Angkor Wat

Our arrival into Cambodia once again highlighted the benefits of getting the government involved in a customer experience, as we were “whisked” through the immigration and customs formalities.  It took 12 people to process our passports, and we were finger printed and photographed on our arrival into the country.  Unfortunately, the box of stationery that one of our group had bought from New Zealand as a charitable gesture for the local school children had got lost in transit somewhere between Wellington and Siem Reap, so we were delayed ½ an hour while the appropriate authorities could be tracked down, and the appropriate forms completed in triplicate.

We were met at the airport by two of the guides who will be with us for the duration of our holiday, and a couple of local guides.  Our hotel is a small local run hotel, on the outskirts of Siem Reap.  It’s very nice, with an open plan restaurant area where we can meet for drinks and a swimming pool where we can relax at the end of our day’s sight-seeing.

So, Angkor Wat, what did we learn this time around?  Not as much as we did the first time round (http://david-anne-cambodia-2009.blogspot.com/2009/01/day-2-tuesday-30th-december-angor-wat.html), but it was still very interesting to visit. Mythology is always big in these ancient religious temples, and it can get hard to follow the local guide taking us through centuries of history and various rulers who have done more or less great deeds during the period of their rule.  

The group being attentive -must be the jet lag.  I don't think this will continue

The last time we were here, it was Christmas, which was the very hot dry season, and just walking around was a mission.  This time it is the rainy season which means that it’s muggy for most of the day, except for the odd thunder burst, which for the last two days has drenched us briefly on each day.  Such is the level of humidity that although we have jackets, they aren’t much use, because any water they keep out from the outside, is more than compensated by the amount of sweat that is generated on the inside.

It can rain here

Anyway, yesterday being the first day for the group being together, we were taken to a local restaurant for dinner.  The food is superb, which is what we have come to expect in Cambodia, and the tour company seem very attentive in making sure that we get to go to good quality restaurants, and that we are well looked after.