Preah Vihear Temple - Day Two Siem Reap

In order to visit this temple, we had to be on the road at 6:00 am as it would take 4 hours by car to get there. Not so far due to the long distance (250 km from city) but had to do with the poor road conditions. We saw the many villages along the drive and how locals busy go about their lives early in the morning. 

This temple lies between the borders of Thailand and Cambodia and the two governments are still in dispute for its rightful owner. In fact, war was going on a few years ago for the dispute and soldiers with guns still guarding along the borders. 

The Monumental Stairway is most well known in this temple and it leads down to the Thai border. A set of stairs dropping off into the abyss. The Eastern Stairway used for centuries by pilgrims climbing up from Cambodia's northern plains. It has recently de-mined, rebuilt as a 2242-step wooden staircase. 

Although the locals treated this temple as one of the holy places, due to its remoteness and long distance, not too many people and tourists go there.  We had to switch to another 4-wheel drive after the entrance fee. The road was paved (thanks to the government who paved so that soldiers can reach to the top to defend from the Thai soldiers) but it was very steep with 45 degree angle. Soldiers are posted along the  way to the temple and inside as well. It was breathtaking to reached to the end of the temple and the view was magnificent.  Much of the temple require significant rebuild. 

Afterward, we continued to drive about 90 mins to reach another temple called Koh Ker Site,  one of the most mysterious temples of Preah Vihear Province. There are over 100 temples in various sizes in the area bit most of them have fallen in the jungle. We spent a bit of time exploring the pyramid temple and you can climb to the top to get a grand view of the area. 

The last temple we visited was called Beng Mealea (Lotus Pond). We got to explore the ruins, climbing over fallen rocks and duck under low columns to get a taste of what the structures used to be like. We felt like the explorers going into ruin city to search for treasures. What an amazing experience and opportunity that they allowed us to climb all over the ruins. We found more strangler fig trees than in Angkor Wat and there was one in a square shape. Totally awesome and by far our favorite.

Angkor Wat - Siem Reap. Cambodia

We were finally here to visit the renounced Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. We booked a driver, Mr. Kin, who picked us up at the airport and transported us using the ubiquitous Tuk Tuk (motor bike carrying a carriage) to the hotel. Our room was not ready so they gave us a refreshing drink and we were ready to hit the road to see the many temples in the area. 

The Cambodian government is soliciting foreign funding to help restore the temples as they had been neglected so many years. Construction work is everywhere and signs that stated "Dangerous area.  Do not enter" are placed in many of the locations as some of the entrances are now been covered by fallen rocks or broken statues. 

However, the remaining temples are still very impressive. The drawings on the walls have been kept intact and in so many ways, reminded us of drawings from Egypt.  There were many tour buses dropped tourists in the later afternoon and making the places lot more crowded. I was very impressed by the strangler fig trees that wrap their roots to the buildings of the temples. These structures were made well known in the movie Tomb Raider by Angelina Jolie. 

Angkor Thom (Great City) is another very impressive temple. This epic temple personifies the glory days of Khmer empire and set over 10 sq km. the whole temple is fortified with formidable walls and a massive moat to protect from invaders. As much as one million people lived in the region during 1181-1219. Churning of the Ocean of Milk with 54 demons and 54 gods engaged in the tug of war is the most well known carving on the wall. Some of the gates have been fallen into ruins but the south gate has been well restored with copied heads put back to the statues. 

I was surprised to learn that the Koreans have well been established in here. They even have a direct flight from Soul to Siem Reap. This is the beginning of the rain season and during the raining season from Aug to Oct, tourists dropped considerable and schools also close to allow kids to help out in the rice field.  Majority of the farmers plant rice (80%) and either use it for themselves or sell to the locals. 

We had a long day seeing a number of temples. As a result of the very early flight from KL to Siem Reap and we hit the road right after we landed here, we were very tired late afternoon. The hot sun and humidity drained our energy quickly. Plus each temples is huge with a very wide area to walk and high temples with many vertical steps to climb to the top. As much as we would have liked to spend more time to enjoy these beautiful and ancient structures, we gave up one of the popular activities, i.e., watching the Angkor Wat at sunset and went back to the hotel for an early rest. 

Kuala Lumpur

More food and get together with friends on day two of KL. 

Leaving to Cambodia this morning and had to wake up at 3:00 am to get ready to the airport flying out at 6:50 am. KL's airport is quite far from the city.  Even at this insane hours, it still took 45 min to get to the airport. AirAsia has its main terminal in KL but it is just as confusing as ever. Glad that we arrived early. 

Kuala Lumpur

It had been a wonderful two days in KL. we were so blessed to have friends who live in this mega city and had been so generous in their time taking us to sight-seeing and sampling a variety of food. In terms of major attractions, we only wanted to take a pic in front of the iconic Twin-towers and the rest is optional. I must say that the iconic buildings have exceeded my expectations - so beautiful and impressive!!  The view is also very different at night and daytime. 

Our friends, Lee and Alice, took us to Melaka which has been designated by  UNESCO. The city is much better preserved than George Town in Penang. The unique red-hue colour for its buildings and some well preserved architecture really made the place memorable. I was told that at nighttime, lights lit up the entire area and offers a different ambience.  The Jonker street is most popular for tourists and it sells a variety of food and merchandises. We did not get a chance to walk into some of the historical court-yards due to tight schedule but were told that each of these court-yards has its own design at the back.  

One of the well known food in Melaka is called nyonya. It is a mix of Chinese and locals.  We ate at a well known restaurant that has been converted from a traditional three storage private home with the middle open with high ceiling and where the kitchen is located. Thank goodness that it has air con as we felt the heat rising to the 3rd floor from the kitchen. 

Our another friend, Celine, took us to see the Twin-Towers in daytime, the palace and then to her home to chill out and catch up. It has been a wonderful day as we rarely get the chance to slow down completely to sit at someone's home in the middle of our tight-scheduled trip. Celine and her husband have moved around in South East Asia for many years and have just moved to KL a few months ago. 

Celine took us to sample the 海南 chicken rice/noodles, Chinese donut with soya drinks, exotic fruit, fresh prawns noodles, crabs and more durians!!  Richard was so happy to be able to eat so many durians in these two days - 8 all together!!  He thought he was in durian paradise. So many varieties, textures and sweetness - even bitter ones!  We were in the beginning season and we were told that by the end of he durian season, they have a durian fest and all you can eat for RM20!!  He was tempted to schedule another trip just to be here for the durian fest!  That's the sign of a durian lover!!

We are so blessed to have good friends here and so glad that we can reconnect again after 3 decades. Despite the years, all of us remain intact to our personality and core self. There is no more excuse for not continue our connection from this point on and the hope for a reunion for the entire group from Montreal/McGill is high on our minds but realize the challenges of getting everyone together. 

Durian Paradise - KL

Our friend, Anne, picked us up at the airport and went to a delicious Japanese restaurant for dinner. She mentioned that this is the beginning of the durian season.   She invited her brother, David, who is the expert in picking durians, to join us for the feast (her nephew, Brian came along. He is also a durian lover). We had 5 durians and each tasted very sweet but slightly different. Some have a slight bitter taste while others are super sweet and with a bigger seed. Richard loved the experience and thought he was in a durian paradise!!

Leaving Perhentian Islands

After two days of sun, beach and snorkeling, we are ready to our next adventure in KL. 

The boat took us back to the mainland but it was so full that I was worry for its safety. This is one of the concerns for prearranged tours - you have no ideas how many people are jam packed on the same boat so that the owner can earn more money. At least there was enough life jackets for most of the people. 

This is our transit day, using all modes of transportation to get to Kuala Lumpur. The contrast will be quite drastic for us - from the idyllic and tranquil setting of the island to a mega busy city in KL. 

Lazy and idyllic

Both Richard and Preston continued their snorkeling adventure this morning. I have decided to stay back at the chalet to enjoy the idyllic settings. I find the snorkeling experience interesting but once is enough for me. They were taken by a boat this morning and to various islands to see more variety of fish and sea creatures. Our backs were almost sun burned from yesterday's snorkeling and a t-short is needed to protect their back today. 

The second day on snorkeling was much more exciting than the first day as they saw more colourful and different species of fish than yesterday. Both guys were really happy and wished that I was there to share their awe of the undersea world. Too bad they did not have an underwater camera to capture what they saw. 

The island was so peaceful and idyllic. I laid on the hammock right next to the beach, enjoying the coming and going of the people from different boats and waiting for my guys to come back from their exploration. So relaxing.