Siem Reap – E.A.T.

Siem Reap ~ Roadside Houses and Views from a Tuk-Tuk

April 13, 2014January 20, 2023Posted in Cambodia, People, Pictures, Siem ReapTagged Cambodia, Photography, roadside, Siem Reap, trash, tuk-tuk2 Comments

I’ve spent a lot of time on the day buses here in Cambodia. I’ve seen the indescribably extensive amount of trash littering every single inch of dirt along the roads, in the cities and sometimes in the restaurants. Papers, wrappers, cans, bottles, tickets, plastic, socks, shoes, shirts, food garbage, leaf clippings, composting itself under the feet of the oblivious locals. I see them sweeping up the dust in front of their shops or houses more than I see them pick up the rubbish. It’s not like the ground has become trash, but it seems to be moving in that direction in certain places, especially markets, or roadside stops. Despite the trash situation, it isn’t completely without charm. Some of that trash gets burned in random fires, producing a not-unlikeable, but definitely polluting smell. The smell is comforting in an unpleasant way. Smoke surrounds the road in some places, not the seemingly edible smoke of BBQ’s, but a mixture of plastic, palm leaves and cardboard. The houses are all on stilts, giving an extra room, that is purely shade, usually with a few hammocks. Small shops wait with supplies of strange chips, and always Pringles, sugary or salty treats, squid jerky and selected beers. Chugging along in my Tuk-Tuk at about 30 mph, I caught pictures in a bouncy manner, kinetic glimpses of the street.

Top 3 Temples at Angkor Wat Complex

April 12, 2014January 20, 2023Posted in Cambodia, Pictures, Siem ReapTagged Angkor Thom, Angkor Wat, backpacking, Banteay Srei, Baphuon, Bayon, best, Buddha, Cambodia, Photography, Shiva, Siem Reap, Ta Prohm, temples2 Comments

1) Banteay Srei:

This 10th century temple dedicated to Shiva and called the “temple of woman” because the carvings are so delicate and intricate, that supposedly only a woman could do it. The rock was a special pink sandstone and looked beautiful. It was very well preserved and smaller allowing a better chance to see everything. It was such a great place to end, after seeing the big ones, this was a nice change. Recommended for the carvings and the amazing 40 minute tuk-tuk ride through Cambodian countryside.

Continue reading “Top 3 Temples at Angkor Wat Complex” →

Siem Reap ~ Pub Street Dining

April 10, 2014October 21, 2015Posted in Cambodia, Food, Siem ReapTagged backpacking, Cambodia, Charlie's, eating, Siem Reap, The Triangle, travel, Viva1 Comment

The aptly named Pub Street in downtown Siem Reap glows neon red in the hot jungle air. Street hawkers beseech you with their cries about the food quality and with bargain prices. There are plenty of bars and restaurants in which to eat offering Khmer, Thai, Western and Indian cuisine. Of course I couldn’t resist a place which proclaims to have “The Best Mexican Food in Asia.”

At Viva, they serve pretty authentic Tex-Mex style dishes. I had the chimichanga with green chile sauce and was pleased with the results. Quality meat and cheese fried up with a cool sauce. They also offer 2$ tequila shots and Corona bottles.

There is also a trendy rooftop bar called The Triangle whose lights were too dim for pictures. They offer a very chill atmosphere and a bistro type cuisine. Live music every night here with plenty of balcony seats. The band actually covered The Doors’ version of “Backdoor Man.”

Charlie’s reminds me of Austin, Texas. Cold beer, good food and bar stool seating. I ordered the sliders, which were tasty but under-cooked. When will Asia realize you must cook burgers all the way through (without drying them out)?

Temples of Angkor ~ Mosaics and Close-Ups

April 10, 2014January 20, 2023Posted in Cambodia, Pictures, Siem ReapTagged Angkor Thom, Angkor Wat, backpacking, carving, close-up, detail, mosaics, Photography, sandstone, statues, temples, Temples of Angkor2 Comments

The detail within the temples contains as much intricacy and detail on a micro level as the construction and balance presents on a macro level. These pictures are from various temples inside the complex.

Continue reading “Temples of Angkor ~ Mosaics and Close-Ups” →

Temples of Angkor ~ Workers and Hustlers

April 10, 2014January 20, 2023Posted in Cambodia, Pictures, Siem ReapTagged Angkor Wat, backpacking, begging, locals, poor, selling, Temples of Angkor4 Comments

The ancient Ruines d’Angkor are awesome. They give a glimpse into the past. They also give a glimpse of the Cambodian present. The ravages of a brutal Civil War and genocide, the collateral damage of the Vietnam War, the century long suppression under French colonialism, the never-ending feuds of territory with China, Thailand and Vietnam have produced a very poor country with a rich history and booming tourism. The tourist dollars are pouring into the main cities, but this mostly agrarian country still works hard for its money…or begs for it. Even the kids selling the ubiquitous postcards, “10 for a dollar mister. Look, 1,2,3,4…Come on. Help me out” sound like they’re begging even though they are offering a “service.” The middle aged ladies hawking the same scarves, the same dresses, the same bags, the same magnets, the same trinkets, the same t-shirts, the same same, not different have the same routine, “Buy for your girlfriend, your mother, your sister. Very cheap, very good, made in Cambodia silk.” It’s like they are all given a supply from the same store and sent out over the huge grounds of Angkor like some poor roving salesman with a tattered suitcase full of “amazing” cleaning supplies. I’m sure some people buy it. Some people might give money out of sympathy. Some people just shake their head in varying shades of disgust and/or annoyance. I started to look at them instead of the traditional, “No thanks, it’s okay.” I looked at their eyes, their clothes. I talked to them. I asked them questions. They speak better English than they are aware. As soon as I told a young boy he has special golf hat on or a girl that she was pretty, they smiled and forgot to see me as money on legs. They talked to me also. We didn’t discuss important things, we just commented on the situation. I quizzed the kids on world capitals. I asked the girls if they were all friends. I asked them if they like Angkor, and all said yes. I smiled and felt important with all their attention lavished upon me because I might have a spare dollar in my wallet meant for them. It’s a big job to squeeze all the money out of tourists while they are here at these mighty ruins. They give that big job to the smallest people.

“You come back here and buy from me mister, not her, okay?”

Continue reading “Temples of Angkor ~ Workers and Hustlers” →

Wordless Wednesday

April 9, 2014April 9, 2014Posted in Cambodia, People, Pictures, Siem ReapTagged Photography, Wordless WednesdayLeave a comment

Every Wednesday, many blogs post a wordless photo to speak for itself.

Angkor Wat ~ A Different View

April 9, 2014October 21, 2015Posted in Cambodia, People, Places, Siem ReapTagged Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Photography, Siem Reap, surprise, temples, touristsLeave a comment

The largest religious building in the world, Angkor Wat, contains intricate stone carvings, wide vistas of the surrounding jungle, beautiful symmetry, peaceful gardens, a creation of immense proportions. The pictures are famous. Perhaps you’ve seen the sunrise, or the crumbling rocks, the dancing nude ladies or the growling lions, but, I bet you never saw these pictures! I decided to surprise tourists with impromptu portraits during a break in the shade. Some are happy to be involved, others not interested, some don’t notice, others skeptical of my intentions. I didn’t ask where they were from, but that might have been a fun test to see what country in this random sampling was most represented, but my guess is there may not be any repeats.

I had a great time with this little project. Some people asked me, “Why?” I replied, “Everyone knows what Angkor Wat looks like, not everybody knows what you look like!” They are all on vacation, some fulfilling a life-long dream to stand and gaze at the magnificence of these 11th century sandstone towers. Some are making a religious pilgrimage. Some are just sweating profusely. But no one was rude or curt. I thanked all who participated in this little lark.