyHbqNlvMrbiLFiL9whbgMZF3hwSPmdpxxNHGEXQIvRmM1Kx0WwxkN130xYND97H2hHhLArhdhQhECABS6yM6CXrTZUppCP6agLQ9S8jTBDax9YfZcfCmUujWG6VPR81_iWwRnA/s320/12+Dec+07+048.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">coconut juice, anyone?</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9itf8prQOUVbSAOyZ3FFGBBbrBZ5wC84PXABuljqfx1UYVG7X4W3ZKFx1YODGswLy3B_YcKJiBNK2X7sjaBX67L2nKsgf6kusE5pL1WiJb8YofaPZ8Zw6r-6jhJaFTW3phVKHCQYM3Rc/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+045.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9itf8prQOUVbSAOyZ3FFGBBbrBZ5wC84PXABuljqfx1UYVG7X4W3ZKFx1YODGswLy3B_YcKJiBNK2X7sjaBX67L2nKsgf6kusE5pL1WiJb8YofaPZ8Zw6r-6jhJaFTW3phVKHCQYM3Rc/s320/12+Dec+07+045.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Majulah Singapura!</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AUN6WBCz98kWSG04dQSt1ETQMGQffEDwGcwkWgdUe9LhUBmLk2sF9Gl14ZT5j-bsbFPmivw9FH7eQHZ-DbrwajBfC24ZAUW5e94SMPuyjC6ONqBIv83LUbqQi1k2Kwd68W6OL4tMlww/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+060.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AUN6WBCz98kWSG04dQSt1ETQMGQffEDwGcwkWgdUe9LhUBmLk2sF9Gl14ZT5j-bsbFPmivw9FH7eQHZ-DbrwajBfC24ZAUW5e94SMPuyjC6ONqBIv83LUbqQi1k2Kwd68W6OL4tMlww/s320/12+Dec+07+060.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Amanjaya Hotel - an Aman hotel... NOT!</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Z3EjBe8RAnqSiIGnVfZIPCCCw0-90Iv98FIcLESo7zkVFGOxcf_3J99BArTLb4e-kZDJRx7nLvFAN5zFPVw8PS1A1hBA_6dJ_s_XzeaZPv-dBkj582izE-RtL-n9ed2PgiIpuksKJ20/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+084.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Z3EjBe8RAnqSiIGnVfZIPCCCw0-90Iv98FIcLESo7zkVFGOxcf_3J99BArTLb4e-kZDJRx7nLvFAN5zFPVw8PS1A1hBA_6dJ_s_XzeaZPv-dBkj582izE-RtL-n9ed2PgiIpuksKJ20/s320/12+Dec+07+084.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">in the midst of the bars and happy pizza joints...</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mrxyyJCc95Q5MZZgwl9UPgI0ite25t22fWkgnRKXVkM0oSRi7ZpwPwvGxv_mPpoxHiUAOQ6-4i-zXkcvkTLeZVHpCbnYkZMuUWF4HVcwF1CWQ0W3-YwEsVYkgWMZwO_5_PHPa38qlz0/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+087.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mrxyyJCc95Q5MZZgwl9UPgI0ite25t22fWkgnRKXVkM0oSRi7ZpwPwvGxv_mPpoxHiUAOQ6-4i-zXkcvkTLeZVHpCbnYkZMuUWF4HVcwF1CWQ0W3-YwEsVYkgWMZwO_5_PHPa38qlz0/s320/12+Dec+07+087.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">reproductions are major business</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9F20ts9JzC2GCrvGH5TZOkH1nWbA8qCEGej0EBtFRAbSp4Usq2xd5SZuz9FzBLwyzFDZL2dcZvYRfJ6ElBs-UNHg0zPZy7W7OdUEShkr65xG7VXPLE7qIMgcP35PUJEZAJLblDtks_nU/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+090.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9F20ts9JzC2GCrvGH5TZOkH1nWbA8qCEGej0EBtFRAbSp4Usq2xd5SZuz9FzBLwyzFDZL2dcZvYRfJ6ElBs-UNHg0zPZy7W7OdUEShkr65xG7VXPLE7qIMgcP35PUJEZAJLblDtks_nU/s320/12+Dec+07+090.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">behind their backs</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzOgleAKoNVTUY4vUUFj2gOTocWPJoohhLmblePMM-C6wLRtKxrYhGDB2vHTcTDSuXXE1LvS46mbMrAPCoJtNrxg9kKn9OyN7RmNRWM9-B2tnvtOrzxDdZDJzfwkwGVKn8U1v0sgIK1M/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+097.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzOgleAKoNVTUY4vUUFj2gOTocWPJoohhLmblePMM-C6wLRtKxrYhGDB2vHTcTDSuXXE1LvS46mbMrAPCoJtNrxg9kKn9OyN7RmNRWM9-B2tnvtOrzxDdZDJzfwkwGVKn8U1v0sgIK1M/s320/12+Dec+07+097.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">artwork just lying around</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlF7B9v6tNdUNyyHG9YYITiq4QUMIXVvmxG2MjMWKRva0na5l1D_O7etwCUPbJrEi8kL1hyphenhyphen9Ofe8YcxbTCMXUMLxoYVRoQiTnUvCKoxJt8z2Ju2wW6Y54Vfd96lSOuew6w7HL8MA092vQ/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+099.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlF7B9v6tNdUNyyHG9YYITiq4QUMIXVvmxG2MjMWKRva0na5l1D_O7etwCUPbJrEi8kL1hyphenhyphen9Ofe8YcxbTCMXUMLxoYVRoQiTnUvCKoxJt8z2Ju2wW6Y54Vfd96lSOuew6w7HL8MA092vQ/s320/12+Dec+07+099.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">three wise men</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_VbCi3IrlL534KdX90snHqbu3VGAI-5xEdbWEAzGODTn2AqYlnuCAD80WJgTYzeELPcoLWrZzc56OnzWUceR8ClcTeM8KArSNaQB8BCdDZ82YX_tepGTyoYCjRF7z7llWzwmHlq77PE/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+102.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_VbCi3IrlL534KdX90snHqbu3VGAI-5xEdbWEAzGODTn2AqYlnuCAD80WJgTYzeELPcoLWrZzc56OnzWUceR8ClcTeM8KArSNaQB8BCdDZ82YX_tepGTyoYCjRF7z7llWzwmHlq77PE/s320/12+Dec+07+102.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a Korean language school</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-Q-Rxpb4uVuGxNDs9ttse8TKTKbO0U_ZF7qVMmiC9eQE7WA8EdJEpQYPnMjWedkaQmqf4oMX_XhQgXzSNZ3gD7ZsF-yLhuYWSwfCVXDaWuVKwB6LiVh4rnIjQ8SSxjBotYjKmK-4dxM/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+105.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-Q-Rxpb4uVuGxNDs9ttse8TKTKbO0U_ZF7qVMmiC9eQE7WA8EdJEpQYPnMjWedkaQmqf4oMX_XhQgXzSNZ3gD7ZsF-yLhuYWSwfCVXDaWuVKwB6LiVh4rnIjQ8SSxjBotYjKmK-4dxM/s320/12+Dec+07+105.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a car wash</div><br /><br /><u>Street 240</u><br /><br />We returned to St 240 for HM to go for a pedicure at Bliss. Two doors away, we stopped at the boutique, Water Lily, for a look.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNlTjtFmL-ZpAXVLUygJnmtS60U9nbS_0dIJppHFHXzbyek8PogqwQJFL7zgC2da4fsqQ8U0l-ViebmYRluNw45EEZAPIigM0E1jdD9czGYQw9hMQZbTPbyN5Ml4T8ePP_7u0KnUUBt0/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+106.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNlTjtFmL-ZpAXVLUygJnmtS60U9nbS_0dIJppHFHXzbyek8PogqwQJFL7zgC2da4fsqQ8U0l-ViebmYRluNw45EEZAPIigM0E1jdD9czGYQw9hMQZbTPbyN5Ml4T8ePP_7u0KnUUBt0/s320/12+Dec+07+106.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">entrance to Water Lily</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8fPhcXvckhHg0w4fo52GSPzTBmS25YZs3dAvnxBUSjbxhjPGjslpSh3alglPXeF9x4vltfpjXE1ouCotucNeDPHiSva7-gAruRIuVnx6CZ2su6WUNicLebNjt4-DHSeUgHApl4uBAwU/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+107.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8fPhcXvckhHg0w4fo52GSPzTBmS25YZs3dAvnxBUSjbxhjPGjslpSh3alglPXeF9x4vltfpjXE1ouCotucNeDPHiSva7-gAruRIuVnx6CZ2su6WUNicLebNjt4-DHSeUgHApl4uBAwU/s320/12+Dec+07+107.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">look what replaced the company van</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2lOdiF8UfBpaIlmuZmmDXOdAIceFO2LyiQa4npYlwvCo1wZiN6SFDg4tVwtpPwfHAuF7_Wq7bTJd87D96ZuDQeERQosPYpg4w3nYIGKEDL0HcafuKQZWGQpLqiCE_R0v2o3617mGV8U/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+162.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2lOdiF8UfBpaIlmuZmmDXOdAIceFO2LyiQa4npYlwvCo1wZiN6SFDg4tVwtpPwfHAuF7_Wq7bTJd87D96ZuDQeERQosPYpg4w3nYIGKEDL0HcafuKQZWGQpLqiCE_R0v2o3617mGV8U/s320/12+Dec+07+162.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">buttons galore</div><br />Leaving HM at Bliss, I continued on my walk. At a second-hand bookstore, I began my book buy, my way of wrapping up a trip, with memories and more of a place.<br /><br />Round the corner from the Pavilion, I chanced upon a local wedding.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMuqzGzTtc8zCkIQUcVH2RMwahyS7Z5GsqZ71vdieNyOSZUo7yvnnJGRI6Omg0qq6ahxvklFaJW3O2-lPdRmNKYrYYPumFVaZOlUOiB20_dSCHtfeU8YqGLlDsu6wrNV-sVaCGaqBFyv0/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+113.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMuqzGzTtc8zCkIQUcVH2RMwahyS7Z5GsqZ71vdieNyOSZUo7yvnnJGRI6Omg0qq6ahxvklFaJW3O2-lPdRmNKYrYYPumFVaZOlUOiB20_dSCHtfeU8YqGLlDsu6wrNV-sVaCGaqBFyv0/s320/12+Dec+07+113.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the equivalent of our void deck weddings</div><br />I would have loved to pop in but wasn't sure if my presence would be welcomed, even as a well-meaning tourist.<br /><br /><br /><u>Wat Botum</u><br /><br />Back in front of the Pavilion, I wandered into the grounds of Wat Botum. Inside was a hodge-podge of buildings, from the main <em>vihear</em> itself (which seemed locked) to quarters for the monks. I would later find out that Saloth Sar aka Pol Pot was once a novice here.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffpfxQ_AM4knQJc8L1VU06cwjn6UqYvUZcau8QTMHT41fHmdspT06UQX50O1WfgpmyzsE7Xr9juKF2IUFdVONM867EQZ7fbBx6E5ev-6-_U4wKy98rWmXGh6LD0BjL80EChhOwltpiBc/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+118.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffpfxQ_AM4knQJc8L1VU06cwjn6UqYvUZcau8QTMHT41fHmdspT06UQX50O1WfgpmyzsE7Xr9juKF2IUFdVONM867EQZ7fbBx6E5ev-6-_U4wKy98rWmXGh6LD0BjL80EChhOwltpiBc/s320/12+Dec+07+118.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">inside Wat Botum</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiS9R5LN3eU_ygDutfmtPKU-QszNdREwZ4suFxQjF0cWfcws7NeTzL_lOLe8XYh5BF5jzaWW-R3547VBsUsQgggw69q76FoclIFI6UzafrzsMDkP0CBWgvnvpzo5As4MYXgdLy-yA1Do/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+128.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiS9R5LN3eU_ygDutfmtPKU-QszNdREwZ4suFxQjF0cWfcws7NeTzL_lOLe8XYh5BF5jzaWW-R3547VBsUsQgggw69q76FoclIFI6UzafrzsMDkP0CBWgvnvpzo5As4MYXgdLy-yA1Do/s320/12+Dec+07+128.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">holy laundry</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuogr-FREZLapftfRBd4coH0GdK5WtzDR3FjzkCohaGjM2Mz9Wow9AHOx7rQq267AhZkPfkqaH-igD6I_hot-pB3e-1D0JM3TRoHRoLD9BWWorH11SWdNiUf5IIr2FTyO2TRqGfu21SI/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+135.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuogr-FREZLapftfRBd4coH0GdK5WtzDR3FjzkCohaGjM2Mz9Wow9AHOx7rQq267AhZkPfkqaH-igD6I_hot-pB3e-1D0JM3TRoHRoLD9BWWorH11SWdNiUf5IIr2FTyO2TRqGfu21SI/s320/12+Dec+07+135.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">religious cats</div><br />There was even a school where classes were still in session in the late morning.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1EhxQTatvQ0odLJYaJVaVCIYxOUTK2P9x_XDwT1tv6tUQTVKRAu04_SUo9bGoeNt3MBU0dZCt2rwLkTfzB-_PCuBuXZshFIqgUUJIn2mp_E2iHzuNu4eanAB-_rYWQLJVUvitXxgvyq0/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+138.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1EhxQTatvQ0odLJYaJVaVCIYxOUTK2P9x_XDwT1tv6tUQTVKRAu04_SUo9bGoeNt3MBU0dZCt2rwLkTfzB-_PCuBuXZshFIqgUUJIn2mp_E2iHzuNu4eanAB-_rYWQLJVUvitXxgvyq0/s320/12+Dec+07+138.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">unfortunately, echoes of Tuol Sleng</div><br />The classrooms were dark, unlit by any electrical means. I peered in through the open windows, careful not to look like some kind of pervert or pedophile with a camera. Quite unexpectedly, school ended. Class by class, starting with the younger ones, the students were released. For a moment, I contemplated saying hello to the teachers, in some kind of vague attempt to establish crosscultural relations with fellow educators perhaps. I watched as the teachers locked up their classrooms. In that moment, a million thoughts raced through my mind. Could they speak English? What would I say to them anyway? "Hi, I'm a teacher too"? If only I had some gifts with me, something to give to these children, stationery perhaps. As I hesitated, a car drove up. The last of the teachers, a young woman, got into it and zoomed away. So much for that.<br /><br /><br /><u>Bliss</u><br /><br />I returned to Bliss to wait for HM. It was a pretty space, no doubt about it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKeuTAdcxYdmvFA_93MldwUu_kCQj_0JP8SerOA2e2IM_u9R2ZQ_nnww6ZNw7E-yomCrOQsWwjUeiumQIySYIMruQtcOtgPxadn8hXg7UVTRbV5hKm_OVgzYaA-HfWJxe5zrdqDTrpmE/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+151.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKeuTAdcxYdmvFA_93MldwUu_kCQj_0JP8SerOA2e2IM_u9R2ZQ_nnww6ZNw7E-yomCrOQsWwjUeiumQIySYIMruQtcOtgPxadn8hXg7UVTRbV5hKm_OVgzYaA-HfWJxe5zrdqDTrpmE/s320/12+Dec+07+151.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_4fUmEJp3dH4JyYWKidXeiQwVtTNRD1qroSWUct9b7V2sH-F_TrIxjvQ4wcwJklsTV-P7lPPOkvZey8VOOLWOOyb4k1pK1pUzwnoPBr3o2SJQYMGmmz_4SuPEAglKdTpg7T9BKLxZK0/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+153.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_4fUmEJp3dH4JyYWKidXeiQwVtTNRD1qroSWUct9b7V2sH-F_TrIxjvQ4wcwJklsTV-P7lPPOkvZey8VOOLWOOyb4k1pK1pUzwnoPBr3o2SJQYMGmmz_4SuPEAglKdTpg7T9BKLxZK0/s320/12+Dec+07+153.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnXgu2_C1WFdEsiDLczGZbLG_euHnRPHxoEDmWjYYip5OiiMylKFLUyfyVWSxi1iOdUitSITaFtKWejwH6AxDvjT06qS4baoiMMtTyNhqJPYqz8IlG3BR0qt9CmktgDSyMdQ8Z96A4RA/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+154.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnXgu2_C1WFdEsiDLczGZbLG_euHnRPHxoEDmWjYYip5OiiMylKFLUyfyVWSxi1iOdUitSITaFtKWejwH6AxDvjT06qS4baoiMMtTyNhqJPYqz8IlG3BR0qt9CmktgDSyMdQ8Z96A4RA/s320/12+Dec+07+154.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ibfZs-_T1HFb3Ucru8iWhb25Avw1lbLtfqiYQaokKflM84pNLyM4wukVdsOe_tegCtcTRC7khi1qwg1wHmhk6pZ8aMve20jg2FTcxuA1hj1AV8qkvKVlXe7vV2K8yt4ImfQAeLTji9M/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+157.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ibfZs-_T1HFb3Ucru8iWhb25Avw1lbLtfqiYQaokKflM84pNLyM4wukVdsOe_tegCtcTRC7khi1qwg1wHmhk6pZ8aMve20jg2FTcxuA1hj1AV8qkvKVlXe7vV2K8yt4ImfQAeLTji9M/s320/12+Dec+07+157.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br />HM eventually emerged, happy with her US$7 pedicure, even though it did not come with a foot scrub.<br /><br /><br /><u>Lunch at Cafe Yejj</u><br /><br />The afternoon stretched ahead of us and we opted to dedicate it to shopping. HM decided that the Russian Market warranted a last visit, particularly for its textiles. We hunted down Uncle, our friendly tuk tuk driver, and got him to drive us to the area.<br /><br />To fortify ourselves, we stopped by Cafe Yejj for a quick lunch.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpt8sCutPSRvKJ9zMhyVxsN_NM7WV1pDfWBmYBpzt8wW9WNvQaUZvWT7-zPp0v4xd-34OUxaSzehviQGf8T8zJ3mMTjL1ZpmU7M6Bl5Rb5z57hFikyQLZZ6KfjmSXXBNaSLx92jOJcM1Y/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+176.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpt8sCutPSRvKJ9zMhyVxsN_NM7WV1pDfWBmYBpzt8wW9WNvQaUZvWT7-zPp0v4xd-34OUxaSzehviQGf8T8zJ3mMTjL1ZpmU7M6Bl5Rb5z57hFikyQLZZ6KfjmSXXBNaSLx92jOJcM1Y/s320/12+Dec+07+176.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Cafe Yejj</div><br />Round the corner from Jars of Clay, Cafe Yejj seemed Italian-inspired.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqC4RvEsGemt4HLmUj2V5dSSqzNy9-2gPGjO0ClpTulUlckNZSBOmD45qFU5ENPTBBCi97vVz6-FRpyLxCa-lAJuueBT5H11NGxU5_KFR_lFqVEF0QbEQpewUGtU1bsiniFpinsvlZrQ/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+177.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqC4RvEsGemt4HLmUj2V5dSSqzNy9-2gPGjO0ClpTulUlckNZSBOmD45qFU5ENPTBBCi97vVz6-FRpyLxCa-lAJuueBT5H11NGxU5_KFR_lFqVEF0QbEQpewUGtU1bsiniFpinsvlZrQ/s320/12+Dec+07+177.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the Cambodian Daily</div><br />While we waited for our food, we availed ourselves of the reading material on hand. Nothing like reading the local rag for local insight, even if it's most likely written by expats.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvOQqmb4HcYDk-XBhCWw7s0hp2Cq_vnDQ06Vao3-LzbgrvL3BoyahPHkBJSox-MdZJqEp4SENY8hEBNj4GI3MPFjPydinZYFsowpFkJKxC85gL4iyZtnPx4t8ISEGHA4rHNt1TcJ_h6I/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+181.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvOQqmb4HcYDk-XBhCWw7s0hp2Cq_vnDQ06Vao3-LzbgrvL3BoyahPHkBJSox-MdZJqEp4SENY8hEBNj4GI3MPFjPydinZYFsowpFkJKxC85gL4iyZtnPx4t8ISEGHA4rHNt1TcJ_h6I/s320/12+Dec+07+181.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">ginger presse and cardamom lassi</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5Edf7j5eM8xI0RViMfmM4xEusMgTmvxlhDG6AYgRE02rXlRuNsx3unZ1uEfjFqsMTGwlQvey_Wu5XUlGYbF-pn5-yLYzm7jXMXVjsbti_TD1wEtic6TmJIv69VASUQkBRwoe8bsKD_k/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+179.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5Edf7j5eM8xI0RViMfmM4xEusMgTmvxlhDG6AYgRE02rXlRuNsx3unZ1uEfjFqsMTGwlQvey_Wu5XUlGYbF-pn5-yLYzm7jXMXVjsbti_TD1wEtic6TmJIv69VASUQkBRwoe8bsKD_k/s320/12+Dec+07+179.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">penne with pesto</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjrCsWvwxr5mC1GBMEpkVaXDRYthrw1wH7Klir1_9KREjAN2UZYMc-m2CBWZq2A-ARuuUakHLS_4l8NjcrCc0rPg3kbGKrabRPwFwHR-sUdaoXRGZnV-V2t0gqgurGx3QwIwuQqqErVc/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+183.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjrCsWvwxr5mC1GBMEpkVaXDRYthrw1wH7Klir1_9KREjAN2UZYMc-m2CBWZq2A-ARuuUakHLS_4l8NjcrCc0rPg3kbGKrabRPwFwHR-sUdaoXRGZnV-V2t0gqgurGx3QwIwuQqqErVc/s320/12+Dec+07+183.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">stewed aubergine (a <em>ratatouille</em>, really)</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNhyphenhyphenTxCkWo7rbBkw1hOXVztJK7EF0ce4ArdSpIL-o9c9XOVHqAC8zigVg7qDygqbH3jaOWS1JN1vF98WG1uh5JEbV9cr4dk3EAn3W9cDky9krCoWNPdRT2Sgo244TjA8SDvbBNVdEZjM/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+185.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNhyphenhyphenTxCkWo7rbBkw1hOXVztJK7EF0ce4ArdSpIL-o9c9XOVHqAC8zigVg7qDygqbH3jaOWS1JN1vF98WG1uh5JEbV9cr4dk3EAn3W9cDky9krCoWNPdRT2Sgo244TjA8SDvbBNVdEZjM/s320/12+Dec+07+185.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">cheesecake with blueberries</div><br />The food was pretty yummy, good solid fare, and for just US$12.50. Before we left, we were given a Christmas present, so to speak.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgkqC7G1QpVKVeFCsAIEi1QVzJtRw3FqONWfFpJc0UETGzKLFCpLbh2h1wHX9Sa53wCZQJJh0zdsk11CfhrjkgUA9OwG_kWM34m8koUs5IxAP6BANZeC0-HBT25YffceVNZbVjqwF0_8/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+186.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgkqC7G1QpVKVeFCsAIEi1QVzJtRw3FqONWfFpJc0UETGzKLFCpLbh2h1wHX9Sa53wCZQJJh0zdsk11CfhrjkgUA9OwG_kWM34m8koUs5IxAP6BANZeC0-HBT25YffceVNZbVjqwF0_8/s320/12+Dec+07+186.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Christmas cookies</div><br />We gave these to Uncle who decided to save them for his young son.<br /><br /><br /><u>The Russian Market</u><br /><br />It was a good thing we ate elsewhere. We still could not see ourselves eating at the market stalls. We did however buy some drinks, canned ones, yes, but served with ice...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPw0JphkUA1QVgZ47K1_odbNYwA4KyB0MD1w1n7ARDoqV_ERIURmQHpqHc6fvkOv5GqN3XOblKfbApRIIGyTgJIQOAtx2Fmxym94L0WQkcFEj5B6sYjzszzKs-BMqB0c-unevxYyMPbTQ/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+189.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPw0JphkUA1QVgZ47K1_odbNYwA4KyB0MD1w1n7ARDoqV_ERIURmQHpqHc6fvkOv5GqN3XOblKfbApRIIGyTgJIQOAtx2Fmxym94L0WQkcFEj5B6sYjzszzKs-BMqB0c-unevxYyMPbTQ/s320/12+Dec+07+189.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">food stall in Russian Market</div><br />We pottered around a bit, before zooming in on the textiles section where HM remembered seeing good quality cotton fabric with retro prints circa 1950s to 1970s.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TCXp8lmMSzCj_1s-xq9MOIdGno0kpXfvU7KKEKbGIBzJlqXMtKv5mM-nYCNVq_LHEQXaUC_DJ0Pql-NAk0ctbXGeOjxjoAaL3oB0YZGV6jBJLcAAOEiiODyRG16FWu1icddsF23fOs8/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+191.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TCXp8lmMSzCj_1s-xq9MOIdGno0kpXfvU7KKEKbGIBzJlqXMtKv5mM-nYCNVq_LHEQXaUC_DJ0Pql-NAk0ctbXGeOjxjoAaL3oB0YZGV6jBJLcAAOEiiODyRG16FWu1icddsF23fOs8/s320/12+Dec+07+191.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">textile shop in Russian Market</div><br />With a little bargaining, not a lot because we could not bring ourselves to do so in the face of such an obvious income disparity, we left with about 20 m of cloth.<br /><br /><br /><u>Tabitha</u><br /><br />The day was still young, so we adjourned to Tabitha, yet another NGO-run social enterprise, this one specialising in fabric products.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrHcSHrRLyky5G8nxa1hmDGRAQzsBX-uR_7RcAc_Av5AOl-jMcDWEcjzMWbPYBTdZNkN42mF8oVTrPfeukXmP9EukCXCYpm6d0uKwBK85uffoG28VG-hJcgIGlKHB70-IAqD4_465x6U/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+201.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrHcSHrRLyky5G8nxa1hmDGRAQzsBX-uR_7RcAc_Av5AOl-jMcDWEcjzMWbPYBTdZNkN42mF8oVTrPfeukXmP9EukCXCYpm6d0uKwBK85uffoG28VG-hJcgIGlKHB70-IAqD4_465x6U/s320/12+Dec+07+201.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">welcome to Tabitha</div><br />At first glance, the premises could have passed for a sweat shop. There were women everywhere, busy sewing away.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9s6BV3NyS4HbF9i7q1lQGv9fRKT84iHpmHBuko3e6hVn53w22dFCiXoHueUiEzUQPRMwzQu2oFpoAxupPJFAavs_3Mf75gBCqGwiFeYvAibnS2EP6xS20YkUC-_QllUPZTl49imaZZKI/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+194.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9s6BV3NyS4HbF9i7q1lQGv9fRKT84iHpmHBuko3e6hVn53w22dFCiXoHueUiEzUQPRMwzQu2oFpoAxupPJFAavs_3Mf75gBCqGwiFeYvAibnS2EP6xS20YkUC-_QllUPZTl49imaZZKI/s320/12+Dec+07+194.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">elves at work</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxRr8a1RERn_aSW3cTddQjD_3on2N5yxU-yE8gqv2mtaFPrTtXTSoZrjgTuRKdBh8kwmHV6WCF1mO2TwsebLycJebsQ0eQXVLl6a0fvb71VyHs2jtncI4ZHu0W0nqTKBJrVVnyAsbjwI/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+195.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxRr8a1RERn_aSW3cTddQjD_3on2N5yxU-yE8gqv2mtaFPrTtXTSoZrjgTuRKdBh8kwmHV6WCF1mO2TwsebLycJebsQ0eQXVLl6a0fvb71VyHs2jtncI4ZHu0W0nqTKBJrVVnyAsbjwI/s320/12+Dec+07+195.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">quilt in the making</div><br />Tabitha may have been "proud to be Cambodian" but there was something decidedly incongruous about all these Cambodian women making quilts, Christmas tree baubles and Noah's Ark animal puppets. Of course Tabitha <u>is</u> a Christian-based NGO, and judging from the crowd filling up their baskets with stash for Christmas stockings, their clientele is predominantly white and Christian. Hey, even we heathens managed to buy US$70 worth of gifts for friends back home. I'd say Tabitha got its business model right.<br /><br /><br /><u>Back at the Pavilion</u><br /><br />We retired to our room to rest and recuperate from the day's exertions, such as they were. While HM reviewed our purchases for the day, I took the opportunity to do some birdwatching from our balcony.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrkRX8hVZtA3mwpgRUIlaIcZ_bDTugTWUUWenR3RQR7lMBwuGG3_k8zc2W60V8NepBb3zqVNtxRHz9nn5yBj1jkPgE5tvpsMBfnHzXVNRl6f6nuvjXPvKA8EmJLqRpuIDI8eOz2FHepA/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+213.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrkRX8hVZtA3mwpgRUIlaIcZ_bDTugTWUUWenR3RQR7lMBwuGG3_k8zc2W60V8NepBb3zqVNtxRHz9nn5yBj1jkPgE5tvpsMBfnHzXVNRl6f6nuvjXPvKA8EmJLqRpuIDI8eOz2FHepA/s320/12+Dec+07+213.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">my first Indian roller</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VkKh-jhbNvNKCYkfZLYsdOaHoAFg2ypd2oYUaPkXVmgKlgB3ginRLq6pwrZmfhCyuwTKdvIYOsjz3OEcVhLWKCugChegaf68jx2FAbS2xWsR4CZgcwOCpQkRamn0g90FyFadS9DsftI/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+222.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VkKh-jhbNvNKCYkfZLYsdOaHoAFg2ypd2oYUaPkXVmgKlgB3ginRLq6pwrZmfhCyuwTKdvIYOsjz3OEcVhLWKCugChegaf68jx2FAbS2xWsR4CZgcwOCpQkRamn0g90FyFadS9DsftI/s320/12+Dec+07+222.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">yellow-vented bulbul - ok these are as common here as back home</div><br /><br /><u>Dinner at Ponlok Restaurant</u><br /><br />Dinner time found us back at Sisowath Quay. On our last night, we decided to give Ponlok a shot. It looked exactly like our seafood restaurants back home in Singapore, except that all the staff members seemed to be children and teenagers!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3IzgTNw5YoIVWuOVAborUuV7kgStm_cUULVD9u6ZQYsm92VHEmQPWGSb4TC9SucYsCCZ-VSyl8QZ8XsLySS85lljp9yJmGvuMbOS39eaGfnNK-cL3c8E-z0d-y9tNWjJFofLXxFZbZrs/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+248.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3IzgTNw5YoIVWuOVAborUuV7kgStm_cUULVD9u6ZQYsm92VHEmQPWGSb4TC9SucYsCCZ-VSyl8QZ8XsLySS85lljp9yJmGvuMbOS39eaGfnNK-cL3c8E-z0d-y9tNWjJFofLXxFZbZrs/s320/12+Dec+07+248.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the clientele at Ponlok</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bJ0xIbarG8psTxtiqZirnR14d8rRJvd7PFWiNC99thvFaeWQK5m_tXCaIAxFn8NVT20Fd5O_EPMVtjDgkQ_ntJsscTcZnCOkLpIN8o7eCWTaIgAesLRrJN5y3s7TKOeJOyEMKfsxpbQ/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+251.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bJ0xIbarG8psTxtiqZirnR14d8rRJvd7PFWiNC99thvFaeWQK5m_tXCaIAxFn8NVT20Fd5O_EPMVtjDgkQ_ntJsscTcZnCOkLpIN8o7eCWTaIgAesLRrJN5y3s7TKOeJOyEMKfsxpbQ/s320/12+Dec+07+251.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a little bit more OTT than Singaporean seafood restaurants</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ukTedT7CL8ZIy-Cz44S4mn3Ly2PX4P8Gqb0ruv6-dsyfFbMvb-Dj_R9daecetggUM_zZl-9rwJZqvNhL-K18VYM6hmtICH9LGtroLu3k1SZ_0HnMNvaKgzs6z6PTioUYjRhFIySJwZM/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+258.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ukTedT7CL8ZIy-Cz44S4mn3Ly2PX4P8Gqb0ruv6-dsyfFbMvb-Dj_R9daecetggUM_zZl-9rwJZqvNhL-K18VYM6hmtICH9LGtroLu3k1SZ_0HnMNvaKgzs6z6PTioUYjRhFIySJwZM/s320/12+Dec+07+258.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">there are Liverpool fans everywhere</div><br />The service at Ponlok was excellent - fast and chirpy - but it was the food we enjoyed.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEBVxrnkwIEPtqGZsA3RmhwLFKaTFTWGaATyJjFtu2dBnGaYI5-mfrOappx20zxF_N9ikpg6Dyui9aZ3w-AzH28m3YQhY_N2iDRVc6QdlAsEy3fL9tRpNtvdmFm8GKPfw_nPnSK5x8VY/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+263.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEBVxrnkwIEPtqGZsA3RmhwLFKaTFTWGaATyJjFtu2dBnGaYI5-mfrOappx20zxF_N9ikpg6Dyui9aZ3w-AzH28m3YQhY_N2iDRVc6QdlAsEy3fL9tRpNtvdmFm8GKPfw_nPnSK5x8VY/s320/12+Dec+07+263.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">fried morning glory</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0A7IZWX7W_4PEnsGY5jhcPTZrcVEnK2SSK4NikCa5Or2yNIogaXWaTG_NLNqnIfnNmln6MU0uYVSkdWvXS98K1D1MoW1g1SYyxFNkoaO9kE2iDR1AVwsODXAWYQPNBEAZk69u0XLU1c/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+264.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0A7IZWX7W_4PEnsGY5jhcPTZrcVEnK2SSK4NikCa5Or2yNIogaXWaTG_NLNqnIfnNmln6MU0uYVSkdWvXS98K1D1MoW1g1SYyxFNkoaO9kE2iDR1AVwsODXAWYQPNBEAZk69u0XLU1c/s320/12+Dec+07+264.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">mango salad with...</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0M61MYGTjoXAfkE9-dzeLFYvymNLreEKVdhinmi6qJFoh9JJNeHGipq9-zsl2_TUD7vgSD5iF_A9OkQm4rEiAfITLnXL61MeXrK_oi5C8amKUwNs0F263WAVemtfmrQJsSxV-GFqRDg/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+267.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0M61MYGTjoXAfkE9-dzeLFYvymNLreEKVdhinmi6qJFoh9JJNeHGipq9-zsl2_TUD7vgSD5iF_A9OkQm4rEiAfITLnXL61MeXrK_oi5C8amKUwNs0F263WAVemtfmrQJsSxV-GFqRDg/s320/12+Dec+07+267.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">... this deepfried fish</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNngW_PITWKNZIew1ymKTFMm2Ace7Om_y147RuThi0Ti7RllDwzKJijyi5J9-MOVuqhHuhFN2vh0tyZxutC4qvWmsqIBnnuO-rNqWmZq5wa9aJLPZ-ubdWa5x-M7bJXRMuibI_RVs5x2o/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+268.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNngW_PITWKNZIew1ymKTFMm2Ace7Om_y147RuThi0Ti7RllDwzKJijyi5J9-MOVuqhHuhFN2vh0tyZxutC4qvWmsqIBnnuO-rNqWmZq5wa9aJLPZ-ubdWa5x-M7bJXRMuibI_RVs5x2o/s320/12+Dec+07+268.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">stirfried crab with tamarind sauce</div><br />The crab was good but not as exciting as the one we had at Kep. The fish though was superfresh. For US$16, it was both cheap and good.<br /><br />After dinner, we were offered a choice of dessert, which gave us a chance, finally, to try some local delicacies in a presumably safe way. We had heard that the staff offered headrubs and shoulder massages post dinner but we didn't witness any such perks being dispensed.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGHvHj2s6nI49ziIcdTMsdPHvEuKx-vTLodf26Qmw9VtEVGPtfR8MrWQ23My2uzhthdhfTtuqLTc5zwOLbME0R_g-51aZZKmfJQJ-yU8EGyzPopCfdc1nFUsKZL_Uc-JllmkKIvJISrY/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+271.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGHvHj2s6nI49ziIcdTMsdPHvEuKx-vTLodf26Qmw9VtEVGPtfR8MrWQ23My2uzhthdhfTtuqLTc5zwOLbME0R_g-51aZZKmfJQJ-yU8EGyzPopCfdc1nFUsKZL_Uc-JllmkKIvJISrY/s320/12+Dec+07+271.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">rice flour and glutinous rice in four different ways</div><br />With that, our last day in Phnom Penh came to an end. All that was left was for us to pack.blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649241099028598071.post-7001308305095511462007-12-18T15:39:00.000-08:002008-06-11T08:10:48.137-07:00Day 12: Back to Siem Reap<u>Leaving Phnom Penh</u><br /><br />Our morning started with breakfast at the Pavilion. Uncle was waiting for us when we emerged with our bags in tow. He had been so patient and accommodating that we thought it fitting to give our business to him on our last journey.<br /><br />The journey to the bus station though turned out a little more harrowing than expected. One moment we were trundling merrily along Sisowath Quay, the next moment traffic came to a halt and a figure of authority in uniform waved us into a side road, along with other vehicles. There was obviously some kind of public event up ahead. What would happen to our bus ride?<br /><br />I called the bus company on my mobile phone and got Uncle to speak to the staff. He eventually explained that the bus to Phnom Penh would depart from another location nearby and that, under the circumstances, the bus company would wait for latecomers. Despite the reassurance, I had my reservations. The smaller side roads were jam packed with all manner of vehicles trying to escape the road block.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MX1pAgKRGnbSF1JIgYdl9rfAG3vXF0AQbdGODgSkxv42V7CiIMwCN5VCwGjTWfcfvPYVEQ5UVI9wU-V2SF2S25Xm5lzhWWatPpPie5SxW_FTVFp3jt5ZViJY5qFtMBj6vMI66k7ghHo/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MX1pAgKRGnbSF1JIgYdl9rfAG3vXF0AQbdGODgSkxv42V7CiIMwCN5VCwGjTWfcfvPYVEQ5UVI9wU-V2SF2S25Xm5lzhWWatPpPie5SxW_FTVFp3jt5ZViJY5qFtMBj6vMI66k7ghHo/s320/13+Dec+07+010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">through the streets of Phnom Penh</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUs9esrbHZDcYRwBqB_VQb2z5u6IV01sOhoCaQpWNUNwk-LkbaONwjntEX8em_hyphenhyphen7NHuhHwC3Fz1p-pAj33l3Ygdw6_YCFp89OGJKMc7yiWd0zxev4-JDIcIMqsYo7m8DG1P9plqObsI/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUs9esrbHZDcYRwBqB_VQb2z5u6IV01sOhoCaQpWNUNwk-LkbaONwjntEX8em_hyphenhyphen7NHuhHwC3Fz1p-pAj33l3Ygdw6_YCFp89OGJKMc7yiWd0zxev4-JDIcIMqsYo7m8DG1P9plqObsI/s320/13+Dec+07+013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">glitz amidst the muck - Phnom Penh in a nutshell</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuExqwexpOUspl_cbUJUVB3Bw7BWa92dWHQUzVvR4gL3u2-UwUEagtwfnLS8UQPbCNXFRRmdAGRBsgWEFEaahC37vdvWSER54AzlO0Z9ASo1-dQg7YYUldnZRZIcIVNpcXsF27aRR16s/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuExqwexpOUspl_cbUJUVB3Bw7BWa92dWHQUzVvR4gL3u2-UwUEagtwfnLS8UQPbCNXFRRmdAGRBsgWEFEaahC37vdvWSER54AzlO0Z9ASo1-dQg7YYUldnZRZIcIVNpcXsF27aRR16s/s320/13+Dec+07+014.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">two's company, three's a...<br /></div><br />Finally, we pulled into a carpark of sorts where the Mekong Express bus was waiting. As it turned out, we weren't the last to arrive which was a relief.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPyyiTD3cIMZRpLeSE-JCOdLjTAhIFk2A82nrcy6zH7EiEquJsg3aiC4oaM75ukTnNhyphenhyphenmAzlO1eS41ZM2DW5eHwYYV-maj8qcoRqFkFQK-m_2W-we9783IhzHU1f-WOtSwSzxfHEo43JA/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPyyiTD3cIMZRpLeSE-JCOdLjTAhIFk2A82nrcy6zH7EiEquJsg3aiC4oaM75ukTnNhyphenhyphenmAzlO1eS41ZM2DW5eHwYYV-maj8qcoRqFkFQK-m_2W-we9783IhzHU1f-WOtSwSzxfHEo43JA/s320/13+Dec+07+015.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Uncle and his chariot</div><br />We transferred our luggage into the underbelly of the bus, said our goodbyes to Uncle (and greased his palm of course), and still had time to twiddle our thumbs and take in the view, such as it was.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-FSpgDNiZHexr19vEihqBr8Vn5yEnL2e6CYLOArQ60Sr9fcTsdJpg9z-Wq9MLj9e9I2XCZR1gLQHkDdBuTmiQsVPpKeyNCrrloMmOJQPS5Bj5uELAqkKCsTc8LRXy-_cPW6St4vtowM/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-FSpgDNiZHexr19vEihqBr8Vn5yEnL2e6CYLOArQ60Sr9fcTsdJpg9z-Wq9MLj9e9I2XCZR1gLQHkDdBuTmiQsVPpKeyNCrrloMmOJQPS5Bj5uELAqkKCsTc8LRXy-_cPW6St4vtowM/s320/13+Dec+07+019.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">reading the papers</div><br />We finally got underway, 45 minutes late.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3biCE3w73d_epzgztqxYjIbNnyY5kuX65Oq4c_R13fRphiIijMLSMdkdU29HOgpIbqyFRwYrakSf3LcH4QniJ3Gouy9Y6Wvb-oG1Dlhlt_MqUkv_Feq0fco-s-6iUAqosrFjThmLTd-8/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3biCE3w73d_epzgztqxYjIbNnyY5kuX65Oq4c_R13fRphiIijMLSMdkdU29HOgpIbqyFRwYrakSf3LcH4QniJ3Gouy9Y6Wvb-oG1Dlhlt_MqUkv_Feq0fco-s-6iUAqosrFjThmLTd-8/s320/13+Dec+07+020.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">our lunchbox</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVlLjAUTBoqqDzvMEZfOVd70vGka8SHXOIyMMrm5DAKB4Y6WYIzVLu5H3JuLxoYnipxdoqcrLn2ls8eFa4NapEE3zPajV97HqqS9ZOmWMuQV1bERN6vn20rJWr_BWSwD3bDl1cOpVg-tk/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVlLjAUTBoqqDzvMEZfOVd70vGka8SHXOIyMMrm5DAKB4Y6WYIzVLu5H3JuLxoYnipxdoqcrLn2ls8eFa4NapEE3zPajV97HqqS9ZOmWMuQV1bERN6vn20rJWr_BWSwD3bDl1cOpVg-tk/s320/13+Dec+07+023.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">inside our lunchboxes</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AJ7sjSM4HRzhiLsXRmaHJgjVrIrmtK_Yvdq3VYv2xyGEdIfxardvq2qQq8yu5HMLpZRDVOeWKguzHk6Fb_axJe5JpZIdMKgsa69LEZPZ6VXPpDX03JPJLOGXUjoGmpzM5uSvhEfZy9I/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AJ7sjSM4HRzhiLsXRmaHJgjVrIrmtK_Yvdq3VYv2xyGEdIfxardvq2qQq8yu5HMLpZRDVOeWKguzHk6Fb_axJe5JpZIdMKgsa69LEZPZ6VXPpDX03JPJLOGXUjoGmpzM5uSvhEfZy9I/s320/13+Dec+07+025.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the host with the most</div><br />The journey was a comfortable, uneventful one, punctuated only by a meal or two.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC88FyO3p2wyyE1juU1QUI4IqVs5Xunw9FMX9NXTJyOMo1decm1lsxZftFEN8f3hGSt6zQr78gK8E3eTXvQeo4qFXtnla3PsTK7X1BKjvCb2N9JmmOxXuraPAf7tSI3eoLWyucF3taqYE/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC88FyO3p2wyyE1juU1QUI4IqVs5Xunw9FMX9NXTJyOMo1decm1lsxZftFEN8f3hGSt6zQr78gK8E3eTXvQeo4qFXtnla3PsTK7X1BKjvCb2N9JmmOxXuraPAf7tSI3eoLWyucF3taqYE/s320/13+Dec+07+040.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Arunras Restaurant in Kompong Thom</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSL7vKQ4XU4VE6ZlBeGtqQ1bC36dCx1WcEGVEUfNgkF09jtiZHATaxHu0Jvuz5o5_SFNY3ERJGRn09fHCQ1CfwOafesTEM9dxFhtX9QCK3ue7N2npzr078y5il5opNjplkSfwnjDj5ch8/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+030.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSL7vKQ4XU4VE6ZlBeGtqQ1bC36dCx1WcEGVEUfNgkF09jtiZHATaxHu0Jvuz5o5_SFNY3ERJGRn09fHCQ1CfwOafesTEM9dxFhtX9QCK3ue7N2npzr078y5il5opNjplkSfwnjDj5ch8/s320/13+Dec+07+030.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the lunch crowd</div><br />We stopped at THE restaurant in Kompong Thom, the pitstop de rigeur on Highway 6, and had us a bowl of pork noodle soup each.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNw-toXBxMOWGN6Do4OUcRoT_vj35vO6WIfo_kmLyxjbYmGvaHqli0Sa_1J6yjIxwB336QHUyk81wKi4UzMtAoGIfkjzNhNEL2xUpjVkzZhpTzSXmdaNEJ0QPDzQm3L1iNCnoRaZURyV8/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNw-toXBxMOWGN6Do4OUcRoT_vj35vO6WIfo_kmLyxjbYmGvaHqli0Sa_1J6yjIxwB336QHUyk81wKi4UzMtAoGIfkjzNhNEL2xUpjVkzZhpTzSXmdaNEJ0QPDzQm3L1iNCnoRaZURyV8/s320/13+Dec+07+033.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">pork noodle soup</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDI-bbPG5p0-rSIn7Aqm22nd7sQcvN4yPGVAsthDhXKjSpqYdw0u4Cm-R9ikMUvV9p1YkQ1N4j7gad_6EipOxjfRXOGspnHQ5rUSQjQGaFQDCpxVOXb279AFooBKzFtJn1YZuwzqdKsk/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+035.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDI-bbPG5p0-rSIn7Aqm22nd7sQcvN4yPGVAsthDhXKjSpqYdw0u4Cm-R9ikMUvV9p1YkQ1N4j7gad_6EipOxjfRXOGspnHQ5rUSQjQGaFQDCpxVOXb279AFooBKzFtJn1YZuwzqdKsk/s320/13+Dec+07+035.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">with condiments</div><br />Some of our fellow passengers though had other ideas. They went next door to the local provision shop and bought themselves local treats instead.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DbZHZAiOXPo2Mio_q0mIEw7_VzBJtKcXfnT3fOcvj8vF2V6EmDYh55-VY0FgarmQwSer92yGeHyUBW2PUBP12ARg4nihPDymdnDJGN4nli5AKvqIj1XyUIXaeJ5I6dNSOLhcC_2mN-w/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+043.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DbZHZAiOXPo2Mio_q0mIEw7_VzBJtKcXfnT3fOcvj8vF2V6EmDYh55-VY0FgarmQwSer92yGeHyUBW2PUBP12ARg4nihPDymdnDJGN4nli5AKvqIj1XyUIXaeJ5I6dNSOLhcC_2mN-w/s320/13+Dec+07+043.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">buggy smackeroo</div><br /><br /><u>Siem Reap and The FCC Angkor</u><br /><br />By the time our bus drew into the Siem Reap bus park, we were at least an hour late. We had a free pick up by our hotel of choice, FCC Angkor, and the friendly member of staff was beside herself, waiting for the bus to appear. We were whisked off to the hotel, courtesy of the hotel van, and one welcome drink later, safely ensconced in the Tamarind Room.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtPpBG5se1j4fslBB2ZDaajih65INYKN3eqE8OrdrlfVHE6ANEA6GlDmPY8GKEEafFQKTyQyQu-bXCtGHuHV_yUI_j6AR4F3npsk_pNS0X3mZ-uGlw1KAL7Jl4ULIx0lph9dlB6h7WcY/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+047.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtPpBG5se1j4fslBB2ZDaajih65INYKN3eqE8OrdrlfVHE6ANEA6GlDmPY8GKEEafFQKTyQyQu-bXCtGHuHV_yUI_j6AR4F3npsk_pNS0X3mZ-uGlw1KAL7Jl4ULIx0lph9dlB6h7WcY/s320/13+Dec+07+047.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">ooh, comfortable bed</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaypzYfTmvDG_wws33blaqRRH5D9XsaeoVX8HEHLMoIcbi1F4mlCGoV6ztiZpW_uLE9FHLgvJCIy0PRWzpZNvnHK3K9FKwLgPiMuSWOizTiGA9CUJHQfgvWGn5WCeKLPNvxJ24J-vMGs/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+048.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaypzYfTmvDG_wws33blaqRRH5D9XsaeoVX8HEHLMoIcbi1F4mlCGoV6ztiZpW_uLE9FHLgvJCIy0PRWzpZNvnHK3K9FKwLgPiMuSWOizTiGA9CUJHQfgvWGn5WCeKLPNvxJ24J-vMGs/s320/13+Dec+07+048.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">royalty on our walls</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaV17LNVgowT5tyln7C1JY-NYOEPIMZUs8EcDcAxLf0F6pmoAOZMK-kmQLjcexNqhd6Ip9WIfqT8m5FbOPKcuqTRgidAq6n1ut7-RQhcGG3w_IinBb52NnF4oeque-ud_ueozkq_M8S0/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+051.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaV17LNVgowT5tyln7C1JY-NYOEPIMZUs8EcDcAxLf0F6pmoAOZMK-kmQLjcexNqhd6Ip9WIfqT8m5FbOPKcuqTRgidAq6n1ut7-RQhcGG3w_IinBb52NnF4oeque-ud_ueozkq_M8S0/s320/13+Dec+07+051.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">writing desk</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18kbMaTq8Y1jiVeFUrs-s9aNxpn2ntJYrQwP4CDzkOWGtsbZ8C_soCFFLJWOEq1v34hE6Rf0F82dbVXG8abb_YWoddjBVKW2L8aGmo-gX0hN2ctMCbfmd9aPRKBNWDOkhNevOGl5RR_8/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+052.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18kbMaTq8Y1jiVeFUrs-s9aNxpn2ntJYrQwP4CDzkOWGtsbZ8C_soCFFLJWOEq1v34hE6Rf0F82dbVXG8abb_YWoddjBVKW2L8aGmo-gX0hN2ctMCbfmd9aPRKBNWDOkhNevOGl5RR_8/s320/13+Dec+07+052.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the toilet</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEVEpIdw2BlEfdeztXJG4wNUL8U1pxvIb3G3ieqPCWJUuK7gXLc4vRbXIyHqhXQcLFSEOSNjcCk1Tl49de2J-2S5DRs7uVHy1NZVtTDDsMIPuTUiJYoQ9Ij_fCMjr9ER7XUl40vEd2mU/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+053.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEVEpIdw2BlEfdeztXJG4wNUL8U1pxvIb3G3ieqPCWJUuK7gXLc4vRbXIyHqhXQcLFSEOSNjcCk1Tl49de2J-2S5DRs7uVHy1NZVtTDDsMIPuTUiJYoQ9Ij_fCMjr9ER7XUl40vEd2mU/s320/13+Dec+07+053.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">spot our welcome drink</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMd3GH2dPuUcNPm0G50B8rs-tjlY9thv9-13VcbENJmKii_9eVCptQ7Sek8TV_dKZ7UbCCJBflRK7jdlEceLKREwEoV6kwp3hnm1rkrkZdkqk7czcFl_PbWn_1xCahDfT8OS8scFdYVk/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+054.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMd3GH2dPuUcNPm0G50B8rs-tjlY9thv9-13VcbENJmKii_9eVCptQ7Sek8TV_dKZ7UbCCJBflRK7jdlEceLKREwEoV6kwp3hnm1rkrkZdkqk7czcFl_PbWn_1xCahDfT8OS8scFdYVk/s320/13+Dec+07+054.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">oh that bathtub</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9vtfB1vSlXF7ZCOKosYN5SsgXPnzGSZdKfw3RX9pC_aGO4rpM0B9ka20VsneDl0oJn_b79yF0pTwZN_eJsLSBaPWxKW5WfPtax57vA7rsLOP_thA5T7h7CNyVUrjDAM9RFGIiFRa8bc/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+057.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9vtfB1vSlXF7ZCOKosYN5SsgXPnzGSZdKfw3RX9pC_aGO4rpM0B9ka20VsneDl0oJn_b79yF0pTwZN_eJsLSBaPWxKW5WfPtax57vA7rsLOP_thA5T7h7CNyVUrjDAM9RFGIiFRa8bc/s320/13+Dec+07+057.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">yummy toiletries</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfmTxJcqnBWkHc2uhh-YN2BZAKnR49Bc9JUf3QJWWZ601db3Dr_AR3NUwKZNBEkx8d-GUfNyo3Lkj_zyO3lUsWUdNRsJuQEgkXtGB-d7GiFPCTg1k1lyiwTWBwoMtiofoYW1E9ACT5fo/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+058.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfmTxJcqnBWkHc2uhh-YN2BZAKnR49Bc9JUf3QJWWZ601db3Dr_AR3NUwKZNBEkx8d-GUfNyo3Lkj_zyO3lUsWUdNRsJuQEgkXtGB-d7GiFPCTg1k1lyiwTWBwoMtiofoYW1E9ACT5fo/s320/13+Dec+07+058.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">freebies!</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGvYPPhvGxwGS9uhvjhhqVehH8g70AF2lfNFpweD2Os5l0oGfcvQtY-wlAzVbQ3k0825uBl_Ck0cDniTvn8bDUTXzVZzkCT28cGybmcdWXwuM5k7gfvvDi-Ubbz5RkQJBfCYYOhXG2jc/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+059.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGvYPPhvGxwGS9uhvjhhqVehH8g70AF2lfNFpweD2Os5l0oGfcvQtY-wlAzVbQ3k0825uBl_Ck0cDniTvn8bDUTXzVZzkCT28cGybmcdWXwuM5k7gfvvDi-Ubbz5RkQJBfCYYOhXG2jc/s320/13+Dec+07+059.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">pretty lor</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUP799NvzsBe0BIVQ4EUNsjCFtxleFXm6msfrGNs7TRWydQQmuvsALLQjb9Qe2bVA7SiHFKyXsmQaLNDgdx8aKBksupyeQvnY6CsBt9d5p0h3z_nUqRpwGK4buwTOP6h7GxOcaAJhqIyo/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+060.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUP799NvzsBe0BIVQ4EUNsjCFtxleFXm6msfrGNs7TRWydQQmuvsALLQjb9Qe2bVA7SiHFKyXsmQaLNDgdx8aKBksupyeQvnY6CsBt9d5p0h3z_nUqRpwGK4buwTOP6h7GxOcaAJhqIyo/s320/13+Dec+07+060.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">even the laundry bag was cute</div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFN6dEYdMIFQszQKRzzMJ58oT35RURarOqz4IVgAEg0l_YKGxADawq9-PcpMbHI8d3-guSfBuGUo0T7T6QW83mrsFbe3E-tqpEW-g1dnM2WIMCBSU-YhBT2aFk38n4pLQemSHxOKGUdxQ/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+064.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFN6dEYdMIFQszQKRzzMJ58oT35RURarOqz4IVgAEg0l_YKGxADawq9-PcpMbHI8d3-guSfBuGUo0T7T6QW83mrsFbe3E-tqpEW-g1dnM2WIMCBSU-YhBT2aFk38n4pLQemSHxOKGUdxQ/s320/13+Dec+07+064.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">DIY name cards</div><br />FCC Angkor came highly recommended by an architect friend and we could see exactly why she liked it. It was <strong>designed</strong>. Take the bathroom for example. A twist of the handle and water gushed down the black wall in a waterfall, right into the tub. Neat.<br /><br /><br /><u>Dinner at Khmer Kitchen</u><br /><br />Dinnertime found us back at an old favourite.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HFUoHJP-NqMLmQ0kRk873Mbc-PKgeu_2M8bU4yqfscOm-xhnlqSaDzmvMSDsjbAAPfthC0ngzUyfJac7eck_swYj_rOWIuwaTDzbild2b-0_vOEMlngQa3J2f-H1uih6HCQlvVy9awA/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+071.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HFUoHJP-NqMLmQ0kRk873Mbc-PKgeu_2M8bU4yqfscOm-xhnlqSaDzmvMSDsjbAAPfthC0ngzUyfJac7eck_swYj_rOWIuwaTDzbild2b-0_vOEMlngQa3J2f-H1uih6HCQlvVy9awA/s320/13+Dec+07+071.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">lemongrass tea, hot and cold</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1hLqVs4pcjmKJ191xWF6OoCjzkeuYBIN_PedoMazChf4zncdW8zvGc-3Gl-Ghw54cw3seXwVE8TSTkGUcaur_uRxRpH9JhvkMxVJjoT_dCze0oEUtIyLd0m6-L4BWj0oL5giVLxof8To/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+074.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1hLqVs4pcjmKJ191xWF6OoCjzkeuYBIN_PedoMazChf4zncdW8zvGc-3Gl-Ghw54cw3seXwVE8TSTkGUcaur_uRxRpH9JhvkMxVJjoT_dCze0oEUtIyLd0m6-L4BWj0oL5giVLxof8To/s320/13+Dec+07+074.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">pork larb, if I recall correctly</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DrtSmUIsnkPhO6Edy6DqDAYgDxI1we5Z7ZZUXOkhSjuq01Vpk571R1MgsSNFJ_rYMVrcW8j2camcVpg9PsseKVRw6VxkESq6iiMifhlI-AI8zBsBxhrwembr5cY_WkxXzDCuSViu3RI/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+077.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DrtSmUIsnkPhO6Edy6DqDAYgDxI1we5Z7ZZUXOkhSjuq01Vpk571R1MgsSNFJ_rYMVrcW8j2camcVpg9PsseKVRw6VxkESq6iiMifhlI-AI8zBsBxhrwembr5cY_WkxXzDCuSViu3RI/s320/13+Dec+07+077.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">yet another baked pumpkin</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv8jvecT18Qyd7-nxTBI_EH2aaTiZ8dYTAG9c4bfQ3f-Hhi6HSUdC3Osr68kioiBilNWdGzuYF8XcKP3-WW0JJm41wWz244x0XUK9BG7I34fQ99Ui03w2gY7Tm2_wXwN47gDQ8Cb4sDk/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+078.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv8jvecT18Qyd7-nxTBI_EH2aaTiZ8dYTAG9c4bfQ3f-Hhi6HSUdC3Osr68kioiBilNWdGzuYF8XcKP3-WW0JJm41wWz244x0XUK9BG7I34fQ99Ui03w2gY7Tm2_wXwN47gDQ8Cb4sDk/s320/13+Dec+07+078.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">vegetable <em>amok</em></div><br />After dinner, we did a spot of shopping before stopping by the Blue Pumpkin for some masala chai and coconut sorbet and ginger nougatine.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXow2wKQZa41clt1az5VsoyCNwv3K-BntBBE6F6P5JS3iROFERaEmgKXdC0WGcQc_iK8P2ax6260gYwUn7PgWUUseK_Pk2CYJF6aYOhxLcLnhutV6mbojwRBycUnS235wIlulpp-8yEQ/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+080.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXow2wKQZa41clt1az5VsoyCNwv3K-BntBBE6F6P5JS3iROFERaEmgKXdC0WGcQc_iK8P2ax6260gYwUn7PgWUUseK_Pk2CYJF6aYOhxLcLnhutV6mbojwRBycUnS235wIlulpp-8yEQ/s320/13+Dec+07+080.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">traces of Angelina</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCJuUoQpECdUgAoeDTGoNHRxHDsvqh_DfxlTteHuOjwilEIh-MaRZxV_EVMF3g_a_wCuzv2yNiSpA4rt4bRkeLrYpSWjzNGcvE2124D_UIOcihbfph8w_lEcH8Q5hgZr3L7PSfomaDWI/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+084.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCJuUoQpECdUgAoeDTGoNHRxHDsvqh_DfxlTteHuOjwilEIh-MaRZxV_EVMF3g_a_wCuzv2yNiSpA4rt4bRkeLrYpSWjzNGcvE2124D_UIOcihbfph8w_lEcH8Q5hgZr3L7PSfomaDWI/s320/13+Dec+07+084.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">cashing in on the postcolonial experience?</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SW5RYjKh9TH2L2Chd_dgAP3IVjzUGlC5CsdL0H-R4Zz7Q-EBGKftO60Vk4NNCi5u6DIygvDIEFyzqp42cux87kcxjAf-0tEhhSFRjGvXSW9IxSCxe2vsAniGrhF6I1Q5LU5ie_B3vEw/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+089.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SW5RYjKh9TH2L2Chd_dgAP3IVjzUGlC5CsdL0H-R4Zz7Q-EBGKftO60Vk4NNCi5u6DIygvDIEFyzqp42cux87kcxjAf-0tEhhSFRjGvXSW9IxSCxe2vsAniGrhF6I1Q5LU5ie_B3vEw/s320/13+Dec+07+089.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a Tony Bourdain-inspired scene?</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtWJmfe6j9-jRnsCCJpncVG62E6xRBCR1LVIJYNdKX6wdRvGE_wt-gWz4PFWI9VCAn-ZrGojZqdzLFlYwBnyjdc82mbTE_QQTjNfXmMPloCrxU_b0zcvrxfmzI0ynLn9gGAv4JN_pzCA/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+092.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtWJmfe6j9-jRnsCCJpncVG62E6xRBCR1LVIJYNdKX6wdRvGE_wt-gWz4PFWI9VCAn-ZrGojZqdzLFlYwBnyjdc82mbTE_QQTjNfXmMPloCrxU_b0zcvrxfmzI0ynLn9gGAv4JN_pzCA/s320/13+Dec+07+092.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">not enough tourists perhaps</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXyqgrNJk0b0JvMxSs4_u8zCRZ8Dzh23oM6Z2GaB1GLhBJYaG7F_aJHzG1mG_fUqEkVCojGn8KJn99uRx_pHDdqaJO0t6stCNsyIc3vpjiCpfZWVNh3G94dQxghtZJwyIgVAYOSE2o1M/s1600-h/13+Dec+07+093.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXyqgrNJk0b0JvMxSs4_u8zCRZ8Dzh23oM6Z2GaB1GLhBJYaG7F_aJHzG1mG_fUqEkVCojGn8KJn99uRx_pHDdqaJO0t6stCNsyIc3vpjiCpfZWVNh3G94dQxghtZJwyIgVAYOSE2o1M/s320/13+Dec+07+093.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">goodysaurus, what a name</div><br />Our evening ended in style, with a dip in FCC Angkor's super stylish pool.blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649241099028598071.post-15643514993425523532007-12-17T09:44:00.000-08:002008-07-26T00:42:16.547-07:00Day 13: A Return to Angkor<u>Breakfast at FCC Angkor</u><br /><br />We were up early. Our game plan was to get to Ta Prohm before the crowds. I would have loved another Angkor Wat sunrise, but I couldn't prevail on HM to rise and shine at 4 a.m. for the third time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliTZoz_VfCK3AyVSR52ldI6J5vhoVFNlsKDUvcQ-TnViBKZ3VkAML4YnB5H-TQzGF5_CtbBEVyHj7cWoB2c7fcyci-g1SjG4FEbTE9f5VzeyAA8LhW_02SMEtMLta7Z2W1HqTYPymYPo/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliTZoz_VfCK3AyVSR52ldI6J5vhoVFNlsKDUvcQ-TnViBKZ3VkAML4YnB5H-TQzGF5_CtbBEVyHj7cWoB2c7fcyci-g1SjG4FEbTE9f5VzeyAA8LhW_02SMEtMLta7Z2W1HqTYPymYPo/s320/14+Dec+07+002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">and now for something completely different</div><br />At FCC Angkor, breakfast for early risers was delivered by room service. We put our breakfast order out the night before, and lo and behold, our Khmer porridge appeared at 6 a.m. sharp.<br /><br />By 7 a.m., we were on the road with our latest driver, Mr 509. We never did find out his name.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6YKK9oyoROjrRXiOQwFbCReUSe4-hTs5oe5_GjNJ-W7lZbFo_Kj1CW1l4I8LeXpE2sgYfARf4BnHoFC6DGUz_59gMKugx4SlhrytNWGwXICWYoZqdn8zgRd3IhmYaXiBx25AJlPTmPw/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6YKK9oyoROjrRXiOQwFbCReUSe4-hTs5oe5_GjNJ-W7lZbFo_Kj1CW1l4I8LeXpE2sgYfARf4BnHoFC6DGUz_59gMKugx4SlhrytNWGwXICWYoZqdn8zgRd3IhmYaXiBx25AJlPTmPw/s320/14+Dec+07+009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">with our new driver</div><br />Incidentally, our ride had been arranged by the hotel. This little arrangement was, in my opinion, a blotch on our otherwise happy experience with FCC Angkor. We had thought it best to ask the hotel to provide us with a tuk tuk driver, since we had no idea whether the ones on the roadside could be trusted to wait for us; we had no intention of being stuck at some remote temple complex without transport. Ok, that was a little melodramatic but, suffice it to say, we thought it best to go with the hotel. At least if there was a problem later on, we would have some form of recourse. Anyway, we expected a hotel employee in a FCC Angkor tuk tuk (there was one; we saw it in the carpark). Instead, when we showed up in the morning, all raring to go, the receptionist merely hopped out to the road fronting the hotel driveway and gave the job to one of the many regular tuk tuk drivers waiting to pounce on emerging hotel guests. That was it, for US$15, five dollars more than the usual going rate? Still, I was prepared to give the hotel the benefit of doubt. Perhaps, FCC Angkor, like other hotels such as Shinta Mani, was trying to help the locals by paying the drivers at a higher rate than what they would otherwise have been able to negotiate for themselves from street pickups, instead of competing with them. However, as I found out from Mr 509 later on, the hotel only pays them US$10. In other words, the hotel pockets the extra US$5 and the poor drivers make no more than they would have. Tsk tsk, shame on FCC Angkor. We decided after that to go direct to the drivers, safety concerns be damned.<br /><br /><br /><u>Ta Prohm</u><br /><br />It was good to be out on the roads of Siem Reap. Compared to Phnom Penh, the air was fresher, traffic was lighter, things moved at a more relaxed pace. Now that we had "done" all the temples in the immediate Angkor area and were merely revisiting a couple of favourites, we could afford to take it easy and so we did.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1wb53A_3upzhcUmEG0S6JAZC9EeZobbw7AuTweF_SJbrSHaUESL3_UbqSOjerDunrpZuvXbaLBHr_fV_ESp9waOcUxQGBPLHSHpuu7wfyrnc09GvrEAEuxXgZ5DA-1B5DHt4DmeBjvY/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1wb53A_3upzhcUmEG0S6JAZC9EeZobbw7AuTweF_SJbrSHaUESL3_UbqSOjerDunrpZuvXbaLBHr_fV_ESp9waOcUxQGBPLHSHpuu7wfyrnc09GvrEAEuxXgZ5DA-1B5DHt4DmeBjvY/s320/14+Dec+07+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">hehe, these were funny</div><br />Ta Prohm was our first temple of choice, our first visit having been spoilt by the marauding hordes. This time round, our early morning start paid off; we managed to get some clear shots of the ruins before the place was inundated by tourists.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpfEBaCLqPWdj7vhsu6Ud85xBBw8DvLY9WiSmCakZt79HgULMSTH1aj7NWAZ2mhD1KQDVcqp-WBZkn1GRkwy5gE_mvCIZqMQU9Oc0UEHod5eQY3eebAnYGb5VZz0t9aKvCJrkSU69MKU/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpfEBaCLqPWdj7vhsu6Ud85xBBw8DvLY9WiSmCakZt79HgULMSTH1aj7NWAZ2mhD1KQDVcqp-WBZkn1GRkwy5gE_mvCIZqMQU9Oc0UEHod5eQY3eebAnYGb5VZz0t9aKvCJrkSU69MKU/s320/14+Dec+07+016.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghAF0bS5RKJCTQhOKVXGX49LhuGV0pZ4NkKrE4OnThhbrUJDiS4N2e8R24tV7xZnctR33tHnbWP8RieU5c8JjGnzvxyGLptM9h1WUzPIM9Td48q76Ex44z_kuZQH_iaeEEG1xg1sN3P2g/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+027.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghAF0bS5RKJCTQhOKVXGX49LhuGV0pZ4NkKrE4OnThhbrUJDiS4N2e8R24tV7xZnctR33tHnbWP8RieU5c8JjGnzvxyGLptM9h1WUzPIM9Td48q76Ex44z_kuZQH_iaeEEG1xg1sN3P2g/s320/14+Dec+07+027.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FcnJEYv6EybTxioY8HY8WMbnvHJhhn1xEvmFFLTCo_TmGqEcPXDzuZycqUCLQP6yaQHh3mqceN59Jp9lQw2XQMJfw4PNhplyQvQMM1Wa3E2aB4eZHPfVaphkPs8T8sUlfiKPWLx52fk/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+042.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FcnJEYv6EybTxioY8HY8WMbnvHJhhn1xEvmFFLTCo_TmGqEcPXDzuZycqUCLQP6yaQHh3mqceN59Jp9lQw2XQMJfw4PNhplyQvQMM1Wa3E2aB4eZHPfVaphkPs8T8sUlfiKPWLx52fk/s320/14+Dec+07+042.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_HExhU5PjYzUNtYyvc_bJ04JNMfEYl5EMurDsRj8VVAySsUb5tlJ3OT-PxHtJhBfOG-7D7F-yeeVi2O6xjEUlOtSM03GzU7JwK5yFzesNNGpTxKwtu75Ah8D2VFwEOxOz-6pGhQXbf8/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+138.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_HExhU5PjYzUNtYyvc_bJ04JNMfEYl5EMurDsRj8VVAySsUb5tlJ3OT-PxHtJhBfOG-7D7F-yeeVi2O6xjEUlOtSM03GzU7JwK5yFzesNNGpTxKwtu75Ah8D2VFwEOxOz-6pGhQXbf8/s320/14+Dec+07+138.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAPlJD9eZgSzU68ope9t7TmJUpeJLp1VX8QrXtt3l44lGca5yzNRmaw-WzxHjI0JdMB8cNT5TBfGoZnc4rF5B83x0FKjhNLmcJyJnxAo1GK6ZT44__JSdiyyTZgaAa3Ctj6mAqul_xrY/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+148.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAPlJD9eZgSzU68ope9t7TmJUpeJLp1VX8QrXtt3l44lGca5yzNRmaw-WzxHjI0JdMB8cNT5TBfGoZnc4rF5B83x0FKjhNLmcJyJnxAo1GK6ZT44__JSdiyyTZgaAa3Ctj6mAqul_xrY/s320/14+Dec+07+148.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPJICfCetRK0vKAZWB3bXNbkCh5L5NMMZNSUoiMqZjY5xnDoKPHaQMgtOLIphWlZf_Wvkr8v-gxwvxKWD39VsLl0s5xYJZ4llgJkzWs1Ck3D-rcQDjrLUHPGdYZ5nxCGmJlzCkRJag9U/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+197.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPJICfCetRK0vKAZWB3bXNbkCh5L5NMMZNSUoiMqZjY5xnDoKPHaQMgtOLIphWlZf_Wvkr8v-gxwvxKWD39VsLl0s5xYJZ4llgJkzWs1Ck3D-rcQDjrLUHPGdYZ5nxCGmJlzCkRJag9U/s320/14+Dec+07+197.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uh0uamrajrP9V_I_N_OoQuiiz6INuk0lHDtsQTex7uYaeASWrlN7TdMl_q0yUMREnpj5p9ndt1i60J2U2g5JrZqmSAeuYScnWOiEZYETVx0ig15BYqKEComfS1MMNfAnihBeZD-Gxjg/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+054.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uh0uamrajrP9V_I_N_OoQuiiz6INuk0lHDtsQTex7uYaeASWrlN7TdMl_q0yUMREnpj5p9ndt1i60J2U2g5JrZqmSAeuYScnWOiEZYETVx0ig15BYqKEComfS1MMNfAnihBeZD-Gxjg/s320/14+Dec+07+054.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br />I even managed to get a shot of Ta Prohm's resident redbreasted parakeets.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ou2BL0Qjn7zPRD1fynCfBhEUYlIebT2m_BUYXBbCSXu7yAcoP5EbnPdh8CIMLDN1Z6p6wXCnftXXX9UUg06Qb2-UyHCYoGTj6G93bFXrp286dUgQREfI-_EKsX683dWVZ4ylbTtnmZ0/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+211.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ou2BL0Qjn7zPRD1fynCfBhEUYlIebT2m_BUYXBbCSXu7yAcoP5EbnPdh8CIMLDN1Z6p6wXCnftXXX9UUg06Qb2-UyHCYoGTj6G93bFXrp286dUgQREfI-_EKsX683dWVZ4ylbTtnmZ0/s320/14+Dec+07+211.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><br />Eventually, the crowds started to arrive...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg670iUq58sICJVqTWidwd-AXDjdeO1dtob2ijz-9MFdhMBdmFFS6QeHBaiYz76-21sAWbwOqKHepgjjpB-nPBn9Vzm6m4p3NA6t5bR42keR0GTotK1XqPxzBxQvFyIz-OqI9zH6LQgaQA/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+109.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg670iUq58sICJVqTWidwd-AXDjdeO1dtob2ijz-9MFdhMBdmFFS6QeHBaiYz76-21sAWbwOqKHepgjjpB-nPBn9Vzm6m4p3NA6t5bR42keR0GTotK1XqPxzBxQvFyIz-OqI9zH6LQgaQA/s320/14+Dec+07+109.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGhgeSJ2z-at51_E8gqGpcvuGynjLUh2AJtI8BX9yy1xnsv-EuYvXIwEnkeqRwDQ6J1W2CIOI-R0-AYRLk3F6in6QxMXVBiaK_TFa50jbB8SWzvPCxBnc7O7iB79KkSDiCBVyY2oc0Cc/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+118.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGhgeSJ2z-at51_E8gqGpcvuGynjLUh2AJtI8BX9yy1xnsv-EuYvXIwEnkeqRwDQ6J1W2CIOI-R0-AYRLk3F6in6QxMXVBiaK_TFa50jbB8SWzvPCxBnc7O7iB79KkSDiCBVyY2oc0Cc/s320/14+Dec+07+118.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryKnACzxPCwzxLX8x8Z6JSDTL6I7lHO2bJn7vHtrrVkdhVgl7RxpRFvF5SAhwS27pddeaiWqfIcr_j_d-mFaPa5QLiOBZA9y40QZzBQwjjzLUra9hqKpi2qIsJQTCbzTs0yhvRiHtQJk/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+231.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryKnACzxPCwzxLX8x8Z6JSDTL6I7lHO2bJn7vHtrrVkdhVgl7RxpRFvF5SAhwS27pddeaiWqfIcr_j_d-mFaPa5QLiOBZA9y40QZzBQwjjzLUra9hqKpi2qIsJQTCbzTs0yhvRiHtQJk/s320/14+Dec+07+231.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br />... so we bade Ta Prohm goodbye.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9O8b1qlL7oE77GofE_7pBzdeScRwTREL-K09d0XNE4Bdv3aKUc0yBgLaGIlbbdssxSRGhzbYSY4as0I92h_5-xfwYv6CZ_q0Go3PtC3DltnlS2BN5bPcZLrc9VMpUIyWTZiV5merIJyE/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+232.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9O8b1qlL7oE77GofE_7pBzdeScRwTREL-K09d0XNE4Bdv3aKUc0yBgLaGIlbbdssxSRGhzbYSY4as0I92h_5-xfwYv6CZ_q0Go3PtC3DltnlS2BN5bPcZLrc9VMpUIyWTZiV5merIJyE/s320/14+Dec+07+232.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><br /><u>Angkor Wat</u><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04gXGtvDXP3bI860I5oZjU_oBDxVQVJYjKkKeXPD-qIQFKqb3-zzuxH7qvMIE_ThPCTTgPeHiz7lk7Qmcc37ceCE0YTGln4sWbSerAziHkFLvJ2qnMnLHt5xcjRnzBvTTmiUVGYxYQMY/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+237.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04gXGtvDXP3bI860I5oZjU_oBDxVQVJYjKkKeXPD-qIQFKqb3-zzuxH7qvMIE_ThPCTTgPeHiz7lk7Qmcc37ceCE0YTGln4sWbSerAziHkFLvJ2qnMnLHt5xcjRnzBvTTmiUVGYxYQMY/s320/14+Dec+07+237.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">heading to lunch?</div><br />Our stomachs rumbling after such an early breakfast, we initially wanted to return to town for an early lunch. Heading out of the park, we had to pass Angkor Wat.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZUAd8ZsnfAkN8lJukL6yECFcEb1hTzDRWhyMFPLNlcHVHLRd7vYjRHeEmP__rJEE_skaGR57GqZkPsP3uf3mvJpqrsyWQnxonkhvRMfNZncXlBhChg56GNnoalRWYPqqUVGaWEN4J9w/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+239.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZUAd8ZsnfAkN8lJukL6yECFcEb1hTzDRWhyMFPLNlcHVHLRd7vYjRHeEmP__rJEE_skaGR57GqZkPsP3uf3mvJpqrsyWQnxonkhvRMfNZncXlBhChg56GNnoalRWYPqqUVGaWEN4J9w/s320/14+Dec+07+239.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">squatters?</div><br />The carpark looked remarkably empty, so hunger pangs be damned, we decided to stop for a quick look.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1Ll43C3njJCmVA5_0bqrjwMxRq2-mcQTP46ftLbMWrhPSOGaShlZ9rjSGxld8ihXE9cppHgZqC6-prBKu9Dp1gSOipcUDupBHvuyqDlT4sZ52ptNgIJI13WqRfQbbdauNgxYYh3sPQI/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+241.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1Ll43C3njJCmVA5_0bqrjwMxRq2-mcQTP46ftLbMWrhPSOGaShlZ9rjSGxld8ihXE9cppHgZqC6-prBKu9Dp1gSOipcUDupBHvuyqDlT4sZ52ptNgIJI13WqRfQbbdauNgxYYh3sPQI/s320/14+Dec+07+241.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">armed with a leftover pastry from breakfast</div><br />Our hunch paid off. We practically had the place to ourselves. Obviously, everyone had returned to town for lunch.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklj5WkgAf1Pus6l9NJgv2bUfNPE-2jNP59EXTi0_UsiaslgdF9Fx1x_X2_2v0Vafkv1SSdY6PMhlGT7J4Q_JJ1IJvb0-qyG8kgumzcNhDg4hdkOlJ1QFNphJfG1s8HYsJGnbBsMFRvnI/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+245.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklj5WkgAf1Pus6l9NJgv2bUfNPE-2jNP59EXTi0_UsiaslgdF9Fx1x_X2_2v0Vafkv1SSdY6PMhlGT7J4Q_JJ1IJvb0-qyG8kgumzcNhDg4hdkOlJ1QFNphJfG1s8HYsJGnbBsMFRvnI/s320/14+Dec+07+245.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">my god, empty corridors</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0ul2G3uB2-DuugJOKNiOFbzRy8zVuAQ5XAEFiHDo1X4_LtEpivlvgTZ1PfEOxVPXl1Thw0kevDmsnv09_vzQFZ7pBnfGs8QcXyGpihmQBsaMJLZUy4DWgHeBwBT8EdaKlGNJBW3VEFw/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+274.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0ul2G3uB2-DuugJOKNiOFbzRy8zVuAQ5XAEFiHDo1X4_LtEpivlvgTZ1PfEOxVPXl1Thw0kevDmsnv09_vzQFZ7pBnfGs8QcXyGpihmQBsaMJLZUy4DWgHeBwBT8EdaKlGNJBW3VEFw/s320/14+Dec+07+274.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">give or take one solitary uncle</div><br />We could finally take a close look at the bas reliefs and more.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4NAkLVzMg2XGt63_DQi1GyCCqV1Jv3ajxkxJpaG5ZdOhVdN8WnDvRz5DTMG0x3uVFWCJN1A7n0Fw6qvYRS5HPjU3ZxPZBsL7E8SZ-FUalJe-UWE1J9KyyoHOcLpkhfU1akrKTTsB_mU/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+243.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4NAkLVzMg2XGt63_DQi1GyCCqV1Jv3ajxkxJpaG5ZdOhVdN8WnDvRz5DTMG0x3uVFWCJN1A7n0Fw6qvYRS5HPjU3ZxPZBsL7E8SZ-FUalJe-UWE1J9KyyoHOcLpkhfU1akrKTTsB_mU/s320/14+Dec+07+243.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaClu20G4NTVUVrIzUR7-awlf-CuSoM8Ha1OeY7QRdSZPG2AlqTZfb12RukyWS2-vaKybsI0YKJMxIajFhUHj4EJrDMCK5Q66wTmLkowxvmczStRx0p2Tyffy4-n66T5ook5QJrN-AQQ0/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+278.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaClu20G4NTVUVrIzUR7-awlf-CuSoM8Ha1OeY7QRdSZPG2AlqTZfb12RukyWS2-vaKybsI0YKJMxIajFhUHj4EJrDMCK5Q66wTmLkowxvmczStRx0p2Tyffy4-n66T5ook5QJrN-AQQ0/s320/14+Dec+07+278.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCheUoK-z5OntfpFsVovHmJKnKrZrCI3Ahrohq_j1bgz0L7Jz1Qc-zZgOSPEgm5lHIkIVydWf3-WWxoQb0RED_MYIqFCoB15PYps4d9QXCbQLWoBVXWEvjcwgRZvNy8HOJEd8RLCmiF7k/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+299.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCheUoK-z5OntfpFsVovHmJKnKrZrCI3Ahrohq_j1bgz0L7Jz1Qc-zZgOSPEgm5lHIkIVydWf3-WWxoQb0RED_MYIqFCoB15PYps4d9QXCbQLWoBVXWEvjcwgRZvNy8HOJEd8RLCmiF7k/s320/14+Dec+07+299.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaIovS0WCaJiIUZyOwcWmYxSKvYtHYATLfthEWsRzweHyA2Oa1MdjHT3FZcKjX3t9rKTLtpSDY_a1yOOnFQRGhXCeKKgdCKa-PoE9nsXe2ZK4lUCpRwjpj76Dg65dgr2l6f4YJherZ7M0/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+260.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaIovS0WCaJiIUZyOwcWmYxSKvYtHYATLfthEWsRzweHyA2Oa1MdjHT3FZcKjX3t9rKTLtpSDY_a1yOOnFQRGhXCeKKgdCKa-PoE9nsXe2ZK4lUCpRwjpj76Dg65dgr2l6f4YJherZ7M0/s320/14+Dec+07+260.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">seating for the spectacular that the temple was hosting at that time</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5GPyLOxsfV_kvnzhJ2y0ZYtpIbJSeHpPFcGaemw_iqpymd-HSYGC274lsAl9067pcHZ620ypIXta5WNXogRd5q1n58GjQxqj5aPKuDrSQqp8TpAA3iRNoVtF4dlZ2m6dm6Cx5WMutXKI/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+293.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5GPyLOxsfV_kvnzhJ2y0ZYtpIbJSeHpPFcGaemw_iqpymd-HSYGC274lsAl9067pcHZ620ypIXta5WNXogRd5q1n58GjQxqj5aPKuDrSQqp8TpAA3iRNoVtF4dlZ2m6dm6Cx5WMutXKI/s320/14+Dec+07+293.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUosr1paiYbYE1whXL48FjwH81U4cXBz-HfNxCPKJsp1v3R5lr_W9pkEIZ8EMihcxfLGMRuHFakkZyO8VzYgdk-OJYuE5XCkmdneNJ20P6fOEwDWL4QD8BdLLay8bsPzD0YrPmWT70QgI/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+292.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUosr1paiYbYE1whXL48FjwH81U4cXBz-HfNxCPKJsp1v3R5lr_W9pkEIZ8EMihcxfLGMRuHFakkZyO8VzYgdk-OJYuE5XCkmdneNJ20P6fOEwDWL4QD8BdLLay8bsPzD0YrPmWT70QgI/s320/14+Dec+07+292.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the Angkor balloon!</div><br />When we could ignore the rumblings of our tummies no longer, we finally left.<br /><br /><u>Khmer Kitchen</u><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifF6iRxMmRQS4qJP-erl4Ac30Byg5p9GyUteMFoMeiLKn2mDu_5Uygx02qkF34pd9LSxvPS5rBdJJu-GIlXv09qmkFXkXUX8tHvqnGWS9eILm-d1IYc8YZQu6s0rrICeel2MbaYch9MOw/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+314.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifF6iRxMmRQS4qJP-erl4Ac30Byg5p9GyUteMFoMeiLKn2mDu_5Uygx02qkF34pd9LSxvPS5rBdJJu-GIlXv09qmkFXkXUX8tHvqnGWS9eILm-d1IYc8YZQu6s0rrICeel2MbaYch9MOw/s320/14+Dec+07+314.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">not the cheapest beer in town but a damn sight cheaper than in Singapore</div><br />Sitting at Khmer Kitchen was a respite from the mid day heat. It was good weather for a icy cold beer. Pity I don't drink.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpq9HTFNjlKQHpG21baVjclap5vryzMCYFjzW-wC-MGERZ8KqvnQKpVYEqWSIpEFijbu5xVuslrbEqlWDBCfijT1RDnC0vZyE40NdNWfDzERecYibHmFDNoMI02y5UNI0zgaUbTtMKjU/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+311.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpq9HTFNjlKQHpG21baVjclap5vryzMCYFjzW-wC-MGERZ8KqvnQKpVYEqWSIpEFijbu5xVuslrbEqlWDBCfijT1RDnC0vZyE40NdNWfDzERecYibHmFDNoMI02y5UNI0zgaUbTtMKjU/s320/14+Dec+07+311.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">blue plate special</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDRHqXKMIttXy0Bj_zmmcpTSEeSVlIWLa4aI2TEKb8mUubBFEegpONLYqCYlhpFPYvUpOX4Ummq3rhOvtQJ6JdbdRszhjc3B9wTWNocfiZJWs4VggekeBT2wIj9pfO0hEkwP_iyMwpiU/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+318.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDRHqXKMIttXy0Bj_zmmcpTSEeSVlIWLa4aI2TEKb8mUubBFEegpONLYqCYlhpFPYvUpOX4Ummq3rhOvtQJ6JdbdRszhjc3B9wTWNocfiZJWs4VggekeBT2wIj9pfO0hEkwP_iyMwpiU/s320/14+Dec+07+318.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a different kind of noodle</div><br /><br /><u>Back to Angkor Wat</u><br /><br />After a light lunch, we headed back for what would be our last visit to Angkor Wat.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTix8fxHUjzplj01t3k5L5ARgcHOIlKjW7Dnpv-g2hcGBIspNV-AibzIlZ0uwdRnJQ8FiLxY8Ye2VzW8DQjxrK4KTzxW1oFrN9icB_TzfVYXkeJ6VD1RwKNJnLDNy3JqSLUtJDWiyXjjs/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+321.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTix8fxHUjzplj01t3k5L5ARgcHOIlKjW7Dnpv-g2hcGBIspNV-AibzIlZ0uwdRnJQ8FiLxY8Ye2VzW8DQjxrK4KTzxW1oFrN9icB_TzfVYXkeJ6VD1RwKNJnLDNy3JqSLUtJDWiyXjjs/s320/14+Dec+07+321.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">that beautiful moat</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHUyZMeiXPA0wAaV3eyZeFKg9EtJc9JBfhoy1VeDTS-9v56RAOcI0slJyljaJtzbaV_u6zxMToW3TuS6ziFy4bhB5CJYsJgyCEKqDNaYbFesj5rE9y_ps7oDRIysDWghULJUsIJgLBQo/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+324.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHUyZMeiXPA0wAaV3eyZeFKg9EtJc9JBfhoy1VeDTS-9v56RAOcI0slJyljaJtzbaV_u6zxMToW3TuS6ziFy4bhB5CJYsJgyCEKqDNaYbFesj5rE9y_ps7oDRIysDWghULJUsIJgLBQo/s320/14+Dec+07+324.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the reason why it was important to watch one's steps</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfqRuhCLP8YfRenQFCVxAA8523StoMFM45PFpAELQId6VVdCByOvfjUCTM_P-cUIMAP9SAhI6RQ15GXcrKWo-bm2cjnd8NqkPfxPKKG7iUkWwAujaeERNjYvvj-PIZ35k1SXCZlemdQ8/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+329.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfqRuhCLP8YfRenQFCVxAA8523StoMFM45PFpAELQId6VVdCByOvfjUCTM_P-cUIMAP9SAhI6RQ15GXcrKWo-bm2cjnd8NqkPfxPKKG7iUkWwAujaeERNjYvvj-PIZ35k1SXCZlemdQ8/s320/14+Dec+07+329.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">much-loved apsaras, with their much-loved bits</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixi1LKzhCCxlP_q0Sh5iL-TvLp11LicHgWC2bzUriGZhKl4r90fxQOgHTKXRrQlzVpH2iXQ5D5YpSxCkfhOJh2DAEmn_bVvqecDFXV93pkz-wMz0Nk7QBCsAU_e2oaaHXybK7gqmOVPVg/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+348.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixi1LKzhCCxlP_q0Sh5iL-TvLp11LicHgWC2bzUriGZhKl4r90fxQOgHTKXRrQlzVpH2iXQ5D5YpSxCkfhOJh2DAEmn_bVvqecDFXV93pkz-wMz0Nk7QBCsAU_e2oaaHXybK7gqmOVPVg/s320/14+Dec+07+348.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuf8eDx3GV6P4bsc0LSn24Xjhi0Kmocn6FYs_oY9EvwAADQXRrM52j-xbpGWFmK_sKs6r_sQVpWd15P9Dj8egBlM1tbDY18SIHKdkDwzs_xoYgXj1xXdqkyhY3usGUiRHlVi7FP7sKew/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+357.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuf8eDx3GV6P4bsc0LSn24Xjhi0Kmocn6FYs_oY9EvwAADQXRrM52j-xbpGWFmK_sKs6r_sQVpWd15P9Dj8egBlM1tbDY18SIHKdkDwzs_xoYgXj1xXdqkyhY3usGUiRHlVi7FP7sKew/s320/14+Dec+07+357.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5qzy5LMZYcu8GwDdUhYL4i7aXfKX9YavL2LntbMAjKdw6SSL00XGBOWd6VBQ_Mm5xtP58tE2xnU-Rla6ovWZsqnYQjOpmMh_ANDCYjUGvmBpnVfTcEDYqq0-JZ6fK35ejlqQZGWbX-8/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+361.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5qzy5LMZYcu8GwDdUhYL4i7aXfKX9YavL2LntbMAjKdw6SSL00XGBOWd6VBQ_Mm5xtP58tE2xnU-Rla6ovWZsqnYQjOpmMh_ANDCYjUGvmBpnVfTcEDYqq0-JZ6fK35ejlqQZGWbX-8/s320/14+Dec+07+361.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98VaHQjLM40874IQ3MopT-KuueycZREzjLoDwn4ef3MrJjKxI5iNb8K1KPbjyZr0LvrnMXs5LnbgeIeyf7yJuLpuGrfjl-QAsG9t-_psnCXo2VTy8n0zFgt2C6epPPBUhcSzvT4Xg7iU/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+386.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98VaHQjLM40874IQ3MopT-KuueycZREzjLoDwn4ef3MrJjKxI5iNb8K1KPbjyZr0LvrnMXs5LnbgeIeyf7yJuLpuGrfjl-QAsG9t-_psnCXo2VTy8n0zFgt2C6epPPBUhcSzvT4Xg7iU/s320/14+Dec+07+386.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJVZ5TOoHYCnl0v6vSdOHXINJ_z0YPgAXIieTMCCijxmEd3EBakA8fDAqO4XbgOS8wmJWxUGYU6d91kaRDLYioIwpwTxuNiytUzkJCqcvME3lgKg0wddgzN45DD2GU6JmpT51EtElGKg/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+394.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJVZ5TOoHYCnl0v6vSdOHXINJ_z0YPgAXIieTMCCijxmEd3EBakA8fDAqO4XbgOS8wmJWxUGYU6d91kaRDLYioIwpwTxuNiytUzkJCqcvME3lgKg0wddgzN45DD2GU6JmpT51EtElGKg/s320/14+Dec+07+394.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br />As the afternoon wore on, the crowds got the better of us. When the jostling and shoving got too much (I kiddeth you not - beware the East Asian tide...), we said our last goodbyes and left, but not without this final picture.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxix6FscMsYymWpEDT8RvnTGAs4XlNrsNSCPWgjyAOLs9HuxRpX99DBKry31F3ocqYXLR2c7ESTYQ67kWk6wQqh984YFcKucUer5oz3470e78udtTiGgzxGpttSfvK-vnPVbd06bVsjM/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+404.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxix6FscMsYymWpEDT8RvnTGAs4XlNrsNSCPWgjyAOLs9HuxRpX99DBKry31F3ocqYXLR2c7ESTYQ67kWk6wQqh984YFcKucUer5oz3470e78udtTiGgzxGpttSfvK-vnPVbd06bVsjM/s320/14+Dec+07+404.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">picture perfect</div><br /><br /><br /><u>Dinner at the FCC Angkor</u><br /><br />Tired out from the afternoon's travails, we decided to eat in. We opted to share set dinner plus a main.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtgYawQo9JoSRe4dsQpPCDPgCF3A6lEPsqblPr9MNINnQMAJ86VLkNlvMgr9TwZXqwbUxOhHFR-h7jkHVOJ6xhxM76vcWyTwSDk1xnDZWrcWeCZQ8ZjRkU7o8-Xxzb1GmVupHKQFBYm0/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+435.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtgYawQo9JoSRe4dsQpPCDPgCF3A6lEPsqblPr9MNINnQMAJ86VLkNlvMgr9TwZXqwbUxOhHFR-h7jkHVOJ6xhxM76vcWyTwSDk1xnDZWrcWeCZQ8ZjRkU7o8-Xxzb1GmVupHKQFBYm0/s320/14+Dec+07+435.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the lounge</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjSpk7H4a9KtVhKvMBeZoue9Mlj-QWoKA3bXSlRMaAfI-PlkfeDd-fA1ik1bNvj8Nyn0MUbBFtzdlmGMuj-88DJlRZ7-JNVTRFdvb3KPynX4n_enWMIALMv_Ov7r5csjv5fd1hfNRpmg/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+437.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjSpk7H4a9KtVhKvMBeZoue9Mlj-QWoKA3bXSlRMaAfI-PlkfeDd-fA1ik1bNvj8Nyn0MUbBFtzdlmGMuj-88DJlRZ7-JNVTRFdvb3KPynX4n_enWMIALMv_Ov7r5csjv5fd1hfNRpmg/s320/14+Dec+07+437.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">FCC's Semillion (left) and orange and ginger frappe (right)</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_EpQJuNuQYQKv6jxI35PA2m5rrd87Wfrtc8l7iRlQpYGfS-I7qALdZXzx2Lj6qCzf3jIj_xKtVkk8TEgB7h6it3Ne3xULfFyTv7nNMOAHz6VnLd5N83W9NuOYYqrxn9k4SZgplZ0rOQ/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+442.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_EpQJuNuQYQKv6jxI35PA2m5rrd87Wfrtc8l7iRlQpYGfS-I7qALdZXzx2Lj6qCzf3jIj_xKtVkk8TEgB7h6it3Ne3xULfFyTv7nNMOAHz6VnLd5N83W9NuOYYqrxn9k4SZgplZ0rOQ/s320/14+Dec+07+442.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">HM's <em>nhom bayn chok</em> – refreshing white noodle with snake bean, banana blossom and shallot served in chilled lemongrass petal broth</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAw5lwTdUpyU0mrA0ktxE0nnGfH28hioX4nkY23TqjUMozJB2Kvz5jT6iwSzWygT6ODZ2Mrutug7812t0O67ZAukeKLkzEZ6LhWAKODDhzAYSGOfB4BFjWp_BlLHHVmwUSMveYjHk1Rs/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+444.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAw5lwTdUpyU0mrA0ktxE0nnGfH28hioX4nkY23TqjUMozJB2Kvz5jT6iwSzWygT6ODZ2Mrutug7812t0O67ZAukeKLkzEZ6LhWAKODDhzAYSGOfB4BFjWp_BlLHHVmwUSMveYjHk1Rs/s320/14+Dec+07+444.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">HM's pan-fried river fish with sauce vierge, warm snow pea and cashew nut salad, cauliflower puree</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1d9gghsJbW1piSbOkeA7Rm75PvIQ9KU3L867g0IC-COAukbtOlIDzhM5RQPKwNbJsiFCR-iZMuAW0LxUR9vMnJ27K9zO5nCCkNROPbbpY6zUc66_6BzLOoYEZWW888pPDg2QzoMf8DU/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+440.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1d9gghsJbW1piSbOkeA7Rm75PvIQ9KU3L867g0IC-COAukbtOlIDzhM5RQPKwNbJsiFCR-iZMuAW0LxUR9vMnJ27K9zO5nCCkNROPbbpY6zUc66_6BzLOoYEZWW888pPDg2QzoMf8DU/s320/14+Dec+07+440.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">my prawn ravioli in a ginger and coriander bisque with chilli oil</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrVqAmRqTR5cB_2Qk8ARmScvew8emRnTxUpj40K41mpwNo2I5NSjgngbKvFtuBxONfpzWuXheWY4LzinWJZhrgaadkCjyDnY8jgbtVjP19jh9pVgIJ8ZEL8N1iR5aZbqt23B9OLYq_Wc/s1600-h/14+Dec+07+448.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrVqAmRqTR5cB_2Qk8ARmScvew8emRnTxUpj40K41mpwNo2I5NSjgngbKvFtuBxONfpzWuXheWY4LzinWJZhrgaadkCjyDnY8jgbtVjP19jh9pVgIJ8ZEL8N1iR5aZbqt23B9OLYq_Wc/s320/14+Dec+07+448.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">kaffir lime and coconut crème brulee with cashew nut biscotti</div><br />The food wasn't earth-shatteringly good but we enjoyed ourselves. The <em>nhom bayn chok</em> - reminiscent of a Vietnamese vermicelli salad - stood out, as did the prawn ravioli.<br /><br />Sated, we retired for the night but not before a dip in that luscious pool.blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649241099028598071.post-73231319299070884552007-12-16T09:12:00.000-08:002008-07-27T09:13:03.553-07:00Day 14: Siem Reap Swansong<u>The FCC Angkor</u><br /><br />We had accomplished most of what we had set out to do. Siem Reap isn't a big town and, with the temples out of the way, we could afford a leisurely breakfast by the pool. We had the place to ourselves - our fellow guests were presumably either out at the temples or still in bed - and we could just about imagine ourselves living the life. "Oh Jeeves, could you prepare the car? I think a little shopping is in order..."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwdL_oeM49hiQ9mLKRlW62wmXxOv1qbI4Zovw_Ac8-6SQKJ4RRCZX4xErUj2MCMwnnHe-egwWq39taAuXPiTCZBVZyEjecheEY1z6gV19nl83Jdnd2rWR0gLFOvDgZ4o4ySMJ-3Apk8g/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwdL_oeM49hiQ9mLKRlW62wmXxOv1qbI4Zovw_Ac8-6SQKJ4RRCZX4xErUj2MCMwnnHe-egwWq39taAuXPiTCZBVZyEjecheEY1z6gV19nl83Jdnd2rWR0gLFOvDgZ4o4ySMJ-3Apk8g/s320/15+Dec+07+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">that pool by day</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCABLpLBCtj80Ox7oSBZJUsBJhStgw3ep1rAezhsEKYTxIz3rNmPI2DGFvIxhxvqfV-9BOqpMJcCb6IT1xyD7wYLfs197X-DspsdwctHY-YUzhrf9upBWHi1KwvEdPUh1u9Fa256_eAuo/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCABLpLBCtj80Ox7oSBZJUsBJhStgw3ep1rAezhsEKYTxIz3rNmPI2DGFvIxhxvqfV-9BOqpMJcCb6IT1xyD7wYLfs197X-DspsdwctHY-YUzhrf9upBWHi1KwvEdPUh1u9Fa256_eAuo/s320/15+Dec+07+002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">to start with<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipY8uml-7fWB_zVCRlKpCIrt0QOElX3aJaZ_8f82sUspAearCSqpUSVycV-mxSPbJNSGZWdJoNSeSGw-M52RlopW5iVozldzshWcOG6tO88ajEP06Lxw48c6iI7vDnlhfb7a_7jM-tazs/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipY8uml-7fWB_zVCRlKpCIrt0QOElX3aJaZ_8f82sUspAearCSqpUSVycV-mxSPbJNSGZWdJoNSeSGw-M52RlopW5iVozldzshWcOG6tO88ajEP06Lxw48c6iI7vDnlhfb7a_7jM-tazs/s320/15+Dec+07+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">then our favourite comfort food</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TXuBoynJCVvjpqdvWUzInqgmv1L9-jHVKaF7CJPSWoQK_ANU2Rull6_luwhnTx7QjQZmaZ29pTq3seJSYaZhpVzbvqIQHUUnxapflrTLyRIusWxy1o3hi7zRxyR5_D-dVRr2YPR_btY/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TXuBoynJCVvjpqdvWUzInqgmv1L9-jHVKaF7CJPSWoQK_ANU2Rull6_luwhnTx7QjQZmaZ29pTq3seJSYaZhpVzbvqIQHUUnxapflrTLyRIusWxy1o3hi7zRxyR5_D-dVRr2YPR_btY/s320/15+Dec+07+007.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">let's not forget this stuff</div><br />After breakfast, we pottered around the hotel grounds, looking for the hotel spa so HM could check it out.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZDkfJT7b9K_L9klPmio-7ekAcbMotTwL-jtpXwAja6jNrtecZeCGu4AqUe__VmKNMBwUL4CAwvwXi6lFJIUvkyLuL1qvCNNY2s4oPF5kwty-uX9z-jrxBVDwAMHg-m_m5Ms2STQeGSg/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZDkfJT7b9K_L9klPmio-7ekAcbMotTwL-jtpXwAja6jNrtecZeCGu4AqUe__VmKNMBwUL4CAwvwXi6lFJIUvkyLuL1qvCNNY2s4oPF5kwty-uX9z-jrxBVDwAMHg-m_m5Ms2STQeGSg/s320/15+Dec+07+016.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the FCC Angkor facade</div><br />I was more than pleased to discover that John McDermott, whose photographs we kept seeing on display at museums and elsewhere in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, had his own gallery at the hotel. His photographs, apparently enhanced by the use of infrared technology, had this dreamy quality that made the already otherworldly Angkorian landscape even more surreal. Brilliant!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQW8SMVK71Oonfd-J_5yCA5a9yeKLgCq9RPG0u28VYP4nG6z5MfoDuaHL2TzzUGkmQHj8qKVIicoLrVWYm9Y-RKi0qucbrRehQxj-uuD3yUmfSA5NadbBfQqYc8U_sMvy5gNi-ebMVE4/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQW8SMVK71Oonfd-J_5yCA5a9yeKLgCq9RPG0u28VYP4nG6z5MfoDuaHL2TzzUGkmQHj8qKVIicoLrVWYm9Y-RKi0qucbrRehQxj-uuD3yUmfSA5NadbBfQqYc8U_sMvy5gNi-ebMVE4/s320/15+Dec+07+029.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">one of my favourites<br /></div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">We did eventually find the spa. HM booked herself a massage session for later in the day.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXH5kvcnflRayhMqbvTklBHeZw3KrGnwiUnPWiLiPCXBRQYE9ZSsUZgn6FQAdKK6z4GAtGRRjPQRSWQ-D4RaPLclgWZx0QxY3k0JLTlNRmS2NGPhV8wTMlpp2UKOz75ZJ862DlmbCe2Q/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXH5kvcnflRayhMqbvTklBHeZw3KrGnwiUnPWiLiPCXBRQYE9ZSsUZgn6FQAdKK6z4GAtGRRjPQRSWQ-D4RaPLclgWZx0QxY3k0JLTlNRmS2NGPhV8wTMlpp2UKOz75ZJ862DlmbCe2Q/s320/15+Dec+07+026.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the hotel spa</div><br /><br /><u>Siem Reap Town</u><br /><br />With time on our hands, we strolled out of the hotel and gawked at these statues that (we presume) the Siem Reap authorities had peppered the riverside park with.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDshktdkFGaek783LcUy0aztDdZdHPSTaYNUT4r1QzQuKKYOIuuXBBQLdCkx20yHL4qbetVisPB3dnz2dpnnZsK91BcTOmi7r16Vx9QvPJX8YgMzg5Ooc_-H4tGyaivkqN6bLzLv-6UMU/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+039.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDshktdkFGaek783LcUy0aztDdZdHPSTaYNUT4r1QzQuKKYOIuuXBBQLdCkx20yHL4qbetVisPB3dnz2dpnnZsK91BcTOmi7r16Vx9QvPJX8YgMzg5Ooc_-H4tGyaivkqN6bLzLv-6UMU/s320/15+Dec+07+039.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">what a wonderful world</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl22h5o98BztuJSVYchXiZGlrig6yQZhVMRMfN50fS5vU-bgWCw0j-VFqU4iyU5IYnddzhu_fJy4RMW9hC-G-ne2c80GGKMV39DitlgGiLpf-pNG5cWMZfRdN8h6GdYjxsUiHF70MQ3HY/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+041.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl22h5o98BztuJSVYchXiZGlrig6yQZhVMRMfN50fS5vU-bgWCw0j-VFqU4iyU5IYnddzhu_fJy4RMW9hC-G-ne2c80GGKMV39DitlgGiLpf-pNG5cWMZfRdN8h6GdYjxsUiHF70MQ3HY/s320/15+Dec+07+041.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">did this river ever have crocodiles, we wondered</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSuuJwgtQdDjzSnz9CSRppdJLIvIXL6xMv9eR-SihAj2UlY4bjXZD6ByYctbFBqm5-3J_j0R464Uodas-l19PJg-e3vPmPLyjTl3RNDyFQkNf13WhEgJnafLalyBf1axLbHZnTJGjpDrk/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+042.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSuuJwgtQdDjzSnz9CSRppdJLIvIXL6xMv9eR-SihAj2UlY4bjXZD6ByYctbFBqm5-3J_j0R464Uodas-l19PJg-e3vPmPLyjTl3RNDyFQkNf13WhEgJnafLalyBf1axLbHZnTJGjpDrk/s320/15+Dec+07+042.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a tiger, really</div><br />Down Pokambor Avenue we went...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkU2MmdF5tlX345JDlxTgVRxhWX21R08mdm6emU6WnXnEE-ypeThIJtt4NWCAFWePW2aDLhyK-7cWX3o1HmbrwZJL1iqqpYQIvzNVxkLeQ4TPG6Ia1QRYIr1weqTmB-ZTpccRdYO4aIo/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+045.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkU2MmdF5tlX345JDlxTgVRxhWX21R08mdm6emU6WnXnEE-ypeThIJtt4NWCAFWePW2aDLhyK-7cWX3o1HmbrwZJL1iqqpYQIvzNVxkLeQ4TPG6Ia1QRYIr1weqTmB-ZTpccRdYO4aIo/s320/15+Dec+07+045.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">not an unexpected sight in a country plagued by war and HIV AIDs</div><br />... till we arrived at Siem Reap's (very) wet market.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNmwz_kprAgG48dHbIHWYAACvBbMLn4UEItaiYigYmtAhfI_3PVxWIeVm04GHlr2OKsdRESaRYqGrjk3uxce5tIPvkV6B7355RXa1p8y1DIXlsA9Ol2jYX_bSnzx01zoEP1f-sTjn1L8/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+049.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNmwz_kprAgG48dHbIHWYAACvBbMLn4UEItaiYigYmtAhfI_3PVxWIeVm04GHlr2OKsdRESaRYqGrjk3uxce5tIPvkV6B7355RXa1p8y1DIXlsA9Ol2jYX_bSnzx01zoEP1f-sTjn1L8/s320/15+Dec+07+049.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">now, that's fresh</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeN-fgCojk1Pwt5km7PqakWbvqvXFCzt1e06rc2GJu_cXrhsAjjpryy4vgMJc6VvmLuKPDT5asA8d7HYmjkcEapejUwT3zacfdJbmc2F4CZvxmiFecx9OE6Z11Ey096-A5sWB3zUR8hNk/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+052.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeN-fgCojk1Pwt5km7PqakWbvqvXFCzt1e06rc2GJu_cXrhsAjjpryy4vgMJc6VvmLuKPDT5asA8d7HYmjkcEapejUwT3zacfdJbmc2F4CZvxmiFecx9OE6Z11Ey096-A5sWB3zUR8hNk/s320/15+Dec+07+052.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">at least the hard work paid off</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEvhzhksacA5TONXH4KRI0DS7ZwR3bHOrTbs_3Udmod3jfXihqgsY9UPSdY7redNyEECyPRr2F0CMw6ctK8XzYdb0sAiw4R_uNUKFs22HjpGmqS2a2-ejXEpCklvuphgVqbdu7SatwQE/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+057.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEvhzhksacA5TONXH4KRI0DS7ZwR3bHOrTbs_3Udmod3jfXihqgsY9UPSdY7redNyEECyPRr2F0CMw6ctK8XzYdb0sAiw4R_uNUKFs22HjpGmqS2a2-ejXEpCklvuphgVqbdu7SatwQE/s320/15+Dec+07+057.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">hygienic by Cambodian standards - we passed by markets with more primitive conditions</div><br />From the wet interior, we circled around the perimeter of the market where dry goods were sold.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoLH-6o7tR034DJJsXgBfeyKrbfZtHLen5MkMli_ISArN6sHZTejQQKsBF5S7sc7r3RUfE2wyDoLVmXeeBbT0mAnEjP4BabwFqrzMDWSscWTXoDwAOtRXNodNRtVttumJl1GokJTIXco/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+066.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoLH-6o7tR034DJJsXgBfeyKrbfZtHLen5MkMli_ISArN6sHZTejQQKsBF5S7sc7r3RUfE2wyDoLVmXeeBbT0mAnEjP4BabwFqrzMDWSscWTXoDwAOtRXNodNRtVttumJl1GokJTIXco/s320/15+Dec+07+066.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Chinese sausages</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLdbaLC891CduZyxISzduyixDrvoUegcNwIpq-E3RN_eTLuoxJ44cF8DRQuzcxAmlSrBCg30-ICR2U6lfep-sySoPy1MF4-_xEjQ0e3Zy4i6VNohJM0j77RNmR7OQTG_KDX-M667MeXo/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+068.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLdbaLC891CduZyxISzduyixDrvoUegcNwIpq-E3RN_eTLuoxJ44cF8DRQuzcxAmlSrBCg30-ICR2U6lfep-sySoPy1MF4-_xEjQ0e3Zy4i6VNohJM0j77RNmR7OQTG_KDX-M667MeXo/s320/15+Dec+07+068.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">dried fish</div><br />From there, we headed back to the FCC Angkor.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxW2ELWU0jctcoCUamoi4RNHfsZjV1G2Pze8ghvO40Z1Sj096h-xxx4Ps1Mmj2BGboHfbD7lUJXBdLcNFpKSYNKMkwIChlNGi_GLudfpFXyNN2VpU3oLnoUC4ACIe4m5QoENBSi1M13s/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+063.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxW2ELWU0jctcoCUamoi4RNHfsZjV1G2Pze8ghvO40Z1Sj096h-xxx4Ps1Mmj2BGboHfbD7lUJXBdLcNFpKSYNKMkwIChlNGi_GLudfpFXyNN2VpU3oLnoUC4ACIe4m5QoENBSi1M13s/s320/15+Dec+07+063.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Cambodia's new entrepreneurs</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFssdgkuUHwvWGxuCJbZuq2t_uS5zCRQ7AqAeHHNhhfZ9Yu_PzZUpGfpuV2fkAczH03hFQYQcc8gUpBJZf_i6kDy4yntTHGVy3p-C0XXO-0FgZOUZVwzFCoPD_6irfoYXhWTiOt4dAOM4/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+073.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFssdgkuUHwvWGxuCJbZuq2t_uS5zCRQ7AqAeHHNhhfZ9Yu_PzZUpGfpuV2fkAczH03hFQYQcc8gUpBJZf_i6kDy4yntTHGVy3p-C0XXO-0FgZOUZVwzFCoPD_6irfoYXhWTiOt4dAOM4/s320/15+Dec+07+073.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">outside a shop selling crocodile leather goods</div><br /><br /><u>The FCC Angkor</u><br /><br />Back at the hotel, we spent an hour or so just lazing around in our room and by the pool.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxJsyF_L25EdyYVo40SXiZOM_nJEBoi1759H4BPOc-iKevz8f-rhl8UhWKT4yvqN2yq5U6z0ozVvcmyfwSlx7fy5ZOdx8E0GlYjDX6w_SHB2ta-RlTm9WtI9DCGRHjxxoZVeke5k4zxE/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+080.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxJsyF_L25EdyYVo40SXiZOM_nJEBoi1759H4BPOc-iKevz8f-rhl8UhWKT4yvqN2yq5U6z0ozVvcmyfwSlx7fy5ZOdx8E0GlYjDX6w_SHB2ta-RlTm9WtI9DCGRHjxxoZVeke5k4zxE/s320/15+Dec+07+080.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">our room</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGIn-3HQ5HzNNBeFjPlrEVDTSu4s9a6ykDVgS72KvN2Lwt_3hVSGKEsIpmhw5mtLFwI8yo8idHJgFi1X2hvAguGmITMWwZPSVRlrCpOQwYJebZou_tnXh7xYm32UoLlpnAkhv2KDjJk8/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+085.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGIn-3HQ5HzNNBeFjPlrEVDTSu4s9a6ykDVgS72KvN2Lwt_3hVSGKEsIpmhw5mtLFwI8yo8idHJgFi1X2hvAguGmITMWwZPSVRlrCpOQwYJebZou_tnXh7xYm32UoLlpnAkhv2KDjJk8/s320/15+Dec+07+085.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the incense burner and mosquito coil which the hotel staff lit every night</div><br />Despite that, the day still yawned ahead, so we eventually gathered enough energy to venture a little further afield.<br /><br /><br /><u>Angkor Silk Farm</u><br /><br />The first stop on our litle expedition was Angkor Silk Farm. This was where Artisans D'Angkor "grew" both the silk and the silk weavers. The ride out to the facility took about twenty to thirty minutes, by tuk tuk.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaueDLlpzU4saSJztIkXKLS5ZhiNFSPyTYLKdICqjjLq2NRlNWCLK0GCH4TVBDcbyKPYulED_JaHkVnrFg8NR5H3ac27yInjxN2xM6AHHwRF7489zkXFGxPPcDLhEgPaA2cYN5aQi1f50/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+102.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaueDLlpzU4saSJztIkXKLS5ZhiNFSPyTYLKdICqjjLq2NRlNWCLK0GCH4TVBDcbyKPYulED_JaHkVnrFg8NR5H3ac27yInjxN2xM6AHHwRF7489zkXFGxPPcDLhEgPaA2cYN5aQi1f50/s320/15+Dec+07+102.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">not Mr 509</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnXNEZ4b3vAzQwTfpTvZRzsyesfznjbet1n5qnhxedVcMbEl2l9M8StoM5YFQNyCNZ7KTXCfAM9r8rPEg-tRXgejd3KsZ3J6WCTStJKz26axhyphenhyphen_Eq4QzE6UNEAd92Um_vSwf9AqldcxQ/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+101.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnXNEZ4b3vAzQwTfpTvZRzsyesfznjbet1n5qnhxedVcMbEl2l9M8StoM5YFQNyCNZ7KTXCfAM9r8rPEg-tRXgejd3KsZ3J6WCTStJKz26axhyphenhyphen_Eq4QzE6UNEAd92Um_vSwf9AqldcxQ/s320/15+Dec+07+101.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">dusty roads</div><br />As with the Artisans D'Angkor's main premises in downtown Siem Reap, a guide brought us around. He showed us the various facilities and explained how silk is made.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoF4B03LIX98oIxRjgWJgcn4qpDeDwNM8T3nGGqb15ALj6UOwVNjIPYNJvuoRf3ksxdlOeIzVInprhHs38zPwz3brSAnA07T6ZxQ96rKoWcfNUmlu1mFWtmILFQ9eQSQAzNu8xxFwR41I/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+107.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoF4B03LIX98oIxRjgWJgcn4qpDeDwNM8T3nGGqb15ALj6UOwVNjIPYNJvuoRf3ksxdlOeIzVInprhHs38zPwz3brSAnA07T6ZxQ96rKoWcfNUmlu1mFWtmILFQ9eQSQAzNu8xxFwR41I/s320/15+Dec+07+107.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">fields of mulberry</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJti4OPZbmsetWmMhV2geJWMaOLX_F3uPPg9teI7M48pd1Tn_vRtwUKiB7kmCu-7X8RFXARr6QrSHoE2SFCyGHf0dIBNILj8PA_RvNUIXUmst7YJwgbEGo2sH_Os7eS1dmrIfHOg9-BC8/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+110.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJti4OPZbmsetWmMhV2geJWMaOLX_F3uPPg9teI7M48pd1Tn_vRtwUKiB7kmCu-7X8RFXARr6QrSHoE2SFCyGHf0dIBNILj8PA_RvNUIXUmst7YJwgbEGo2sH_Os7eS1dmrIfHOg9-BC8/s320/15+Dec+07+110.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">busy silk-makers munching on mulberry</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVGVOUw0kZq6TmfdXQUgW6yqV80eg1rk2gANKigoNsfsLKArR06DD70oAnV3PEx48w5ka2YsaNEfwg__5U4Fn9QQ_SzkbReRSJkKIOCNMMDHNiikR1hasM0UmyUkTFtIv8Q-8QKER_os/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+111.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVGVOUw0kZq6TmfdXQUgW6yqV80eg1rk2gANKigoNsfsLKArR06DD70oAnV3PEx48w5ka2YsaNEfwg__5U4Fn9QQ_SzkbReRSJkKIOCNMMDHNiikR1hasM0UmyUkTFtIv8Q-8QKER_os/s320/15+Dec+07+111.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">from larvae to pupae</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_HrtAr-swxXWnvR-23JaJxh-lEAzuvocT6c6RsMbMp682Ml4WPhiDxxc0qFPRHK9cmL6NSqfusNpSlNy7El7cWHdgmdzCqLJFrsjSn6UBCxaK8q9_WBJQeQ-18FtQQSuKSCQnRsQ07U/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+113.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_HrtAr-swxXWnvR-23JaJxh-lEAzuvocT6c6RsMbMp682Ml4WPhiDxxc0qFPRHK9cmL6NSqfusNpSlNy7El7cWHdgmdzCqLJFrsjSn6UBCxaK8q9_WBJQeQ-18FtQQSuKSCQnRsQ07U/s320/15+Dec+07+113.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">waiting for the right time</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78_ZLMZMwRSmn9kc3iL5yRavaxkoKy1OSoAcgmjSHFWR4H74e74fCiDHi0gCQzk4cU1UhQS5L956jxcBaite33LGEmTlgBPRgT-5H2IlFkF8IbA4Zy8gv7ozMcDitpVsJ5Eyu8nlyZGs/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+123.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78_ZLMZMwRSmn9kc3iL5yRavaxkoKy1OSoAcgmjSHFWR4H74e74fCiDHi0gCQzk4cU1UhQS5L956jxcBaite33LGEmTlgBPRgT-5H2IlFkF8IbA4Zy8gv7ozMcDitpVsJ5Eyu8nlyZGs/s320/15+Dec+07+123.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">boiled and unwound</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xZNbaifd1E3Ytv9f-0SmjllifFxKYZmR-JVDMg7Bcx6zSJfakZyY-esu7Jr8wMd3cse-lAoR0qeMIvfhUqWKheunZJFdBUFGPxPJhsO-4zPkZl5zIj3oUbLJYuxG5vFLGjtkF53Pmio/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+124.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xZNbaifd1E3Ytv9f-0SmjllifFxKYZmR-JVDMg7Bcx6zSJfakZyY-esu7Jr8wMd3cse-lAoR0qeMIvfhUqWKheunZJFdBUFGPxPJhsO-4zPkZl5zIj3oUbLJYuxG5vFLGjtkF53Pmio/s320/15+Dec+07+124.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">teased out and coiled</div><br />According to our guide, Cambodian silk is naturally yellowish in colour. Apparently, the colour of silk varies in tone according to the type of silk worm involved. Of course, all is irrelevant after dyeing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcbZQpc_5Kis8uvBnNUe0pjUvHQ8A9-2g4TI-ksRHGWDEBz9t9R3TbrtD_dZUyoXiU6rT4gkRquNGL0VXY1tpbLqIz1jVgdFIY4tOKUz4eq84501WCC5Tj_hwIIZBbdr7I-BCA0ll8w8/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+126.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcbZQpc_5Kis8uvBnNUe0pjUvHQ8A9-2g4TI-ksRHGWDEBz9t9R3TbrtD_dZUyoXiU6rT4gkRquNGL0VXY1tpbLqIz1jVgdFIY4tOKUz4eq84501WCC5Tj_hwIIZBbdr7I-BCA0ll8w8/s320/15+Dec+07+126.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">from strands to skeins</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vPod7LHfQYkp-KPV4LMxmyJkxe1kjc-94-w7g49notjV6Wwbm6VJnvt2e2DqWuuLrOtsoiYVVZoQRPKAHOqgitl5J92cr5iJxi_ND8Lrvf75ux-m6ZbD2E53GBqggZvUYU-e2Mw_cCY/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+127.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vPod7LHfQYkp-KPV4LMxmyJkxe1kjc-94-w7g49notjV6Wwbm6VJnvt2e2DqWuuLrOtsoiYVVZoQRPKAHOqgitl5J92cr5iJxi_ND8Lrvf75ux-m6ZbD2E53GBqggZvUYU-e2Mw_cCY/s320/15+Dec+07+127.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">where the dyes come from</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Spw6eanE8y1NO0moQ0j3jWM7n6k8MgmLWSqdJNkufSg3veJG50RfANa2bDqNdsBcuCY0eBG7kZgUgymw5iA3jFrF07ijVLL9mObbkrAu7SyfNorapljbyd_6XWRBvSJNLQhR1PSyw6E/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+133.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Spw6eanE8y1NO0moQ0j3jWM7n6k8MgmLWSqdJNkufSg3veJG50RfANa2bDqNdsBcuCY0eBG7kZgUgymw5iA3jFrF07ijVLL9mObbkrAu7SyfNorapljbyd_6XWRBvSJNLQhR1PSyw6E/s320/15+Dec+07+133.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">voila, all dyed</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6FxqEL72AymQFuTkCdKU5e4tadanCv69mdwKbpFwwFga2T3vrldg8zN7tH7Cwkr4DaYpwlfukiykSKqdiio-cbVTf3LuOvflJZXqEk_qfEMb9_zAxzs-k0U1jYNdVIyDwmV7kwfuAMo/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+137.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6FxqEL72AymQFuTkCdKU5e4tadanCv69mdwKbpFwwFga2T3vrldg8zN7tH7Cwkr4DaYpwlfukiykSKqdiio-cbVTf3LuOvflJZXqEk_qfEMb9_zAxzs-k0U1jYNdVIyDwmV7kwfuAMo/s320/15+Dec+07+137.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">tied up in knots</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwe3E0v3Gl2jb0c3Dfr-VVZnBZ-5AWcsZ_sk8y01xtemhyphenhyphenS5-sQqH2XDhe6YZ7sEhPZ3UZC4mgX4negobrTsk9EO_Nxg-iu2ak6tIhMdE02QrtSxtJ4UDgA2UcI2yNnK6bS2vEjHk144g/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+135.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwe3E0v3Gl2jb0c3Dfr-VVZnBZ-5AWcsZ_sk8y01xtemhyphenhyphenS5-sQqH2XDhe6YZ7sEhPZ3UZC4mgX4negobrTsk9EO_Nxg-iu2ak6tIhMdE02QrtSxtJ4UDgA2UcI2yNnK6bS2vEjHk144g/s320/15+Dec+07+135.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">woven into patterns</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil62Gy0XM7Y6D_8nBs_Ej7PZIjVFCWueVj_VMeivCHSZgp_ckF-YnIHcl9RmB2hyphenhyphend-qSMqhEgpIwAtrvFtVAoedf5HDbmFwgwjTU2olMcvtXpYskFGr7v4pt-MsKwetURwLVwH29110h8/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+139.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil62Gy0XM7Y6D_8nBs_Ej7PZIjVFCWueVj_VMeivCHSZgp_ckF-YnIHcl9RmB2hyphenhyphend-qSMqhEgpIwAtrvFtVAoedf5HDbmFwgwjTU2olMcvtXpYskFGr7v4pt-MsKwetURwLVwH29110h8/s320/15+Dec+07+139.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">in the loom</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-f-3LoHglCdbg86E2v8FaWV5HvRAzjOiw6EEpIWKVCt0Xz7ARm6hmFixspTpRgeRjoLvdfKCMjSCnty2_TISr-iagK5W_2u_9z4XvgfD9YhYmVpTL8I1GwkUNcZ1WHUtmIF3BDLNMPEE/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+142.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-f-3LoHglCdbg86E2v8FaWV5HvRAzjOiw6EEpIWKVCt0Xz7ARm6hmFixspTpRgeRjoLvdfKCMjSCnty2_TISr-iagK5W_2u_9z4XvgfD9YhYmVpTL8I1GwkUNcZ1WHUtmIF3BDLNMPEE/s320/15+Dec+07+142.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">finished!</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuV6YLm9UjaR2LXltl8fYZess_P-NklJXtCoJ78CKdDZiRlbhKatiGLmHepHha8n82kHkQP9pMUk57YaP5ntDyYmJLp-UCrsO7CJka8A00vhR4yzW9n1uMSmLVWSSCB5AqUE-dgvrfYz0/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+144.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuV6YLm9UjaR2LXltl8fYZess_P-NklJXtCoJ78CKdDZiRlbhKatiGLmHepHha8n82kHkQP9pMUk57YaP5ntDyYmJLp-UCrsO7CJka8A00vhR4yzW9n1uMSmLVWSSCB5AqUE-dgvrfYz0/s320/15+Dec+07+144.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">nice?</div><br />Our guide explained that, at the Angkor Silk Farm, women could learn how to weave silk. This would earn them more than farming. After their training, although they could stay and work for Artisans D'Angkor, many of the women preferred to return home to their villages where the cost of living was substantially lower. Back home, the women would work with looms that Artisans D'Angkor set them up with. Subsequently, they would sell the silk they produced to Artisans D'Angkor which would then turn the silk into the scarves, bags and clothes to be sold at its galleries.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPRoib6WhIph0FmuBGNRfmECLsm_hCd8SksEx8ROrhuE8ApIqpQNGwK-uiQT9a-CFqmEZpYGS2tlIyJH9gG8EHWEuV33V46DZYCwLYdigO2ULJyhjvKDh-EGAXGwklq7UdCYWPwSt9If8/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+147.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPRoib6WhIph0FmuBGNRfmECLsm_hCd8SksEx8ROrhuE8ApIqpQNGwK-uiQT9a-CFqmEZpYGS2tlIyJH9gG8EHWEuV33V46DZYCwLYdigO2ULJyhjvKDh-EGAXGwklq7UdCYWPwSt9If8/s320/15+Dec+07+147.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">learning to weave silk</div><br />The tour ended at a small exhibition cum shop area where we were left to browse.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vfKJt5jaFXUONU7gwEb288M-1tpRan5ZyqFcy48SMrhrtd_xkljKYRgcC5bmqHwLvAo7Rv7wyVA63Y8qfloG4CP_d37mGpuFa0LrbLIElqAmF3eE3rCGxQ1riqGxrxVVp79Nz1jA5lQ/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+150.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vfKJt5jaFXUONU7gwEb288M-1tpRan5ZyqFcy48SMrhrtd_xkljKYRgcC5bmqHwLvAo7Rv7wyVA63Y8qfloG4CP_d37mGpuFa0LrbLIElqAmF3eE3rCGxQ1riqGxrxVVp79Nz1jA5lQ/s320/15+Dec+07+150.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">displays on dyeing techniques</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvvWxdsNtDNESZ06mHsRA6I0JM3avdiGHzzs0mQP2XM6r_3VCXHV9o0YEe2zX9SjK7tH0wmRc_J_7Q0MWp26YSDtxAFFqbrh_UG02T6mpmXKU8cjUu_inxn3lW3VCc_r3VwyEixMek_E/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+157.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvvWxdsNtDNESZ06mHsRA6I0JM3avdiGHzzs0mQP2XM6r_3VCXHV9o0YEe2zX9SjK7tH0wmRc_J_7Q0MWp26YSDtxAFFqbrh_UG02T6mpmXKU8cjUu_inxn3lW3VCc_r3VwyEixMek_E/s320/15+Dec+07+157.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">traditional Cambodian masks</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0_QITOmOKb12U7YEjz0ylwvDNmGatk8kQipVdoEFmBP0KZwjVaBLgcbEIpQZdeTMWBoKz-imvzqaAf9vCK_A4xlJaWJbxI6rHpjzk4X2v4bPNvR3hFOQtjcKLR4V7SlIlgcF5ACHuFY/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+158.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0_QITOmOKb12U7YEjz0ylwvDNmGatk8kQipVdoEFmBP0KZwjVaBLgcbEIpQZdeTMWBoKz-imvzqaAf9vCK_A4xlJaWJbxI6rHpjzk4X2v4bPNvR3hFOQtjcKLR4V7SlIlgcF5ACHuFY/s320/15+Dec+07+158.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">traditional Cambodian fabric patterns</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgto1wHatIvdGLTGlZT-_brSz-zCKBplIJ5Enp4-efZFAZ_fgZXsyw5bszxEcKhnVoA6sqAcbpB0h_ynXgXbhOiq0ZUmcj6PxifRxYJD5LoQ26QaL67NVKerQr0E-C2buS7jLxUsbg3ToI/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+160.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgto1wHatIvdGLTGlZT-_brSz-zCKBplIJ5Enp4-efZFAZ_fgZXsyw5bszxEcKhnVoA6sqAcbpB0h_ynXgXbhOiq0ZUmcj6PxifRxYJD5LoQ26QaL67NVKerQr0E-C2buS7jLxUsbg3ToI/s320/15+Dec+07+160.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">outside</div><br />We had bought most of what we wanted from Artisans D'Angkor. The only thing that caught our eye here was a bust of Jayavarman VII. Weighing considerably more than a silk scarf, it wasn't a purchase to be taken lightly, so we decided against buying it just yet. Off it was to our next stop...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9R6_EsFsc3nTUQahNrxc5ESdnXL0guU80M8X_vTzuIT-xsHDy_aGCBWI_M0EcSMF0WFGqw-KuRHagUDuEKAwCm3SK74DUAcjQbnz4vXsC4bmkG7rLnHFHurXer4i_FQO0cs76Z4rPQd0/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+141.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9R6_EsFsc3nTUQahNrxc5ESdnXL0guU80M8X_vTzuIT-xsHDy_aGCBWI_M0EcSMF0WFGqw-KuRHagUDuEKAwCm3SK74DUAcjQbnz4vXsC4bmkG7rLnHFHurXer4i_FQO0cs76Z4rPQd0/s320/15+Dec+07+141.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">spotted amongst the silk</div><br /><br /><u>The National Centre for Khmer Ceramics</u><br /><br />According to my map, the National Centre for Khmer Ceramics was on the way back to town. We almost couldn't find it, or rather recognise it. With a moniker as grandiose as that, we were expecting a space at least as large as the Angkor Silk Farm, not a house with a small garden and backyard. Still, we were warmly welcomed by our Cambodian host who promptly told us that the NCKC had just held a workshop for potters from around the region. With that, she brought us around the extended shed that was the potter's workshop.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5WKJv9Gvyxt7o_o1jJRAGekrSDq3DHO4DnVaZiwAdoKNpA6y84estxRoog7M2gBdjHvuda225WG0aCsw8U7Dif_fqBvLG1XaE-Mhl94yy3i_0nlXUvvHp-hkzrHx8PmFiRCQbjCL-zA/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+161.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5WKJv9Gvyxt7o_o1jJRAGekrSDq3DHO4DnVaZiwAdoKNpA6y84estxRoog7M2gBdjHvuda225WG0aCsw8U7Dif_fqBvLG1XaE-Mhl94yy3i_0nlXUvvHp-hkzrHx8PmFiRCQbjCL-zA/s320/15+Dec+07+161.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the appetiser</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVPnmILf1F_NaRKsky__LCChGdsovMX8DPSu7daCOTJiMzK0xUoQ9Zdi5RBhp6TC1NCcPTsuTaP9aWdlc9TAo4HjCgMkzdlBFF8ddlxXtYfP_r2PPaCd6LVA1dICWSsx5ZiLLTqb1aFI/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+163.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVPnmILf1F_NaRKsky__LCChGdsovMX8DPSu7daCOTJiMzK0xUoQ9Zdi5RBhp6TC1NCcPTsuTaP9aWdlc9TAo4HjCgMkzdlBFF8ddlxXtYfP_r2PPaCd6LVA1dICWSsx5ZiLLTqb1aFI/s320/15+Dec+07+163.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the potter's wheel</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmNKNYB1CjC0AsYHXKJkIphMMyKS0hhtH6b32Md6661kJFw3SO2XGlqOQfaKIcyi150EJR1avecn5QKxCh8zsoguPztcaK2-bigo0LBCpzgjmaluTT5X9688HbJ3LmZ9u-HDTWHuXUxA/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+165.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmNKNYB1CjC0AsYHXKJkIphMMyKS0hhtH6b32Md6661kJFw3SO2XGlqOQfaKIcyi150EJR1avecn5QKxCh8zsoguPztcaK2-bigo0LBCpzgjmaluTT5X9688HbJ3LmZ9u-HDTWHuXUxA/s320/15+Dec+07+165.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">same same but different</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5YcUytJKuHf0jIqU5oJVmFML-6R_Y2yX-v2PiVzFpey2NOviAVvy8vlW9jsKKm57dnqWNN8U-RMT7gaJyYHzpR88b_KqpzL2syG9wNmNyIwwInbl34ZL-Mq1hxMoD4FE9I2JXfSiXyM/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+168.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5YcUytJKuHf0jIqU5oJVmFML-6R_Y2yX-v2PiVzFpey2NOviAVvy8vlW9jsKKm57dnqWNN8U-RMT7gaJyYHzpR88b_KqpzL2syG9wNmNyIwwInbl34ZL-Mq1hxMoD4FE9I2JXfSiXyM/s320/15+Dec+07+168.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">pretty pots all in a row</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieR4R_LgyrulhZ98Py_pBITff0BuCR4J_q_zHQMpIKzRS2rd4F5vwqmOR_0wqzljDz4gc0zpiPkdvlG_AO_0S5mmDDM7jC3O0C5aauEEhlac0UPprKFkwbn_DAjwgUDdIrFr-HsYn5mVU/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+170.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieR4R_LgyrulhZ98Py_pBITff0BuCR4J_q_zHQMpIKzRS2rd4F5vwqmOR_0wqzljDz4gc0zpiPkdvlG_AO_0S5mmDDM7jC3O0C5aauEEhlac0UPprKFkwbn_DAjwgUDdIrFr-HsYn5mVU/s320/15+Dec+07+170.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">this is NOT a potty</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZumgaOSRaN6Yq5kmeP0BcPfQRWWeaxyknnEEJgY7iw_RnK_zdaoNQwwA_mo0iUjkBLnlhhIZbxHjhx47S7jkwgotE44B0b2SqM845BNHT45BgMdOlpn8JohIxXG5mlWxBrz4E6shQsao/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+171.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZumgaOSRaN6Yq5kmeP0BcPfQRWWeaxyknnEEJgY7iw_RnK_zdaoNQwwA_mo0iUjkBLnlhhIZbxHjhx47S7jkwgotE44B0b2SqM845BNHT45BgMdOlpn8JohIxXG5mlWxBrz4E6shQsao/s320/15+Dec+07+171.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the primordial gook from which pots emerge</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-PupJjRVFl0ZLV7szDbLlxtg_mDJeD_bw7hMZr1MA7sgmBza3rX64IhFFpdQMcJt_r3DiJI_SjO-R4DsObzzr7X4-N1MSCi1qU1C_NfvHHoqL7hUnYPn1PvRgg5ZG3S38HRuQo-GWjA/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+173.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-PupJjRVFl0ZLV7szDbLlxtg_mDJeD_bw7hMZr1MA7sgmBza3rX64IhFFpdQMcJt_r3DiJI_SjO-R4DsObzzr7X4-N1MSCi1qU1C_NfvHHoqL7hUnYPn1PvRgg5ZG3S38HRuQo-GWjA/s320/15+Dec+07+173.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the kiln</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39StT1zXW_c2ac8K8hUAeMMNqEMYu6sne7c_agMJ5nvt3gAUoTIdYhA9WaqkmC-384NwIMGLJr5AwwtkhE2SUYnLgqNo-JsVMcFGpkAUY_LC9Z8tojiKlNnwBPli3_UD6DLEFubWqihY/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+176.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39StT1zXW_c2ac8K8hUAeMMNqEMYu6sne7c_agMJ5nvt3gAUoTIdYhA9WaqkmC-384NwIMGLJr5AwwtkhE2SUYnLgqNo-JsVMcFGpkAUY_LC9Z8tojiKlNnwBPli3_UD6DLEFubWqihY/s320/15+Dec+07+176.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">waiting to be fired</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpXgc7TPEWHW0uxn0z_gLRCCotIoKYFaxAGsVPJDUeRs3Q64Q-nNF-72JJTw0U7cAdF06LTIhVLJOaT5sJpAID_7dN2mDVVuVMtdxATcYzCZlg0_2ganR1IHZtdRj7MCF46-xpy1jXwQ/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+179.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpXgc7TPEWHW0uxn0z_gLRCCotIoKYFaxAGsVPJDUeRs3Q64Q-nNF-72JJTw0U7cAdF06LTIhVLJOaT5sJpAID_7dN2mDVVuVMtdxATcYzCZlg0_2ganR1IHZtdRj7MCF46-xpy1jXwQ/s320/15+Dec+07+179.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a second kiln was being built</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdMB1RAS7qRtzBDcJQSMhiNETbEJI8EOrMHcsx9fpQhF1GXS_uj70-CEURo7bi72G1YFEJJlC6rk5GfbB1EgQZW_zQqyASkZnJlSmFbGd8X9Ia2nEfixIbFQ_kKTwoTdzlGYwzQ6qGgw/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+181.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdMB1RAS7qRtzBDcJQSMhiNETbEJI8EOrMHcsx9fpQhF1GXS_uj70-CEURo7bi72G1YFEJJlC6rk5GfbB1EgQZW_zQqyASkZnJlSmFbGd8X9Ia2nEfixIbFQ_kKTwoTdzlGYwzQ6qGgw/s320/15+Dec+07+181.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a non-ceramic product</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCbjCSmUMKAZ2EdyJeqxm3d7Vn17deza3rfIpaYxptNEH0eq6DazbU12hJb-ZKtMPVwIoDO3iJFjXth4HVy3DYCOhZSsV-9ZFpkEmiHmBRXYkJ3YMjSW0vmpwOE45j2lBrvsogE0lnp0/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+185.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCbjCSmUMKAZ2EdyJeqxm3d7Vn17deza3rfIpaYxptNEH0eq6DazbU12hJb-ZKtMPVwIoDO3iJFjXth4HVy3DYCOhZSsV-9ZFpkEmiHmBRXYkJ3YMjSW0vmpwOE45j2lBrvsogE0lnp0/s320/15+Dec+07+185.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">well, why not... burp!</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLttGAiVLmki_3_kVHvRKhJ4q8xT_Qi8Voa1qFIna6Vbl4N6TxPNHjrLY7nMyutVRKVmezlDGNrx55H4f3K69wGB9YiIW6BzQnz_U7l_D_MLc_lnPFdNo3q27lA1XN_z6c2BEPNX7fBg/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+183.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLttGAiVLmki_3_kVHvRKhJ4q8xT_Qi8Voa1qFIna6Vbl4N6TxPNHjrLY7nMyutVRKVmezlDGNrx55H4f3K69wGB9YiIW6BzQnz_U7l_D_MLc_lnPFdNo3q27lA1XN_z6c2BEPNX7fBg/s320/15+Dec+07+183.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">assorted finished products</div><br />Before we left, we bought two pieces for US$14.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7LtBN6Xx59dQn-gb1td3bGSneLsB77cT9gLifKTit60XJjERD0l7eSdzoX3Zs2tlMLDyoN_9lJTOqVgSnmoXvvp82M2_K-6j3AE8nmHGybUXVl6POpNsvgT45ugJnTehkVivA3pI62g/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+188.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7LtBN6Xx59dQn-gb1td3bGSneLsB77cT9gLifKTit60XJjERD0l7eSdzoX3Zs2tlMLDyoN_9lJTOqVgSnmoXvvp82M2_K-6j3AE8nmHGybUXVl6POpNsvgT45ugJnTehkVivA3pI62g/s320/15+Dec+07+188.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">our kind host suggesting more things to buy</div><br /><br /><u>Lunch at the FCC Angkor</u><br /><br />It was a bit of a rush, getting HM back to the spa in time for her session with the masseuse but we made it, phew. I then took the opportunity to indulge (or rather, overindulge) in a repast on the hotel verandah.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lxbr85xB5GUajKL7c1lIA8khLFv5Atl078xN2kYh80psPjUxjjV15ooOCRx7U11CrwJZFFep8TklP8eTbn3FHOioyrb3UP7lX1C0HQUfZOLl0quBYOh27q_swJuqbQRF7NMqFk655-A/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+202.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lxbr85xB5GUajKL7c1lIA8khLFv5Atl078xN2kYh80psPjUxjjV15ooOCRx7U11CrwJZFFep8TklP8eTbn3FHOioyrb3UP7lX1C0HQUfZOLl0quBYOh27q_swJuqbQRF7NMqFk655-A/s320/15+Dec+07+202.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">on the verandah</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8B8a1uO5is4Z5QrxloGi726jDWy43ovckbAUwHzpemGhtbietyd5pbdE_ad8Wd-bJzUrppuzXkZe2xg_oueJuTDZYrDZfrK18X2P6SCEn3fOLIlvvPZaiOCbKp7WYWMZzm6qlsrDsdx4/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+208.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8B8a1uO5is4Z5QrxloGi726jDWy43ovckbAUwHzpemGhtbietyd5pbdE_ad8Wd-bJzUrppuzXkZe2xg_oueJuTDZYrDZfrK18X2P6SCEn3fOLIlvvPZaiOCbKp7WYWMZzm6qlsrDsdx4/s320/15+Dec+07+208.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the view from the verandah</div><br />My lunch:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOYR0E_jhirdTLw9-7zNErkIJ8axTWl-bRMDqa8I7eUJTl0-33tlDryQlodZ0pw4t-IzOIW2aBIX9LnLdpgq1Y1RGEpCD7Kpahyzk7g6B7CflYtw7IGdQyMCcR613B5kSibpSeMDEHgw/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+192.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOYR0E_jhirdTLw9-7zNErkIJ8axTWl-bRMDqa8I7eUJTl0-33tlDryQlodZ0pw4t-IzOIW2aBIX9LnLdpgq1Y1RGEpCD7Kpahyzk7g6B7CflYtw7IGdQyMCcR613B5kSibpSeMDEHgw/s320/15+Dec+07+192.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">cranberry and lemon juice</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2oeA6Kvuqc547VY_rKcXv726TUWhzyUPQ56tA2DBobb5VPcHJ2rPkOdLiYMSdXaY2Uh1cuZLm52kFH6SS4viNdinMh0Czb6cB-9HKRk-cafp0Sv1nL4VQTV2CUXdErCVWjLzfmBa1zM/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+203.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2oeA6Kvuqc547VY_rKcXv726TUWhzyUPQ56tA2DBobb5VPcHJ2rPkOdLiYMSdXaY2Uh1cuZLm52kFH6SS4viNdinMh0Czb6cB-9HKRk-cafp0Sv1nL4VQTV2CUXdErCVWjLzfmBa1zM/s320/15+Dec+07+203.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">gnocchi with confit duck, mushroom, roasted beetroot, spinach and red wine jus</div><br />Time passed slowly in the midday heat. For a while, I regretted the overly rich lunch. Retiring to the room, I made myself comfortable on the daybed outside. In between reading, I snapped a couple of shots...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEqCtdXqBXJFgLyHpHLXfaG6XquZg6en1FCcPqyw5QGCb8N2S05HjugPOh3r8wJ-syVMBg7dXrIvq5YfhZN_MCL2eVWoXbyV7nTU4DHcb4LzXfc4Zrkxg32zOyFjfQuru6mu1wLiMLjo/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+218.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEqCtdXqBXJFgLyHpHLXfaG6XquZg6en1FCcPqyw5QGCb8N2S05HjugPOh3r8wJ-syVMBg7dXrIvq5YfhZN_MCL2eVWoXbyV7nTU4DHcb4LzXfc4Zrkxg32zOyFjfQuru6mu1wLiMLjo/s320/15+Dec+07+218.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">common tailorbird</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsa1iiZOgbRwD6xWHpr8nLovdewYpjW34Pjwj_JoTPuNkIv9cjxcPN_mtF4XM9GPUktCGTAxyMevztCn1nzCC3gygh2UnwNBtqN4xoEnbUVcZ5OpV38Hvwa_8pKb1JbwoVt_MaEwCoE4/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+220.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsa1iiZOgbRwD6xWHpr8nLovdewYpjW34Pjwj_JoTPuNkIv9cjxcPN_mtF4XM9GPUktCGTAxyMevztCn1nzCC3gygh2UnwNBtqN4xoEnbUVcZ5OpV38Hvwa_8pKb1JbwoVt_MaEwCoE4/s320/15+Dec+07+220.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">seeing beauty in everything</div><br />A little sleep was also inevitable. Eventually HM returned from her massage, waking me up. Her verdict on the session? Good, but not the most memorable, although she did have her own private room and two therapists.<br /><br /><u>Downtown Siem Reap</u><br /><br />We spent the rest of the day shopping. First, a return trip to Artisans D'Angkor was in order. After sleeping on it (literally), I had decided to buy the Jayavarman bust, although HM vetoed the larger sizes. While there, we picked up several small gifts as well. We then sent Jayavarman back to the hotel with Mr 509 and headed for the vicinity of Pub Street. There, we bought more gifts for friends and family and, last but not least, picked up more books on Cambodia.<br /><br />Finally, it was down to pottering around town before dinner.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsJneIDM8jaVF7iRcwjRHvTQKHtgG8iISPYadbp8pf9YV5I7-yKgiqZw_0jnDogzYjf66HX_W4d2b-VcXiqT2vv_Baq6-_oqeZ_bVe67-DFbXFjdzt9Z4heTyE76mWeyexmWD-eU2Abw/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+231.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsJneIDM8jaVF7iRcwjRHvTQKHtgG8iISPYadbp8pf9YV5I7-yKgiqZw_0jnDogzYjf66HX_W4d2b-VcXiqT2vv_Baq6-_oqeZ_bVe67-DFbXFjdzt9Z4heTyE76mWeyexmWD-eU2Abw/s320/15+Dec+07+231.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">funny</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34O1f0uWQuCpNJEHJ_ph-bQwjlSeHqfn9-VxRzt71YifByxcXK6-BIe2IIZ_KR2bJat4IO-i4UBjpyQFPddvE0R-nKD7gKt1SIZzmNgWkvh6YAEv9_z8ZzN7RD-FXv0Vk5I7gZ3n4unE/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+232.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34O1f0uWQuCpNJEHJ_ph-bQwjlSeHqfn9-VxRzt71YifByxcXK6-BIe2IIZ_KR2bJat4IO-i4UBjpyQFPddvE0R-nKD7gKt1SIZzmNgWkvh6YAEv9_z8ZzN7RD-FXv0Vk5I7gZ3n4unE/s320/15+Dec+07+232.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">funnier</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpAiU7BvctSkOL_XxIP4wJSCDGP6gsRNNQOY2S3-x5eOQ-OqCGfRe216lkZk-CuNRQ0lLndP5Fpx2GGpmvHkfCGyPxKLjQPbT6jTe_Frm2cGTv4iJ0HiJcGxeHuVDNfO8mY-IOwjjvBM/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+265.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpAiU7BvctSkOL_XxIP4wJSCDGP6gsRNNQOY2S3-x5eOQ-OqCGfRe216lkZk-CuNRQ0lLndP5Fpx2GGpmvHkfCGyPxKLjQPbT6jTe_Frm2cGTv4iJ0HiJcGxeHuVDNfO8mY-IOwjjvBM/s320/15+Dec+07+265.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">no wonder this was a popular guesthouse</div><br /><br /><u>Dinner at the Blue Pumpkin</u><br /><br />Our final meal in Siem Reap was at the Blue Pumpkin (breakfast at the hotel doesn't count, nor does an unplanned lunch at Siem Reap airport, but more on that later) - a fitting end to a wonderful trip, in my opinion.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDVA7Wi9fjUyPsA0QwncLKBvPLahGCOTR6_2FyC_dme6Ze8UyHHqeikr_5Fyvi7DTi_cStTCJclwBkVziOSzWrRL_Xb3POlG4xyMhsiRm2hjFoxs8Btv4CEM-2e5ivwhi0nGElMD5oJM/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+263.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDVA7Wi9fjUyPsA0QwncLKBvPLahGCOTR6_2FyC_dme6Ze8UyHHqeikr_5Fyvi7DTi_cStTCJclwBkVziOSzWrRL_Xb3POlG4xyMhsiRm2hjFoxs8Btv4CEM-2e5ivwhi0nGElMD5oJM/s320/15+Dec+07+263.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">upstairs - note the day beds and wireless</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsrWPDNzJg9WK2Q7UAJTgMh3Jik6aoLoTFDXQwcZp0RWa1nTaK2T96IrlNraK6AYAUNW4gEiMqT0muQjvTVCA9OCebxuBZQe_Un4iL5BJDKjiUlBi-OXMExgGmX-CtTI_jMpwcmsovZ4/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+244.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsrWPDNzJg9WK2Q7UAJTgMh3Jik6aoLoTFDXQwcZp0RWa1nTaK2T96IrlNraK6AYAUNW4gEiMqT0muQjvTVCA9OCebxuBZQe_Un4iL5BJDKjiUlBi-OXMExgGmX-CtTI_jMpwcmsovZ4/s320/15+Dec+07+244.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">fresh spring rolls</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvUvVD9YmNX1CPZ8DVPzyoZj9akllMX7cvxQ5QuTW1eKJu617eFM_j2pa1HJONTg5TOTxl2h8_fxg4TeMiJORQO35WReJf0ss_V3jEa3Y0ggQR_XQk3BXMJeKqfY6bxCaV7KJjPa5dG4/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+251.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvUvVD9YmNX1CPZ8DVPzyoZj9akllMX7cvxQ5QuTW1eKJu617eFM_j2pa1HJONTg5TOTxl2h8_fxg4TeMiJORQO35WReJf0ss_V3jEa3Y0ggQR_XQk3BXMJeKqfY6bxCaV7KJjPa5dG4/s320/15+Dec+07+251.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">more fish amoc ravioli - how could I not?</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBDc5HkK0VTu8GZCX18ZyqdHKcwl8uekh-6uVsozccAKXO50tYnltKq_7IyZFwPWSQpYgCCK7cX-jpopK-nN1aHdyTJadvNsG_LsbShbXMwTyoMLzouyjK2enoM4iDlYrwl-BFtTaWG8/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+252.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBDc5HkK0VTu8GZCX18ZyqdHKcwl8uekh-6uVsozccAKXO50tYnltKq_7IyZFwPWSQpYgCCK7cX-jpopK-nN1aHdyTJadvNsG_LsbShbXMwTyoMLzouyjK2enoM4iDlYrwl-BFtTaWG8/s320/15+Dec+07+252.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">paprika chicken breast with spinach, lentils, fried apple, gremolata dressing</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdff5n977yjH5QaQ40UBGyey4Ssc3OgrQx4JMAByFntHk1_2Musz9JpZfFAwjllU_4JZ0O4heoS2lN5TYgxuKp1UQgcQxJPy9G1caNUI7mXtkB2_8ujSjnkWUVsf2BfwfkR2sgULoz1DQ/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+259.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdff5n977yjH5QaQ40UBGyey4Ssc3OgrQx4JMAByFntHk1_2Musz9JpZfFAwjllU_4JZ0O4heoS2lN5TYgxuKp1UQgcQxJPy9G1caNUI7mXtkB2_8ujSjnkWUVsf2BfwfkR2sgULoz1DQ/s320/15+Dec+07+259.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">our last dessert - what was it again?</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjf2foAb-z_jYDBR4mbKtPAQ3Zkv9-LeizP7JSWGD4Db7BO3T2bULciafe7BgkgNz6V8ceLdBAz6GbMyFyqQmjoPbSlVGSYKYtuWevd-whjB0jjSASah42MX_2qIPuy1WkNn0wQsXuBQ/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+262.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjf2foAb-z_jYDBR4mbKtPAQ3Zkv9-LeizP7JSWGD4Db7BO3T2bULciafe7BgkgNz6V8ceLdBAz6GbMyFyqQmjoPbSlVGSYKYtuWevd-whjB0jjSASah42MX_2qIPuy1WkNn0wQsXuBQ/s320/15+Dec+07+262.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a final cappucino</div><br />We would have liked to linger, but we so needed to return to the hotel and start packing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vO8Dx6i7q7FaH7Lu2ZylkGyTWBvUQ9xlvXZrJ2pAry3KX4UnCSCo4Twd3bnUXRtfy39uj9xECYIh7v1J_IVpfsLQ1goVhMV4IIOfR2gXn_BXWVsHRM3LOCTiVb0bXEQgodziECMZij4/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+298.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vO8Dx6i7q7FaH7Lu2ZylkGyTWBvUQ9xlvXZrJ2pAry3KX4UnCSCo4Twd3bnUXRtfy39uj9xECYIh7v1J_IVpfsLQ1goVhMV4IIOfR2gXn_BXWVsHRM3LOCTiVb0bXEQgodziECMZij4/s320/15+Dec+07+298.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">would this fit into our luggage?</div>blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649241099028598071.post-19444383710703833572007-12-15T08:45:00.000-08:002008-07-27T09:09:48.181-07:00Day 15: Homeward Bound<u>Our Last Morning at FCC Angkor</u><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEA3ls4Yet6GBCVcZ1inUD4zPhebmEFJnSgYYTWQCLOMF8nR_MX9QUsFuOV492_cK1Vy_hHtO0A0J_GK4qG97YEDhpKUXvKxmyF2wpMQQSTp_h1G3QbrXnDzxeiqdVjqf7TH_hZ4HYPaA/s1600-h/16+Dec+07+009.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEA3ls4Yet6GBCVcZ1inUD4zPhebmEFJnSgYYTWQCLOMF8nR_MX9QUsFuOV492_cK1Vy_hHtO0A0J_GK4qG97YEDhpKUXvKxmyF2wpMQQSTp_h1G3QbrXnDzxeiqdVjqf7TH_hZ4HYPaA/s320/16+Dec+07+009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">morning</div><br />It was a beautiful morning, our last in Siem Reap. I persuaded HM to abandon the poolside for the verandah.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-KvjX0itdJUhcraeFKMvmoq01Z5si42O-36ZuVHtS7Cuty1g0aaDca5RCNR05-SLUk3brrmUMlgmKB68RJzLMyFk-pk_cQN_UFLYiQC4z30Pgf5JRDleiChgPdX2vqGvhg8LcwqcU9w/s1600-h/16+Dec+07+012.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-KvjX0itdJUhcraeFKMvmoq01Z5si42O-36ZuVHtS7Cuty1g0aaDca5RCNR05-SLUk3brrmUMlgmKB68RJzLMyFk-pk_cQN_UFLYiQC4z30Pgf5JRDleiChgPdX2vqGvhg8LcwqcU9w/s320/16+Dec+07+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">one of the many photographs taken by, who else, the foreign correspondents</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnmMBTb90il-sE0K9e8Pyu65RDlRm5SE-hqmSNAZUMd-dFq3m0EdorDgTAX63iIEYQpNhEZ6by77TEPpIUxYIVhawAf26Q_2dZ5Uo-SogQ5LrrIs8jQtNaxFmr7s_aTU7HoR5-aFUEH0/s1600-h/16+Dec+07+017.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnmMBTb90il-sE0K9e8Pyu65RDlRm5SE-hqmSNAZUMd-dFq3m0EdorDgTAX63iIEYQpNhEZ6by77TEPpIUxYIVhawAf26Q_2dZ5Uo-SogQ5LrrIs8jQtNaxFmr7s_aTU7HoR5-aFUEH0/s320/16+Dec+07+017.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">HM having breakfast</div><br /><br />After breakfast, we took one last look at the hotel.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiludR3Q4WqL5IK7DFdWw6KruMWReAQhlG8qUZBi9p12fjI_lX4HCdi5azi0y41fSziYFHYagm38q-hjyJ9rxraFJAdER7skyJbfKQx6VqZ0rZY_VGNGvZXNFOIvqseIKb11w0aLeJ-zmo/s1600-h/16+Dec+07+023.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiludR3Q4WqL5IK7DFdWw6KruMWReAQhlG8qUZBi9p12fjI_lX4HCdi5azi0y41fSziYFHYagm38q-hjyJ9rxraFJAdER7skyJbfKQx6VqZ0rZY_VGNGvZXNFOIvqseIKb11w0aLeJ-zmo/s320/16+Dec+07+023.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">she's a beaut alright</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJxl16Uk281DioPmlB5XtXSD00tliD9fxxXfyRQAvzDZkriivbffUqv3OLGvgRVLYkuv2ZiZ_kUsDEIwBUTGQBU6y8JIexlWVHLzqW_IRcWvN8qCNMqS2u1mp5TYCDDliYIq5qfTth0w/s1600-h/16+Dec+07+028.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJxl16Uk281DioPmlB5XtXSD00tliD9fxxXfyRQAvzDZkriivbffUqv3OLGvgRVLYkuv2ZiZ_kUsDEIwBUTGQBU6y8JIexlWVHLzqW_IRcWvN8qCNMqS2u1mp5TYCDDliYIq5qfTth0w/s320/16+Dec+07+028.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></div><br /><br />All too soon, we had to leave, but not before popping into the John McDermot Gallery to buy some postcards.<br /><br /><br /><u>Leaving Siem Reap</u><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-bNjxhEz7jG5CS31nDifc0LogNDaRaV-yRsHjJwxevJWaQyyZ9Tr29AmDGirl6xzSEs6UdsVPWxKLEHEhE0Oqxzin-lvxHERH8qmukTmblClQ3Rah9dRAm1xJFWuRldPgxZcy1jSfbE/s1600-h/16+Dec+07+036.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-bNjxhEz7jG5CS31nDifc0LogNDaRaV-yRsHjJwxevJWaQyyZ9Tr29AmDGirl6xzSEs6UdsVPWxKLEHEhE0Oqxzin-lvxHERH8qmukTmblClQ3Rah9dRAm1xJFWuRldPgxZcy1jSfbE/s320/16+Dec+07+036.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a mountain of luggage</div><br />Mr 509 gave us a ride down to the airport. There, we discovered that our flight would be delayed by an hour and a half. Tsk, tsk, Silkair. We shopped - bought books at the airport branch of Monument Books. We ate - at Cafe Ritazza of all places, because the Blue Pumpkin-run cafe was outside, not inside the transit area. We read. The one bright spot was chancing on Mr John McDermott himself at Monument Books. From the gushing response he was getting from the staff, he was clearly a local celebrity. HM was nudging me to get an autograph, but hey it's not like I bought the man's prints, just his postcards. Anyway he looked like he would prefer to be left alone, poor man. And then, it was time to fly.blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649241099028598071.post-13579690910573063922007-12-15T07:15:00.000-08:002008-08-24T08:01:36.604-07:00Our Spoils<u>Artisans D'Angkor</u> (Siem Reap)<br /><br />We shopped twice at Artisans D'Angkor. While the products were far from cheap, the quality was unquestionable.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSV-NgZl9oIGEHv3YZ40yBVvXFUsfjlAwZBr7qu669LA73CvsdLCXjmH5BF5IFuqmBMJj34t6sCXCGcGJEI6IQK6g1JniJpIitK9Rp7L6IZkaMKafMzaBuMUcbzPuEoyW1eZgmcqagy6g/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+435.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSV-NgZl9oIGEHv3YZ40yBVvXFUsfjlAwZBr7qu669LA73CvsdLCXjmH5BF5IFuqmBMJj34t6sCXCGcGJEI6IQK6g1JniJpIitK9Rp7L6IZkaMKafMzaBuMUcbzPuEoyW1eZgmcqagy6g/s320/3+Dec+07+435.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">deluxe silk scarf, for US$95</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXm59GSJUp98i_SFn8WuivyveQ3EDXpVGgXAUm5VC1fMIMonbDXMXM_eOvNkxulB6dm7nMcuiRyufLWzQz6c-JetF8guYXEbTB3j1gxxPpVhAd6Rhd9apsRBiulr0NSg5zQXVZI_tWTd0/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+437.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXm59GSJUp98i_SFn8WuivyveQ3EDXpVGgXAUm5VC1fMIMonbDXMXM_eOvNkxulB6dm7nMcuiRyufLWzQz6c-JetF8guYXEbTB3j1gxxPpVhAd6Rhd9apsRBiulr0NSg5zQXVZI_tWTd0/s320/3+Dec+07+437.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">silk scarf, for US$29</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmRVSYixQLo_X9fM6ji6ULdHl8V60hqMJoMFUUdjvs2HnZ062G5ZUj_Qobx4HR0_W_7OjbOElVPn5Oa0EK7UG_voNKInS9Xmm6tL2R4fD0jrWRSR_S49IWymVnLlnijErXgeRAxdW1CA/s1600-h/3+Dec+07+438.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmRVSYixQLo_X9fM6ji6ULdHl8V60hqMJoMFUUdjvs2HnZ062G5ZUj_Qobx4HR0_W_7OjbOElVPn5Oa0EK7UG_voNKInS9Xmm6tL2R4fD0jrWRSR_S49IWymVnLlnijErXgeRAxdW1CA/s320/3+Dec+07+438.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">"glass holder" (top), for US$8, and silk purse (bottom), for US$15</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJWrbuQcO9g_-9fr_4HvjkgJSSXncbrQzfwGR-PPD2ytA8R79KwbCbZqBux5w_W8JM3tDg7urPoi5ITqojKUzvvODSGen5zfvTVwptop7V7-4qkkvAB2Nm2KosuoxqbIZz26By8prUiA/s1600-h/16+Dec+07+052.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJWrbuQcO9g_-9fr_4HvjkgJSSXncbrQzfwGR-PPD2ytA8R79KwbCbZqBux5w_W8JM3tDg7urPoi5ITqojKUzvvODSGen5zfvTVwptop7V7-4qkkvAB2Nm2KosuoxqbIZz26By8prUiA/s320/16+Dec+07+052.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">medium head of Jayavarman VII, for US$59</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyW-cP3TVyrg1kiSkZvKuIJIKI4T3PeQzlTLfGx2P9dSWp8xvr3msq6Ng3KSCY7mvysGG-4JaVPsAybj4XnDIPa9QH-Yj0W9v2NWwA4ZPRNnRT2MNq8nxpcicXVwnzw-3fW7EwxiiurT0/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+309.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyW-cP3TVyrg1kiSkZvKuIJIKI4T3PeQzlTLfGx2P9dSWp8xvr3msq6Ng3KSCY7mvysGG-4JaVPsAybj4XnDIPa9QH-Yj0W9v2NWwA4ZPRNnRT2MNq8nxpcicXVwnzw-3fW7EwxiiurT0/s320/15+Dec+07+309.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">deluxe silk scarf, for US$129</div><br /><br /><u>Russian Market</u> (Phnom Penh)<br /><br />We really enjoyed shopping at the Russian Market, where things were cheap and good. Well, they could have been cheaper apparently, but we could not bring ourselves to bargain hard. How could we when we were all too aware of the income disparity...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMxNCJnVDgbfHBbPbP03_sEQWHWOAas6ZSMyUukOX8W1kww78rA-Q_j6naBq7lDKIdbaTdbBCweg1RR99YmgaHzgZGM4FwBDl1uRr42D_I0HHK1nmxyk_HltqF5wTjTvxkhCF1uIc4_8/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+097.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMxNCJnVDgbfHBbPbP03_sEQWHWOAas6ZSMyUukOX8W1kww78rA-Q_j6naBq7lDKIdbaTdbBCweg1RR99YmgaHzgZGM4FwBDl1uRr42D_I0HHK1nmxyk_HltqF5wTjTvxkhCF1uIc4_8/s320/11+Dec+07+097.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">raw silk blouses, US$8 for two</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYsaQeNByQBbTWoJkbeukNERDRv3COnRdD2iYloTHNT7anf9NqfD6nes3aOjv-v53Q58r0WcKnEzrDuj5XY5TB4ZAc355DrcswTL55AEMrMsdmA8nPjIBkPQ_ac9idZf9X2sH1rxduH_g/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+105.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYsaQeNByQBbTWoJkbeukNERDRv3COnRdD2iYloTHNT7anf9NqfD6nes3aOjv-v53Q58r0WcKnEzrDuj5XY5TB4ZAc355DrcswTL55AEMrMsdmA8nPjIBkPQ_ac9idZf9X2sH1rxduH_g/s320/11+Dec+07+105.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">silk cushion covers and wall hanging, for US$9 in total</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTYuo4einxbryPIYyDviNvQZRr_iGtEvp66p89skg4wV4ACGe_AVJXEI1uVYunaG_ggkMKznn7_jqWUBxsVfN_MJhzUgribwHjSIUdyTeQo_5BSxENhKdeKKCRpKal9kcIfgf5UbFvm8/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+118.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTYuo4einxbryPIYyDviNvQZRr_iGtEvp66p89skg4wV4ACGe_AVJXEI1uVYunaG_ggkMKznn7_jqWUBxsVfN_MJhzUgribwHjSIUdyTeQo_5BSxENhKdeKKCRpKal9kcIfgf5UbFvm8/s320/11+Dec+07+118.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">wooden platters, US$10 for the set</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPSjBajtuMbB9vXO2QUjJlEljnO0_N1S6wQeBvTW4Atg52v1zcoU04niLiwLutsUiLCVFGzEqaENi6ELCyeQ9mr38A7wSWaZoh_ZdvnX1cpMD2YIU83TSaXIqGwT8Tw9BoljgBlZV3HM/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+109.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPSjBajtuMbB9vXO2QUjJlEljnO0_N1S6wQeBvTW4Atg52v1zcoU04niLiwLutsUiLCVFGzEqaENi6ELCyeQ9mr38A7wSWaZoh_ZdvnX1cpMD2YIU83TSaXIqGwT8Tw9BoljgBlZV3HM/s320/11+Dec+07+109.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">silk fabric, for US$40 for 8metres in total</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDhaqovZe23duxDCIhsizzOQDUT7htlhzy3aPTiymdxpcCa1VRu8D_EV6QFrY_M6VfLtblKwYXkpZY-bJRxuFpa-8jarZkNQHV7iwSYzot4QDFlUJ4V2pHy1rNhYXGqDm76YGmxSwejo/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+226.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDhaqovZe23duxDCIhsizzOQDUT7htlhzy3aPTiymdxpcCa1VRu8D_EV6QFrY_M6VfLtblKwYXkpZY-bJRxuFpa-8jarZkNQHV7iwSYzot4QDFlUJ4V2pHy1rNhYXGqDm76YGmxSwejo/s320/12+Dec+07+226.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">retro cotton prints, for US$3 per metre</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAnOQd9sAqPgG9KVVZO48q_au-GS5YISM56jE2WkYN9PPg2jd5GaYpqeYrU40befFd7jX4_92rw-I021E2MooyMu72Cpw1vL83XYzhMI3s_vAhkqdy-tutJoS0VJynzDXINPCripC6Es/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+231.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAnOQd9sAqPgG9KVVZO48q_au-GS5YISM56jE2WkYN9PPg2jd5GaYpqeYrU40befFd7jX4_92rw-I021E2MooyMu72Cpw1vL83XYzhMI3s_vAhkqdy-tutJoS0VJynzDXINPCripC6Es/s320/12+Dec+07+231.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">more retro fabric, for US$4 to US$6 per metre</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_Y_OqtoL9rX0lQDFs4-JXqRJAjCVI9L_GX6zlOzxj8yJjaMYEzVXRSURfvQDQjDE1A3JDg5maeJfHLYGnZkMRPPVJSvf4B3AFsBGB5WGLR0gH2izeeFk08raasTVy8g06Gm6jhffzos/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+140.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_Y_OqtoL9rX0lQDFs4-JXqRJAjCVI9L_GX6zlOzxj8yJjaMYEzVXRSURfvQDQjDE1A3JDg5maeJfHLYGnZkMRPPVJSvf4B3AFsBGB5WGLR0gH2izeeFk08raasTVy8g06Gm6jhffzos/s320/11+Dec+07+140.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">our favourite buy - yellow sapphire ear studs and ring, for US$235</div><br /><br /><u>Friends</u> (Phnom Penh)<br /><br />We bought all of these, on our one trip to Friends Centre, for US$31 in total.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl38ikyFs8XvMlA4bFFoQS-wky-Ktavd76GDylbl0-Y26nDzcnIAogiZsSn4wJhB69XZdDkPGmT_kwAwVPDHPiWCjRl4Wlug7IdoHsOhEiV5Vtar-dfNUwJW9-Of5BpflLeQVmy5BOfVw/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+124.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl38ikyFs8XvMlA4bFFoQS-wky-Ktavd76GDylbl0-Y26nDzcnIAogiZsSn4wJhB69XZdDkPGmT_kwAwVPDHPiWCjRl4Wlug7IdoHsOhEiV5Vtar-dfNUwJW9-Of5BpflLeQVmy5BOfVw/s320/11+Dec+07+124.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">bibs</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguW0F1g7BMsui0fuHowGW-sZptS4M7Ciop6oky5H_B0G-3a5XMUa2TojONvLgO3-Xkr9YBZcA2GIp45JvSXlKghs6_ivSwSyg_VpqILGVrKk8XDDcfo2DMZnCI0T0bdTtrZyobGMBZnn8/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+125.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguW0F1g7BMsui0fuHowGW-sZptS4M7Ciop6oky5H_B0G-3a5XMUa2TojONvLgO3-Xkr9YBZcA2GIp45JvSXlKghs6_ivSwSyg_VpqILGVrKk8XDDcfo2DMZnCI0T0bdTtrZyobGMBZnn8/s320/11+Dec+07+125.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">postcards featuring art by Friends' young artists</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHGn45SYsWgHNYe6E17Stt1nysXJLBBosrAzu4u5wnI0fnumZmGJg9RZuboDkmqU3-iI7P_qwTTQZsF9aaDXAP53aVeSKkJsLOlG0GOUbJ-WvDzu6kfI0k-kzGx0OV1s1UOP7pqvkKCs/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+127.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHGn45SYsWgHNYe6E17Stt1nysXJLBBosrAzu4u5wnI0fnumZmGJg9RZuboDkmqU3-iI7P_qwTTQZsF9aaDXAP53aVeSKkJsLOlG0GOUbJ-WvDzu6kfI0k-kzGx0OV1s1UOP7pqvkKCs/s320/11+Dec+07+127.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">well why not...</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEc6-3lXjoAalk8miCI1pkwISYnF6n3gTERjO6QIOw9N8IR86I0x-M77XufSElGZ-PeVI-1jelUuyU8-sh6KlN2Sygnama2mbLEmkleDZpwBCfHdnUtv1423_z9ABDk9ec98kTrjlmCg/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+129.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEc6-3lXjoAalk8miCI1pkwISYnF6n3gTERjO6QIOw9N8IR86I0x-M77XufSElGZ-PeVI-1jelUuyU8-sh6KlN2Sygnama2mbLEmkleDZpwBCfHdnUtv1423_z9ABDk9ec98kTrjlmCg/s320/11+Dec+07+129.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a Cambodian folk tale</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_92b2u_eUtyTjq3RUjoD0oHnmmlotv33IKUrkMmknVjgsu9ZraPiROTLn1FgePJ08Wu46gUOGiLyWrGnHg9R7ozBXqc1GyITonqnwO-zTVPGjGNazoGXovF0g-SCrntCT6sojfq4Eh6s/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+131.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_92b2u_eUtyTjq3RUjoD0oHnmmlotv33IKUrkMmknVjgsu9ZraPiROTLn1FgePJ08Wu46gUOGiLyWrGnHg9R7ozBXqc1GyITonqnwO-zTVPGjGNazoGXovF0g-SCrntCT6sojfq4Eh6s/s320/11+Dec+07+131.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">t-shirt (front view), with the Friends' logo</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVz0wl8E436PEOdFKwbZ1AlYLw3LsYEtjNHn9CSPPG-3xQnx8zueATNN1McA0-cL7qqAtywjwahZaOHDcuCBKanOfXWCzGyFshI5LUKbniFukbxfyyQoFCqqe6pUpz2bBKbanq2sEfUnc/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+132.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVz0wl8E436PEOdFKwbZ1AlYLw3LsYEtjNHn9CSPPG-3xQnx8zueATNN1McA0-cL7qqAtywjwahZaOHDcuCBKanOfXWCzGyFshI5LUKbniFukbxfyyQoFCqqe6pUpz2bBKbanq2sEfUnc/s320/11+Dec+07+132.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">same t-shirt (back)</div><br /><br /><u>Tabitha</u> (Phnom Penh)<br /><br />These were being scooped up by <em>ang moh</em> expats and tourists, by the truckload.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmI5vTFSm-JQ5bVejTnHQaV7E_pfMUdYaaMPzKuGB_u_Y9r7PaMu-DiLKzjeWHBhG9K-IaRmSrHtZ816OegKf63SF4zRzhbuAsH6Jl8luVn94pXbPjFfwyqHszS__BKaJOhZ4dHoa7HY/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+242.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmI5vTFSm-JQ5bVejTnHQaV7E_pfMUdYaaMPzKuGB_u_Y9r7PaMu-DiLKzjeWHBhG9K-IaRmSrHtZ816OegKf63SF4zRzhbuAsH6Jl8luVn94pXbPjFfwyqHszS__BKaJOhZ4dHoa7HY/s320/12+Dec+07+242.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">nativity scene</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWFC85PrE8L9iOzUWtWmolx4ev48ERlqO6IcSKrWYHaVDV6aUaBko9w4DYqoC9NWdgfo7s_bF0N5_ytytJzFBOixfT9sGEwtLnrdZDtm33dCU8hquizoqK7IwFkjLv_ZYHWQBK_jAGxI/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+238.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWFC85PrE8L9iOzUWtWmolx4ev48ERlqO6IcSKrWYHaVDV6aUaBko9w4DYqoC9NWdgfo7s_bF0N5_ytytJzFBOixfT9sGEwtLnrdZDtm33dCU8hquizoqK7IwFkjLv_ZYHWQBK_jAGxI/s320/12+Dec+07+238.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">stuffed toys, both finished and DIY, decorations and puppets</div><br /><br /><u>Monument Books</u><br /><br />Cambodia's largest (or is it the only?) bookstore chain can be found just about everywhere in the areas frequented by tourists, including the airport. Not only does it have its own branches, it supplies books to other bookstores and to souvenir shops such as the one at the Angkor Musuem in Siem Reap.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHMx0WgFVMxPWTlup98Ims58CdL0FQw11hktRm11YE_qTMzxMrSqF3ulp8MoIpfMesyoUnxzl3xHAPsUcX5U-AOcpFPNhZEgBIYbqKXbpoVNtBD-hLr204O0R9VwJN2Ac_5j1MjnQmWI/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+305.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHMx0WgFVMxPWTlup98Ims58CdL0FQw11hktRm11YE_qTMzxMrSqF3ulp8MoIpfMesyoUnxzl3xHAPsUcX5U-AOcpFPNhZEgBIYbqKXbpoVNtBD-hLr204O0R9VwJN2Ac_5j1MjnQmWI/s320/15+Dec+07+305.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Tonle Sap: The Heart of Cambodia's Natural Heritage</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ivxr8QoeD_t2RMeyXUtj_c-nUMYJeK1ry9dXvxyX5v6drv_eG5gzhM_uV1Mak7O05wzgf4dLhD80Mm9vobUL1B7n6zCqt0dRFetIj-KGdKEQbtF68ElAJPemsFkYzeavNsakSRv3bb8/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+315.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ivxr8QoeD_t2RMeyXUtj_c-nUMYJeK1ry9dXvxyX5v6drv_eG5gzhM_uV1Mak7O05wzgf4dLhD80Mm9vobUL1B7n6zCqt0dRFetIj-KGdKEQbtF68ElAJPemsFkYzeavNsakSRv3bb8/s320/15+Dec+07+315.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the Friends restaurant cookbook, a fundraiser</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwkSnHR90XyHhCwT4hOuxkObmMO8fJEAgvBUJuDqphg9vd2Uh1eOsppr63hmQB2cTjDx-Ae1jZt8aIkggzjWlNmXlKpDXYmypwCmr4zsYTuB8HQcskag47xxv-8oM6IciA_iYJfWW1gU/s1600-h/16+Dec+07+058.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwkSnHR90XyHhCwT4hOuxkObmMO8fJEAgvBUJuDqphg9vd2Uh1eOsppr63hmQB2cTjDx-Ae1jZt8aIkggzjWlNmXlKpDXYmypwCmr4zsYTuB8HQcskag47xxv-8oM6IciA_iYJfWW1gU/s320/16+Dec+07+058.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">3 books on Cambodia's history</div><br /><br /><u>Miscellaneous</u><br />And from elsewhere...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07uStYPJvrPCkhcJCFD79_srPW6wOAUiPWPJwD94tc03jxb8kvBWCncAGQaoOXuOoqdxC4szSH7Ur7IXlrmnQ_7sgxfi7dm8dij6k_b3UrxPhAnnKqu9Y-8Yt-kfc6U5FG2Yzd8umFrA/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+079.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07uStYPJvrPCkhcJCFD79_srPW6wOAUiPWPJwD94tc03jxb8kvBWCncAGQaoOXuOoqdxC4szSH7Ur7IXlrmnQ_7sgxfi7dm8dij6k_b3UrxPhAnnKqu9Y-8Yt-kfc6U5FG2Yzd8umFrA/s320/11+Dec+07+079.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">black pepper, from Kampot (but bought from Soryar Shopping Centre in Phnom Penh)</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKI0myOh-7gL6c80qDfpkE43-sGcJkOHM3DzQoYNrB0QWRe75XeG7NcCCf_O_llMTVfc8pLgy-cuzKiHtw4_CA32JUVZvZ2qkBFxLIwhlWykSAOgmCzogHQ_jpqyYCYaBfyFkSX41gEos/s1600-h/11+Dec+07+101.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKI0myOh-7gL6c80qDfpkE43-sGcJkOHM3DzQoYNrB0QWRe75XeG7NcCCf_O_llMTVfc8pLgy-cuzKiHtw4_CA32JUVZvZ2qkBFxLIwhlWykSAOgmCzogHQ_jpqyYCYaBfyFkSX41gEos/s320/11+Dec+07+101.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">t-shirt from Rajana, for US$4.95</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPJVZQG_Gn8ptnD3GU_xtuyPoJ5cIyNGPx9AlkEABYGsomeRXKMvkB8HjXL2Ve3EsbtFA-FFNNWTEL5Hgit6lb5rTc8mftdCMOH18naR5djmStwZNEtDZcLEfuZYNKdCeo-bmXZ6siVw/s1600-h/12+Dec+07+165.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPJVZQG_Gn8ptnD3GU_xtuyPoJ5cIyNGPx9AlkEABYGsomeRXKMvkB8HjXL2Ve3EsbtFA-FFNNWTEL5Hgit6lb5rTc8mftdCMOH18naR5djmStwZNEtDZcLEfuZYNKdCeo-bmXZ6siVw/s320/12+Dec+07+165.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">baby booties</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmaRCOQIVVelYaJTHYAuhpBhvD7OrTvbGr_QgHX7YeA6OnE3yYi5nkpZiqiNNOqEb8OZjPPLkSz-2zUIYOysmJ1hHRbJfTjPRjMw9j43T4-_2MH3lEdwRTu9pen-jeH5ovaXFRzGmMic/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+275.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmaRCOQIVVelYaJTHYAuhpBhvD7OrTvbGr_QgHX7YeA6OnE3yYi5nkpZiqiNNOqEb8OZjPPLkSz-2zUIYOysmJ1hHRbJfTjPRjMw9j43T4-_2MH3lEdwRTu9pen-jeH5ovaXFRzGmMic/s320/15+Dec+07+275.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">hat from Amatak in Siem Reap, for US$10</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBtWMhyHc41mGEsWVajc0y2oMGzxKjAhnDDATWeCd-AgjEk0PNiB3fX9lA2weSsFUkHIIetJnURWI_mloIhtJUiK3WNen1aCkZVg4SQs5BvL-89YgrseW00DUmUeNfQfYCgWJqr3M3xM/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+277.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBtWMhyHc41mGEsWVajc0y2oMGzxKjAhnDDATWeCd-AgjEk0PNiB3fX9lA2weSsFUkHIIetJnURWI_mloIhtJUiK3WNen1aCkZVg4SQs5BvL-89YgrseW00DUmUeNfQfYCgWJqr3M3xM/s320/15+Dec+07+277.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">necklace from Amatak in Siem Reap, for US$20</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAnEd3tfB0UI2ZV6FupECUO5CHTt6bRXelkZ5nJ0iWhB4xObfA5ha0pY0mJjj9VLB09PDKn8_iDFZcQVBN8XKy1Rm_IOE-tfOUhXkpLDO28ipaaeF8HUdM4s5g3JcdzO0FoE2DLGAbv0/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+293.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAnEd3tfB0UI2ZV6FupECUO5CHTt6bRXelkZ5nJ0iWhB4xObfA5ha0pY0mJjj9VLB09PDKn8_iDFZcQVBN8XKy1Rm_IOE-tfOUhXkpLDO28ipaaeF8HUdM4s5g3JcdzO0FoE2DLGAbv0/s320/15+Dec+07+293.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Cambodian tea, for US$6</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17_Y_K2mS74FDdPBRSBBCetFHp2aaqKUCmzbu5zLUEO6db5WruTkbESWReJZnT6jNZ00aOwqe5oiNdUIdNYsDoAZ9T-VYyV1kLmtk3ImvQEcvof2VXw8WN2cmRqwmFSk1RotpOR0DdTY/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+297.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17_Y_K2mS74FDdPBRSBBCetFHp2aaqKUCmzbu5zLUEO6db5WruTkbESWReJZnT6jNZ00aOwqe5oiNdUIdNYsDoAZ9T-VYyV1kLmtk3ImvQEcvof2VXw8WN2cmRqwmFSk1RotpOR0DdTY/s320/15+Dec+07+297.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">counterweighted dragonflies, for US$2 each</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5S5pZxxxu2r2kaSOMH1Tkwry5li5BtzR-gPfAKXLipPAdkClxk8I20g9AA2x4bUGRT_LCkOux1HLvkJH6ZtI1kMkhsUYXI0LcJKgyDbxjya_zC0f8mrGAGJ8o6hR9Li7A_g8xAR65Ux0/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+304.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5S5pZxxxu2r2kaSOMH1Tkwry5li5BtzR-gPfAKXLipPAdkClxk8I20g9AA2x4bUGRT_LCkOux1HLvkJH6ZtI1kMkhsUYXI0LcJKgyDbxjya_zC0f8mrGAGJ8o6hR9Li7A_g8xAR65Ux0/s320/15+Dec+07+304.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">postcards from the McDermott Gallery in Siem Reap</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbgYMw5GJX5UNE0eD3CI3qUmtXjPx_37jNdsXQuDeXW9pXFG8fPdP48usDCnBaP0qJX-1pnLfVdUy5gldPpEmHHgk3pbPcodvPNXg2V5Af4BmxTVM4ql6a-AfJFcKXktORVWjNLc6fzk/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+317.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbgYMw5GJX5UNE0eD3CI3qUmtXjPx_37jNdsXQuDeXW9pXFG8fPdP48usDCnBaP0qJX-1pnLfVdUy5gldPpEmHHgk3pbPcodvPNXg2V5Af4BmxTVM4ql6a-AfJFcKXktORVWjNLc6fzk/s320/15+Dec+07+317.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a Mum-type ethnic blouse from the market in Siem Reap</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVu5Kb5teUIxWUxpZbuvUXw4sY2jq2bdPcZsUdNyUa9tENYKxek5yoP-hR2orfCuxggY7E8zNTi2jZvxkhinIuJbpq1tQ-odhgcHgj62rBAxb5to1ldhfyHiEg3Uct-O5gvG2E7vh7unk/s1600-h/15+Dec+07+319.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVu5Kb5teUIxWUxpZbuvUXw4sY2jq2bdPcZsUdNyUa9tENYKxek5yoP-hR2orfCuxggY7E8zNTi2jZvxkhinIuJbpq1tQ-odhgcHgj62rBAxb5to1ldhfyHiEg3Uct-O5gvG2E7vh7unk/s320/15+Dec+07+319.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">together with the blouse above, US$21 for both</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHaURItwpOI29TLO-OI2JV1jXF9prpr2HLpHKZjGXDxLvOVXvtQE8sdMcgm2E44cKki_bDRz2AKl4yL4O3g3o_JBb3JwVpE84TrGoVWuEg7iza_uBptkleqyBTKo5JHRV3J8eIVuJI3go/s1600-h/16+Dec+07+048.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHaURItwpOI29TLO-OI2JV1jXF9prpr2HLpHKZjGXDxLvOVXvtQE8sdMcgm2E44cKki_bDRz2AKl4yL4O3g3o_JBb3JwVpE84TrGoVWuEg7iza_uBptkleqyBTKo5JHRV3J8eIVuJI3go/s320/16+Dec+07+048.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">from the National Centre for Khmer Ceramics</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd69r0CsD-e2xDfjXXR5678gbB6fWDDuAJIbeMymtfhR9_BIZGgujNSQaQWfTJsb1lB6jie-EMyjsOcx5BSRn5NdRh-fNlwa7FJHjfEfUgHhsM3y7lBbANDiquOUrDvPg2RWPWv02tLjE/s1600-h/16+Dec+07+054.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd69r0CsD-e2xDfjXXR5678gbB6fWDDuAJIbeMymtfhR9_BIZGgujNSQaQWfTJsb1lB6jie-EMyjsOcx5BSRn5NdRh-fNlwa7FJHjfEfUgHhsM3y7lBbANDiquOUrDvPg2RWPWv02tLjE/s320/16+Dec+07+054.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the obligatory packet of coffee</div>blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0