Its been a long while since we took a trip somewhere other than Malaysia or Melbourne with mom and dad. So this time when sis came back to Singapore to enjoy her hard-earned 5 week (In Singapore....unheard of!!!) holiday, we all took a trip to CAMBODIA (together with the new addition to our family, Stan, and Mattie)!!!
At the Siam Reap Airport
Prior to the trip, good ol' reliable dad was reluctant to go because like many, the impression of cambodia was that of clogged up drains, putrid alley ways, dirt roads and streets lined with pickpockets and beggars. But after this trip, both mom and dad were hooked! Siam Reap is an amazing jewel in the rough. Sad to say, perhaps give it a couple more years, tourism would probably bull doze its way through the town. By then, it would be "bring on the high fashion, marketable, five-star living and modern facades"; slowly stripping her of her character, mystery and colour.
But for now, she is truly an extrodinary gem, with beauty so unassuming.
DAY ONE: The infamous ANG KOR WAT
A little bit of History:
Angkor Wat (or Angkor Vat) is a temple for King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. The largest and best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained since its foundation a significant religious centre — first Hindu, dedicated to Vishnu, then Buddist.
(Excerpt from Wikipedia...haha...impressed you there for a second didn't I?)
(Excerpt from Wikipedia...haha...impressed you there for a second didn't I?)
Can you believe these carvings were here since the 12th century?!
The climb to the top was not as easy as it looks...It was almost a vertical stairway to the top!!!
Mom decided to give it a miss. Kudos to dad for wanting to give it a shot!! Notice how drenched dad got by the time he got to the top!
The View from the top!
NEXT STOP: ANGKOR THOM, the temple city
On the way to Bayon...
On the way to Bayon...
Bayon - The last state temple to be built in Angkor, and also known as the 200-over faced Temple
After the exciting "Amazing Race" rush to the Airport at 5AM in the morning.....
(For all those who may gain from our near miss experience, perhaps some things to note;
#1 Jetstar flies out from T1 of Changi Airport NOT Budget Terminal (BT);
#2 The terminal transfer from BT goes only to T2 NOT T1
#3 The sky train between T2 and T1 operates only AFTER six AM)
After the long climb up to the top of Ang Kor Wat.....
and surviving on only on three pieces of bread shared amongst the six of us,
I think we were quite ready to call it a day!
DAY TWO: Fresh! Ready to conquer more Temples
FIRST STOP: Floating Village
This was my favorite part of the whole trip. I felt like I was being immersed into a life so different and so unknown to me. Playing basketball on floating court-cages, washing clothes off a raft which would be called 'home', brushing teeth with river water scooped off the rear of the boat , living in a boat that slants to one end cause the tide is low and the base of the boat is stuck in the uneven mud, going to school in boats, multi-tasking meant scooping water out of the boat and rowing at the same time, being allowed to have the tv on for ony 8hours each month cause they operate on batteries. Life is simple, yet complex.
But in the midst of experiencing all this, "PITY" would not be what I use to explain how I feel. They have the basic needs of what is need to survive. Some homes even have colour television and snooker tables on pontoons. And because, this is their way of life. This is what they know. Of course, I do believe life would be better for them if they had electricity, or clean fresh water running from pipes. But everything in life is relative isn't it?
I would probably not be able to survive one week living in a boat, but its only because I know what it is like to shower from a shower head or sleep on a bed. But I believe no matter what life journey takes you, there will be struggles. A physical need or a material desire or an emotional truma or a spiritual void, they are all struggles in life. So really, what is left to face all this and still be able to enjoy life is to be thankful with what little, or what much you have, and always live the life you have been blessed with the fullest way possible.
Hmm....as always, I have gone off tangent. Back to our trip....
NEXT STOP:
Some believed this temple might have been built by women for its intricate carvings and minature doorways.
NEXT STOP: TOMB RAIDER TEMPLE, also known as Ta Prohm
This was my personal favourite temple. Here, Nature shows its true destructive powers, where huge fig and silk-cotton trees tower above the ruined temple. Slow, yet impactful.
And that was it for DAY TWO!!!! To give ourselves a little treat, we all retreated back to civilization, found a nice cozy cafe with wireless internet and which served the most yummy mango and dark chocolate sundae combo! BLUE PUMPKIN is its name.
DAY THREE: *BEEP DA BEEP*
FIRST ACTIVITY OF THE DAY: ANGKOR WAT at sunrise, FOUR THIRTY AM!!!!
HA! FOOLED YOU!
So were we...... well, this too was what we envisioned it to be.....
However....
The true sunrise experience
That's US, looking quite awake at 5AM in the morning....patiently waiting....
And then, this was it!
TA-DA
Well, actually it was more like someone was turning up the dimmer lights over Angkor Wat. Still, getting driven in the dark on a Tuk-Tuk, with a driver who was probably born for the race track was a good experience. And just being there to witness the world awake before one of the world's seven wonders is always something to treasure....even if it was a crappy sunrise.
The rest of the trip was all free and easy.
Apart from the fact that Mattie fell sick on the last day, and had to resort to eating bread and vegemite (which Stan and my sis actually managed to find in the grocers there!! What would you know....Aussie Vegemite has conquered far and wide.) to stop himself from throwing up... I'd say it was one of the most enjoyable trips taken with family. We have got to do it again soon! (ps: Ian, next trip, we'll make sure you are there!)
The Faces
