Cambodia 31.7.04 - 3.8.04

We went to Cambodia from 31.7.04 - 3.8.04, primarily to see Angkor Wat, one of the wonders of the world and we were not disappointed. In Siem Reap we were put up in Hotel Goldiana, a lovely hotel and still very new. Outside the hotel it was a totally different world, so removed from the luxury and opulence of modern living. The splendour and perfection of Angkor Wat did not disappoint. The parts of this historical site that we visited were only a small fraction of the vastness of this ancient city, many parts of which are still not open to tourists because of uncleared landmines. We spent 2 nights in Siem Reap, taking a cruise on Tonle Sap and visiting a floating village, the vast and famous lake in Cambodia, before flying to Phnom Penh. In Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, we visited the infamous Killing Field and were shown the places where the atrocities were committed and also Tuol Sleng Museum, a former high school turned into a prison and a torture chamber during the Pol Pot regime, where we heard more horror stories. We were also taken to the beautiful Royal Palace which has been restored at great cost. In the grounds of the Royal Palace, we visited a Buddhist temple, the floor of which was paved with solid silver tiles! Outside the Royal Palace as in many other places we visited there were adults and children with missing limb/limbs begging. A visit to Cambodia is a valuable lesson in that we feel so much luckier to be where we are.