Siem Reap 2002

kok lanta.jpg 2006-12-19

It was amazing trip where we snaked our way up to Angkor Wat from Singapore via Kota Bahru-Hatyai-Krabi-Bangkok-Aranyaprathet-Poi Pet-Siem Reap and back to Bangkok via rickety buses and vans and trucks. I spoke my way though the immigrations and pass off as a khon thai and then got chased down cos they thought we had fake passports. We crossed 3 country borders on foot along the way - i get such cheap thrill straddling two countries at the same time.

Cambodia was a very humbling experience. The sight of poverty and maimed individuals sangat-sangat menginsafkan. We looked for a mosque, and found it. Ada pakcik boleh bertutur dalam bahasa Khmer-accented Melayu, and he recounted to us how the Muslims suffered under the Khmer Rouge. The mosque was forcibly turned into a pig-farm under Pol Pot, spelling death to non-conformist.

Angkor Wat was magnificentas a cultural and architectural and engineering wonder. I tried to transport myself back to the Jayavarman Era when the Khmer civilisation was at its peak (while Europe was in the Dark Ages). And then there were the pock-marks caused by bullets and bombs incurred by the Khmer Rouge.

We went home only when we ran out of cash. Flew back to Singapore sebab very tired playing Lara Croft - Tomb Raider.

Awesome trip. I have no idea when I'll ever do it again. Maybe never. But I thank Gorgeous Inc, and Farheen Salma Raudhah (earlier leg of the route) for the fantastic company and wonderful memories.