Cambodia Craziness!

Hello all!

Have to jam a week into a short update here as I am about to fall asleep on the keyboard after a long day but will try to give you an idea of what we've been up to...

We flew back from Borneo to KL and because our flight landed at 11pm and we were catching one out the next morning at 7am, we decided to be cheap and sleep in the airport... one night, how bad could it be?? Well, I can tell you all for sure it is the last time I think I will ever do that again. Although maybe in 'normal' airport sleeping conditions it may not have been so bad, we seem to have drawn the short straw and long story short, 90% of the airport was shut down for "bug spraying", leaving us with a few hard cafeteria chairs, sleeping vertically with one eye open. Not good.

Anyways, we peaced out of Malaysia first thing and arrived in Siem Reap in Cambodia mainly as this is where the ancient temples of Angkor are located, the largest religious structure in the world!!! We spent a day checking them out, and indeed they are amazing to see with loads of history that I wont even begin to delve into. Made of stone and have passed through phases of both Hindu and Buddhist religious rules, they were an amazing site... we even got up to see the sunrise over the largest of the temples, Angkor Wat. What we did not expect, however, was to fall in love with the town of Siem Reap. Markets, restaurants, bars, bicycles... you name it. Chantelle and I spent a great deal of time just hopping from one cafe to the next, people watching and sipping on $2 cocktails... ah yes the cheap alcohol was another nice touch. Best deal in town... 50 cent beers... I know. Downed a few of those... how nice to stand up after 3 hours at a bar, with a tab of less than 5 bucks. One thing Canada could learn from Cambodia. Anyways, we had a great time exploring the town and chilling out with its neat vibe. We even extended our stay an extra night to have a bit more play time in Siem Reap.

Next stop... chaos of the big city. We took a bus to Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia, which is insane in comparison. Its not only BIG but loaded with poverty and some of the associated dangers for travellers. Must say we've had to be SUPER careful here and as glad as I am that we were able to see and experience it, I will be happy to leave here tomorrow. Today we visited the genocide museum and Killing Fields from the days of the Khmer Rouge... by far the most horrific thing I have ever seen. 2 million people were brutally tortured to death here in the 1970s and the museum is actually the same building where these innocent people we detained and tortured. Most rooms of the museum hold only a bed and black and white photo, nothing more needed to explain the gruesomeness of the place. The Killing Fields hold the mass graves of most of those killed, and you can even see the bones and clothing still sticking out of the ground around the massive pits. What chilled me the most I think was the realization that this was RECENT in terms of human history, and you don't have to look far to find the lowest blows of human nature. The people of Cambodia really have been to hell and back, and considering anyone walking the streets over 35 years old has lived through that is horrifying. As difficult as it was to see the things I experienced today, it has made me realize even more how lucky we all are and blessed to live where we do. Am I ever lucky to have had the opportunity to travel for this reason in particular, as nothing I could have learned in school could make me realize and appreciate this more than I do now.

After these depressing yet important few days in Phenom Penh, I must say I am happy to be heading to Vietnam tomorrow! Visas sorted and bus tickets booked, beach here we come!!

Night night,
Alex