Flew from Siem Reap to Pakse, very noticeable change in temperature and humidity, hot and sticky. Then on to Siem Reap were George had a driver waiting for us at the airport, George is a great advance tour guide!!
George had a guide and driver arranged for Anghor Wat so we quickly got unpacked and headed out for sunset at one of the ruins. The next day it was up at 4:00 and a full day that started with sunrise at the main temple. Amazing ruins and the size of the area is hard to imagine without being there, it must have been quite a thriving complex in its heyday. 24 hours and we're templed out but it was worth the trip to see it.
After Laos, Cambodia is a sad country, they've had more disasters and troubles than I could imagine. Half the population died during the Pol Pot years (1975-1979), its hard to imagine that someone could do that to their own people. Add in various wars with neighbors and the bombing by the US during the Vietnam war and you have a recent history that's devasted the entire country. More bombs were dropped per capita in Cambodia than any country in history and enuf land mines to keep the land mine cleaners busy forever.
I'm going to read up a bit more on the history of Cambodia but we decided to skip Pnom Penh, it's main attraction is the killing fields and the war museum and we felt bad enuf just hearing about it and seeing the people in Siem Reap.
So we're heading back to Thailand.