We live in San Francisco, California. Will is an emergency medicine physician and Karen is a pediatrician. Maya, Olivia and Audrey attend a performing arts elementary school. We have started this blog at the onset of a sabbatical to Bhutan as members of Health Volunteers Overseas.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

cambodia

We had delayed our Cambodian adventure due to epic flooding (the worst in decades for an area known for flooding), but finally made it to Siem Reap for the last week of our trip.  Our days quickly settled into a routine that focused on cultural exploration and relaxation. Mornings were spent wandering the temples of Angkor Wat.






Angkor Wat, the 8th wonder of the world,  is the largest religious structure in the world.  Built under the reign of Suryavarman II in the early 12th century  it is a marvel of engineering.  Built on a flood plain and on a sandy foundation, it is surrounded by a huge moat 5km in perimeter and 200 meters wide.  This ingenious design is not  really for protection but uses the weight of the water in the moat to keep the  sand from squirting out from under this  massive structure.    





The Angkor area was the largest metropolitan area in the world until the industrial revolution.

                               




 Before a visit from the Auge...


                                       
                                            And after!!!!!

                                           









The best way to see the temples on a hot day.












Willy and his girls..





And for something completely different....


 Silk worms







We had the opportunity to visit a home/school for children whose parent are unable to care for them.  There are  many similar organizations, some better than others.  We were delighted to see how well these children were being nurtured.











Feeding time at the hotel.


In the heat of the afternoons, we enjoyed the amazing saltwater pool at our hotel.

A little shopping in the night markets was followed by a family foot massage each night before bed.




All in all, it was the perfect balance of pampering, culture and gluttony.



And finally,  pigs on a motorcycle,



See you soon


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