Siem Reap, Cambodia

Spring Break Trip, part 1 of 3   学校の春休みの家族の旅行

   

日本語の略説が下に書きました。　We returned from the weeklong trip to Cambodia and Vietnam nearly two weeks ago, yet it's on my mind every day.  Traveling is both challenging and rewarding and this trip was very much the former.  The rewarding part will probably come in the form of perspective.  I'm still trying to sort it out.    Monica took the above picture of shrimp drying amidst the Floating Village of Tonle Sap Lake near Siem Reap, Cambodia.  It was an unforgetable experience, bumping along a makeshift road past some of the most obvious chronic poverty I've ever seen, to a small motorboat on a river which took us to this lake where families are clustered in ramshackle houseboats where they earn a meager living fishing.  Everyone was obviously very poor, but there were many smiles and the sense of family caring was strong.  Please see Monica and my pictures of the FLOATING VILLAGE .  Martin has many more and better photos, but he's so busy working, he hasn't had a chance to organize them yet. 

The day before, we had visited Angkor Wat and other century old ruins with our wonderful Cambodian guide, Rathana. Here, holding a village child.  This intelligent young man made our trip to Siem Reap very special.  He has seriously studied the complex history of the area, and is an expert on the temples of Angkor Wat.  That, in addition to having good English,  being perceptive of what his clients need and want, as well as a lovely personality, he endeared himself to all of us. 

The first morning, we woke up very early, before 5am, piled into the van and headed out to watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat, a temple built in the 12th century and often mentioned as one of the seven wonders of the world.  The temple began as Hindu but became Buddhist as Cambodia's culture changed.  It is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the architecture, its extensive bas-reliefs (stone murals) and numerous asparas and devatas which are dancing or standing female figures decorating the walls and pillers.  Rathana's explanations added so much to my appreciation of the experience.  Please see the pictures that Monica and I took of our ANGKOR WAT adventure.

  After that, we went to see nearby Angkor Thom which was built about the same time, but is a very different temple with over a hundred faces of the king.  See here, Monica kisses the king.

During the two full days we spent in Siem Reap, we saw several other very interesting ruins and sites.  I particularly enjoyed the Terrace of the Elephants which was used as a giant reviewing stand by the king, as well as Ta Prohm, the Jungle Temple which was built in the 12th century then abandoned some three hundred years later until "rediscovered" fairly recently.  In the meantime, the jungle has integrated itself among the ruins and the ambience is very interesting.  On the third morning, Rathana took us to see how fine Cambodian silk is made, starting with the caring of the silk worms, through the many processes including dyeing and weaving.  About noon we boarded a bus for Phnom Penh.  I'll recount that part of the adventure in a later post.

We bought our international plane tickets from Tokyo to Siem Riep and from Hochiminh City to Tokyo from No 1 Travel in Shibuya.  They were really easy to work with, as usual, and we did all of it by phone and email in English.  For the actual tour itself inside Cambodia and Vietnam, we used and can recommend Banyon Tours.    This was arranged entirely via email, over the course of several weeks as our plans evolved and we determined what we really wanted to do.  The three tour guides they assigned in the three different cities were all good, each very well suited to their area of expertise.  They also arranged the hotels, and all transportation other than the international flights.  If you are only going to Siem Reap (Angkor Wat), you should contact Rathana directly.  Besides guiding, he can arrange your hotel, driver, etc.  I'll be happy to give you his contact info.

Now for a summary of the above in Japanese.  二週間前に子供の学校の春休みで、家族はカンボジアとベトナムに行きました。あの経験はとても面白かったです。今まで、毎日それを考えています。とくに、旅行前に、カンボジアの貧乏ような見たことがありません。この物語はアンコールワットとかについてです。そして、浮遊の村落もとても忘れられないです。カンボジアの人々はすごく悪い事を我慢したが、家族はいいだし、一所懸命と思います。

Ｓｉｅｍ　Ｒｅａｐで、ガイドはとてもいい人です。彼の名前はラテャナアです。２３歳だけど、古い神殿を勉強したから、知識のあるです。よく知っています。彼の英語も上手だので、モニカとジョナの友達になりました。

もちろん、たくさん写真を撮りました。モニカと私の写真はここ　FLOATING VILLAGE　とここ　ANGKOR WAT 　　　　　です。見てください。マーティンの写真は私たちより上手だけど、彼の忙しい仕事から、今までできません。　この物語はＳｉｅｍ　Ｒｅａｐだけについて、後に、旅行残りについて書くつもりです。

Comments

[Rathana Keo, an English guide in Cambodia.]

Dear webmaster.

I am very proud of you and your photos. I feel very thankful to your help in which you put my name into your website. I will not forget your help. I will keep it in my mind.
Finally I wish you and your family healthy, lucky and get successful in your life and on your works as well. May god bless you the greatest happiness in your family.

[Rathana Keo, an English guide in Cambodia.]

Dear Website master.

I would like to tell all people in the world. This website is very perfect. It can help provide some advice of the tour in any part of the world.

[Pamela]

Hi Rathana,
Two years ago was our short tour with you in Cambodia. Our children say that it was the most interesting trip that we have ever taken, and that Siem Reap (Angkor Wat) was totally amazing, as well as the Floating Village. You are an excellent tour guide, Rathana. I can't say enough good things about your kind way of treating people, your thoughtfulness and care in planning and carrying out the tour. You were totally responsive to what our family wanted to do, see and eat, and customized it perfectly. Additionally, you are extremely knowledgable about the history of your country. If anyone is planning a trip to see Angkor Wat, they would be wise to contact you, and I hope that we can come back again in the future.

[Rathana Keo(Mao)]

Dear Webmaster.
Thank you again for your kindness that you and your family had. On my behalf of Cambodians and travel agency in Siem Reap Province, I wish to thank you very much for your smart choice and your trust on my travel agency. Finally I just pray to the gods of Khmer New year take care of your family and you all the time and give you all the best.

Sincerely yours and the best regards.

[Rathana Kew]

Dear Webmaster
I am very happy to see your mail again. I hope everything is ok for you and your family. I am very proud of you. I hope someday I can guide you and your family again. I am looking forward to seeing you soonest in Cambodia.
Sincerely yours and the best regards!!