Day 7
The day saw us become unsuspecting teachers to Year nine students ranging in age up to 21 years as they have not before had the opportunity for education. Another hot day, the girls teamed up in pairs and conducted lessons for the children. Some teaching english via ‘hagman’ some sharing Australian tunes such as Waltzing Matilda.
The heat in the middle of the day provided a chance to sit under the only marginally cooler trees at the pagoda and sing and each dances such as the marcarena and nut bush (a certain twist from the traditional dancing of the other day).
Tomorrow we have an early start to view Angkor Wat on sunrise and then back to the hotel for breakfast before getting back on out bikes again.
The shopping in the markets has been frantic, with many bargains being snapped up.
All are in good spirits, if a little weary fom the heat. We all love the feel of Cambodia and its beautiful people.
Day 8 WOW! It was officially 44c in the shade while we were at the orphanage today. Today we were teaching around 100 village children and 30 or so orphanage children.
Instead of playing sport this afternoon with them, it was just too hot, we headed back to the hotel a little earlier than usual for rest.
Tonight at the restaurant there was a traditional dance show and the girls were thrilled to recognise their parts that they had played in the dance at the orphanage the other day.
Most welcome relief has arrived just as we left the restaurant in the form of a sudden thunderstorm.
Tomorrow we start even earlier with a 5am departure from the hotel to see Angkor Wat at sunrise, before returning to the hotel for breakfast and a quick change back into our cycling gear for the rest of the day.
After a few upset stomachs amongst us, we all seem to be doing fine again and have our appetites back and are looking forward to more cycling.
Stay tuned for some oooohs and ahhhhhhs after we see the most amazing temples tomorrow.
Day 9
Yesterday we started the day very early with a 4.30am wake up to get to Angkor Wat by sunrise. Sunrise itself was a bit of a non event as the heat haze seemed to streatch throughout the day. The temple was awe inspiring and Hum continued his very knowledgeable stories of the temples and the stories on the relief sculptures. We rode past the elephant terraces, and we especially liked riding to the Death gate along the dirt trail in the jungle past monkeys and no other tourists.
The Tomb Raider temple was without a doubt our favourite, amzing to see 200 + year old trees growing over the temple ruins. It was just incredible to be riding along and have ancient ruins either side ofthe road in such a vast area.
We lunched at the Blue Pumpkin at Angkor wat and surprise, more shopping for the girls at the artisans store.
Silver shopping on the way back to the hotel before the pool and some market shopping and a free night where most of us headed to Cafe Indochine…..
Today is the last of our riding days and it is with a little sadness that our thoughts are turning to leaving this country and its beautiful people to return home or continue our journeys.
Lots of love Cathy 