Angkor Whaaaaaaaat?!

I spent three days exploring the temples of Angkor Wat... they were amazing! Its hard to believe that something built sooooooo long ago could still exsist today. Its bizzar to touch stone you know was assembled by another human over a thousand years ago... Its amazing how so many details have persevered through weather, war, and japanese tourists!

I really enjoyed Siem Reap, and hope to come back here someday to enjoy the heritage in another phase of my life. Its sad to see the countless homelses children, and landmine victim lining the streets desperate for a dollar to afford them some food. I hope that the tourism here can help inject some wealth into the economy to eliminate some of the many problems existing here today. Obviously, its impossible to help everyone, but while I stayed, I tried to do my bit, by packing up leftovers at restaurants from my meals and offering them to street children, or giving a few Riel to landmine victims trying to earn a living by playing music.

One night a small boy walked up to me holding his six month old brother, and instead of asking for money, he asked for milk power formula for his brother. He said his dad was a landmine victim, and him mom was in Penon Penh. I took him into a corner store and bought him some formula and a large bottole of water- which isn't much, but I hope it helped him.... I saw him again the next day (with his mother- apparently he lied about that part) and gave his mom a fajita to help feed her three kids...

Today, I am heading to Penon Penh to see the killing fields which promises to be an emotional experience. I will also arrange my Vietnam visa there, and may head down to Shinoukville for a couple days of beach time as well. I am super happy to have been able to upload some of the images from my trip so far to share with everyone, and I hope that you enjoy them! If you click on the slideshow, it should take you to a page where you can flip through them in a full screen slideshow, and view my comments.

Thanks to everyone for your emails and posts, it really means a lot to me to hear from people from home. I miss everyone so much, and I get so excited when I see someone has commented on a facebook photo, or taken a minute from their busy day to write me! Hope all is well with everyone, and I'll update you again soon!