Getting to Know You. Day One.

Back from Cambodia. We didn't really have time to get on the internet and post and blog, so I shall have to do it now. Let's start from Day 1. Getting to see Cambodia for the first time and meeting our tour group.

Here we are at Ho Chi Minh Airport getting some Vietnamese Pho during our layover.
Welcome to Cambodia!!
After a quick stop at our hotel to change to cooler clothes, we headed out to see the floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake. The houses on the way to the lake were sad to see. They were all on silts due to flash flooding as well as using the underbelly of the house as sewer and trash systems.
The Lake was quite muddy and not particularly deep. The floating villages use it for everything - cleaning, pooping, washing, etc. Our first present from the tour are the hats we were wearing to keep the sun off of us. It's sad to see the little kids zoom after our boat, with snakes around their necks or with sodas begging us to buy something. However, I'm told that the children of Cambodia are taught that you should not beg for money, but should give something to earn that money. So, that is a great idea. None of the kids beg. They all work - either helping with the boats for tips or selling sodas or for a picture.
We headed to the alligator farm and general information on the floating village. There was a viewing area in which you could see across the lake.
We then got back on the bus and headed back into the city to try their legendary massages. Well, the legendary ones are from the blind - we did not go to this one. We were herded like sheep into this large room where they curtained off a few sections for everyone to change. Then we all picked a pad on the ground and proceeded to get a group dry massage. I can't say it was all that pleasant. There was a lot of talking and laughing, but it was an experience to be had. My brother's masseuse actually walked on his back.....
Then to the convenience store to see if we wanted to purchase some water - or other oddly named drinks.

And then finally, to one of many fruit stands scattered across Siem Reap. And thus began our quest to buy and eat as many fruits as possible....coconuts, bananas, mangos, durian, jackfruit, lychee, dragonfruit, ramatans, oh my!
Dinner was at a pizza and pasta place, which was very odd and not that tasty. But. Meh. And then back to the hotel for a good night's sleep.

Picture of my mom and me and the Cambodia Tour Guide. (Who almost fell in love with my brother and his height and broad shoulders. Haha.)