“Crocodile Rock” (Elton John)

From Phnom Penh we headed to Siem Reap. This tourist-based town has an amazing array of restaurants and bars, including a converted warehouse that has a tank (well, more like flooded foundations if the truth be told) with live saltwater crocodiles. Crocodile is also on the menu, but I am not sure whether you get to choose your meal… But Siem Reap’s real function is as a base for exploration of Angkor Wat and the other temples nearby. And so we set off at silly o’clock on a fleet of tuk tuks to get processed into the temple complex, and then to join the masses watching the sunrise over Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is said to be the eighth wonder of the world (if there were eight), and is a very impressive sight. Our informative local guide took us round the temple, explaining the wall carvings and mythologies underlying them. Early morning at Angkor Wat:

Me at Angkor Wat (it was early!):

The group walking back to the entrance gate of Angkor Wat:

Monks at Angkor Wat:

We then spent the rest of the morning going round some of the other temples, including a temple that was never finished as it was struck by lightning 15 years into construction which was taken to be a bad omen, so construction was abandoned.

The unfinished temple:

Climbing down from the unfinished temple:

We saw another temple decorated with wall carvings showing battles between the Khmers and would-be invaders. We went to the Royal Palace which had a huge swimming pool in which the king’s 2,000 concubines would swim (he must have been a busy man).

The Royal Palace pool, and maybe the last concubine?: After stopping for lunch and a bit of respite from the heat, we headed to the final temple of our tour – the one used in the Tombraider movie. Despite several of the boys’ disappointment at Lara Croft not being in residence, this was the favourite temple of many of us. It is in ruins and the decision has been made to leave it in this state, not to restore it. The result is a mass of moss covered rocks, intact remnants of parts of the temple, and the most amazing trees growing from several of the roofs, with huge roots hanging down to the ground.

Jo, C and myself in the foreground, Tim and our guide in the background:

One of the roof-growing trees:

Me at the tombraider temple:

Elaine "Lara Croft" Evans at the Tombraider temple:

After all that hectic templing, it was time to have a day off, so the next day was dominated by doing a whole lot of nothing, and eventually managing to make it to the roof terrace at the hotel for wine and cheese (and Tim Tams!).

But Jo, Ann and I decided to embark on a bit more culture the following day, with a trip on the river and the Tonle Sap Lake to look at the river houses and general life on the river. After a half hour tuk tuk ride we found ourselves on a wooden boat which had rather luxurious seats, and no other passengers. So we headed off along the river with our guide providing us with much information (at times, too much…). We saw pigs in a floating pen, a floating school, countless boats of all varieties, houses on stilts, and lots of river weed. River houses: Floating Catholic church:

When we got to the lake, our driver helpfully turned off the engine so that we could enjoy the serenity for a while, be accosted by the ever-present vendors (“lady, you want cold drink?"), and have our guide ask us what ages we were (“I don’t believe you are that old. If you were in Cambodia, that would be very old.”)

The floating shop:

After sitting serenely on the lake for 10 minutes, we headed back down the river to the fish and crocodile farm. While the catfish were not all that awe-inspiring, the crocodiles were. They were larger than we had expected, and some of them looked quite mean! After peering down at them for a while, we headed inside to the souvenir shop to look at the unique offerings which somehow look the same as everywhere else in south-east Asia.

Big croc:

It was while standing around waiting for our boat to return us to the mainland that the highlight of our little expedition happened. Bearing in mind that it was Ann, Jo and myself who ended up having our photo taken with an ill-tempered baby puma at the Chaing Mai Night Safari, you can only imagine our delight when the following opportunity presented itself…

With our reptilian friend: