Siem Reap and Angkor Wat

Our rooms in Siem Reap are in an old colonial French building. The room is vast - we're thinking of hosting a volleyball game in there one of these nights - but sparsely furnished. A bit gone to seed but all the trim and furnishings are gorgeous old mahogany and all the floors are 2 foot marble tile.

When we arrived at the bus depot, we were met by a tuk-tuk driver, Bishop, who has been our constant companion these last few days, driving us to Angkor, arranging ticket, hotels, etc, even joining us for lunches.

Angkor lives up to the hype - truly an awe inspiring creation. Impossible to do it justice through description, suffice to say that if you get the chance, visit. Our first morning we went out to the site at 5 am to see Angkor Wat at sunrise. As the sun began to rise one looked across at the intimate scene of 6000 iPhone screens blotting out any view of the Wat. Magic.

Siem Reap has a bustling down town in the evenings. Last night we were sitting having cocktails at a street restaurant when Nickie and Paige, two friends of Jas's from Mayne/Saltspring walked by. Later (at another bar - seeing a trend here ?) we chatted with a bunch of fellows from Canada who were not traveling together but just happened to end up in the same restaurant on the same night. A couple of them had worked in hospitality in lodges up and down the BC coast so we got to talk Hot Springs and the rest of the Island. Small world.

Tonight we travel by sleeper bus to Kompot and Kep.