We arrived at the airport in Siem Reap from Phnom Penh just before lunch.

Typical wiring!

A delicious lunch at Spean Boran restaurant

Money Tree in lobby

Flower Centerpiece

We took a cruise on Tonle Sap, also known as the Great Lake as it is the largest in SE Asia, 60 miles wide by 150 miles long. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We got on the boat in the canal that leads to the lake.

Boats along the canal.

Men were wading into the canal. dropping nets to catch fish.

Once on the lake we cruised past a floating village.

There are 172 floating communities on the lake, each with about 1000 residents.

The houses are built on rafts made of either bamboo, stryofoam or oil drums.

Every 3-4 months the whole village moves to another part of the lake as the amount of fish in an area is depleted.

The houses have no electricity but they do have a TV that is powered by a car battery or solar panel!

Floating School

Fishermen with their nets.

The tin roof indicates a wealthier family.

A thatched roof houses a poor family.

We got off the boat at one of the houses to see what they looked like inside.

This family raises crocodiles to sell.

Returning through the canal.

On to the next adventure!

We stopped in an agricultural village and took a ride on a water buffalo cart. These are used in the village to carry rice to be planted or to carry harvested rice and other goods back to the village.

This was Barb's least favorite of all the local means of transportation we got to experience. The cart behind us kept getting so close that she expected the water buffalo to start licking her legs which were hanging off the back of the cart. It was an uncomfortable and bumpy ride.

We stayed at the Regency Anghor Hotel.

It had a beautiful lobby.

The outdoor swimming pool with swim up bar was a great way to cool off.

We enjoyed a nice dinner at the Lava Restaurant. (Photo from David)

Barb had a delicious Lemoncello Martini!

We started the morning with a visit to a park which had large fruit bats hanging from the trees.

The bats have a wing span of 2 feet and look like birds when they fly.

The park is a popular spot for local bridal parties to have their pictures taken.

The park has a market selling fresh flowers and fruit that people buy to place at a nearby temple of Buddha.

Offerings at the temple.

They also sell tiny birds in cages which people buy to release as an offering to Buddha.

We were met by a woman selling lotus flowers. We were each given a flower bud and she showed us how to fold the petals back to make a pretty flower.

The lotus flower buds before they are folded. People buy the flowers and go to the nearby temple to leave as an offering to Buddha and to make a wish for a good day.

Our finished flowers were not as perfect as this lady's!

Musicians outside the temple.

We took our flowers to the temple and made a wish.

Another bride and groom. Walking barefoot must be easier than in high heels!

We stopped at the Angkor National Museum. It contains an impressive collection of ancient sculptures and artifacts.

Our local guide, Rath, in the lobby of the museum beside a statue of Asura (demon). No photos were allowed in the galleries.

Click on photo to read about Asura.

Another delicious lunch.

We took the optional tour to visit Banteay Srei, one of the oldest and most beautifully preserved temple sites in Cambodia.

Banteay Srei was built in 967 AD and means "Citadel of Women" and is recognized as a tribute to female beauty.

The buildings are made of sandstone with intricate carvings chiseled into the stone.

On the way back from Banteay Srei, we passed some local farmers harvesting rice near the side of the road. Our guide stopped and asked them if we could "help".

What back breaking work! To see a short video of the process, click here.

Fred using a scythe to cut the clumps of rice stalks and pull them from the ground. He said it was really hard to do and he couldn't imagine clearing a whole field, especially in this heat.

We visited a family farm and business that makes rice noodles.

It is a multi-step process. The rice is soaked overnight, ground, made into flour, then dough which is kneaded and put through a cutter to create the noodle strands.

Our guide, Joe, helps clean the noodles.

Another delicious dinner.

Beautiful presentation

Dessert