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Cambodia 2005

All images Š2005 Laurie & Kairen Wilson

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Open to visitors after many decades of civil war, this trip to Cambodia offered us a real insight into this spectacular country. In the south we took boats along the amazing Angkorian canals, and spent a day on the sea, stopping at virgin tropical islands and beaches. We visited the north to see dolphins, sipped sunset drinks at colonial riverside towns, and travelled down the Mekong.

The major highlight of this break was the magnificent Khmer temple complex of Angkor. We spent several days exploring this stunning and extensive site which sprawls through the dense jungle, over an area of 60 square miles. The intricately carved temples mostly date back to the 11th, 12th and 13th Centuries.

Phnom Penh The capital city of Cambodia (Kampuchea), at the junction of the Mekong and Sab rivers, in the southern part of the country. The city was badly damaged and its population greatly reduced (20%) during civil war in the mid-1970s, rebuilding began in the 1980s. The average age in the country is 19. Royal Palace	We arrived in the city minus one of our bags which wasn't good for the start of an eight week trip. Would Kairen have to wear Laurie's Y-fronts all the way?
	Chilling out in the bar.... 'well my bag arrived OK!'
Wat Phnom Our first Wat.
	Sign on supermarket door!
Texting home is a challenge for Laurie...bless!	National museum of Arts This museum houses many statues and artifacts salvaged from Angkor


Yes..we had a wireless internet connection in our $50 per night hotel room.	As an ex French colony Cambodia has retained the tradition of wonderful fresh baguettes. These were to be our staple lunch, together with bananas for the next two weeks
Angkor Borei We took boats at Takeo to travel the ancient Angkorian canal (romantically named 'Canal No 15) to the museum containing the few remnants of the ancient city of Angkor Borei.	Eak our local guide for the whole trip.
Life along the canal

	The children were just lovely everywhere we went. They smiled, waved and were happy. 50% of the population (13m) are under 19 years old.
Do I look sexy?
Mariola, Gizegorz (Gregor), Clare & Agnes...some of our traveling companions.

	Kampot Is the principal town of Kampot Province, it is a shallow-water port lying on a narrow but fertile coastal plain between the Damrei mountain range and the Gulf of Thailand, some 135 km (85 mi) south-west of the capital Phnom Penh Kampot is the centre of an agricultural region that cultivates Cambodian black pepper, rambutans (a form of soapberry), durians, and coconuts. It is also one of the major rice-producing areas of Cambodia
The Bamboo Light Cafe..from which we watched the sunset.	Fay & Ian
Fran & Lesley	Markku
Chris & Kairen	Gene bear hits the bottle!
Clare & Agnes	Sunset over the Elephant Mountains