Two days in Siem Reap

Today's the last day of the Reliance Siem Reap stopover.

We flew in to Siem Reap from KL via Ho Chi Minh City on 25 Dec 2007, and the first night was basically spent travelling, checking in.

The next day (26th) was spent temple exploring. Temples were huge, weatherbeaten, surrounded with street children selling stuff. I bought two T shirts for USD5. Cambodia seems to still be a US dollar economy. Lots of tourists and persons with American accents around.

Before heading for Siem Reap with the Reliance agency package tour, I did some youtubing about Cambodia. Many online videos showed that conditions for poor street children in Phnom Penh were very depressing, e.g. glue sniffing to forget their hunger. To see it up close was a different feeling altogether. It's a sinking feeling that such young children are in great need of even basic food & clothing; needs that people in Malaysia (even our longhouse Ibans & Hindraf supporters) take for granted.. Still, from afar, when the children are playing or happily doing their trades, there is a sense of joy within them, living in the now & enjoying it. It seems that humans are quite happy if they have something to do, be it a vocation or game they can immerse themselves in..

Today was spent cruising Tonle Sap lake, & we were boarded thrice by speedboats carrying children selling food.. this was while both boats were in motion. Felt quite concerned that the kids would lose balance, spilling their wares into the river, but they were more pro & efficient at jumping vehicles than McGyver; & more ballet-like.