Life outside the Temples - Siem Reap Style

So many landmines...So many victims..this is the real Cambodia.

With our long awaited sleep in out the way (for Sabrina that means waking up after 6.30 a.m.) we decided that today was going to be a quiet day seeing what Siem Reap has to offer outside the mecca that is Angkor Temples.

Eventually leaving our quaint guest house about 10 a.m. I found a pamphlet which told us to visit the Cambodian Landmines museum. On the map which was so far out of scale it was crazy, what looked like a 15-20 minute walk turned out to be a 45 minute slog though the backstreets of Siem Reap. As we ambled along the Siem Reap River we were once again turning a stroll into a mission to find this place. We eventually found the museum whch consisted of a few wooden huts, trees and landmines everywhere. This museum was due to the work of one man: Mr Aki Wa who was captured as a child by the Khmer Rouge and taught how to make and place landmines among the Cambodian countryside. When he was about 15 he was captured by the Vietnamese Army (who came to liberate Cambodia from the Khmer Rouge) and then turned his attention to finding and destroying landmines. His method of choice? A big stick with a knife attached to the end.

Not only does he go all aover Cambodia and continue his search for landmines but he also set up an orphanage for children affected by these horrible machines of war. One such child came with Sab and I around the grounds and explained the different types of mines that were used in Cambodia. His right arm was blown off just under the elbow and he lost his left eye due to the workings of a Chinese made plastic mine which was about the same size as a Coke can cut in half. His story is just one of many here in Cambodia and the sight of all these minds boggled me. How could a country and its leaders force such pain on is own citizens?

The museum was also eye opening not only due to the victims pain but that the fact that as of December 2004, the United States, Singapore and China did not sign the ban on the use and production of landmines. That really pissed me off.

After the museum Sab and I actually directed out Tuk Tuk driver to our next destination. We were on our way to a charity that had blind man massage and you paid donations for the massage. It was one of the most relaxing massages i have ever had and Sab didn't want to get off the table which shows how good they were. The adjoining exhibition showed how this charity helped the lives of children around the country and it made me wish i was in a position of wealth to give large donations to there tireless workers.

Our ride into Siem Reap took us to the old market area which specialised in really smelly foods and trinkets of all shapes and sizes. I didn't find anything i like so we made our way to the ATM to get some more money out. I hit the wrong button on my PIN number and the machine swallowed my card! I thought you got three strikes and you are out. So before we visit the Angkor temples i have to go into town and say "can i have my Mastercard back please?"

With the afternoon rain starting to fall the Grande Cafe was our pitstop for a little while whereby i ate one of the biggest desserts ever in my life. It was crossaunt bread filled with vanilla ice cream and covered in whipped cream, almonds and hot chocolate fudge. Needless to say i destroyed it and my sugar count is probably off the charts right now. I needed a haircut and i found a place that shaved most of the length of my hair off for 2 U.S. dollars. Not the best haircut i've had but not the worst.

So tomorrow it's off the the reason we are here...the famous temples of Angkor. I'll try and get some great photos for you all to see.

Have a great week everyone.