Angkor Wat

 Greetings to all!

I just returned from a wonderful trip to Angkor Wat north of PP about a 5 hour drive except this was holiday time for the Cambodians so it took us closer to 7 hours, BUT well worth it!  I stayed at the Rambutan Resort in Siem Reap, the town just outside of the magnificent temples.  All 2000 of them!!!  It was so much more than what I had even expected…again the largest religious edifice in the world, bigger than the Vatican!!!  I’m returning at Christmas time.

Please enjoy.

You are still in my thoughts…arkoun,

Diane

Room with a view.

No tourists, but....

Ta Prohm.  Angelina Jolie filmed Lara Croft here.

Angkor Wat AW (please see link) at sunrise.  It started as a Hindu temple and then Buddhist.  It has an interesting history.

 

Usually there are 1000s of tourists!

My wonderful driver/guide, Sokay.

Many bridges.

This may be how I feel about hybrid teaching!

Angkor Thom Temple

A walk along the Siem River close to my hotel.

French press coffee

It had been raining so I took liberties with my camera.

Rice fields inside the complex.

Selling all sorts of things including fried frogs.  

A pathway across the marsh leading to....

I have so much to explore when I return:)

In a Bubble

Greetings to all!

I feel like I’m in a bubble here especially compared to the U.S. and even more so with the fires in California.  We observe wearing face masks, but not all and most places are open except for the Palace to protect the King (see my blog photo and explanation).  Many stores, banks, etc. will check your temp.  The most restrictions seem to be with schools.  We have been online for a few weeks and now starting Monday we are teaching hybrid…we’re all just looking at each other holding our breath.  I am excited to have some students in the classroom😊

My photos are a mixture of facts and fun and maybe in the middle of all of this you might find some levity.

We have a few days off this coming week and I’m heading to the magnificent temple of Angkor Wat hours north of PP…the largest religious edifice in the world, bigger than the Vatican!!!  I will be taking lots of photos!!!

You are in my thoughts…arkoun,

Diane

Views from my apartment.

I really want to see the inside of this apartment with all the plants!

I thought this was "fur" hanging from his bike, but alas chickens with a short life span!

My classroom and Ms. Nary looking out to the city...great view!

I found a Starbucks while walking home from school:)

The Palace is on the right and I thought I was given permission to walk down this street until I turned around and a motorcycle policeman was telling me otherwise!

Looking back across the river to the city and Palace.  The sky is spectacular in PP.

The Mekong River where people live and fish and sell their wares...

...such as this lobster.

It's very inexpensive to eat out.  I got this pizza with anchovies at Luigi's around the corner.  Maybe the best I've ever had:)

Well, on a Friday afternoon I stopped at the Elephant Bar in the Raffles Hotel...I'll be back!!!  I've been to the Raffles Hotel in Singapore with my friend, Nancy and this is just as nice:)

Out and About in Phnom Penh

Well, I made it out of quarantine and have been discovering the charms of PP.  Where to buy food, where to get hair done, restaurants, figuring out the tuk tuk system.  I had one week of school and then holiday because of Kymer New Year, actually they celebrate in April, but just like everything else Covid had an impact.  I have lots of photos, some disturbing as I toured the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum.  Others are just fun:)  Please enjoy!!!

My driver, Sinet with his tuk tuk in front of my apt.

I haven't been inside the Royal Palace, but it's beautiful on the outside.  The King does live there.

The Chinese have bought up a lot of land and are constructing spectacular apts. and other businesses next to the Mekong River.  It's off the beaten path.  

Boat people

Yep! That's a chicken head and I almost ate it until Sinet told me what it was!

I did tour the National Museum which houses a lot of treasures from Angkor Wat.

My right hand assistant, Nary

I made it through the first day of online school...I think!!!

I made it through the first week of online school and now a much needed week off:)

I have not had a bad meal in PP...well, the chicken head LOL  Many international restaurants like Luigi's and right around the corner from apt.

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum right in the center of PP.  This man is pointing to himself when he was about seven and right before he escaped execution at the hands of the Kymer Rouge.  Only a few children were able to escape.  Two million died and at this site 20,000.  There's so much to tell.  When I entered, I swear I felt the anguish that had occurred.  Others have said the same thing.  If you haven't seen the movie, The Killing Fields, please watch it.  Many of these photos do not need an explanation.

Where they lived.

The Kymer Rouge took photos and documented everything which the Cambodians have been able to recover.  This little girl was executed.  Much of what I saw, I just couldn't photograph. 

Before it was an execution camp, it had been a high school.  I sat on a bench looking out at what seemed a peaceful scene.

Deja Vu Cafe along the river, a nice spot to relax and watch the world go by.  Recommended by a friend of a friend...small world:)

Now for all the cat lovers...this cafe is right across from my apt. and when you walk in, it's so peaceful.  Cats are everywhere just wanting to be loved:)