The best $3 ever spent

We have had an awesome weekend in Siem Reap, Cambodia. If you are ever wandering through this part of the world, this city is definitely worth a stop. Most notable, it is home to Angkor Wat (and about 200 other temples) but I'm going to save that for another blog post because there is lots to say and many pictures to share. I'm going to let Matt field that topic.

We got here Friday night, and are staying through Monday evening (at which point we need to hop a quick flight back to Bangkok to get back in time for a final exam Tuesday morning... woops.) Kellogg and UNC joined forces for this trip, and it has been a blast.



Getting to dinner in a tuk-tuk (open-air taxi type thing)

Yesterday we had a long day of touring wats (more to come later), and then did dinner at a really cool "teaching restaurant" which focuses on getting kids off the street and training them for restaurant jobs. Incredible food, really creative and flavorful, and very attentive service as all of the waitstaff are in training and learning English. Matt even ate ant fritters. (Yes, exactly like they sound.... like hush puppies with ants in them.. you could even see the little ant legs sticking out.) The best part of the meal, however, was probably the delicious cocktails... chili lime margaritas, mango coconut daiquiris, etc.



After dinner we went to the night market and wandered around for a bit, and then headed over to "Pub street" which is a small street completely covered in pubs, restaurants, ice cream shops, and.... massage "parlors"!!! This is the best part. You literally just walk along the street, stopping for food or drink, hanging out at tables outside, and then stop at one of many rows of chairs along the sidewalk to get a foot, back or neck massage. Matt and I stopped and got 30 minute back and neck massages for a total of $3 each, which included a free beer!! Best $3 ever spent. There were also options to get fish pedicures (you stick your feet in a fish tank for 30 minutes and little fish nibble away all of your dead skin) but we opted to save that for later...

We found "Kellogg" scribbled on "Angkor What?" bar

Massages on the street, with free beer, for $3!

This evening we drove about 45 minutes outside of town (e.g. down a dirt road through some rice paddies) to a village on a gigantic lake. It was a really incredible experience. For a few dollars, one of the local villagers drove us in his boat down a small river and out to the lake to catch sunset. All along the river we were able to witness life for these villagers. They live in huts made out of wood and bark, built on very high wooden stilts (to avoid getting washed out in the rainy season.) This muddy river is their entire livelihood (fishing, drinking water, sewage presumably, swimming, bathing, etc). There were naked children running everywhere (many of them waving at us and one even doing the "gangnam style" dance which was incredible because they don't even have electricity...). It was peaceful, beautiful, and very eye-opening, as I have no idea how they handle schooling, medical attention, fresh vegetables, or so many other parts of what we consider everyday life.



Our sea worthy vessel

Villager homes built up on stilts



Sunset on Tonle Sap lake

Floating "restaurant" in the middle of the lake

The beautiful UNC crew

Dinner was back in town, at another awesome restaurant, Tangram Garden, which supports a local orphanage. Incredible food, and a birthday cake to celebrate Kate's 27th!! If you are ever in Siem Reap, definitely definitely go to this restaurant. The restaurant is spread out across a big yard, and each table is set up in its own little bungalow, separated from any others. Very intimate, and the staff could not have been sweeter. Since we were the last ones there, when it was time for her birthday cake they turned off all the lights in the entire restaurant and all the staff members came out carrying the lit birthday cake, singing happy birthday.

Mango shakes for the birthday girl

 

Off to bed... we are hoping to wake up early to catch the super bowl at a bar in town that claims to be playing it. (Well, they claim to be playing the "Falcons / 49ers game" but I'm guessing that is close enough.) Starts at 6:30am our time... We hope everyone state-side is having a great weekend, and a great Superbowl Sunday! Eat some buffalo chicken dip for us!