10/3/18 - Day 42

After a lovely long sleep, had breakfast and then attended a deep stretch yoga class at the hotel, followed by an Alignment Workshop, while J relaxed by the pool. I joined him in the afternoon... decided to take it easy today as so easy to get temple-fatigue. Going into old Siem Reap when it cools down a bit.

Went into SR to the crazy Pub Street (wandered for five minutes and realised it was; a) too young for us and b) way too hectic) and then took refuge in Ms Wong’s cocktail bar, a few streets away, phew what a relief! They do the best Expresso Martini’s (my favourite), then thanks to a recommendation from Sima & Rod, we headed to Dahshins for dinner, I had veggie curry. After dinner we went shopping in the night market...

11/3/18 - Day 43

I managed to track down a private driver lastnight on line and so we booked him for the day ($40) as we wanted to travel out further afield to Bantrey Samrae, the Cambodian Landmine Museum and Bantrey Srey. Our driver, Keo, arrived really promptly so we were off by 8. First stop was Ta Prohm, famously, the Tomb Raider temple which everyone knows along with Angkor Wat. Ironic because my lips look like Angelina Jollie’s as I have huge cold sores, v painful, oh well...1st world problem! Good day out but also very humbling and emotional too, learning more about the horrendous genocide wrought by the Khmer Rouge, killing approx 3 million people in their own country. Our driver was telling us that his entire family were murdered and he was left on the streets surrounded by their bodies, he was only 4 or 5 fortunately rescued by a monk, but he didn’t have or know his name so he was affectionately called Keo (meaning glass) as he was always serving the monks tea. He took his surname from the monk who saved him, he was raised in the monastery from aged 5 until 18. This is just one of many stories like this but it was very humbling to listen to his story.

Next stop was Bantrey Srey (City of Women) monument, then the Landmine Museum which was founded by Aki Ra, a former KR soldier turned Landmine clearance expert, again it was a very emotional visit to the Museum but well worth it. We finally stopped at Bantrey Samrae another beautiful monument built in the 8th century (I think), all just mind blowing for different reasons.

On the way back we stopped at Sra Strang (Kings Lake) and ate lunch at a restaurant called Sala Russey, had some veggie spring rolls and then headed back to the hotel. J wanted to get dropped off in SR downtown for some shopping, whereas I wanted to relax by the pool. Of course we are saving our visit to Angkor Wat and Bayon (Angkor Thom) until later... these will need a whole day in themselves.

12/3/18 - Day 44

Woke up early and did a yoga session outside on the lawn, went for breakfast and then relaxed by the pool for the day. We’re saving our Angkor Wat experience for tomorrow. The hotel is fairly deserted during the morning as most people are out sightseeing. Trying to finish reading ‘Beautiful Hero: how I survived the Khmer Rouge’. Went to a Cambodian Yoga session in the yoga shala, it was all for the local community... I felt like an absolute giant, towering over all these tiny Cambodian ladies. The instructor took some photo’s for me to share. After I’d cleaned up we headed into SR and made our way to Maybe Later (another recommendation from Sima & Rod, thanks guys!).