Good times in Siem Reap!

Check out some pictures from Siem Reap Cambodia. Sorry I don't have time for the history of these temples but hope you enjoy the picture. I had a great week in Siem Reap spent with Dawn and Justin from Canada and some of my fellow volunteers from Phnom Penh.

Angkor Wat at Sunrise

Bayon Temple

Ta Prohm Temple. This is where Tomb Raider was filmed.

Entrance in Angkor Wat

These where the steepest stairs ever. I am in blue in the top right hand corner.

Me in a rice field

All of the ruins everywhere were awesome. It is amazing all the time and effort that went into building these temples. So much rock!

Sunset

Good times at Angkor What Bar.

Some of the great people I met while voluneering in Phnom Penh.

Good times with my buckets. This is often how alcohol is drank in Asia.

Flooding on the way to the floating village

School in the floating village

Homes in the floating village

Adventures in Cambodia!!

So I wrote this blog weeks ago but I have not had a chance to post it. I am super behind in my blogging and will try to update you on my adventures in Laos and Thailand soon. I am headed to Africa on Tuesday night so I have not idea when this going to happen. I will try to write them soon even if I don't have time to post them so I don't forget anything.  I guess I am just too busy having fun, but I think that is a good excuse! I wanted to post for pictures from my Cambodian adventures but the Internet is making me insane!!!! The ones I really wanted to post are not here. I have seen some amazing temples. I will put these in a future post.

Random things I have seen or experienced in Cambodia.

1. I have spent a significant amount of time in a tuk tuk. Many of you have asked for a picture so check out the one below. This is my general mode of transportation while in Cambodia.

2. I did something I said I would never do. I rode on a moto with out a helmet. Don't worry this will not be happening again. You all know how crazy I am about the fact that you don't have to wear a helmet in Ohio. It was a one time experience. I can now say I have done it. I can say it was truly an experience. The part that stinks is that is is so much cheaper. The driving here is crazy check a picture of a street below.

3. The amount of random animals I have seen on the side of the road or being cooked on a spit is unreal. Recently turned around in my tuk tuk and a cow was less that 1 ft from me, it came out of no where.

4. Today I was eating fried fish which was great and then I looked down and realized I was eating the head. It still had stuff in it's mouth. Yuck!!

5. You are asked to buy things or if you want a tuk tuk constantly. My favorite words are becoming Tee Aw Kohn (no thank you). We were hassled endlessly at the beach this weekend to buy things. I got sucked in a few times but my bartering skills are really improving.

6. No one walks here. The girls I am living with think I am crazy that I walked short distances. They say that Cambodians are lazy, not sure if this is true but they sure hate walking. This is why I am constantly pestered to get a tuk tuk. Let a woman walk if she wants to!!!! The girls said I have probably walked more in the time I have been here around the city than they ever have and they have lived their their entire life.

7. People can seriously carry anything and do anything while on a moto or a bike. I saw a man driving a moto carrying a car door. Now that is some serious balance. I have also seen an entire family on a moto including three kids, mom, dad and the dog. Yesterday I saw a woman on the back of a moto holding up an IV bag. Now that is seriously traveling medical treatment.

8. I have increased my Khmer knowledge and have a few short phrases and can count to 10. This does not make talking with a parents in the home any easier but is does make me feel a more comfortable out in the city.

So let me tell you the crazy and amazing things I have eaten in Cambodia!

• Fried Cricket
• Baby Duck Fetus- it is very popular here ( I just ate a small bite...not good). Check out the picture below.

Can you see the feathers?


Putting on my game face even though it was gross
• Banana Chips (this might not been a feat for most but most of you know how much I hate bananas)
• I ordered grilled fish and got the whole fish (eyes and head included). Check out the picture below.

• Soy bean curd milk that was thick, very sweet and luke warm (You all know I hate milk so it was a serious task to get this down)
• Too many fruits to remember but I really like Cambodian Oranges, Dragon Fruit and the pineapple and mango are amazing here!! They often dip their fruit in a salty chilly powered. It was an interesting flavor but not an idea I will be bringing home.
• An entire fried chicken
• Amazing Lettuce Wraps- much better than PF Changs
• The most amazing waffle made with coconut and rice flour.
• Fantastic Khmer soups
• Fresh Coconut. I really like the actual coconut but not the coconut milk.

　
　

Save the Animals!

Check out the pictures below from my visit to Phnom Tamao Wildlife Sanctuary. This Sanctuary was designed as a rescue home for animals native to Cambodia that are abused my their owners or may be victims of poachers. It was great to see animals in a non commercial environment and know they are being taken care of and safe.

Otters

Very intense looking lizard, I forget the actual name.

Gibbon

Random stray monkeys. Warning Monkeys can be mean!!!

Sun Bear

This elephant calf had it's leg broken by poacher but now has a cast and is on the mend in the Sanctuary



So I have tried drinking s coconut mutiple time now and it is official I don't like it. However I gave it a good try.

A True Cambodian Experience!

I think attending a Buddhist Pagoda with my host family was one of my best days I have had yet. I really felt like I was able to experience both Buddhist and Cambodian Culture. Let me start with the fact that I was the only western person in attendance. To make is worse I asked if I should wear anything special and they said no. When I got there every single women was wearing dark pants or skirt and a white shirt. You will see I was wearing a black shirt. I kind of feel like I was a spectacle. Beware that my understanding of the ceremony was limited. I asked a tons of questions but often people were unable to explain it to me in English or I was just confused and did not understand. Either was is was an awesome experience.

The ceremony was designed to support monks living in this pagoda and this event occurs once per year at each Pagoda. The ceremony was held in the province outside of Phnom Penh. The day began with a procession from the city at 6:00 am behind a truck full of musicians and dancers. At this point I really had no idea what was going on, but it was exciting. When we arrived at the Pagoda we were welcomed my school children each waving flags. The Pagoda was alive with musicians, dancers and many street vendors. The event included lots of food and every person including my entire host family and all of their friends were on a mission for me to eat a ton and try everything. I felt like I needed to be rolled out of there. I truly have no idea what I was eating, some was good some was not but I had a grin on my face the entire time.

Ceremony in Pagoda

Throughout the day there were dancers and musicians through out the Pagoda grounds. Above is a video. From what I understand the goal of the dancers was to welcome guests and to raise money. Hence you can see a picture with me and a Dancer (Giant) with money in his mouth. I tried to ask questions about the significance of the masks and the idea of the Giant but I was given limited information.

The most interesting part of the day was the procession of gifts to the actual Pagoda. You walk in bare feet around the Pagoda three times (not sure why it is three times). Those with gifts to offer carry them on their head. The gift boxes included gifts for the monks. My host family filled their gift with toiletries and money. After the procession everyone went up the stairs of the Pagoda and people throw money from the top of the building down to begging children. This was an amazing site to see. Literally money fall from the sky. This done to show the importance of giving to those that are less fortunate than yourself. Following this ritual I participated in the Buddhist ceremony in the Pagoda, however I had no idea what was going on.


Check out the pictures below. Sorry if my explanation makes no sense. I just know that it was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. The ritualistic experience is unlike anything I have ever seen. It was a true honor to be invited to participate.

Beginning of the procession to the Pagoda in Phnom Penh

Gift for the Monks

Dancers and Musicians

Buddha

Giant getting donations in his money (not sure why they put them in his mouth)

Monks from Pagoda

Friends of my host family

Procession of gifts to the Pagoda

Money literally falling from the sky!

One of the children with his money

                                                                          

The Actual Pagoda

My Entire Host Family. Wow I look tall!

The day continued with lunch on the river with my host family and many of their friends. Yes we ate again, by this time it was my third full meal of the day! I say truly say I have never been this full ever in my life. However while were were there I discovered the best thing I have eaten here. It was like a waffle but it was made with rice flour and coconut. I am working on getting the recipe from my host family to recreate these. It was AMAZING. I ate three even though I was so full. So let me tell you that we ate a bunch of other stuff including a whole fish and fried chicken. This fried chicken is not like the bucket of KFC you might be thinking of. It was literal a friend chicken, meaning it was fried in oil then cut up including the feet and head. I was interesting to see people fighting over who would get to eat the head and feet. As you my of guessed I was not part of this arguing. It was truly an experience.

We ate in a hut on the river

Bridge to the hut

The chicken head I did not eat

The entire day was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!! My host family and all of their friends made me feel so welcomed and gave me a true Cambodian experience. While I stayed with this family I never had a conversation with the parents or the grandmother but I still felt a connection with them. The interaction of language and cultural differences and the use of facial expression and body language are phenomenal things. I am so happy I had an opportunity to meet this fantastic family and I look forward to staying in touch with them.