Angkor What?

Arrived in Siem Reap and was taken to my hostel...Jasmine Family Guesthouse.  It had a lovely pool and a real family approach.  My dorm wasn't ready until tomorrow so I got my own room with tv for the night.  I was knackered so went for a nap.  Woke up at 11:45pm!  Must have been tired.  Missed out on tea and watched telly.  Caught the last episode of Strike Back which started at home before I left.  Now I know what happened.  Watched another film..Ghost Ship and went back to sleep at 3am.

The next day I changed to my dorm.  Was nice and empty?  No bother.  Just lounged round the pool today but couldn't go in coz of lady stuff!!!!  Roll on 2 more days!  Sweated like a phido at a playground.  It was 35 degrees again.  Good tan coming on, even with the lowest factor they sell...45.

A bit hot!!!

Resided myself that as I couldn't use the pool I would get into town.  Saw an advert for giving blood at a children's hospital.  I researched online to make sure it was safe and went alone.  Luckily I had my blood donor card with me (mum said to take it so if I was in an accident they would know my blood group).  It only took 5 minutes to give 350ml of blood.  After the doctor gave me a thank you pack which contained a t-shirt, a can of coke and some crackers!  More than you get at home.

At the hospital giving blood

My thank you parcel

Later that day I finally went for a blind massage.  It was great and only cost $5.  Went out for tea that night and discovered Pub Street!  Amazing place, I loved it.  Had a real vibe going on.  Even got a foot massage for $1...how could I say no?  Found a place that did wine for £1 and had a couple of glasses before I called Penn from the hostel to pick me up.

My blind masseuse

$1 foot massage for 15 minutes

Had arranged for Mr Khim (the tuk tuk driver who took me to the hostel) to take me around Angkor Wat Temples for a couple of days.  The cost was $15 a day for him and $40 for a 3 day pass to Angkor.  He suggested an itinerary and we began.  It was red hot and I soon got through my massive bottle of water.  Stopped for a beer and was surrounded by kids trying to sell stuff.  One of them challenged me to a game of noughts and crosses in the sand and if I lost I had to buy something from her.  I liked this kid.  I knew I was gonna lose...I always do.  They were so skinny and so I gave her and her friends a $1 each.

Cheeky buggers who challenged me to 0 and X's

Mr Khim - told him not to blink...TWICE lol

Later that day I got a message from Clare who I was in the Pandas's and Shanghai with.  She was coming out next year to join me for a while.  I was well chuffed!  Got an early night as Mr Khim was picking me up at 5am to take me to see the sunrise at Angkor Wat...the main Temple.

When I got there the next day it was packed.  Found a place at the pond and waited.  A bit gutted because the sun was hidden behind clouds but still got some great pictures.  Wasn't that impressed with the temple itself. Next we went to Bayon Temple.  Must better.  I liked this one.  Decided I didn't want to do anymore apart from an elephant ride.  Mr Khim said it would be better spent visiting the Floating Villages on the Tonle Sap.  I agreed.  He told me of one more temple which I must do...the one where they filmed Tomb Raider.  I was well excited!  This was my favourite temple overall.  Spent ages there and got some mint pictures.

Angkor Wat at Sunrise..or cloud rise

Tomb Raider Temple

The floating villages were quite expensive because I was on my own...$30 for just me but I had my own boat and guide (which I knew would also cost me later).  It was interesting.  He took me to a boat/house/whatever to show me some crocs and snakes.  Told him to keep me away from snakes and I was feared of them and he agreed.  Looked at the crocs and he told me some history.  They only catch them for their skin to make stuff for tourists and also its mainly tourists that want to eat them.  How strange?  As I followed him around this kid came up behind me holding a snake.  I shit myself and ran to the other end whilst the little bleeder followed me.  I was convinced I was jumping in with the crocs to escape!  Eventually my guide told him to piss off (I think...coz he was shouting at him).  We then went to the floating market to buy something to take to the orphanage.  I liked the idea of this.  It was well expensive but they explained that part of the cost goes to the hospital and clothing,etc so I bought some chicken noodles for $20.

So cute and well worth a $1

The little bleeder who chased me with this beast!

Handing the noodles to the school

We went to the school/orphanage and I handed the noodles off to the teacher and had a look around.  He explained that every year in the dry season the villagers have to move their house to the lake which is very dangerous in bad weather.  Lots of people die every year leaving some of their children orphan.

Got back off the boat after tipping the guide and driver (I knew it!) and found half of my tuk tuk!  The other half..the bike had pissed off LOL!  Another driver told me his tire was flat and would be back soon hahaha.  Arrived back at the hostel and had a pizza.  I saw a girl there who sits and eats bran flakes all day...wierd???

Where the.....???

The next night I headed to Bar Street.  Was feeling quite lonely tonight.  Wanted my mates round me.  No one at the hostel were very sociable.  So far only a Japanese guy said hello and 2 Norwegian guys (who came upto my balcony to smoke pot quite often, not that it bothered me).  They were pretty much couples and all foreign and not willing to socialise.  Anyway, that night I decided to go into Temple Bar and have a dance hoping I could meet some people.  Smiled a lot, introduced myself and requested some amazing songs with the DJ but again no one wanted to be bothered with me WTF!!  Got drunk as I was really pissed off.  At 1am Penn called me as he was outside.  He was a real mother goose bless him.  He took me home and I wasn't tired so I challenged the security guard 'Nalin' to pool.  He beat me hands down coz I was drunk.  Somewhere in the conversation I persuaded him to let me come to his home for lunch tomorrow.  I would pay Mr Kun for his loss of staff and pay for lunch.

The next morning (or noon as it was now) I got a knock at my door from a girl to say Nalin was waiting for me.  Fuck! I'd forgot about that conversation.  Went down and checked with Mr Kun if he was ok with me going to his house and if it was safe.  He absolutely agreed and promised to check I was back by the afternoon.  So off I went.

He only lived 2 minutes from the hostel which was good.  I met his family who were really nice then we went to the market to buy ingredients for lunch.  Told him I would pay of course and bought the kiddies some treats.  As they got it ready I played with the little girls and two twin boys aged 1 awwwwww.  It was lovely.  A noodle soup that was on a gas stove and we added vegetables and noodles to it a bit at a time.  It also had meatballs in it.  YUM.  At 4pm I excused myself as I needed to dip my hungover head in the hotel pool.

At the market with Nalin

Awwww cute. Twin baby boys aged 1

Gorgeous soup..and not afraid of using chilli for the 'westener' thank god

The last day or two I just chilled by the day and Pub Street in Angkor What? bar (I like the play on the name so I bought the T-Shirt) by night before my adventure down to Sihanoukville.

Angkor What? Bar