What did the Tree do to the Temple

Eat It.

4th - 12th April

Yo folks, Dan here. This is gonna be another set of highlights for y'all to soak up. So sit back, gather you favourite food, relax and enjoy!

4th April - Phnom Penh to Kampong Cham.

Due to issues with the Jacuzzi in the apartment we had a complimentary breakfast, hell yeah.

We met our driver for the next few days.. Sophal, pronounced SUPER. Rather fittingly, he was a really nice guy who we learned a lot from on our travels through Cambodia.

Various spiders, crickets, scorpions and frogs (orange) at the insect market in Skun!

Stopping along the way at a famous insect market in Skun... I suddenly felt extremely itchy and paranoid. Beth, Verity and Jez all ate some deep fried crickets. How they did that.. I have no idea!

Crickets

We visited another temple along the way and were given some bracelets by old lady monks. Sophal said this was good luck!

Saw cashew trees - they look like witches faces with red hats on!

We stayed at the LBN Asian Hotel in Kampong Cham - great views over the Mekong River.

Dinner next to the Mekong River

5th April - Kampong Cham to Kampong Thom.

800 step climb up to a mountain top temple Phnom Santuk! This was a beautiful, quiet and peaceful place. Worth the energy-sapping climb up in the blistering heat!

After a tasty lunch we met up with our guide for the next temple complex - Preikuk. He was an interesting chap who used to be a monk. Cambodia was over 40 degrees most days so we were really struggling with the heat, craving a pool and a cold beer!

Temples being engulfed by fig trees at Preikuk

Ate at a local restaurant - honey chicken with the vegetable 'morning glory' and rice.

We stayed at the Sambor Village Hotel in Kampong Thom - a lovely pool and detached rooms with mosquito nets (heaven).

6th April - Kampong Thom to Siem Reap

Sophal took us to an ancient bridge were some women took photos of us IN FRONT OF A CAR, not the scenic bridge, went to get them framed and asked for money.. WHY??

Declining the photos in front of the car...

Later we stopped off at a floating village and took a boat ride through. This place was beautiful and amazing to think that some people live their whole lives without setting foot on land. We spotted someone 'moving house' too, towing his house by speed boat to somewhere else on the river.. must of not liked the neighbours!

Arrived at our AirBnB in Siem Reap. 3 luxury rooms and a private pool with 24hour service and free breakfasts... this place was heavenly. Jez had red ants on his beef dinner!

7th April -

Chill day! Pool, exploring the local area, chill and much needed beers! In the evening Beth and I enjoyed a surprise from my fam.. the Adams family (insert theme tune).

A gift box full of Cadburys chocolate eggs, Lindors and possibly the greatest cheese known to man, Cornish Cruncher from M&S. A great surprise which made me miss home comforts and a loving family.

8th April -

Today was temple day. Angkor Wat - stunning and amazing place, well worth a visit!

We could see bullet holes along the front walls of the temple.. a sad reminder of the late 70s in Cambodia.

Angkor Wat

We also visited the Bayon Temple and Ta Phrom (Tomb Raider) Temple. Angelina Jolie is very much loved over here. 'Sexiest lips in the world!' according to our guide!

The famous tree from the 2001 movie 'Tomb Raider'

Bayon Temple

In the evening we went to see a traditional Cambodian dance show whilst eating dinner, maybe a tad too relaxing as some of us were falling asleep!

10th April -

Another mountain temple, Beth, Verity and I had a queue of people wanting to take pictures with us (reminders of our fame in India!).

After a trek through the jungle we came across a stunning waterfall and went for a swim!

The waterfall at Kulen Mountain Historical Resort in Phnom Kulen National Park

Next up, the animal conservation centre (Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity) a place where endangered animals were looked after. Here we saw some crazy monkeys showing off for the camera, various turtles, baby leopards and some huge birds!

What a poser!

Dinner at the HardRock Cafe in Siem Reap.. some much needed Western food! They even had a band playing.. Rockstorm, who played some pretty good covers of Nirvana and Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

Did a mosquito bite count - a total of 26! Probably have malaria now.

12th April -

An emotional goodbye to the Spriggs as they were heading on home!

Beth and I moved to another hotel where we reflected on the last couple of weeks and psyched ourselves up for the next step of our adventure... Vietnam!

Hope you've enjoyed all the photos! See you soon for our Vietnam posts!

Love,

B&D

- We booked the hotels through Booking.com - a great site.

- A 1 day temple pass in Siem Reap costs $37 per person and gets you in to all sites in the Angkor Archeological Park (Angkor Wat, Ta Phrom, Bayon and many more).

Enjoying the 4L jug of Angkor beer on Siem Reap's Pub Street

Our driver Sophal - always catching z's in a hammock somewhere!

Rubber plantations

Preikuk temple - covered in fig trees

Loving the pool in Siem Reap!

Lotus flower seeds - tasted like nuts

Reading up on Tottenham's victory over Chelsea... always good!

Bayon temple - there are 216 faces that cover the temple, amazing.