Cambodia
I returned to Cambodia in 2015 because I wanted to take more photos of Banteay Srei one of the prettiest temples in the Angkor Wat complex. It is much further out of town than the larger group of temples. It was dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva and is often called the “woman’s temple. Banteay Srei means citadel of woman or citadel of beauty. The carvings are really unique and minuscule. When I was there in 2013 I was one of very few tourists going to that site but unfortunately it rained heavily while I was there and I could not take many photos. It is such a beautiful temple that I had to go back but this time the crowds had arrived and the temple was heavily roped. It was difficult to take photos due to the many tourists.
Riding along the dusty roads round Angkor Wat on my old fashioned upright bicycle to catch the late afternoon sun was fun. However in midday the sun is searing and there is no shade so I chose to spend those hours swimming in an Olympic size (OK nearly Olympic size) swimming pool.
Siem Reap had grown as a city dramatically. The floating village Tonle Sap had shrunk as many people probably sailed away to avoid the constant tours photographing their every move.
Phnom Pehn is a bustling thriving city centre with markets selling food tourist souvenirs, tuk-tuk drivers, street food and a hotchpotch of modern buildings, French colonial houses, Golden Pagodas and ancient falling down buildings. Wonderful restaurants and cafes abound and the Mekong river floats past.
I also revisited the Killing Fields and this time the beggars had disappeared. It was really distressing to find limbless war victims begging outside the site. This is a deeply moving grave yard.
Sihanoukville has some pretty beaches but it is better to go to the islands offshore as the water is none too clean.
Kampot, where the pepper comes from, is a pretty little place and I also visited Kep which is very close to Kampot. Kampot has a lovely National Park nearby.
