RIEL Money: See'em Reap-U.S.-Dollars, Cambodia

Disclaimer on previous posts... I take EVERYTHING back about Singapore being hot. I've never experienced dull heat like I did in Cambodia! Especially inside the ruined stone temples...

We were welcomed at the teeny tiny Siem Reap airport by a teeny tiny man waiting for us with a sign that said "Katie". It was our guide for the weekend, Milky. He is 28 years old, speaks excellent English, and makes more than most Cambodians at $20/day for being a tour guide. That's in American currency. Since Riel are worth practically nothing (8,000 Riel = 1 Dollar), everything in Cambodia is in USD (U.S. Dollars, an acronym that rolls off my tongue now). I think tourism is booming in Siem Reap now. Anyway Milky got his nickname because when he was little, his mother didn't have the strength to nurse him, and some Vietnamese soldiers had brought over tons and tons of milk to Cambodia because there was a shortage or something, and supposedly they stacked enough cans of milk in Milky's house to fill a whole room. So he was nursed off of Vietnamese relief milk. That's what I caught... not sure how accurate that story is! Nonetheless he was a wonderful guide and made our trip so much more enjoyable!

I'll be honest, since Cambodia is known as practically 4th world, I was a little nervous pre-trip. But after spending the weekend exploring ruined stone temples in the jungle (transported by an air-conditioned Mercedes, no less) I wouldn't take it back for anything!

Here's what we did in a nutshell:
Friday, June 16th :
Arrived at 7 am, met Milky at airport, who had a van waiting to drive us to our hotel, Angkor Voyage Villa. I stayed with Kristen and Carlanna in a big 3-person hotel room with our own beds, etc - whole room was $35 a night - very nice place for Cambodia!
Breakfast at Molly Malone's across the street
Morning: Visited Angkor Thom... including the South Gate, Bayon, Baphoun, the Royal Palace, Terrace of Elephants and Lepper King, and Preah Khan
Lunch @ local restaurant... I ordered some really good fish
Afternoon: Visited Angkor Wat (picture at top) - should be another World Wonder!!!!
Evening: Shopped at local markets
Night: Molly Malone's for dinner and drinks

Saturday, June 17th :
Morning: Visited the Floating Village at the lake (boat ride to floating houses)... VERY eye-opening. A one-armed boy in a mixing bowl spun over to us begging along with many other women and children... really sad.
Lunch @ local restaurant... I ordered fish in a coconut with curry... yummm
Afternoon: Visited the distant temple Banteay Srey, headed back to the jungle to see the temple/tomb where Tombraider (Ta prohm) was filmed... that was cool!
Sunset: Phnom Bakheng (like climbing Stone Mountain but steeper)

Evening/Night: Buffet dinner at a traditional Cambodian dance show

Cambodia was the neatest place I have ever been. I picture it as full of ancient history and still very 3rd world... I keep thinking about the Vietnamese refugees living in poverty in floating shacks... I also picture people in pointed straw hats biking litters of pigs in baskets... and I also remember how HOT it was!

Go to Cambodia if you can! Angelina Jolie did and even adopted a child. She also helps a lot in preserving jungles and animals in Cambodia. Just don't step on the land mines in the deep jungle! In fact, don't go in the deep jungle at all, just stick with the guide.