That was quite the flight from Dallas to Bangkok with transfers in San Francisco and Tokyo. We finally got to the hotel in Bangkok around 12:30 AM and after looking over the materials that the travel ageny left, it was 2 AM before we got to sleep. Then it was up at 5:30 AM to catch the flight from Bangkok, Thailand to Siem Reap, Cambodia. The Thailand to Cambodia flight was quick, one and a half hours. We arrived around 9 AM and then hit the ground running.
Come to find out the travel package included a private guide, who speaks very good English and is historically very knowledgeable. He is accompanied by a driver who has carried us around to the various temple complexes. Our guide learned English in Siem Reap and was helped further by a British archaeologist. Apparently various countries will give money to help with the restoration of the historical sites. They are then allowed to send archaeologists in that help with renovation and restoration of the various sites. Our guide's sister was one of the workers on a restoration project and she put him in touch with the archaeologist who helped him further with his English.
We started our touring at what is called the Roluous Group. The ruins that we saw there, Preah Ko and Bakong are some of the earliest, permanently build temples by the Khmers circa 9th century. Our guide pointed out two of the commonly used rock which were used in their construction, sandstone which would be carved with ornate designs and inscriptions with a foundation rock of "Latera" stone. It is interesting to me how designs and materials from older structures make there way into more modern structures. For example, the "Latera" stone used in the temple construction seen at the Roluous Group and others is used in various parts of the hotel. Later in the afternoon we traveled to Prasat Kravan as well as Banteay Kdei and Sra Srang. The later construction was made on a small island in the middle of a large, constructed reservoir measuring 800 m by 400 m. Today the reservoir is drained and over grown.
Today we headed for the massive Angkor Wat, as large as the forbidden city in Beijing it covers 91 hectares. It is surrounded by a moat 190 m wide and 1.5 km by 1.3 km on a side (1600 m or 1.6 km equaling one mile). Our guide took us around the outer, covered colonnade which is carved on all sides with detailed Bas-Reliefs. He took us slowly along each side explaining the significance and history of each to include the Battle of Kurukshetra, Army of Suryavarman II, heaven & Hell, the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, Vishnu Conquers the Demons, Krishna & the Demon King, the Battle of the Gods & the Demons, and the Battle of Lanka.
Later today we will be seeing the ancient Angkor Thom and watching the sunset over Angkor Wat.
The thing that has surprised me about these various temple complexes is that they are all initially constructed in a Hindu motif. Apparently it wasn't until later that Buddhism supplanted Hinduism.
Apart from the piles of rocks we have seen other aspects of Cambodian society. We've seen several weddings with lots of food and loud music, which continues for 3 days. Believe me, bridesmaids dresses are no different here than in the States, you'll have no use for them after the wedding.
From a culinary perspective, the food is as I would have expected. I guess the best way I can think of how to describe it is like Thai food but less spicy. I encountered a new fruit which they call "Dragon Fruit." It has a heavy scaled, red skin and the flesh is white with multiple black seeds inside. It has a similar flavor to kiwi fruit but it is much less tart. We have come by meals easily because breakfast and lunch is included at the hotel and we dine in the city in the evenings, also prearranged.
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