Berry's SEAJ trip Day 31: Meeting up with Stephanie (7/6/15)

After some breakfast I walk around the city some more before meeting up with Rosa Li and Seven (two of my roommates) for lunch. On the way, a friend I met earlier in my trip, Stephanie, gets in town and meets us for lunch after getting settled in the hostel. While eating lunch we decided to meet up with Michele (met in Cambodia) for a Thai cooking class.

Berry on the chopping block. We are ready to get this class started.

Berry enjoyed chopping up some veggies with the meat cleaver.

Berry ready to make some soup with our class.

Our wok before all the goodies go in. Yes Berry I will help you make your dinner cause that is what friends do.

Got to eat some of our cooking before going back for more. This was the soup and the first dish. Those red baskets protect the food from insects. Berry enjoyed this food quite a bit (he better he helped make it).

Berry was helping me crush these herbs and spices. She had us going to town on these things, stating that those who were best at this had no issues finding husbands. Her husband looked up and smiled. It was priceless. 

And now we light everything on fire because why not? That is our teacher Patty next to me. She is showing everyone how to tame the fire.

And this is when I learn, fire cannot be tamed. haha

In theory this was a great idea; in reality, eating a late lunch before a Thai cooking class where you make 4-5
courses was a horrible idea as I could only eat half (if that) of the deliciousness we made. The lady that ran the class (Patty I believe was her name) was an incredibly personable woman with some great cooking skills and even better personality. We all had a great time and even got a little Thai food recipe book to take with us which was nice. After getting back to the main part of town, we head north to the Jazz Co-Op by the north gate (you will see this come up a lot in my writings about CM). We get there and there are people in the street  just listening to the live music coming from this small, cozy establishment. So we go in and realize the upstairs is empty (for whatever reason?) and get some seats overlooking the band while having a beer or two and just enjoying the ambiance of a great gem. Tonight's bands were a cover band playing Toto, journey and some other great music while the second band that we saw played Latin jazz music which was a nice counter to the earlier band. Overall I really enjoyed this place as you get a seemingly good mix of local and foreign people all enjoying the talents of the people in the collective. After they close, we head back to the hostel to get some sleep as tomorrow Steph and I will be heading to a meditation retreat.

View from our seats upstairs. They werent really seats so much as a room with a window we stuck our legs out. Berry was digging the tunes from this place.

Berry found the buffalo. Tis a sign of greatness.

Berry's SEAJ trip Day 30: Heading to Thailand (7/5/15)

Head to airport after breakfast and catch my flight, through Bangkok on Bangkok airways, and on to CM. Bangkok Airways is great, had 2 1h flights and on each one got a hot meal, its airplane food but still you don't see that on our airlines anymore. Get into CM and get to the hostel (Non @ CM) and after checking in, I walk around the city a little bit and get some money while looking at the temples in the area. I then head back to the hostel and meet some roommates before heading out to explore the Sunday night market which is huge covering many streets in the middle of the city.

Berry checking out the night market as the sun goes down behind the temples.

All kinds of food, arts, crafts, etc. After eating to our stomachs content, we eventually get back to the hostel and me and one of my roommates (Rosa Li) talk for a little bit before heading to bed.

Berry's SEAJ trip Day 29: Chill planning day (7/4/15)

Slept in a little as the last few days were long and jam-packed and said bye to Dylan as he headed back to Singapore After that, I met Michele for independence day lunch at the Hard Rock in Siem Reap.

How does one celebrate American independence day over seas? Apparently having lunch at a Hard Rock. :) DJ Berry about to tear it up on the trap set.

This Bud is for you Berry.

This was the most expensive meal of the trip thus far (20$ pp), but its the best way to celebrate our independence day when we are not in the country to blow a part of it up. We go back to the hostel and hang out until she leaves and I begin to make plans for Chiang Mai while trying to locate Robert to hang that night. Meet up with him at his hostel and meet some fellow American ladies (Maddy, Haley and Stephanie) at the bar and we all make plans to hang out and celebrate that night. After dinner, we meet up on pub street and pub crawl around the area at different places (one of which was a temple bar with temple carvings throughout) just chatting with each other and watching people dance in the streets with sparklers. I head out around 1am as I have an early flight to catch.

Berry partying it up on pub street for our last night in town to celebrate Murica!

Berry going clubbing to celebrate 'Murica!

Berry's SEAJ trip Day 28: Our (abridged) epic day (7/3/15)

We arranged a van to take us for this day of exploration through Sam. I got the idea from Mike (Wanderlustmike.com whom I met in Nam who ran the TT charity) Our first stop is Beng Mealea, the lotus temple that had been over run by the jungle so you can really see what the jungle does to the buildings over time. This is also the place where we are able to climb on the temple and explore off the path. We tried to in the main part and the docents scolded us for being off the path. Once we got past them, we were able to climb and explore the rubble on the outskirts which was cool. Even without being able to climb on it, it is cool to see a temple in ruins at the hands of mother nature.

We get there and the rubble is everywhere. Berry wants to to go explore but we stick to the path for now.

Berry and his snake friends. They will always find each other.

Berry surveying the ruins.

Rubble Rubble everywhere.

Dylan was playing hide and seek with Berry. 

Berry staying to the path while in the main area.

We went up on a platform to look at the destruction down below in the front part of the temple.

Looking out the top of one of the walls at the walk in.

Get to the back side and exploration begins. Berry wants to go in that room, so we do.

Climbed up some ruins and Berry stops to look around.

Cmon up Dylan. 

That will be our way out. Lets start making our way down, what do you think Berry?

Berry and I are really getting this model thing down pat! Sultry and provocative.

Begin the climbing team.

Victory! Alright here we come.

We then go to the water temple, Kbal Spean, which is disappointing once again due to the drought – normally the carvings are covered in water and there is a waterfall to enjoy, today neither was the case. After the walk back to the van, we head to the ladies temple, Banteay Srei, which is pretty cool. Nothing too over the top or fascinating, but just a pretty temple with intricate carvings and a nice one to visit if you have the time.

The walk to the water temple was long (1-1.5 mile each way). We stopped to get a picture at a ledge on the way.

The gang and Berry checking out the dried up water bed. When water is flowing over these stones, it is supposed to be stunning.

A close up of one of the stones that should be covered with water.

Temple ahoy Berry! After a little walk, we have made our way to the Women's Temple.

Entrance to the women's temple. Time to go inside and check it out.

More of the design in the women's temple. Wonder where all these temples got their stone from.

One of the many carvings that I enjoyed at this temple. I think the color (instead of the dark gray that most the other temples were) is a main reason I enjoyed this temple so much.

Berry and Dylan enjoying the women's temple artwork

Berry looking over the women's temple before leaving. Really enjoyed this temple for its simplicity while also having amazing carvings.

Unfortunately, we did not have time for the 4th thing in Mike's epic day, the landmine museum which I heard was good so it was sad we couldn't make it to that. We get back to the hostel and we get ready to head to the kids circus which is put on by local school kids training to be acrobats (or something like that). The show is in this small intimate tent and was about 1h long. Was a good show and was worth the visit. After that we decide to walk back into the main part of town and stop at a bar with pool tables and we play some games while having some drinks. After that, we head back to the hostel to play some drinking games which were entertaining playing with people you don't really know.

Berry leaving the circus. Was a nice night for a walk so we walked the mile or 2 back into town.

Playing some partner pool with Team Berry.

Berry's SEAJ trip Day 27: Sunrise and temple exploration (7/2/15)

Woke up at 4 to get to Angkor Wat for the sunrise. Had a friend recommend a tuktuk driver named Sam, whom we used and was great. At Angkor, we set up on the SW side to get away from many of the crowds  and for what seemed to be better views. We had a guide ask us if we wanted his services, and for 15$ we agree to get a historical perspective on the temple which was worth it. We walked around then found Sam so we can grab an early lunch before going to the Ta Prom temple (the one from tomb raider movie) which was cool to see how the trees have grown within the walls of the temple.

Getting lost in the darkness. 

Berry is able to start making out some shapes and notice his surroundings.

Panorama from the outside. Still got a ways to walk but still pretty way out here.

The temple is starting to take shape as the sun comes up and we get closer. 

Berry wanted to go explore this nearby building in the dark to see what it is like. Was kinda cool being in a temple ruin as it was still dark. 

Berry is getting excited about the sun starting to come up. 

We wanted to get a picture while the sun was still down a bit but the temple is starting to show itself.

That is Angkor Wat in all its glory. And Berry in all of his.

Beautiful! 

The required reflection shot (however with the water level being low, it made it a little more challenging).

Panorama of the temple. We clearly were not the only one here this early.

Sun is starting to breach the temple.

People started to go in. I wanted to sit here and enjoy this a little bit longer.

Berry had the same idea.

One of us taking a picture of another of us. This was one of those side temple spaces.

Not a bad view from the window. 

Berry pointed out that we came from all the way over there. Extremely large complex. It did use to be a huge ancient civilization so makes sense.

More intricate stone work. Love it!

Zoom in on the top parts.Scary lil critters. 

Wall of story telling (or whatever they call it). This is a giant mural carved into the wall telling stories important to this group's history. 

Our group (with guide) looking at the different stories as he talks about them. 

Berry took some time to look back out over the grounds.

But then he focused back on the wall. Here is a close up of the art on the wall. 

We start ascending and this is one of the doorways. Simple was not in these people's vocabulary. 

Water basin or Sacrificial pit - you decide.

Monk popping a squat. 

Even their support beams in the interior get carved artistically.

Berry called dibs on the garage apartment. Had to break it to him there was no garage.

These people seemed to enjoy their busty ladies. 

Backside of the Wat.

They had to gate off many of these staircases to keep people off. The world is their jungle gym.

Zoom in and just appreciate the fine stone work done. I have never tried so much as chiseling a ramp out of stone and these guys are doing this. Respect!

Cool little bird paying us a visit. 

After waiting our turn to go up to the top, we get up and look at the views around. 

Berry looking back out where we came from. What is that yellow thing?

Ahhh a hot air balloon. cool. 

The pathway in from parking lot to outer temples to the main one. 

That car ruins the old timey feel of this picture. temple and carriages, then a car. Good job camry!

On our walk to the next temple, Berry stops to do some tree swinging.

I decided he was having too much fun so I had to join. 

Ive never seen the movie but does this look familiar to anyone? Berry you cannot climb that tree.

The more notable side of the building. Berry is a big Croft fan.

Renovations/upkeep has to happen on new and old buildings alike. 

Ok Berry I will take a picture with you in front of your building.

Ruins of the temple that used to stand here. I blame Lara for blowing it up. Shame!

Berry and I agree, these trees that use the temple to grow are impressive. Not sure how they started but they are unstoppable!

One of the temple entrances.

Berry getting a glimpse of the outside of the temple.

Berry and his giant trees. Started to feel like he was turning into the Lorax.

This was a pretty intense looking tree. That root system had Berry amazed.

Berry's gang (we actually started a facebook group called the Berry's and still keep in touch - thank you Berry).

Stopped at and climbed another temple as we were driving around. 

One of the motor entrances/bridges in the temple complex.

You think that face is creepy, wait for the next temple.

We then go to Bayon temple (temple of faces) which has many face carvings all over the temple. Ate another lunch a little in the afternoon before hitting some of the outer circuit temples; the floating temple was disappointing as there was a drought and no water was there, and the other temples were much of the same.

Berry and the gang excited to see the next temple.

This is the Bayon temple (believe it is referred to as the 1000 face temple). As you can see all the towers have faces carved into them.

Berry and the statue matching. This was the first level of the temple. 

Pillars had awesome stone work (like we have seen in the previous temples). Glad they havent eroded.

One of the bigger stone carvings at the temple.

Berry taking a seat as we continue to explore the many faces.

Berry posing with the a close up of the face.

The entrance ways had these serpent stone rails guiding people in. 

Berry walking the platform to the last temple of the day,  Neak Pean. 

Usually this has a water moat all around it but with the recent drought the country was facing, clearly water is scarce.

We then head back and decide to swim in the pool at Robert's hostel which was nice and cold but has tons of mosquitoes flying over head when in the pool, not near the pool just when in the pool. Have a couple drinks ($0.50 beers or 2 for 1 cocktails as it is happy hour) before we go back to the hostel to change before going to grab some food at a place near the old market that has menus the size of a dictionary without any foreseeable organization or thought to it. They too have 0.50$ beers so we play never have I ever while enjoying some cheap drinks. Us guys then go to get a massage which is weird for me as you put on scrubs to be massaged in. We all fell asleep in our massages after the long day. We then make our way back to the hostel to get some rest for the epic day tomorrow.