Siem Reap, Cambodia (Angkor Wat)

Major check on the list of things we wanted to see.  Probably the most fantastic site we've seen in our travels.  Indiana Jones style at it's finest.  My niece Grace would have been in heaven climbing up and over and around the massive temple grounds.  It will be hard to top Angkor Wat and it's immense ancient architecture and structures.  They are quite simply ---Massive in size and scope.  Intricate and overwhelming.  It was a civilization so well developed that its hard to imagine these were created so long along.  Angkor Wat is only 1 of many sites (although the largest) in the 45 km area. You can't go to Cambodia and not make it to Siem Reap and take a tuk tuk trip to Angkor Wat for 1-2 or even 3 days of exploration.  The slideshow really says it all.  We spent 2 full days exloring Angkor Wat Temples....man they are something to see, we even made it there to watch the sunrise one morning.

Siem Reap city is a great place to rest your weary walking legs after all day of trekking in the forrest and temple grounds.  Although I got sick here for about 1-2 days, it was likely due to the "road-side restaurant food" on the bus trip from Phonm Penh to Siem Reap, there's just no avoiding it sometimes. All things considered, a great time was had.   The "Pub Street" was only about 10 minutes walk from our hotel and about 3 city blocks had probably the best vibe of any town we've experienced.  Upscale looks and lighting and comfy chairs and restaurants mixed with reasonable price but good foods. Lots of choices line "Pub Street" and that area and its great for just people watching and walking around.  We even stopped to weirdly enjoy our first "fish foot massage", where the little fish nibble at your feet and ankles plucking dead skin off, leaving you with a silky smooth finish.  Honestly, it mostly tickled and it was like 40 minutes of tickle torture, but fun and a new experience none the less.

1st time fish massage

We must confess though, we pigged out on Pan Pizza, garlic cheese bread, bbq buffalo wings, "fill it up" salad bar and never ending ice filled Coke's at a great franchise pizza restaurant we found.  Deep dish pizza just kept calling our names :)

pile it as high as you can salad bar in Siem Reap

To make matters worse there was an incredible "American Old Fashion Style" icecream shop connected to the pizza place.  This place would have made even my sister Krista proud.  It was the best and unfortunately we partook at least 3 times in our 5 days in Siem Reap.  We even celebrated Christina's 31st Birthday with a special Ice Cream Birthday Sunday, complete with candle and all.

C's 31st Bday in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Oh and we did make it to a crocodile farm as well, where we snapped too many pictures of giant crocs, and crocs of all sizes, who ended up as hand-bags, belts, shoes and other trinkets that we watched Chinese tourist buy by the arm loads.

Siem Reap was great, our last stop in Cambodia.  Cambodia is a must visit for South-East Asia to me.  Combo the history, tribulations the people have endured, their friendly nature, Angkor Wat, Sihanoukville beaches and you've got a great 2-3 weeks easy to enjoy in this country.  We did.