Friday, April 1
Depart to Bangkok with Thai Airways pm. 14.30. We met Tam (Vietnamese) at Heathrow airport. She had some gifts that we should carry in your suitcase, then her mother and sister in Saigon could get them. Erik got the pleasure to pack them in your suitcase. We arrived in Bangkok after 10 hours of flight. We only had short waiting time in Bangkok.
Saturday, April 2
Cl. 7.55 we traveled again with Thai Airways to the capital Phnom Penh. Here we were greeted by Sambath and Ratha and their mother Sarun and Ratha daughter 1 ½ years. Sambatch drove us to our hotel Royal Star.
Our Hotel Royal Star is located on the river walk near the old King's palace. We were checked into. Sambatch took us on a trip to several things in the family car. First we drove to Toul Sleng prison. A former school. It is also called S21. PolPot rebuilt school to a place of execution. Who was executed more than 2 mill. Cambodia Africans in the 5 years PolPot was in power. Every fifth Cambodian were to die. It was mainly the intellectuals, doctors, people with university uddannellse was executed. However, in some cases even executed children. We saw the cells, torture devices and so many pictures of those executed. A tragedy of Cambodian history.
Toul Sleng prison
Erik and Toul Sleng Sambatch front jailed
Then we visited the Russian market where we ate lunch. We also saw Watt Phnom Pagoda, where is was a fortune-teller outside the pagoda. Royal Palace was unfortunately closed today, so we saw it only from outside. We also reached Volume massage in an hour. We went out to eat with Sambach at 20.00. He drove around town and found a really good place to eat, where we had a tasty dish. There was live music. It is incredibly hot today even after Sambaths sense. Luckily we have air conditioning in rummt.
Sunday, April 3
Sambatch, Ratha and daughter and mother arrived at. 8.00 in the car and picked us up. We had to go to Sambo village far outside of town. There was a very busy road with lots of motorcycles, cars and tuktuk'er but Sambatch guided us well through traffic. Sambo is Sambatchs brother and he is solicitor. We were not greeted him. We were handing out clothes in the village. Sambatch had found the right person to get clothes and they were very happy to receive clothing. We ate lunch at Sambatchs cousin, which was also hairdresser in the same room. Cl. 14.00 We went over to the Royal Palace. It is located nearby. Their king is the son of Sihanuk and now lives somewhere else. Henning said hello to many many people. There were some from Korea and from southern Cambodia. The last were some students with their teacher. Cl. 20.00 we went out eat dinner with Sambatch. Sambatch has moreover not work but I hope very soon to find it. He got married last year and already divorced after four months. Samatch came with a motorcycle to the hotel. We managed to sit 3 on it and then we drove to a restaurant. The car he had earlier had borrowed from his brother. Unfortunately, Erik stomach trouble at the restaurant and it takes a while before he will eat anything again.
In the car: Ratha and daughter and Sarun
Sambatch and Erik on market
From clothing distribution.
From clothing distribution.
Lunch without chairs
Hair salon and restaurant. Sambatchs cousin and client in the foreground.
Sambatchs cousin. She recently lost her husband in a traffic accident
From clothing distribution
From clothing distribution. The little girl on the right is Ratha daughter
Royal palace
Royal Palace
Royal Palace
Monday, April 4
Sambatch are invited to Seam Reap. We drove for 6 hours with one out mĉrkert bus to Seam Reap. Of course should Henning ask those sitting around where they came from. One was from China probably Taivan and some from Australia. Some were from Cambodia but emigrated to Australia. He has 3 year mark PolPot's torture and forced labor. Cl. 16.15 off to watch the sunset over Angkor Wat, it costs $ 3 to taxi. We climb a small hill with good views. It's called Phnom Bakhengi and there are some very steep stairs at last. First Henning tried it was in 2000 there were approx. 200 people now 4-5000. Cl. 18 when the sun goes down and we drive back to Siem Reap and eat dinner.
Sunrise at Angkor Wat
At Angkor Wat
Very steep stairs
Tuesday, April 5
Cl. 5.00 on the morning the wizard Chhiev, Sambatch, Henning and Erik set off in a tuk tuk to sunrise at Angkor Wat. Chhiev told also that he had been a monk for 8 years. There were plenty of people who also wanted to see sunrise. We waited a long time but unfortunately due to clouds, we could not see it otherwise beautiful sight of Angkor Wat. Then we ate breakfast at Angkor. We have breakfast at the hotel but there is much to the hotel and off again to Angkor. So we do not. Then we went to Angkor Thom. It is the royal city with the fine temples. First stop: We walk through the gateway to Angkor Thom. We drive to bayonet temple. A shrine with many faces. Then we went to the Royal Palace. We came in through the back door, but before we see a very large Hindu temple that has been under restoration for 10 years - and there are at least 10 years again before it is finished. Next is the Royal Palace, which is very dilapidated. We watched King Kong Park with 2 swimming pools, and finished with the place where the big elephant fights took place. Now we found our tuk Tuk'er. We now km to Ta Phrom temple with the big trees, and we must have lunch at approaching noon. Last visit is the largest temple of Angkor Wat. Some historical stuff: Here in Angkor lived over 1 million people for 1000 years ago; comparison there lived in Paris 20,000; size as the Imperial Palace Beijing. It's been just as many stones as Cheops pyramid. We're back at the hotel kl.14. Henning has now also got stomach problems. We met for dinner at. 20.00 at the hotel with Chhiev and his 2 daughters and former guide Sophal. It was nice to talk to them. That surprised us a bit to Sophal knew no war in Libyien. While we ate ran television in English on the channel, called New Assia. It turns out that it was the Chinese who sent it from Singapore.
Here was elephant fights
Before lunch, we could just manage to see the Ta Phrom temple. It is the temple with the big trees. Although Henning've seen it many times, he seems still that it is very impressive. If you removed the trees and the long roots temple would collapse.
Erik at Ta Phrom
Sambatch and Erik at Ta Phrom
More about Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat
Wednesday, April 6
Departure, but first we experience many things. Unfortunately Erik had become home today because of stomach problems. We drove from Mandalay Inn at. 08.00. We took our tuk tuk. First stop is a temple built to commemorate victims of Pol Pot. It is called a Killing Fields Temple. There are also boarding school. Then we have Chhiev's wife, we see her Internet cafe, she brings us out to their homes. We see the home and their special pets, crocodiles. On the way back to Mandalay Inn, we visited Sophals home where she lives with her mother and brother and sister and husband and daughter's daughter of 140 square Meters. There was now time to move on Ton Le Sap River into between schools on the water. Back at the hotel there was time for a bath, so we were ready for the flight to Vietnam. We will be flying at. 17.30 to Ho Chi Minh City = Saigon pm. 18.30.
In chhievs home and his livestock crocodiles
Ton le Sap River
Ton le Sap River
Girl with snake on Ton Le Sap River