Cambodia Trip!

Hi Everyone,

While my grandparents were here and us kids were on fall break, we took a trip to Cambodia. We left on Sunday morning and returned on Wednesday night, and didn't waste one minute of our time there. Cambodia is only one hour behind Singapore, so we didn't really need to adjust. The plane ride to get there was just about 2 hours, so it was bearable. When we arrived, the first thing we noticed was how small the airport was. We went through Immigration, right to Baggage Claim, and then right out the door. When we stepped outside the next thing we noticed was the weather. We've been complaining that Singapore is hot and humid, but Cambodia is even more so (if that is possible)! We met our guide and got into our bus that could seat about 20 people. We drove a short way to the hotel and took our bags out of the bus. We sat in the lobby while our bags were being brought to our rooms and got cold towels and a welcome drink. After our drink we went down the street to lunch where we had a surplus of food. Everybody ordered two dishes (as told), to share, but there was way too much food. Sitting at the table facing an ally, we saw how poor the country was. Many kids were out on the street, trying to sell you the same items. These two girls came up to us and started talking to us. They asked us where we were from, and when we said the U.S. they started to tell us facts they knew about our country. The waitress shooed them away, but they asked us to promise to buy something from them later. After lunch we gave them each a dollar and mom took a picture with them. They also drew mom a picture of flowers and wrote her a note in very nice handwriting. After lunch, we went to get a 3 day temple pass, and in that afternoon saw 3 temples. They were not the most famous ones, but they were still beautiful. By the end of the day we were very tired from all the walking and traveling. We went to eat at a French (but much more Asian) restaurant where we had a set menu that included spring rolls, pork curry, steamed white rice, and fresh fruit for dessert. Then we hit the haystack to wake up early the next day and visit more temples.

Day two was the day for the most famous temples: Angkor Tan (something like that) and Angkor Wat. In the morning we saw the temple that was built right in the center of the King's square city. We rode an elephant arond the temple, which was most of our favorite parts. We also fed them mini bananas (a bunch of 10 for $1) which was a lot of fun. After riding around the temple, we walked through it and our guide, who we called Barang, told us about it. We ate lunch at another restaurant where the set menu consisted of spring rolls, pork curry, steamed white rice, and fresh fruit for dessert. Then we drove back to the hotel for our favorite part of the day- SIESTA! After our break, we visited Angkor Wat. We walked over a bridge that had no railings and made me especially nervous, particularly when Leah thought it would be fun to walk right along the edge. We walked through the entrance ways, and then had a nice view of the main structure. Unfortunatly, they had just started restoring the very top level. This meant two things: one being that we couldn't climb to the top of it and have a nice view, and two being that there were two big green ugly tarps ruining the picture. After having a few "kodak moments" we climbed up Angkor Wat until we got as far up as we were allowed. We left to climb a mountain and then a temple on the peak to watch the sunset. It set early- around 6. The climb to the top of the temple was steep and the stairs were narrow, but everybody went up except for Pepere because of his knees. From the top we had a good view of the country and we could see Angkor Wat. The bummer was that it was hazy, so the sunset wasn't that good. Another part us kids didn't like was seeing a mother with her child that had a disease. I forget what it is called, but the childs head was very big. It made us kids feel sick to look at it, and on the way down we all gave Pepere money to give to her. After we saw those temples we went back to the hotel for a little while to rest and clean up. Later we left for a dinner with a show of the dancers. The Cambodian Dancers work from an early age stretching their fingers and toes ridiculously far back. It is the most flexibility I think I have ever witnessed. The dinner was the same, except for with our fresh fruit desser, we also got coconut custard, which I thought was pretty good.

The next morning we got up and went on a boat ride. We took it through these villages on the river. Mostly Vietnamese live there and they literally live in their boats. Our guide said that if they are not fishers or go on land to work, all they do it wake up, prepare and eat food, drink, and go back to bed. Also floating among these "houses" were churches, schools and stores. We went to one of the stores and some of us got a drink, but I mostly just watched this very cute baby swing back and forth in a hammock. The whole village has to move when it changes between dry and wet season. It must be a hassle. We went to eat the usual lunch. Then we took our siesta on the long bus ride out to two more temples. These two happened to be my favorites. The first one we saw it what they call the "Woman Temple" because the designs are so intricate they tought only women could have designed it. The carving was really spectacular, and nothing like it is made now a days. Next we saw what is known as the Jungle Temple. It is most famous because it is where the Tomb Raider is filmed. It is very cool becuase trees are growing on the temple. The trunks of the trees are all individual sticks wraped in one, so it looks very interesting. That night for dinner we went to a western food place!!! We got salad, penne with pesto or pork with mashed potato, and then apple crumble or fruit with lemon sorbet for dessert. We loved the food and it was a good break from what we had been getting for every meal.

Wednesday was our last day there. We had a leisurly morning and went out and strolled the city. Me, Mom, Dad, and Evan found a good western bakery, with an lounge upstairs. Everyone there seemed to be a westerner and the treat was good. We went back to the hotel and Grammy, Mom, Evan and I (and Leah came along) got a massage at a place where Mom got a full body traditional massage for $6. It was very nice and relaxing. For lunch we went to that cafe, and most of us got fish and chips, Dad got a buger, Mom got a vegetable sandwich, and Leah got ham and cheese. After lunch, Mom, Dad, Evan, Leah, and I went to the Children's Hospital where Dad and Mom were going to give blood and see if there was anything us kids could do. We got a tuk tuk (an open carrige like thing with a motor bike pulling you) and went to the hospital. When we got there, it was closed to visitors becuase of the holiday of Hari Raya. After losing Evan, we decided to go the the other Children's Hospital started by a Swiss doctor. By the time we got there it was pouring rain and we felt really bad for the tuk tuk driver. We got out and went to the blood bank. Mom and Dad were able to start right away and Leah took some pictures and video while I sat in the corner and felt sick. After Mom and Dad, the tuk tuk driver felt inspired and he donated some of his blood too, which was really nice. After 3 bags of blood were filled, we rushed back to the hotel in the rain and quickly put our bags in the bus. We drove to the airport where we checked in and then got something at Dairy Queen. Soon our it was time to board the flight, and we were headed back to Singapore.

On Thursday, Dad went to work and the rest of us sat around the house resting. We also played a lot of Rummy. On Friday we went to the famous Jurond Bird Park. We spent most of the day there and had a lot of fun. My favorite were the owls, but we all had a good time at the Lories. In the Lory sanctuary (the largest in the world), we bought cups with nectar in them. When we walked near a bird holding the cup, they would fy onto the edge and drink it. Sometimes it was scary (at least to me) because they would fight for it. Also, if a bird was on the cup and you tried to pass it to someone else, it would peck whoever it could. Grammy got pecked right through her skin. On Saturday we hung around the house during the day (Mom and Grammy went furniture shopping) and then went to the Night Safari. That was also really fun. There were different types of cats, and they were all beutiflul. They also had tons of other animals, some that I had never even heard of. We got back at midnight and ate the chocolate cake I had made earlier that day as a midnight snack seeing as we missed dinner. On Sunday morning we woke up and turned on the Sox. We had hot dogs and chips (and beer) for breakfast, and we were able to stay awake for the whole game becuase it went into the afternoon (except Pepere who needed a nap because we got in so late the night before). When the Sox lost a dissapointing loss, Mom and Dad went to lunch with Dad's co-worker who was visiting, and us kids went to the American Club. Pepere was napping and Grammy stayed home to prepare our Sunday dinner like we used to have. We had a delicious pork roast that night, but it was bittersweet because knew we went back to school and Grammy and Pepere left the next morning. Well, eventually Monday Morning came, and we said goodbye and went off to school.

We had a good visit with Grammy and Pepere and a wonderful trip to Cambodia. Now we are back to normal (living in Singapore standards).

Miss you All,

~Jane~