Day 21, 5 October Roka village monk visit
Up at the usual 7 am today then breakfast and today we are visiting a village where the monks live. They all practice Buddhism so it was fascinating to see. First impressions weren’t great though as we were tied up right next to what look like a rubbish tip. The attitude in Cambodia and Vietnam seems to be to dump rubbish and not pick it up, but apparently that is just the way of life here. The people themselves are always so clean, even with basic facilities.
The crew actually dug some steps for us to walk up the bank and we went to the Roka Koang Temple complex. They have a monk chanting on a loudspeaker so loud, so it reaches all of the community. Going into the temple, you take off your shoes and hat and have your shoulders and knees covered to show respect. We met two Buddhist monks, one was 17 years and the other 22 years old. There are so many practices – they sit on the floor cross-legged and men can touch them but not women, because they are all celibate. Actually our tour guide said he was a monk for 4 years, but now because he isn’t celibate, he has left it and said monks don’t usually stay in practice, for their whole lives. We were able to sit with them and they did some chanting which was fantastic to hear and then they gave us or what they name a ‘happy bracelet’! They bless the bracelet as they put it on you, woman wear it on the left hand and men on the right. They gave me 4 extras to take back for our grandbabies, which he blessed as well– So special.
After that we walked through the village – past the church where they were all getting blessings and the communal food was all laid out – this is very much a village that live together. They had cars so it isn’t too basic, especially compared to some of the villages we have been to. One of the monks was on his phone when we arrived ha ha!
The kids are lovely and get to practice their English yelling out hello and shaking hands with the men. The men who were sitting in the marketplace were calling out hello too, they are more outgoing and friendly than the women, who might give you a shy smile, The kids are delightful :-). We walked through the market – there were live fish sitting out of water and crabs - that sort of thing, plus fresh fruit and veggies. We have been lucky this morning – this is the first day it hasn’t been searingly hot although it was getting up there by the time we left. There is a village visit this afternoon but is a 1 km walk each way, so a lot of people aren’t going.
They had a presentation and talk on the region at 11 am – they are always really informative.
We were initially going to go to the village and school visit in the afternoon but the heat and humidity ramped up again, and in the end Graeme said he thought it would just be too hot for us and sounds like he was right as even the Australians from really hot areas said that humidity was something else again. And apparently there was a power outage in the school so when they visited it was insanely hot inside the classrooms. Didn’t seem to affect the kids but the 1km walk there and back was felt by all the passengers who went. I did go and see the tour guide before hand as I had bought a big bag of individual toothbrushes and toothpaste as a gift for the children, so he gave those to the teacher..
We watched the men practising their sport, similar to dragon boating. It’s very big here and people come with hundreds of teams and from all around the provinces. It is quite something to watch.A quiet afternoon reading and sitting outside on the balcony alternating cold and hot! We had a nice beer sitting out there as well and Graeme caught up on some of the F1 highlights. He subscribes to the F1 TV but regardless, he couldn’t get access in Cambodia! So he just watched the race leaders names change on what he could see. A nice dinner and a quiet evening.
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| The entrance to the village, lots of rubbish everywhere in Cambodia |
The men in the village sit together in the markets
The kids are gorgeous
The central place villagers where the community meet to eat and worship
Day 22, 6 Oct to Siam Reap
Got up this morning is it was a short boat ride to our final destination on the ship – Siam Reap. We could see all the male crew members hoisting our suitcases onto their shoulders and walking up a narrow path they had made out of plywood from the boat up the hill to where the bus sat! Felt for them because they are heavy I’m sure!
They split us into two groups and two buses, We definitely got the best one – it was pimped out in pink curtains and frilly bits on the windows ha ha! We decided to sit down the back as we could spread out, knowing that it was a long trip today in the bus, and if I could lay back, it’s better for my neck pain. Worked out perfect and lots of the single guys had their own row as well.
Took my pillow with me – trusty pillow has been all over the world many times, I always wrap it in two pillowcases so I can change it as I go along! So we just sat and then I lay down and listened to music – a lovely way to pass the time and look at the window at the scenery. There were lots of little shops and lots and lots of Brahman bulls which they all seem to have here, tethered by a rope usually to a ring in their nose. They don’t seem to be able to move much at all but all seemed happy– We were told they used to have them for their milk but now it’s more for the meat, although looking at them they are pretty bloody boney! There are lots of dogs that just wander around everywhere here and they look quite a lot like a dingo with the orange colouring and all but one I have seen. have not been fixed so I sure that increases the population - dogs just roam everywhere in Vietnam and Cambodia.. I haven’t touched any because rabies is a real thing here.
We drove for about 1 3/4 hours before having a quick toilet stop – it’s really funny, on our bus all along where the bags go up the top on the shelf, there are holders with toilet rolls on them, that you can just take the paper as you get off because the toilets don’t have any!
We drove for about another two hours then stopped for lunch which was included – pretty decent we thought and we tried the amok curry which is traditional kymer food, Served in a coconut or in a flax basket. It’s sweet and fragrant with kaffir leaves for flavouring. After that we drove another couple of hours before arriving in Siam Reap. What a cool city it is 🙂. We dropped off people who were finishing off their tour here and aren’t going onto Singapore for the Grand Prix – they had our groups bags separated in the hold, but the driver somehow got confused and pulled all of our bags out and they went in with the porters to the hotel the other group were staying in! So lots of confusion and sweating for the poor guys before they got it sorted and we all got our bags back.
Then onto our resort– The Borei Angor resort. Wow, we definitely got the better resort than the other group. It is beautiful and very expansive. We got our room cards and we unpacked then headed straight for that big beautiful swimming pool! Got a couple of lounges and relaxed with a beer – you can get a 640 ml bottle of Angor beer which is ice cold, $6 usd..
Had a lovely swim, And then I got talking to an English lady, after I offered to move over on the sun loungers so she could sit with their friends. They all come over together with a tour leader that they travel with most years. Was interesting about the comparisons and the way we all travel now while we can health wise.
We just relaxed then and mooched around before going upstairs to our room and ordering room service which is pretty well priced here – it came on a beautiful drop leaf table, with a tablecloth and silver platters $42 usd. Fell into bed as it’s been a long day of travel and a big big day tomorrow!
Borek Angkor Resort Siem Reap


















































































