Cambodia - 2

Random pictures of Cambodia!

Cool entrance


A massive tree growing on the temple.

ditto

us

The Big Man.

Skye doing what she loves... getting her photo taken by me!

Three shrewd businessmen, and the best tour guides you could ask for, standing in front of a 'locals only' temple, that they happily took us to.

haven't seen one of these in months!

the temples are full of cool doorways, leading to millions of little nooks and crannies

sunset over the disappearing lake in Phnom Penh...

one of approx 10 zillion carved dancing deities on the temple walls at Angkor

Sunbathing elephant

Angkor towers

"We're not in Kansas anymore Toto", arriving at the Siem Riep port.

On the boat to Siem Riep. We choose to sit on the roof for the experience and later discovered how good our choice was, when we ducked inside to use the toilet and realised the interior was full of diesel fumes and toilet fragrances. The boat trip took 7 hours, and crosses one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world. At one point the lake is so wide, you can't see land in any direction.

A graceful and ugly stork!

My mate the monkey. Followed us around the zoo all day. His cheeks are stuffed with banana, I gave him too much, and he didn't want to waste it (or share with his mates)

"What you talking about Willis?"

"Whatevverrr!"

Cool bird.

Seven Months in Beijing

OK, so I think you all know by now that I usually reserve this blog for funny stories, with the intention to make you all smile, and at the same time allow me to re-create my experiences, process them and store them in the funny/interesting category in my mind. To this end this blog is nice.

Having said that, we're now 7 months into this current journey, and I think its important to let you all in on what its like living in Beijing. Not so much the practicalities, which are sometimes mundane and often humorous, and so the usual fodder for this blog, but rather how it feels.

One of the biggest challenges for me in Beijing so far has been confronting myself. It's easy at home to duck and weave and distract myself for long periods to avoid actually sorting any of my issues out. It's different here.

Suddenly my issues have become so abundantly clear because everything else around me is different; the country, the job, the people, the language, the food, the house, and yet, I suffer from the same feelings and issues that I did at home. Except here there's no-one else to blame.

So what to do? I can either sort it out, or run. But run where? home? another country?

Of course, its possible to do nothing. To simply ride out my time here with my head in the sand, finding things to blame, and walking around with a superiority complex explaining to the world why I know best and why I'm balanced. But that seems unhealthy.

No, the answer for me (made this morning at about 9am) is to face the issues, sort them out once and for all, and then move on.

This is by no means easy, nor is it negative or depressing. In fact, its a great feeling; a feeling of empowerment. I'm ready to shed my baggage and start traveling a little lighter.

The point is I'm changing. Beijing isn't changing me, but rather I am trying to change myself, trying to get into balance. I'm not sure what it means, or where it will lead me, but that's the great thing about positive change; it's a mystery.

Cambodia: 1

Cambodia is an amazing and interesting place. It is, as the advertisements proclaim, 'the kingdom of wonder'. It is wondrous not only for its ancient temples and beautiful happy people, but also for its astounding contradictions and bizarre government (more on that later).

First some facts, did you know that over 75% of Cambodia's population is under 30? (that makes me old in Cambodia) and that 50% are under 18?

wondrous, no?

Or that the Temples at Angkor, just outside Siem Riep, is arguably the largest religious temple area in the world?

Or that because Cambodia is situated between two very powerful neighbours, Vietnam and Thailand, its land and people have been raped and pillaged for centuries by these neighbours, and of course by its own people (read here Khmer Rouge), and yet, the people keep smiling and loving?

This place is truly one of wonder. I knew this to be the case before I visited because Skye had lived, worked and traveled around Cambodia a few years ago, and regaled me with stories of the place. It was like visiting a fairytale land for me, and the best thing was, it lived up to its stories.

I don't know exactly what it is about the place, the feel, the smell, the warmth, the smiling and friendly people, but there is a spirituality that simply can not be expressed in words. I now know why Skye adores it, and am starting to develop strong feelings for the place myself.

I am determined to return at some stage and spend some time to really to get know her.

Here's some photos of Phnom Penh, and possibly some of the last photo's of the sunset over the lake from the Drunken Frog guesthouse! (its a long and horrible story... one for another post)


Sunset on Day 2. The Drunken Frog is great place to stay. The staff are unbelievably friendly. We stayed a few days here at first, then returned for two more after going to Siem Riep. On our return we were greeted with huge hugs and told, that 'Our' room is available. Lovely people.

This is a temple on the only hill in town. A cool place full of monkey's and very poor people, begging and selling their wares. This is one of the great contradictions in this town. There is so much love and beauty, and yet, so many people struggling to survive.
Skye on the deck of the Drunken Frog.
Sunset over the Drunken Frog. The Govt. has sold the lake to developers who are currently filling it with sand so they can build a resort. Very shit, but the sunset, while it lasts, is amazing.


At the aforementioned temple, lighting incense for the 'Big Man'.

Enjoying a cleansing ale at the Foreign Correspondents Club over looking the Tonle Sap River. This club is one of the few fully western places in Phnom Penh and a nice place to recover from culture shock.

Cambodia - I miss you already

This is a non-post. That is, its the post you post when you have something to say, but lack the energy to say it.

I got back from Cambodia a few hours ago. It was fantastic, watch this space for photos and stories.