bus trip from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (May 26)

We got up and set our suitcases outside our door again.  They were picked up and delivered to our bus.  We piled in and headed for Siem Reap – a 6-hour drive without stops, but we made several.  We left at 8:00 and got to our hotel at 4:30.

Our first stop was at a woman’s house who took us out to her backyard where we searched for tarantulas – seriously.  She found a large one, and she already had a bucket full of them, as well as a few scorpions.  Before she dropped this one in the bucket, she showed us how to clip them so that they were no longer poisonous.  Then we went back to her front yard where she cooked them in oil and garlic until they were crispy.  Then – you guessed it.  We tasted them -- seriously.  I only had one tarantualla leg – quite crispy and quite tasty.  Harold thought they were great and had several – seriously. We also tasted some rice wine that had tarantuallas soaking in it.  Supposedly this is really good for aches and pains. . . .

a tarantula hole.  It was covered by leaves.  She used a twig to brush the leaves aside and searched inside the hole to see if there was a tarantula big enough to eat.  The first one "we" found was small; the second one was large enough to eat. . . .

clipping off the poisonous fangs

She cooked up some scorpions too.

Harold still lives after at least one tarantula and several scorpions.  I had one tarantula leg and no scorpions.

Our second stop was at a group of artisans who were all a part of the same family.  They made decorative copper, silver, and brass pots, plates, containers, and various other decorative items.  Quite an involved process from the flat sheet all the way to the finished product.  We saw all the steps.  Julie bought a brass graceful container that had a lid.  This container holds water and is used by a couple who is getting married.  They put scented water in the container and sprinkle it on everyone.  The container then has spiritual significance for the couple, and they keep it forever.

Lunch was in a thatched roof restaurant by the water.  They also had a large shop; Julie bought a blouse for herself and a couple of post cards for Quinn and Julian.

Last stop was at a bridge built in the 12th century.  Quite an amazing structure, and it’s still solid although no large vehicles can go across it.  The rock base was quite similar to the Incan mortarless structures we saw in Peru.

Our hotel is beautiful – the Angkor Regency, large rooms, great swimming pool, beautiful lobby, etc.

We went out for dinner, and Rath, our guide, gave us a bit of a narrated tour of the city of Siem Reap as we were driving.  Quite a touristy city, but it’s going to be a great location for the next four days.  Sat with Jeanette and Hal at dinner. and had a nice time talking with them.

Then it was home to bed.