Laurie's World

First things first–this is how the bears were set by the cleaning staff when we came back yesterday : ) I am pretty sure they were playing with our bears…

OK–onto more serious things…

Fabulous fabulous thing to see! So glad we came to Cambodia…I know the kids had a really good time too. Makes our North American history seem so young…we walked in buildings as old as 1200 years old…some built in 800 AD. Not sure at all how they constructed these massive structures out of stones chipped put of a mountain a hundred kilometers away. And everything has a story…nothing was done for random decoration…

We were up and at breakfast at 6:40am. After a frenzied search for BK’s temple pass which I was in charge of and had let flutter into a bag…we were off. Started the day with a small temple…

Guessing the kids have a picture of this one too!! hahaha

Just thought I would include one picture somewhere that did not have me standing in front blocking the view ; )

Then we went to see Tonle Sap. Which is a fresh water lake that floods the area for a couple months every year, then recedes. There is a village (called the floating village) that is built in the area that floods. So for a few months a year their houses are in the lake and for the rest, they live on the bank of what seems like a river. Everything is high up on stilts. Very high stilts. We went into the village and saw how the people really live. WOW! Amazing simple lives–but the children are so happy and carefree. PICTURES FORTHCOMING
I went into the school house where it looked like there 4 classrooms. It would appear that only 2 teachers showed up that day…so the kids were pretty much running amok. I bought them 2 bundles of notebooks (I grew up calling them scribblers). There were too any children to give each one a book. So I gave them to the teacher (who did show up today) to distribute. I just could not have handled the little faces of the ones who did not get one. The teacher was gracious and the class stood up and said something to me in Khmer and then thank you in English. It was a humbling moment when I think about how many kids in North America take our free education for granted and often squander opportunities.

We saw 2 more temples…

Then we had lunch.
So here is a great story! Not sure if I have mentioned this or not…but Russ is quite the adventurous eater. He puts me to shame….anyway…he sees fried frog legs with khmer spice as a menu option. He is thinking to try it! I say go for it…I will take a picture and will definitely have to blog about it. After some discussion with Troy about what it might taste like…he decides to go for it. After all it is only $4. Yes you read that right!!

So here are the pix…after he reported that it truly did just taste like a little chicken wing…we all tried one (Troy first, then BK, then me the last hold out!). So not sure how I feel about the poor little legless frogs trying to get around Cambodia…but can’t be any worse than the poor wingless chickens trying to fly around America!

We caught our flight back to Thailand and landed safely back in the land of smiles around 4:45pm.

Our trusty friend, Mr. Sawang was there to greet us. We had made the call to him the night prior to see if he would come and get us and take us to Kanchanaburi. On the phone…pretty sure he had no idea who we were. This was confirmed when he picked us up and said he did not recognize us on the phone…but that is just who the Thai people are…if a random stranger calls…they will come. It was about a three hour drive to Kanchanaburi, so we settled into Mr. Sawang’s mini van and watched Toy Story 3. Very cute movie…it was dark and rainy so we did not miss anything out the windows.

Checked into the Sabai@Kan…happy with this selection of hotel.
http://www.sabaiatkan.com/

Wandered down the street in search of supper…found a small place…not overly happy with the food. It was OK other than the chicken had small bits of bone i n it…which was weird. I did have Tom Kha Gai for you Jackie!! It was very tasty : )

Off to bed and we are NOT going to set the alarm for the morning–just have to be up for breakfast by 10am : )

L

We started our day bright and early (5am) so as to catch the sunrise over Angkor Wat. Well…it was cloudy so the sunrise was not as spectacular as we had hoped, but still very nice to be up and see it so peaceful and a little bit cooler than during the day.

Here is Troy and our guide…

And us sitting patiently waiting : )

We then went to see many other temples…all very spectacular and all very different…It was extremely hot today! Mid 30s C (that is 95 F). I am guessing about 500% humidity (if that is possible??). We drank many bottles of water and enjoyed the bursts of Air conditioning in the car in between our stops.

Note the excessive amount of sweat! I had no idea until i saw this picture…Not surprised at that I was sweating–I surely knew I was…but I actually thought I had on a shirt that disguised it a little more. Now Russ…he had on a good shirt : )

We also did something else very cool. There is a “hot air balloon” more like a “ball”, that you can ride up in to get an aerial view of the whole area. So we thought this would be great and we went up. It was $15 USD…so seemed like a good deal! In addition to getting an amazing view…there was a fabulous breeze!! So…very good investment : )

This is the view from the balloon of the rice paddies…

We stopped for lunch at a roadside restaurant. Yummy Sweet and sour chicken for Laurie…Troy and the kids all had noodle dishes. We are thinking that other than that first night with Russ’ super spicy dish, the food here is not nearly as spicy as Thai food. So that suits me fine and i usually ask for Thai food “no spicy”

At many of the temples, there are groups of musicians who are victims of landmines that play for the tourists and sell CDs of their music. So we did stop and listen today and buy a CD of some traditional Cambodian music. That will be nice to have!!

The bragging point for the old folks (me and Troy) today was that we were not the ones to fall asleep on the ride home…and I have photographic evidence!! At least they did not drool…

Update for those concerned–Russ wore a sock today on the bad foot–and it is much better… : )

Jay–we went to supper tonight and BK and I had a pal sitting under our feet pretty much the entire meal. I thought you might want to see a picture since I know how you feel about cats hanging out at the table ; )

We had a Great Day!! Woke up about 5:30am…this may have had something to do with the fact that we fell asleep around 7:30pm last night!!

Had a nice breakfast downstairs and then our guide came to get us at 8am. We started Day 1 of our temple tour of Angkor Wat. It is a several day adventure…

I was not sure what to expect…but was very pleased!! It sure is amazing…Troy will have all the good pictures on his blog if you want to see that. BK and I were video taping…hope that looks like something when we get home…never sure if you can actually capture it or not.

We had lunch at our guide’s girlfriend food stand. It was very good and we got special service I am sure–we had some things we would not normally have ordered–like stir fried lotus root. It was very cool (as in no super spicy food for anyone at the table–not naming names–cough Russ cough). Her sister had a trinket stand across the road (imagine that) so we went over there and overpaid (probably) for some T-shirts and stuff. But we felt fine about it as it was still way too cheap and we felt like we were supporting the family. Theoun (our guide) is getting married in January…and he seems quite excited!

Poor Russ has a blister on one of his feet from his sandals. It started yesterday–so we knew it was going to be a problem! But between the sand and the sweat and the sandal–poor Russ had a tough go. We will have to see what we can find to remedy that. I suggested socks for a couple days–so we will see.

I think the maids were playing with Klompy and Pooh Bear when they were cleaning today cuz this is how I found them when we came back to the room…and it is not how I left them!

Hit the pool the moment we came back to the hotel…only had 30 minutes or so of that when the skies opened and we were OK with this until we heard thunder–so that was a no go…out we got. Showered up and ready to head off for some dinner and a massage…yes I said it!! Can’t stay up too late tonight as we have to be up and ready to go by 5am tomorrow morning. We are planning on seeing the sunrise (YES I said sunrise) at one of the temples tomorrow.

TTFN

L

Hi Jackie!! Happy Birthday shout out to you!

So we are like rock stars here…pushing through our fatigue! We got checked into the hotel and then ventured out to see the sights. Despite the stinkin’ heat we did pretty good…we walked down the main street, dodging tuk tuk drivers and fruit stands and motor scooters etc etc. Scoped out a good spot for a massage and saw a couple very nice old Wats (one was over 500 years old). Walked through a Cambodian cemetary (not sure if we were supposed to do that or not–but once in, we had to walk through to get out right??)

Had early supper at the Khmer Kitchen. Poor Russ ordered what we were all sure was a good choice…but it was by far and away the most incredibly spicy dish i have ever seen. He confirmed it was indeed the most spicy thing he has ever eaten. But aside from me having a couple bites and Troy trying a bite…he ate almost all of it…because it was darn tasty! But his eyes were watering and his nose was running and his face was red. What a sight!! Poor guy…OK–lesson learned, we must remember to ask for “No Spicy”. in the hopes that it will come in at close to, or under a 2 star spice dish : )

Oh yeah–and Troy and Russ did stop for massage on the way home–Russ assures me it was a very well spent $5!!
BK and I were pool bound and nothing was getting in our way : )

Planning on being up and at breakfast for 7am, as our driver is picking us up at 8am and we are heading of to Temple time (Angkor Wat)

Just waiting for the clock to move ahead a little bit so we can call Jackie and wish her a happy happy birthday!! 5:26am is probably a little early yet–teehee

OK–we made it to Cambodia–and it is HOT!!! OK–so no surprise…but just sayin’

Hotel is so far so good…very nice people too!

We are heading out to look around–maybe get a massage : )

Catch you later…

Laurie

Just letting the world know we made it to Bangkok–safe and sound!! I have Russill, Troy and Brooklyn in my possession…

I have spoken with Rachael and she is also safe and sound at camp! So I have all my ducks in a row.

Also just want to share this pix of my two traveling companions chilling on the bench in the airport with me (for 12 hours).

Also…once I connected with the rest of the fam at the gate in Bangkok–Russ and i hung out in some very comfy chairs…NOW where were these chairs when i needed them in the middle of the night????

No idea what time it is…I think it is around 4:30pm Tokyo time. My computer says 12:38am for Seattle…so WAYYYYYY past my bedtime.

I still have to find my gate for the flight to Bangkok–but in my travels of the airport searching for a board with departure gates–I found a free wifi spot–so thought i would check in and update!

Slight concern when i saw this sign taped to the desk at the gate when i found it…but it turned out not be a delay for me at any rate : )

So–it sure is stinking hot here–and MUGGY!!! Already getting my sweat on : )

I was “fortunate” enough to have a window seat on the 11 hour flight here…which meant that as long as the person next to me was sleeping, I was trapped in my seat–which was for 10 hours and 45 minutes of the 11 hour flight i was just on–HOW NICE FOR HIM to be able to sleep eh??

There is one thing I really have to comment on about the Narita airport in Tokyo. Not sure if this is just for the ladies, or just the airport, or maybe the whole of Japan has this figured out…but they have the BEST toilets…At the risk of freaking some of you out…here is the instrument panel for the toilet in the ladies room (with its heated seat and all). NICE EH??? Thinking the “flushing sound” button is the best feature—so thoughtful!!

We forge ahead…

L

Wahoo…I successfully extricated myself from the house and made my way through check in and security at SeaTac…All by myself…This bodes well for the rest as far as I am concerned
: )

I have already remembered some things I forgot…nothing crucial to my trip necessarily…The Canada chotzkies I got for Riam’s kids…No worries though as I left a couple people behind that can easily tuck it into their bags…

Hope I can connect in Tokyo if I have time–GO FREE WIFI

L

OK–So even with my best intentions in place over the past few weeks…We are still not exactly ready to go. Much packing and sorting going on here tonight.

Wish us luck in getting where we need to go…all in different directions at different times
: )

We should be back in touch sometime on Sunday night?? First stop Cambodia!!!!

TTFN

Laurie