Guangzhou China

After the positive experience we had with our two happy, gentle Cambodian guides, we have determined that any 40-50 year old here has endured a horrific youth under the rule of the Khmer Rouge. I guess mainly they’re just glad they survived, when so many people they knew ended up in the Killing Fields. Their calm, positive nature disguises that reality. One little interesting footnote on Cambodia is the currency. The real is the official currency but everything in the country is priced in $US. Last night we finished our visit to Cambodia with dinner at Madame Butterfly - very good Cambodian/Western food. This morning, after a final dip in the pool, we checked out of the hotel and went with Jak and Wut to the Airport. Below, we met the King and his Apsara.

On the first leg of our trip home, we once again boarded a China Southern Airlines flight to Guangzhou. Clearly the Asian airlines haven’t received the memo on no food or drinks, because even on a two and one half hour flight we got lunch and free wine. We could not connect straight to Toronto so we had a night in this Chinese transit hub. And that’s where the “fun” began. First, despite being told that we didn’t need a visa on an “in transit “ stop, we got turned away from passport control twice before we got our next boarding passes and applied for a 24hr visa. Then we finally got through passport control and got our bags - the only ones left on the carrousel., We walked for kilometres in this massive hub to locate the hotel selection desk. We didn’t recognize any of our choices and just randomly chose the Crystal Orange Hotel to which we were shuttled.

The rooms were a good size and adequately outfitted. There was no restaurant in the hotel and when we went out for dinner the reality of being in the People’s Republic started to sink in. Nobody took or even knew what MasterCard was and we had no yen. Banking machines were only in Mandarin. Thinking that KFC was an international chain and should take our credit card, we headed there - no luck. Were we going to get dinner? Finally we found a South Korean place that took MasterCard. We had a pretty interesting and different, but good meal.

I thought I’d finish my blog here. Alas, the PRC has blocked Facebook, Google and Yahoo, so no browser for me. This entry has become a footnote. Breakfast was provided and it was quite the spread. Basically, in China, breakfast is dinner. Then we were shuttled off to the airport for our 14 hour flight home. The upside of this reality was that we were once again in Premium Economy. Getting out of China was seriously easier than getting in.

There were a couple of unique things at the airport - these ladies in costume and these iPad luggage carts.

Time for some reflection: The organization of our trip was fabulous with the exception of the little hiccup in China. The Mekong Cruise was the perfect way to get a sense of both Vietnam and Cambodia. Everyone will ask “What was the highlight?” Angkor Wat and Thom Wat would likely be the most amazing single day but I’m inclined to say that the Mekong Cruise was the highlight with its many and varied destinations and experiences. We had a wonderful trip and would heartily recommend it!

Angkor Thom and Ankor Wat

Nothing like saving the best for last! This morning before heading out for a day of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, we caught a quick dip in the empty pool - delightful.

Our first stop was at the ticket booth so we could get our ID photo passes.

The price you saw there is the $US price for both sites. We first visited Angkor Thom, meaning Great City in Khmer. This massive city has four gates facing the cardinal directions. We and the masses of Chinese tourists came in the South Gate with its causeway flanked by 154 stone statues, most of whom lost their heads to Tomb Raiders over the years and have had replacements - spot the original here.

Once we walked through the gate, we got back into our air conditioned van to go some distance to the heart of Angkor Thom, the Bayon. On the way we passed many reminders of the importance of elephants here, from the three headed elephant to the live elephant rides.

The Bayon features 54 four faced towers. They represent the all-seeing and all-knowing Buddhist/Hindu Gods. Later they were to separate the two religions, but well after the 12th century.

It was fascinating meandering through the narrow passage ways here, especially at a time when many ancient relics have been closed to foot traffic - aka Parthenon, Pyramids.

Angkor Thom is massive compared the area of Ankor Wat and we loved it - maybe more than Angkor Wat.

Our next visit was to Ta Prohm, the most mysterious of the Angkor Temples. We have been delivered to our sites in Mercedes air conditioned vans, but lots opt for the Tuk Tuk. With the heat, the drivers love their hammock time.

Ta Prohm is famous for its use as a location setting for Lara Croft: Tomb Raider movies. This is because trees took over the temple hundreds of years ago and now their twisted roots entwining the temple walls provide wonderful photo ops.

Cicadas were screaming in the trees today and we actually located one of the little guys.

The morning over, we were taken past an Apsara statue to the 24 Square Restaurant where we had another excellent lunch.

Given the choice of continuing our excursion to Angkor Wat immediately after lunch and in the heat of the day or having a break back at the hotel, we opted for continuing on in the hot sun - crazy, but actually a wise choice, since the Chinese don’t go out in the heat of the day. Our route took us in the back door of the temple, thanks to the expertise of our guide Jak.

Angkor Wat, unlike the other sites in the area, has always - since the 12th century - been inhabited by monks. Therefore, the jungle did not take over like it did in Ta Prohm. As a result, most consider this the crown jewel of this area. The frescoes are impeccable. Unfortunately, thousands of Buddha statues were looted in their entirety or just their heads. Angkor Wat, largest religious monument in the world, is - you know what, I can't even find the superlatives for it, but here are some photos.

Since we have been in Cambodia we have have found out guides to be extremely knowledgeable, kind and very easy to laugh. Our current guide Jak has protected us from the sun as much as he can and he knows every shortcut on the tours. He was pretty tickled when we said we wanted his photo. Can I just point out that the wi-fi at this hotel has been CRAP - = many hours getting a post!

More images of the indescribable Angkor Wat.

What a once in a lifetime Day!!!!