Siem Reap

We flew into Siem Reap, Cambodia, yesterday for our Angkor Wat adventure. We rented bikes last night and started out at 5 this morning so we could see the sunrise over the ruins. The sunrise was a bust but the day was amazing. We walked and biked and kept falling over more temples and more cute little kids who wanted to sell us something for "Only one dollar - very good deal - where you from lady?"

We are loaded down with one dollar gadgets and temple overload - until tomorrow.

We finished the afternoon by donating blood at the cildren's hospital outside town which was mobbed by mothers waiting with their ill babies to see a doctor. Very special way to end a day of contrasts.

Angkor is beyond description - miles of ruined temples. Between the vast size and the minute, perfect carvings everywhere it is awe-inspiring and humbling.

We are heading off for dinner in town - which is also beyond description (but that's for tomorrow; $.50 draft beer is calling!)

Day 3

So 3:30am finds you anywhere. I guess I could find that comforting in a sick way. Started the day officially with a run around the lake. This time we were fortunate to come across the older ladies exercise class early enough that they encouraged us to join in just as the massage congo line was forming. Progressively slapped, rubbed and chopped the back in front while someone did the same to me, after 10 minutes or so we turned around, repeated and did the same to the person now in front. The ladies could not have been kinder, but for the one who would not touch Kate and forced her to a different spot in the line. We had a legit massage later, with major grime exfoliation. No modesty here, as Kate said, I've never had my chest massaged like that before, or glutes. Went to the Temple of Literature transported on the back of a motor bike. While in the city, the Temple was peaceful and beautiful compared to the energy of downtown Hanoi, which has been amazing. Flew to Siem Reap, Cambodia this afternoon. We'll spend a few days here at the Temples of Angor. It is small village like here, but growing rapidly. Much warmer as well, high 80's. Internet cafe at .50 and hour so we'll manage to swing getting on daily. off for dinner and sunscreen. Sue

day two

All is very well here. We started the day with a run. We joined in the last few minutes of an old ladies' exercise class by the lake.

I had water spinach w/ garlic, yogurt w/ pomegranate, a platter of French pastries and two cups of coffee for breakfast. Sue had scrambled eggs. We followed up with about 7 hours of walking through the old city.

We found entire blocks dedicated to duct tape, candy, buttons, toys, tin boxes and live frogs and eels and rabbits and crabs and chickens waiting to turn into lunch. It is like Home Depot only an entire city of blocks representing each section of Home Depot. Plus, everything is made on the sidewalk or in the living room right behind the store front. Last time I assumed everything was made in a factory. It's not. It's all made right there.

Lunch cost about $2 for more food than we could eat and totally yummy.

Tonight we are seeing the water puppets and then wrapping ourselves around yet more food.

Tomorrow we are booked for a full body scrub and massage and then heading for Siem Reap and Angkor Wat in the afternoon.

Vietnam is awesome. Asia rocks.

Sue loves it. She totally gets the traffic and food and energy.

Good morning Vietnam, ha, ha. We just woke at 6:30 to morning announcements! Not sure what the official name is but it is a city wide broadcast over loudspeakers. Nor do we know what they are saying but it is going on and on. After dinner and logistics review last night looks like we will try to head to Cambodia and the Temples of Angor tomorrow, then Siagon area and loop back north for the second week. Headed out for a run now, I'm sure we won't see any other runners. We'll spend the day seeing more of Hanoi and further mastering the art of street crossing. Sue

Arrived at 9:30 this am, long travel but really not that bad. Slept some on the way, managed to stay up when we got here and walked the day away. Hanoi. Like living a breathing the Mario Cart wii game, millions of motor scooters on the roads beeping and zooming past. When the roads are crowded, they come right up and drive on the sidewalks. Sidewalks are full of Pho vendors selling variations of soup with veggies, meat. I really tried to get the tofu variety at one place, which the woman next to me was eating, but the soup lady just told me no. The sidewalks are where people carry out their entire day, sitting at mini stools socializing, eating and selling. So much food is prepared and sold on the streets.

Diito for Kate. We managed a great dinner in a place recommended by the Lonely Planet guide and populated with tourists - all carrying their own copies of the Lonely Planet. We each had a Hanoi beer, dinner, side dish and appetizer - for 260,000 dong. Which means $15. So we are in budget.

Sue has mastered street crossing which means plunging a teeming mass of motorbikes, bikes, cars and women yoked with baskets of fruit and hoping for the best. Early bed tonight. We are both a little fried.

Stay tuned.