Empires of the East expedition diary: Update Three

Angela and Charlotte write...
"Week five was the second week of the project phase and all seemed to be going well. The task this week was to construct an extension to the Life and Hope Association’s existing building and refurbish the monks’ office. This task was slightly different this week because we would be using bricks and mortar instead of wood and nails but Indochina 1 were ready and willing to take up the task.

It started off well enough with the walls going up in a few days (with a little help from the monks) and the scaffolding being made up in an afternoon. However, the task then took a turn for the worse with the need to scrape the walls ready for repainting. With the paint being that thick and flaky we were advised to use chisels and axes to scrape the walls. Perhaps a little crude but this method came highly recommended from the monks, and when in Rome...

With the walls sufficiently chipped and battered and the team covered in paint dust and sweat, the painting took place and the upstairs was complete! However as with all things in Cambodia, time moves a little slower and as I write this the building is still not finished. As the roof materials have only just turned up, we have overrun our allotted time on this task and therefore must move on to more pressing concerns. Nevertheless, Indochina 1 will graft like we know how and finish the task in our spare time.

After five weeks in Cambodia and much anticipation, the group finally went to see the famous temples here in Siem Reap. Using the VentureCo budget, we bought a three day pass and spent the first two days travelling around in a mini-bus with a tour guide. With the guide we did all the main :it was fast paced, but worth every minute that we spent out there.

Day one started off with a visit to the amazing city of Angkor Tohm, this is not to be confused with the most famous temple Angkor Wat. This is a city built by Jayavarman VII and consists of multiple temples and terraces each more splendid than the last. The first we visited was the temple Bayon, which is famous for having over two hundred faces of the King carved into stone and various bas-reliefs depicting the daily life of the Khmer.

Afterwards we toured around the city, running up and down temples and working up quiet a sweat. Most of the temples have little or no shade and are made of black stone, very uncomfortable! For this reason, we decided to come back to Siem Reap to recharge and spend the hottest hours there. After a refreshing nap, the group headed out to the farthest temple called Banteay Srei to look at the gorgeous carvings there and see the sunset at Pre Rup. A lovely way to end a lovely day.

Day two was an early start. We went to see sunrise at Angkor Wat. A very worthwhile experience, except when your alarm goes off at 4.30am and you spend the next 15 minutes cursing it's existence. Once there however, it is an amazing experience. Angkor Wat appears like a spectre, emerging from the night and as it does, it sounds as if the world is reviving from a deep trance. Maybe an overly poetic way to express it, but it left much of the group speechless.

Afterwards we hurriedly ate breakfast and toured around Angkor Wat. Then it was on to Ta Prohm, which you might know from such films as 'Tomb Raider'. Here the forest is swallowing up the temple and as you explore the rubble and niches in the giant tree roots, you cannot help but feel like Angelina Jolie, well according to some! Once again we went back to Siem Reap for lunch before heading off to see Neak Pean and Prah Khan and another sunset. This one on Phnom Bakheng, though sadly with what seemed to be 7000 other tourists.

Finally there was day three. Those who were templed-out were able to stay back in Siem Reap and relax before another long week of work. Some went into town and received spa treatments and others caught up on emails. Others of us chose to use the day at the temples to its fullest, going out at sunrise once again and heading out to the farthest temples. Some chose to take electric bikes out for the morning and travel around the temples that way and others by tuk tuk.

All in all it was an amazing three days, but many however are not looking forward to going back to work - exploring temples is very hard work!"

Click here >> for Khmer lessons and temple visits with monks
Click here >> for Visiting Sihanoukville and project work begins...
Click here >> for building work and Siem Reap
Click here >> for lessons with the monks
Click here >> for blessing ceremonies as the building work ends...
Click here >> for Phnom Penh and sailing the Mekong



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