Mar. 12 – Siem Reap, The site of Tomb Raider

Save the best temple for last! The Bayon temple was my favourite until I saw the jungle temple called Ta Prohm. Now there’s a tie.

What a sight: trees seemingly growing out of the temple, their roots crawling down the sides of the walls like fingers clinging to their property. Some roots snake along the ledges others sprawl down to the floor—talk about being one with nature. The temple was built in the 12th century around the same time as Angkor Wat. Over the last 800 years, the temple has crumbled. Now, the trees support the temple as much as the temple supports the trees. This is the site in Angelina Jolie’s movie, Tomb Raider. As much as I would like to reenact her scene for a pic, the number of tourists here makes it impossible; although they would provide an audience…

After this temple, my stomach troubles send us back to the hotel, where I finally succumb to taking cipro. Three non-stop days of running to the bathroom after every meal has got to stop!

Later this evening, we will meet members of pa’s family—one family that lives in town and the other one with whom we stayed in Sisophon will be driving in. Sisophon is only a 2-hour drive from Siem Reap. When my parents lived here in 79, it was a 7-day walk’. I wonder if this was the trip pa carried ma on his shoulders…