From Battambang to Angkor Wat, June 25-26

Thursday wake up call was 4:30 to be ready to leave at 5:30 for a plane flight to Siem Reap where the Angkor Wat (ancient temple ruins) are located. The flight was simple - even included a type of quiche and beverage on the 35 minute flight. Our bus and guide were waiting to take us to the first stop. We toured areas of tombs in an area called "big city", all hand carved around the 12th century. The second area we walked had been uprooted by huge banyon, kapoc, and cotton type trees. Trees grew up and over the stones and uprooted the foundations of this huge complex. We were take to a restaurant for lunch, mostly Khmer food. However, there almost always french fries everywhere we go to eat:) Our hotel was beautiful, very western, even had a pool but none of us had brought our suits for the overnight. We had a two hour rest time, very welcomed, then we gathered on the bus again for Angkor Wat. WOW! Massive ruins - you'll have to see pictures. We climbed a mountain and a narrow steps of a temple to see the sunset - then the rains began and we rushed down the mt. knowing that it would become slippery. This was one hot, long treck for this lady. It was pouring by the time we got to the bottom. We returned to the hotel, cleaned up and enjoyed a buffet and a Khmer dance at the restaurant near the hotel. This area is obviously for tourists. Everything is new, clean and very nice. The tour guides are proud of it. Back home on an early flight this morning. Now we are internetting, taking one more stop at the market and going to the school.