Cambodia

Before I left on this current trip I toyed with the idea of doing a weekly summary of what I’d been up to for friends, family and anyone else that was vaguely interested. It didn’t happen. No problem, I thought, a fortnightly synopsis is probably a better option anyway. Indeed it would have been, had I written one. Hmm. Oh well, never mind – at least a monthly review will let people know that I’m alive and give them some idea of the things I’ve been doing lately, even if it’s not particularly up to date. Yup. I guess it could have. Stuff it. Without further ado, hello and welcome to my not-on-any-schedule update. Take a seat, make yourself comfortable. Sorry the popcorn’s burnt.

Ko Treung is a largish sandbar island in the middle of Mekong River, near Kratie in Cambodia. I hired a bike to slowly pedal around the perimeter and came across this hayshed and cart by the side of the road. Farming methods and technology haven’t changed much here in a long time…

Angkor Wat. Even the name conjures up a sense of wonder and mystery, an appreciation of both the incredible feats of mankind over the millennia and the inexorable power of nature in equal measure. Or maybe that’s just me. In any case it would be fair to say that I was rather looking forward to my time at the vast Angkorian temple complex near Siem Reap in Cambodia, albeit tinged with a slight concern that perhaps it wouldn’t live up to the picture already formed in my overhyped imagination. I needn’t have worried. If your first view of the towers of the main attraction, the smiling faces of Bayon or the encroaching jungle at Ta Prohm don’t leave an indelible impression on your consciousness, I’d suggest double-checking for a pulse. It really is that sort of place, and one that you owe it to yourself to visit at least once during your lifetime. Here’s a few things I figured out while I was there to help you make the most of your time in this unbelievable part of the world.

If you’re a Tomb Raider fan, Ta Prohm is the one temple in the Angkor complex that you just can’t miss – large chunks of the move were filmed here. Enormous trees have taken over the temple, and it’s probably the most atmospheric ruin of them all. As a result it’s also one of the busiest, so try to pick your time of day to avoid the chattering tour groups.

In an idyllic countryside setting in rural Cambodia, the birds are singing. The heat of the morning sun is tempered by the welcome shade of trees overhead and a few lazy bugs are making a half hearted attempt to land on my bare arms. Children are laughing and playing in a small school next door. The grass is a brilliant shade of green and the view over the rice paddies towards Phonm Penh in the distance could sell a thousand postcards This should be just another lovely spot in a stunningly beautiful country, but it isn’t.