Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, Cambodia

Siem Reap means Siam defeated. It is the heartland of the ancient Angkor Empire. The average temperature for the year is 32 C. It's hot and humid here all the time - between 80-100% all year long. My hair looks brilliant here. The city is like being transported back 100 years. It's quieter with a calmness to the city.

Some history about Siem Reap:
- 1431 demise of the Angkor Empire by the Thai
- Struggle emerged between the Vietamese and Thai to control Cambodia from 1431 until the 19th century
- 1861 Angkor Wat was placed on the currency as a symbol of hope for the country (still on it today)
- 1907 city of Siem Reap was founded
- French took over the country in the early 19th century by bringing in rubber plants and thus kicking out the Thai control
- 1953 Japanese kick the French out and give the country independence
- 1960 Vietnam War which blanket bombed the country
- 1975 Communists win the election and Pol Pot comes into power
- 1975 - 1979 Mass genocides where 2.9 million people were killed by torture, starvation, or murder
- 1979 Vietnam invades to remove Khmer Rouge from power
- 1989 Vietnam leaves the country and Cambodia recieves first world wide recognized independence
- 1993 - today Tribunals were set up to try the leaders of the Khmer Rouge
- 1998 Pol Pot dies and country finally believes in their liberation

Another 40 minute jumper plane to Siem Reap this morning. The security in the airport was rediculous - no airport scanners, no passports needed, no checking in baggage, and you could bring outside water and food through the airport and onto the plane. Once we got to the hotel, we discovered that the elevators didn't work. I had a 62 pound suitcase that I dragged up to the fifteenth floor via stairs. Backpackers were lapping us.

We took an afternoon to explore the city on our own. I found this jewelry factory and jade factory in the middle of nowhere. It had thousands of raw rubies, jade, and sapphires. It was a nice change from the tacky craft markets of the rest of the trip. I might have done some damage in these factories.

The afternoon was spent on the Tonle Sap lake in a boat. It has this floating community in the middle of the lake which is pretty interesting. The water is disgustingly brown due to the dirt and pollution. Tonle Sap literally means water lake. The absolute poverty in the community was amazing - kids were being used to get money by tourists holding babies, or little kids with poisonous snakes who want you to hold them for $1. The houses are shanty shacks on boats painted in red, blue, and yellow. The bright colors are supposed to ward away evil spirits. In the middle of the community is a crocodile farm. I fed one a carp fish by placing it on a fishing line and just throwing it into the middle of about 20 crocodiles. I must say that they have utter strength in their jaws.

For dinner a couple of us went to the Red Piano Restaurant. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider was filmed in Siem Reap and Angelina Jolie frequented this restaurant while she was there. Its a shrine to her with Western Food named after all of her movies. The topic of conversation: how bad of an actor she is.

I called it an early night due to my 430am wake up tomorrow.

AFN