Siem Reap, Cambodia

YES!  Photos now here!

Not an easy start in Siem Reap as my internet hotel booking hadn't worked and I didn't have a reservation - so went to the hotel down the road. To cut a long story short - the owner of the first hotel (Nini) came to look for me as he always looks after the volunteers and said I could stay at his Sweet Dreams Guesthouse from the next day.  (A great backpacker hotel where the rooms are 12$ with hot water and air-con!)

Wat Bo Road that I cycle down twice a day!

Sweetdreams Guesthouse is down this track

River in town with Tuk tuk driver in hammock

Siem Reap is a fast growing town due to the millions of tourists who visit each year. The Old Market is jam packed with stalls selling beautiful silks and clothes, silver jewellery and semi-precious stones, sculptures, clothes and so many different handicrafts. Perhaps I'll have to buy another suitcase to bring some things home with me!

We visited a Khmer school to see an English lesson given by one of AboutAsiaSchools trained Cambodian teachers, which was a really great experience. Yesterday we exchanged information with the outgoing teachers and I found out that Sophie and I will have Grade 2 kids (ages 8 to 16) so we'll be able to share ideas. We'll both have about 16 every morning and 8 every afternoon so we are very happy to know that. This evening was amazing as we went for drinks on a boat around the Angkor Thom moat to see the sunset and then went to town to see a parade of giant puppets made by children.

Moat around Angkor Thom (though we didn't see Angkor Thom!)

my new camera has a good "sunset" setting!

Giant puppets made by various children's schools

small temple near the Buddhist blessing house

Typical street with street sellers

We were invited to visit a pagoda and had a water blessing by a Buddhist monk but didn't take photos as it was disrespectful!  Apart from the stalls selling goods to the tourists there are restaurants, pubs and massage parlours so I had a foot massage for 30 mins for 3$ which was done by a blind man - I did clean my feet first :)  I am having so many FIRST experiences.... next weekend after my first week of teaching I plan to visit the Angkor Wat temples (at sunrise) and spend some time wandering around there.  When we did the boat trip, we only just drove past the entrance and it was so frustrating.
HOWEVER, I am not tempted to try the "happy pizzas" or "cake special" as one girl finished up in hospital due to it's potent content!  I was very naive and didn't realise what "happy pizza" meant!!!  Must be too old!