Traditional xylophone or ‘Roneat ek’
After an exciting sightseeing exploration of the blue sandstone ruins of Beng Mealea, our tour bus took us to a very nice restaurant in a rural setting. It was a pleasant spot, a rustic hi-set timber dwelling with large open rooms, quiet and cool. Outside the window openings birds had built nests, they hung from the tree branches in interesting shapes. The name of the birds escapes me now, the birds apparently return here every year to nest.
The table at the restaurant set with brightly colored serviettes, sparkling glasses and flowers; the food – fresh, light and tasty, ideal in this humid climate. The young son of the restaurateur played the traditional xylophone or boat-shaped Roneat ek with a great degree of skill, it made for pleasant listening during our meal.
More sightseeing when our tour guide detoured for us to view the river quarry. The sandstone blocks were cut from the river bed, floated down-river to Tonle Sap and then to Siem Reap for building the temples at Angkor.
Traditional home – countryside – Siem Reap
Sightseeing on the way back to Siem Reap; always interesting to spot traditional houses on stilts with thatched walls, sitting in the lush green rice field; grey buffaloes wading knee-deep in water. 
In Siem Reap the rain stops intermittently and then comes down in torrents. Streets are awash again in the low-lying areas near the river.
Streets are awash
Typical street scene and architecture Siem Reap
Les Artisan D’Angkor
Our first stop in Siem Reap, Les Artisan D’Angkor, here disadvantaged youth are taught traditional Cambodian crafts and do some really fine carvings in sandstone, engraved metal work, and paintings. Les Artisan reproduces special pieces for restoration of the ancient temples in Angkor.
A brief visit to the local food market for fresh meat,mushrooms,spices and other foods, definitely ‘food for thought’.
Sausages for breakfast – anyone?
Nearby a modern fruit market, the notorious pungent smelling durian fruit and bright pink dragon fruit quite predominant, as well as red bananas, different varieties of mangoes and other tropical fruits.
Spikey foul-smelling Durian fruit
Dragon Fruit and asian mangoes
Tonight our last night in Siem Reap, looking forward to smorgasbord at an up-market restaurant featuring entertainment from the Apsara dance show. Beautiful to watch. The classical dancers so graceful and exotic in their beautiful costumes and golden headdresses; plus traditional folk dancing, very energetic,colorful and fun to watch.
A delicious smorgasbord and wonderful entertainment to finish with on our last night in Siem Reap.
Home to Oz
After breakfast tomorrow we are taken to the airport for our flight home to Australia. An enthralling two weeks of sightseeing in Cambodia with Wendy Wu tours. When I look back now on our itinerary over those two-weeks I have to marvel at just how much ground we covered between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. So many memories to look back on and enjoy. An amazing journey through a wonderful country!!
Related Posts:
- Angkor steps in history angkor wat siem reap
- banteay-srei-citadel-of-beauty-exquisite-carvings-siem-reap
- Angkor Pyramid temple – Pre Rup – Siem Reap
- giant-strangler-fig-crushes-gallery-ta-prohm
- Royal green square elephant terrace leper king terrace
- bayon kingdom of kings siem reap
- Angkor Thom|faces,kings,gods and demons-siem reap
- lake tonle sap floating villages
- Sankae river boat cruise stung sangkae river
- Wat Banan Battambang Province
- Sightseeing by tuk tuk the province of Battambang
- fun in the sun rural countryside battambang province
- fast and furious ride on a bamboo train cambodia
- potters pots and pottery the province of chhnang cambodia
About Lyn
Speak Your Mind