A Final Glimpse into Cambodia

Yesterday was another action - packed day visiting ancient Hindu temples with a lovely home - hosted lunch as a highlight.

We visited 3 ancient Buddhist temples in Angkor, a holy city that took centuries to build. The Khmer  aristocrats who built the temples and monuments between AD 800-1200 were motivated by their Hindu and Buddhist beliefs.

Our first stop was Angkor Thom (the big holy place).

Statue of the Hindu god Vishnu at an entrance

The longest continuous bas relief in the world--nearly one-half mile!!!

We all climbed to the second level, but only Britt, Thu, and Roger climbed all the way up to the third level.                                           

Next we drove to a local village where Hope met us and escorted us to her home for a tasty homemade lunch.  The red jasmine rice her family produces was a nice change for us.  We had a delicious dessert called "sticky rice balls with palm sugar".

                           

Our yummy sticky rice ball with freshly grated coconut

Hope's kitchen

Hope

Enjoying our lunch

After lunch Mel was accosted by the local children offering items for sale "You buy one dolla?  One dolla?  Two for one dolla?"  Mel succumbed,  of course.

After lunch was our visit to famous Angkor Wat (city temple).  It is a masterpiece of Khmer architecture built between 1113-1150 AD surrounded by a moat of 570 feet.

The third temple we visited was

The tourists have named it the jungle temple because a variety of kapok trees have taken over the grounds, their roots splitting the foundation of the temple throughout.  It is an eerie site.  The temple was abandoned in the 1500 's.

                                            Judy standing next to the roots of a kapok tree

                                                            Tree and temple intertwined

After a delicious farewell dinner at our hotel last night, we're about to board a plane to Bangkok where we'll spend the night before starting our long, long trek home tomorrow.  I'm sure we'd all agree this has been an incredible journey.

Cambodia: Now and Then

Today was another full agenda which began with a closeup look at a unique segment of Cambodia's people and ended with a glimpse back 1,000 years.  After breakfast we drove to the Tonle Sap Lake of Mechrey floating village.  Our boat took us to this smallest floating village in Cambodia numbering about 1500 people. The number of Cambodians living in floating villages today is about 1 million.The foundation of the houses are made from bamboo which can last up to 10 years. The villagers must move 2-3 times a year as the river rises and falls during the rainy and dry seasons . Many villagers come on land only to sell their fish. Here are some photos of the floating village.

 A house

                          A floating school that follows the village. Students come to school in boats.

Soeng (our guide), Clarence, Vivi and Roger check out the crocodiles in the floating crocodile farm.

The optional tour this afternoon took us to the Banteay Sri Temple, a Hindu temple built in 967 A.D.  Its name means "Citadel of women" and is said to have been built to celebrate the beauty of women. Its construction of pink sandstone is striking and, with the exquisitely detailed carvings, it is a "must see" site.

Welcome to Siem Reap City, Cambodia!

After a short flight from Ho Chi Minh City, we arrived at the Siem Reap airport which is very tropical-looking.  Our guide, Soeng, met us and gave us a great deal of information about his country

•  population about 15 million
• 70% are farmers whose main crop is rice
• Usually there is only one crop of rice a year unless there is an additional water source from a reservoir.   
• Farmers can earn about $300 a year from a crop of rice
• The the parliamentary government holds elections every 5 years
• Education is not compulsory.   About 75% of the people are literate. 
•  Solar power is used at the hotels,  so getting hot water can take a while.  
• Cambodia buys some if its electricity from Thailand

We drove to one of the infamous "killing fields" of Cambodia's bloody Pol Pot Khmer Rouge regime (1975-79).  During the regime,  approximately 25% of the country's population was murdered, mostly the well-educated. A Buddhist temple sits on the site now.

A grim reminder of the Killing Fields

A Buddhist temple on the site

           

Our Cambodian "Lexus"

Climbing on and staying on was a challenge!

The "driver" was a local farmer who "drove" us on a tour of his village and then to see his home.

Mel with our host in his home

Inside the house is an altar honoring a deceased relative 

Outdoors

We ended our day at a dinner theater that features traditional foods and a puppet show as well as some beautiful native dances.

The Tunnels of Cu Chi

About 25 miles from Saigon is the Province of Cu Chi best known to American military troops as the home of the infamous Cu Chi tunnels. The tunnels were the focus of several US military operations and headquarters for the Viet Cong during the Tet Offensive of 1968. The tunnels were as deep as 30 ft. and were so complex that it was nearly impossible to destroy them.  Even "carpet bombing" by B52s had little impact on them.  Vietnamese farmers in the area worked their fields during the day and built traps and organized equipment at night as Viet Cong guerrillas.  Whole villages learned how to live, work, and care for their wounded in the tunnels.  After our tour, we had lunch with two retired
officers of The People's Liberation Front Army who had spent time in the Cu Chi tunnels during the Tet Offensive getting medical attention while Mel was in Saigon during the battle..
 Here are some photos from the Cu Chi area.

The jungle in the area (regrowth after extensive US bombing and Agent Orange defoliation)

                                                US shells and bombs collected from the area

                         Maps of the tunnel areas with propaganda film running in the center

Air hole in a tunnel

Mel climbing into a tunnel that has been enlarged and fortified for American visitors.  (There are bats in there---not for me. :) )

Mel with the retired PLF major

The Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta is a region containing 9 branches of the Mekong River, part of which is in the Saigon area. It is an ideal agricultural area and is called the "rice basket" of Vietnam.   It produces 70% of the nation's rice and rivals Thailand as the largest exporter of rice. Yesterday we cruised along one branch of the river and stopped at a village along the bank for a lovely lunch. Here are some photos from the day.

Sampans like the one we were on

A house boat selling sweet potatoes.   You know what product they're selling because they "advertise" by putting it on a tall stick above the boat.  Yep, those are sweet potatoes!

Washing clothes in the river

Getting ready for lunch in a lovely garden

The fish course

A "moonshine" operation in a village along the river

Mel tries on a python for size

Saigon/ Ho Chi Minh City

We've been in this thriving city of 10 million for 2 days.  It's the capital of the southern part of Vietnam.   The Western influence, primarily initiated by the US presence during the war, is very evident.  The city is much more modern than Hanoi and is noticeably wealthier.   There are more cars on the street and many upscale shopping and dining choices. There are also many more American tourists.  The airport is new since Mel was here, but he recognizes some landmarks like the Palace Hotel.  Saigon produces 60% of the GNP of the country. Here are some photos from around Saigon.

Former South Vietnam Presidential Palace

Look closely in the middle behind the white pole.  There's one of the first North Vietnamese tanks that broke through the gates of the palace when Saigon fell.  (Visitors are not allowed on the grounds.)

City scenes

The "War Remnants Museum" where you can see the war through anti-war/anti-American eyes

Some of our group enjoying dinner