Wed, 5/2.  Drove a scooter!  My home hosted lunch was out in the countryside.  The host, a 24-year-old school teacher came to pick me up at the road.  I asked to drive and she said okay!  I didn’t figure out the gearing until the way back, but I didn’t hit anything either.  Furthest I’ve every driven without a helmet.  Her neighbors appeared to enjoy the sight.

The day was mostly spent looking at temples.  The one known throughout the world, Angkor Wat, was huge as expected.  Carvings cover nearly every surface. It’s hard to describe.  We also saw the newer and larger but less well preserved Angkor Thom.  It once had 216 large stone faces carved on its  54 towers. Next was Ta Prohm, which has been overrun by towering trees.  We also drove by various other temples, as well as a large field where elephant polo was once played.

Truth be told, yesterday’s temple remained my favorite.  Because of it’s type of stone, it’s much better preserved.  All the sites are being examined and partially rebuilt (following strict UNESCO rules) by various international groups.  Japan, Germany, Italy, USA, etc.

Before sunset we returned to Angkor Wat for quiet tme and a bottle of Cambodian whiskey, 23% alcohol.  With snacks of peanuts, chicken, water buffalo meat and rat legs.  That’s not a typo.  Tasted like chicken.

After dinner we did a scooter-wagon ride to the center of Siem Reap’s hot spot.  Rath dropped me off so I could walk around.  Bars, shops, curb-side massage center, featuring fish foot massage.  Hawkers were a nuisance.  Found a bar specializing in bug food.  The menu is populated with bugs you eat.  Passed.  I did have sugar cane juice, which someone should bottle and sell.

Hot, hot day.  But worth every bit of time in the sun.