Cambodia - Day 1

I've been avoiding writing this post for, well, it looks like four weeks now. I used the excuse that we were getting ready to go back to MN for a couple of weeks, then we were in MN, then my excuse was jetlag. Having the entire day to myself today, and frittering it away watching an MTV True Life marathon, uploading past pictures from our old computer onto the new computer, and even cleaning up the house and washing the dishes, I have no more excuses. Harkening back to a little saying my mom had posted in her sewing room: "Begun Is Half Done", I must at least start. Plus we're going to Taiwan on Wednesday and I know I'll get even further behind then.

There is a great story about Libby "Deathly Afraid of Needles" O. getting her shots (her mother let her come to SE Asia without any, a questionable decision at best), but since I'm trying to shorten this up, here's the abbreviated version:

1.) We guilted Libby into getting her two shots, saying either she get them, or we would not go on this trip of a lifetime and then she would surely regret this decision for the rest of her life. No biggie, her choice.

2.) I literally held her down in the doctors office as she tried to swat him away, much to the doctor's amusement.

3.) An email to her mother reporting the successful immunization was responded with "No way now how! How did you do that? Can you get her to go to the dentist now!?" Maybe next year.

Okay, now to Cambodia! Seim Reap, to be exact...

We arrived in the late afternoon, so only had time for one site today. [We had a fantastic guide, who was a wealth of information about Cambodia, and had also lived through the Khmer Rouge period, hiding with his family in Angkor Wat.] This first temple was a popular destination, and involved climbing up a big hill to the site, then climbing up very steep old stone stairs for the sunset view.

Since it was pretty busy, he decided to take us The Back Way, and within three minutes we came face to face with... an elephant! We had to jump out of the way, this guy was big.

We then hiked up through a small footpath in the jungle, being warned to "watch out for the termites", as apparently they get a little feisty when their work is interrupted. "Are there snakes back here?" inquired Libby. "Not many..." was the unfortunate response.

The temple was very cool, and had a great view of Angkor Wat in the distance:

As for the detail of the temple itself, these sandstone carvings are about 1000 years old, and still in great shape:

After waiting patiently for the sun to set:

I snapped a picture of two young monks:

Finally, the sunset:

After an even more perilous climb down from the temple (ever try to avoid termite colony in the dark?) we went back to the city to a great restaurant, which had these great white couches where you could put your feet up, wine for $2, and TV trays so you could practically fall asleep if you were so inclined.

Tuk tuk's are the preferred mode of transportation in the are, $1 for anywhere you want to go...