Commando in Cambodia

I wish I had an exciting skivvies story to tell. Actually I take that back, with Bangkok fresh in my brain that thought just horrified me. All I know is I gave Air Asia my bag with 14 pairs of  underwear and upon my arrival in Cambodia I only have 3: the pair I am currently wearing and the two in the used clothing items bag. Maybe this is the universe's way of telling me I need to continue to cleanse myself of the material goods which bind me? 

Underwear aside, I woke up early this morning to get to the airport and I am confident that my cab was stolen or at least "borrowed". The guy definitely checked more than one car before he arrived at one and then announced I should get in.  In an attempt to get to the airport quickly,  I kept my mouth shut on his operation of the vehicle. It didn't really matter that he kept started in 2nd gear and grumbling that the car didn't work. I arrived at DMK airport and I had a seafood green curry omelet that was amazing (first mall food then airport food. I may hit gastro-nirvana if I ever eat in a real restaurant).

This was followed by the purchasing of bug repellent with 50% DEET (which for the record burns a lot and for quite a while once it is applied #thatcantbegood).  My hour flight to Siem Reap was uneventful as was my interaction with immigration. My hotel had free airport pick up which turned out to be a very nice guy and a bright orange tuk tuk. 

For many years when I have spoken to anyone about traveling I have talked every time about two places: Cambodia and Peru (I am working on the latter). From the tuk tuk to the night market Cambodia so far has been even better than the vision in my head. 

Cambodia is the size of Oklahoma. It is a country of 15 million people whose average income is 944 dollars a year. This makes it the 3rd poorest country in Asia (Thailands per capita is quoted at 5480 a year). According to Air Asia's sky magazine half of the current Cambodian population is under the age of 15. Fun fact (as if the others weren't fun enough): It's flag has Angkor Wat on it which is unique because it is the only flag which has building. 

Ok one more (this one matters) In Cambodia they pierce the ear of little boys with undescended testicles on the side that needs to come down because they believe it helps with the descent. Is it possible for the last year I have been doing it all wrong? 

I arrived 3 hours early for my 2 pm checkin so after my "welcome beverage" (something cold and Limey) I decided to leave my bags and begin touring temples. Today I went to five. The first temple is where Tomb Raider was filmed.

This one I saw mostly in the pouring rain, however, I was ready with rain gear and Mickey the Munich umbrella (purchased in college in my first serious travel downpour) due to my experience at the Khmer ruins in Vietnam.

My two favorite temples were Ta Prohm, a serene and magical temple that the jungle has overgrown, and Bayon, 37 towers with massive faces of Lokesvara, lord who looks down and embodies all the passion of all the Buddhas. 

Ta Prohm was a Buddhist monastery built around 1186. It houses 12 thousand, employees 80 thousand and supplied provisions and medicines to 120 hospitals.

Bayon, a Buddhist temple, was built in the late 12th early 13th century and was intended to embrace all of the religions in the kingdom at that time.

I ended my day at the Phnom Bakheng mountain temple to watch the sunset followed by a delicious dinner of amok (A mild fish curry) and wandering around the night markets in Siem Reap.

I haven't been here long, but so far Cambodia has proven itself to be charming, romantic, and magical