Don't panic...Houston, we have a problem...

This will be the last post until we pick this trip up again next year.  There is a small problem that means we have to return to Canada.  That doesn't mean you've heard the last of me though!

Thanks to everyone who has followed, posted appreciative comments, and sent funny emails saying hello! 

Like any bad rash, I'LL BE BACK!!!

Mr. Corona

I tell ya, this country is in ruins....

I've seen some old buildings in my days...even lived in some...but they got some old shit in this country, let me tell you!

 

This is the inner temple of one big temple...ANGKOR WAT...the mother of all temples...considered to be THE largest religious building in the WORLD!  This sucker is as old as some of my new underwear...we're talking 1000 years!!!  We got here at 7:00am...the place ALREADY looks like an ant hill!  People are all over it!  If I could make this bigger you could see the tour buses lined up outside the main gate...

...and see all those crazy people coming in...its supposed to be tranquil...ya, kinda Led Zeplin on acid tranquil!!!

 This is the least crowded pic!   Remember, this is 7am...most of these people are already coming OUT!  I think of tranquil like this...

 

...and like this...

 

 

...hey, that reminds me, last night we had the dyslexic version of tranquil...the Festival!...Bon Om Tuk, and by the way, Happy Bon Om Tuk!  Full moon, cold beer, tidal change, cold beer, burning stuff in the river, cold beer...BURNING STUFF IN THE RIVER!!!!!  It looked like something right out of Apocalypse Now!

 

 

...it was MADNESS, I tell ya...MADNESS!!!  Cool...very cool!  So, back to the temples.  Cambodia is really huge on temples...most date back to the 10th-13th century...like I said, older than some of my underwear!

...these are temples that have sat in the jungle for hundreds of years unattended...and nature is only starting to take back their presence!

They are incredibily delicate, intricate...and a bunch of "cates" I don't even know about!

 

 

 

 Sometimes huge trees strangle them like a giant octopus...

 

 ...but usually it's just a slow change that quietly dismantles...

 

...it's sad and beautiful at the same time.

Siem and Reap...Kenny Rogers...I think...

I know, you're shocked that I found another beer...RESEARCH...RESEARCH!!!!  If nobody is here to help me, I've got to do it all on my own!  Now some damned fool has come up with the idea that Cassandra should write the true version of what's happening here...which means you get to read this twice, BECAUSE this IS the truth!!!  NO, SERIOUSLY...would I lie to you?  Ya well, you and the horse you rode in on!  I am an objective observer...whatever that means.  Look, see this

...didn't I tell you there was a new beer?  Ye of little faith!  I'm hurt that someone thinks I lie...I was hoping for more!  HAHAHAHAHAHA...barman, another cold one please!!!  Did I mention I'm back out by the pool...you remember...the SPECTACULAR POOL WITH COLD BEER!  Now, would I lie about THAT!  hahahahahahahahahaha  So, what's it like where you are...another buzz kill!  We went out to investigate Siem Reap today...found the old market...

...they sell everything, all the time!  A German woman tried to pick me up...Cassandra killed her.  Then we discovered that there was a boat racing festival on...

...so there were floats that float...

...kids selling stuff...

...and spectators waiting...

 

...and there should have been these...

...but after 2 hours waiting on the bridge...ZIPPO!!!  So we went to the 6-11...that's right, one before the 7-11, and got some new beer.  RESEARCH I tell ya...RESEARCH!!!

Siem Reap...(sounds like...aw hell, you figure it out!)

Here at the Prince D'Angkor, we don't discuss what the little people are doing...yes, yes...could be raining or snowing...but THAT WOULD BE SOMEPLACE ELSE!!!!

Ha ha ha...not here...I write this from a comfy lounger next to the pool...THE CRYSTAL CLEAR, SPECTACULAR  F------ POOL!!!  

 Oh, they just brought my frosty Angkor beer, with a frosted mug, and my wonderfully delicious Pad Thai for lunch!  How is it wherever you are?  Don't answer that, it'll kill my buzz.  Time for another cool one!  Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...now, where was I?  Oh ya, gloating!!!

hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We left Battambang (sounds like...hahahahahahahaha!) this morning at 7:45...by BUS, just in case you think we are being extravagant.  We got here just before noon...oh wait...waiter! another cool one please!  hahahahahahaha!!!  Battambang was good...saw a bunch of good stuff, ate some pretty good stuff too, and drank some pretty good cervezas...I'm starting to like it here...only 2 more months of this!  Anyway, here are some pics...time to have a beer in the pool...did I mention an ICE COLD F------ BEER IN THE POOL!!!!  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Please keep your comments to yourself!

 This woman is cutting up fish caught in this river

 This is just a cute little guy somewhere that we stopped.

 The bamboo railway...ya, really...the platforms are bamboo and they use it!

 One legged chicken...

 The abandoned Battambang railway station...

 Cute little Battambang kids...later they tried to pickpocket me!

THE BAR IS OPEN!

Bada Bing, Bada Boom....Battambang!

Ok...first we have to establish that there could be name changes coming!

 

 It's damned hot here in Cambodia, and a man can work up a mighty thirst!  Personally, I'm kinda fond of Mr. Angkor, but Mr. Tiger sounds like it's right out of Rocky 27, the senile years!  Mr. ABC is too hard to spell, and Mr. Crown has it's own merit...research dammit, RESEARCH!  These Cambodians seem to be a hard working lot, and they take religion pretty seriously.

...they seem to work in this squatting position a lot...

 

 ...but the kids seem happy...

...back to this religious thing...

...seems like a nice enough temple...

...but what the hell is going on here!

After seeing that I wanted a drink, but I stumbled across this nice young monk...

...he speaks 3 languages and teaches marketing in Chinese!  I think he thought I was Santa or something, because he liked rubbing my belly...hmmmmm...maybe a drinkiepoo!  Or maybe I'll get my teeth fixed

Do you think this is some kind of military installation?

It's time to hit the sack...this grand gentleman was in the restaurant at breakfast...handsome, isn't he?