Cambodia and Bangkok, wrapping it up!

 Seim Reap, Cambodia.  Vanny Momm, our hotel contact, met us at the airport with a driver.  He asked if we wanted a beer for the ride into town.

Walking around the unlighted streets of Siem Reap at night we observed that lights are optional on bicycles, tuk-tuks, motobikes, and even cars. Intersections are handled by pedestrians and drivers like a graceful dance, especially when there are no traffic lights!

At the Golden Temple Hotel, we checked in by sipping cold drinks and eating sticky rice, banana chips and fruit.  What a display!  We were asked to enter our personal data (passport #, name, address, etc.) onto iPads while seated with our cold drinks.

 Our room had fresh flower petals on the bed.

 I arranged a 20-24 km bicycle ride through Angkor Wat. The day began when we were picked up at 4:40 am in order to see the sunrise over the Wat.  Between 5000 and 10,000 people visit during the high season (Nov-March) and here they all are.

 

Once we climbed on the bikes (with 4 others and 2 guides), the crowds diminished considerably.  We rode narrow paths through the jungle to remote wats.  

This wat is in competition with the trees and their root systems.

While the ancient history of Cambodia is fascinating, you should take the time to watch "The Killing Fields" which documents the disastrous years of the Khmer Rouge of the late 1970s - early 1980s. In talking to our bicycle guide, he confirmed much of what we saw in the movie as having been experienced by his parents.  Incredibly sad. Fortunately, Cambodia seems to be much better today.

Here we are finishing up the bike ride. We were served a grand lunch of spicy Cambodian dishes, one of which was a delicious fish stew.

 Back in Bangkok we had dinner at the Hilton Millennium Bangkok. The Thais have great professional connections all over the country (not to mention France, UK, and Laos!) so there's always a good deal to enjoy. After our riverside dinner we had a complimentary beverage on the top floor with an impressive 360 degree view of Bangkok.

 Traffic continues to amaze.  While traveling with P Daow and Nan in the car, we observed a near accident between a Mercedes and a motobike right in front of us.  Rather than slamming on the horn and yelling obscenities, the 2 just waved to each other to acknowledge the close call and kept on going.  As Tom noted, aggressive but polite.

The Sheraton is in the background across the river.  We can't thank Panpim, Nune, P Daow, and Malin enough for all they've done for us.  It has been a visit of a lifetime.  I'm so thankful Tom Terrific could join me!