2010 Thailand and 2011 Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand: Temples & Landmine Museum, Siem Reap

Ta Som

MONDAY 8 AUGUST 2011

My Tuk Tuk driver came about 9 a.m. and we drove to the temple at Pre Rup, and then on to Banteay Srey, which is about 37 kilometres from Siem Reap. It was a beautiful, scenic route, passing stilt houses and villages. The houses are made out of wood, palm leaves and corrugated iron. Cattle and families spend time together under the houses, resting on hammocks. Farmers wearing Khmer scarves on their heads were working in the paddy fields, using buffalo to pull the ploughs.

We visited a Landmine Museum which has been set up by Aki Ra. His parents had been killed when he was 5 and he was enlisted as a child soldier with the Khmer Rouge, later defecting to join the Vietnamese army. He laid thousands of mines himself, but for years has dedicated himself to clearing as many mine-fields as he can. He has also set up a school for children who have been injured by mines, orphans and those from poor backgrounds to give them a better chance in life.

Our next stop was the temple at Ta Som and then on to Neak Pean. By this time I was ‘templed-out’ so decided to go back to the hotel for a rest, which was just as well because the heavens opened and it poured with rain again. The Tuk Tuk was far from waterproof as there were holes in the roof, and the rain came in through all the sides. I had to sit with an umbrella up, but was still very wet when we arrived at the hotel.

It was still raining in the evening so I took a Tuk Tuk to the night market, and went back to the same restaurant as last night for another Khmer BBQ. Their banana pancakes with palm sugar are the best I have ever tasted!