Biking Angkor Wat (day 3), Kampuchea day 5

Yesterday we saw Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat. Today we biked out to Banteay Srey (for a total of maybe around 100km today) to an intricate Hindu temple devoted to Shiva (god of destruction). The ruins were fantastic, and carvings ornate and exquisitely intricate.

A distorted panoramic from inside Angkor Wat.
Sorry the right side didn't align in the panorama app. (just ignore it)

We continue learning Khmer language... Akuun thom thom (thank you very much), Ta akuun (no thanks), and sousdei (hello), being some of the basics. I spelled them all phonetically as an English speaker would probably be most likely to recognize and pronounce them.

Stirring palm syrup to make little palm sugar candies.

After noon, we enjoyed a picnic lunch out the back of our support van, and then played with some local kids in the river... Splashing around and watching them jump off the bridge (the water was far too shallow for us though, twice their height).

We ended the afternoon with an art school, learning about the carving and silk painting that is practiced around this region. We also enjoyed some FANTASTIC ice cream... I found the first MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP I have tasted in a very long time (mint doesn't exist in Asia... The green tea flavor is deceptively disappointing.).

Now we are going to head out on the town for a bit.

A peek into our suite room
at our Seam Reap guesthouse

With our Khmer-Chinese driver, Vannak, and the presents he gifted us
because he was late on our second day of the tour, due to
celebrating Chinese New Year.

With Vireak, our tour guide.