Day 3 - Siem Reap

Noodle soup with fish balls does not sound like a normal breakfast item , but in this town, I guess anything goes. While that was Susanna’s choice, I settled for a more mundane omelette.

As usual Mr Lim was waiting for us when we returned to our hotel lobby.

  It was still comfortably cool when we arrived at our first temple of the day. Preah Khan was similar in appearance to Ta Prom ( TombRaider) but without the significant root damage of the latter.

Over the course of the day we tackled Neak Poan, built in the centre of a reservoir with few remaining structures still visible. That was followed by a walk to Ta Som temple. It’s most notable feature was a massive tree growing over and through the stonework making up its west entrance.

East Mebong featured elephant statues at its four corners as well as five fairly well preserved towers on its upper level.

A return visit to Pre Rup ( sunset view) found me touring the place alone as Susanna felt too tired to climb any more structures. Iuckily I discovered a wooden staircase at the side of the comple, making for a far easier climb than the 13-14 inch high stone steps at the main entrance.

 After a quick stop for a late lunch we drove through a rather large village built inside a former reservoir before arriving at Banteay Samre. The structure was very peaceful with few visitors. The outer walls were composed of lava stone with “windows that featured stone spindles, similar in appearance to Buddhist prayer wheels. Inside, a large courtyard featured a central building with a small burial cask where the ashes of former rulers were stored. Additional buildings , presumably libraries formed the remainder of the complex.

 Returning to the city we changed clothing before setting off in search of a massage parlour for Susanna’s aching legs and feet. Rather than wait around, or suffer a similar torture myself, I set off across the town, checking out various dining options.

 Beer Street featured 50 +cent drought and virtually identical menus of Khmer dishes at roughly 5-7$ a meal. Barbecue shops offered 4 or 5 choices of meat including beef, chicken pork crocodile and squid for around $11 per person. Many restaurants offered their ties on western food alongside the local dishes. Tacos and burritos, pizza,  burgers, some steakhouses offering imported beef from Australia.

 Walking along the riverside I discovered a very large Buddhist temple, the Wat Prom Rath,with several large colourful buildings and numerous pagoda like crypts.

Returning to the massage parlour, I forked over the princely sum of $6 US for Susanna’s hour of massage therapy.

  With sunset long gone we walked along poorly lit side streets were vendors sold fruit vegetables, fish and meat from stalls that lacked any type of refrigeration. Here and there several prepared meals over smoking charcoal fires. Having been told to avoid street food we settled on another cooperative style restaurant called Haven where we feasted on noodles and chicken and cashew nuts and chicken. Dessert followed- mango sorbet and bananas cooked in coconut milk and tapioca. Our most expensive meal of the trip, it priced out at $24 US including 2 draught beers and a concoction of apple, pineapple and ginger which they prepared fresh.

 The return to the hotel required the usual death defying walk along busy streets with sidewalks blocked my parked cars, tuk tuks, scooters and motorcycles. 

Today being Valentines Day cake and flower shops seemed to be doing a booming business as did many of the restaurants and food stalls we passed along the way.

Tonight I fell asleep at 10pm but found myself awoken by strret noises around 12:30am. 

 Having spent the last 90 minutes updating earlier blogs and reviewing photos, I’m hoping that I can fall asleep quickly since the alarm is set for 7am. 

 Our day with Mr Lim tomorrow starts at 9am and features only 2 more temples but will involve a return trip of roughly 120 km to reach them.