Siem Reap the first days.

Well here I am in the Blue Pumpkin, a rather pleasant cafe/bakery not far from Pub Street in Siem Reap. I have been here 2 and a bit days now. I arrived on a muggy afternoon via Jetstar from Singapore. Straight to my hotel and crash, I was asleep pretty quickly.

The next morning saw me at breakfast at the old familiar cafe across the road from my hotel. I am not in the same room as last time but I may as well be as they are mirror images of each other. I keep getting these dejavue moments because I have been here so often. Breakfast was a nice omlette and baguette as usual with the ubiquitous "fruit shake". Very nice and filling.

This day was to be one of organisation and sorting out my plans. I needed to get some books about the temples that I could not find at home. I also needed to check out the market for Kampot Pepper for my friends on Don Det. Finally I wanted to see if any antique shops had Khmer artifacts. All tasks were completed with sucess I had a bonus in that I found a new book and I picked up a couple of T shirts and a Cambodian scarf. Every time I come here I get a new scarf. I know it is silly but you can never have too many. The one I got was  blue and white large checks signifying that I am an old man and that I survived the Pol Pot period for which I am grateful. I made it back to my hotel in the late arvo unharmed and sated.

In the evening I went over to pub street. I had a very nice Lychee Martini ($1.50 US) and then found a place right in the middle of the street that did a very nice BBQ Frog. There were 3 on the plate and they were very tasty and not at all tough. There was plenty of meat on them and with the obligatory pile of rice quite filling. I had a couple of beers with this so I strolled home like a contented cow.

Today I woke about 6:00am and mosed in my bed for some time. It is good to wake up early with nothing I have to do. I can laze in bed enjoying the aircon and the light breeze from my fan. I have finished the book I borrowed from the eldest daughter Cat, so now I am reading Khmer reference books. Breakfast was had at the usual place but this time I had a Cambodian version of Pho Ga in Vietnam... beef noodle soup to the uninitiated. After sorting out my laundry I went with a friendly Tuk Tuk driver to the National Museum. It is dedicated solely to the Khmer history of Cambodge. Right up my street. I went in at nine and came out at 1:30pm! It was very good. For $5:00 US you can hire an audio guide that is very helpful. There are lots and lots of statues of Bhudda and associated friends. There also lots of Hindu gods and whatnot. It was a very impressive experience and now I am in the Blue Pumkin recovering.

The photos below are a mish mash from the first few days including the obligatory sunset at Angkor Wat.