By Andrew under James's Login

Greetings from Siem Reap.
Yes we made it here, and if we thought Singapore was a culture shock the arrival at Siem Reap International Airport was the same tenfold.
Line up to get our Visa's and the official would not accept the $100.0 USD note because it was a little bit ripped. Good Start not. It's crap money anyway, all an ugly green.
We were met at the Air port by our mini van and frankly there is NO way that I could ever consider driving here. It is so totally amazing. I think they drive on the other side of the road, but is hard to tell.
The majority of transport are bicycles, scooters, motor cycles, Tuk Tuk (motor cycles with a seated goatcart attached) Helmets are a rarity. It appears that as longs as you honk the horn you can go anywhere you like. Red lights are an optional choice.
We arrived, settled in and then had tea at Jasmin Lodge (google it, it is priceless) Have not spent more than 20 USD for a meal for five of us.
We went to the Angkor Temple complex, which really is a series of dozens of different temples, over 100 sq kms., Bloody awful lot of climbing, but magnificent in their antiquity, complexity architecture, planning and size. Consider they were building this over 1000 years ago.

Did not stay all day as it is very hot and tiring, worked out at the end that we should have climbed on the side that was in the shade.. This was also our first exposure to the street urchins, "You buy postcards Mister, $1.00 for 10"" on and on and on and on. These are very street smart children 5-16 years old, but it is how they live.

Last night Nathlaie, Andrew and Saasha, when out for a wander, (It is not a place that one feels at all insecure) we went to a place called seeing hands Massage parlour (no "happy ending") where the blind people of the area are taught massage therapy skills. 7 usd for 1 hr (in air cond room) 5usd for fan. It was a good going over.

Then went to the night market. "You buy from me mister"" The "highlight was a plate, about 50 cm across covered half with cooked grasshoppers and haf with big hairy cooked spiders. Saw the locals eat them too. This is an amazingly vibrant pl;ace that comes more alive at night.

The streets are challenging, if only due to the very lax definition of were the traffic and where the pedestrians should be. Very dusty too.

Today we caught up with an Austr teacher from Brisbane who suggested we visit the Angkor Cambodian Childrens hospital. (fwab.org) The purpose of this visit was to give blood "Sterile needles guaranteed"" The blood here really saves lives, children's lives. So we got a bp check, blood typing, a t shirt and a can of coke. Good feeling. The boys were too young.
More tomorrow. Went to stone masonry, wood work and silk printing workshop at which the local children learn useful trades. This is affiliated with a silk farm, which we visited, a few minutes out of town, where the locals are taught the silk business Mulberry to Retail.

Tonight, we visted Angkor Wat to see he sunset and once again do battles with The Urchins, thisd time by Tuk-Tuk, which is another cultural experience, like a roller coaster, without the guranteed safety. On the way to the hotel we came across a 4WD bogged in he main street.

Night...