Cambodia 2014

Flying direct from Vietnam, we arrived in Siem Reap, Cambodia mid-day. We were conveniently greeted at the airport and taken to our centrally-located, French-colonial hotel, Chateau d'Angkor La Residence. The large 2-bedroom suite was perfect for our family. After starting laundry, we headed to lunch at . . . Viva, Mexico!, of course!

We enjoyed a low-key afternoon swimming, reading, and sipping cocktails. That night, we rode a tuk-tuk to watch Smile of Angkor, a production highlighting Cambodian history thru special effects, martial arts, and traditional Apsara dancing.

Taking advice from previous friends' visits, I had wisely arranged a guide in advance for our temple exploration days. Our guide Ing was a wonderful resource for our family! He knew just where to take us, shared with us his country's rich history and culture, and led us through the crowds with ease, straight to our air-con car complete with cold water and refreshing towels. The first day we began our adventure at the South Gate of Angkor Thom, where the four faces of Buddha smiled to welcome us. These faces represent charity, compassion, composure, and sympathy.

Next we visited the Bayon temple, famous for its 204 smiling Buddhas. We wandered in and out marveling at the amazing stone carvings that recount stories of old and highlight beautiful Apsara dancers entertaining gods and kings.

We also explored Baphuon temple (Hindu), Phimeanakas (the king's temple), the Terrace of the Leper King, and the Terrace of the Elephants.

Optimal in afternoon lighting, after lunch we visited the famed Wonder of the World, Angkor Wat. Once completely surrounded by dense jungle, Angkor (meaning "city") and Wat (meaning "temple") was built during the reign of Suryavarman II in the mid-12th century. Upon crossing the moat and entering the gate, the awe-inspiring view spread out in front was truly stunning.

The next day, we visited Ta Phrom temple, made famous by Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider and overtaken by huge tree roots growing atop the temple structure. After, our kids had fun climbing through the ruins of Preah Khan and later, we stopped at Neak Pean with its healing pools based on the four elements.

We drove a bit farther out of town in the afternoon to visit Banteay Srey; its lovely pink sandstone has remarkably preserved the intricate carvings and murals. To cap our day, we hiked to the top of Phnom Bakheng, a hilltop temple where crowds gather to watch the sunset over Angkor Wat. We chose to avoid the crowds by descending prior to sunset via elephant ride. =)

On our last full day, we took a tour with Hidden Cambodia to visit the community of stilted houses near Tonle Sap lake. This freshwater marvel expands and contracts annually based on the seasons; during wet season, water levels rise to within a meter of the house floors but recede greatly during dry season. Our tour guide led us to his own village of Kampong Khleang (even pointing out the house he grew up in and bringing gifts to his mother) and led us on a boat ride down the canal leading to the lake. Along the way, we saw many local fishermen, stopped to witness the fish smoking process, had lunch in a stilted house, and even witnessed guests riding via boat to a wedding party.

We were also blessed to visit a local school and hand out supplies, though we weren't prepared for the number of children there were. We also donated water filters to some very poor families, and it was fun to give in this simple way. I take so much (clean water) for granted . . .

One stop on the way back: to the jungle-hidden Beng Melea temple, then past rustic countryside to Siem Reap for one more night. The morning of my birthday had us packing up to leave, but we will cherish the memories of our amazing time spent in the Kingdom of Cambodia!