Thurs 22 Nov 5.30pm Siem Reap internet cafe

Thurs 22 Nov 5.30pm Siem Reap internet cafe
Last night 5 of us at Kymer Kitchen restaurant each ordered a course then we shared them out so that we all had a bit of each. I enjoyed my choice, Khymer pork with cashew nuts and vegs but forgot that David likes hot chilli dishes so his innocuous looking fish something blew my head off.
Back in hotel, finished Joannes book Kite Runner, a story about Afghanistan, very deep but a good read. Then dead to the world til alarm.
Fried eggs for breakfast, the cook does them to order, broke one of mine and before I could say anything it was in the bin had to wait for another two. Toaster very dangerous, you have too make your own toast, stood well back, it doesn't like me.
3 more temples and a lake this morning. The first visit was to Preah Ko built over 5 years to 879 by King Sinbravarman ie nearly 2 hundred years before the french invaded us and put that William 1st on our throne. It was pretty beaten up (Preah Ko not Williams throne) but there was still plenty to see and admire. The second was Bakong finished in 881 by the same guy. This one was mountain shape with 5 levels. Approached by a causeway, it was incredably impressive. A single monk lives here and ministers to the local community. I think it must have been him chanting ínto a microphone and speaker system throughout our visit, creating a feeling of peace and wellbeing that I think affected all of us in this beautiful place.
The third was Lo Lei built by King Yasovaraman 1st. (I like that name, Yaso for short?). This was very much a living community with 14? monks and modern pagodas to which locals come to be blessed with good luck by the monks.
Then to the lake, the largest in Indo-china. Our 2 boatmen were about 14 and 16 both driving and manouvering this 10 seat craft no trouble. Regularly attacked by smaller craft using seamanship and tactics that Nelson would have applauded, we were boarded time after time by six/eight year olds, usually girls, from fast craft being driven by their mother. Coca colas, fantas, sprits, anything we could have wanted. Then mum would pull alongside again for the little mite to leap back and race off to the next unsuspecting tourist boat.
The lake is famous for its floating villages, we visitd two, the first Cambodian, the second Vietnamese. Another on the far side was Cham. They had floating homes, floating schools, floating shops, and a floating fish farm that contained hundreds of catfish in one hold and dozens of crocadiles in another. Then another attack this time by a boat containing a family, the smallest child of which ( a 4? year old girl) produced out of a cage and held up a metre long snake. Presumably the idea was that we could hold it and take photographs but unluckily the little girl was right next to Jorgann when she lifted up the snake. Jorgann doesn't like snakes. It was the fastest I've seen him move in all the 3 weeks we have been travelling together. So we decided not to have the snake on board and moved away with some haste. The two young boatmen who of course have seen the snake many times thought it very funny.
Back to the hotel after the lake and said bye-bye to our Siem Reap guide. The lake had been our last organised visit. After lunch, we all walked along the Mekong River in Siem Reap to the old market where Annie bought her Buddah and I bought a t shirt and 3 elephants.
Then back along the river where frenetic preparations and practices were going on for the Dragon Boat Festival which starts tomorrow for 3 days. With a very long boat from every village and district, there were hundreds of people, rowers, supporters and locals just out to enjoy the build up to the racing. I stayed long after the others returned to the hotel, and chatted or exchanged hellos with many of the locals enjoying the atmosphere like me, including cambodian (indian like) music blaring out from loud speakers. A lot of Cambodians, especially the younger ones, speak quite passable english. A most pleasant and stimulating afternoon.
Our final meal together will be this evening, Huann promises music and dancing for our entertainment, should be good, I will report next time. Flight to Bankok, = transition to Phuket, departs 1.25pm tomorrow. David and Joanne staying in Bankok for 5? days, Jorgann and Bierta also going to another part of Phuket so will be on the same flights, poor Annie will spend 2 days getting back to Quebec and work via 5 flights and has to leave the hotel at 6.40 am. We have all exchanged e-mails so hope we will keep in touch. We certainly plan to post dvds with our photos to each other. Better than e-mailing apparently.
All the Best of Everything to Everybody,
John