After lunch it is on to Beng Melea. It is really amazing – and no one is there. Seriously. After the Angkor Wat crowds we remembered from our last visit, this is blissfully peaceful. Som walks us around the temple exterior, showing us different areas and wall structures. The temple was created for worship only – not like Angkor Wat which was for both worship and for the King to live. It’s in ruin now simply from the environment. Trees have grown up and around the stones, breaking the walls and leaving the structures inside the walls in a shambles. It’s beautiful and incredible though – these huge stones, no mortar, all done by manual labor so, so long ago.
Once on the inside of the temple, Som tells us to walk through and come back and meet him. He says, almost as an aside, some kids will follow you, but come back here. OK – and a kid does follow us. Well, not so much follow as lead us through and act as our little tour guide. Chacka, who looks to be about 8 or 9, shows us through the ruins.
This dusty little boy speaks incredible English, and we find out he speaks French too. He tells us all about the libraries here, the different carvings, what they stand for, he just rambles on the entire time! He knows his stuff.
When it’s time to go, we negotiate a tip with him – and tell him he will own his own tour company one day!
Back in the bus, we retrace our path, but by all paved roads this time! Past the villages, the celebrations, and oh – those odd tractor engine long tail sort of bizarre contraptions they use to haul everything from heavy wood, brick, merchandise to people. Pictures are from the van, so they aren’t that good – but….hopefully you'll get the idea.
Back in town, and through the crush of traffic, onto our own dusty little lane and down our alley to the hotel. At least it’s still peaceful back here! We hit the shower IMMEDIATELY! Oh my – that feels so good! Then relax for a bit before dinner.
Out into the streets, it’s not so hot as last night, or at least, maybe we are getting acclimatized! We head out to The Old House, a restaurant that is close to Pub Street, but not on Pub Street. It’s a beautiful little oasis of calm and serenity but still right on the street. Buddha’s and rough hewn stones for accents. Linen napkins, soft music in the background. This is the antidote to our long hot countryside day. And it is still so reasonable! The main dishes are $3.50US each. Can’t go wrong here.
We share a fish salad, which is a little like Papaya salad with 4 pieces of sautéed fish, Ed has fish soup, then Beef with Khmer sauce and I have Beef Lok Lak (we’re liking that!). All the food is just excellent – and we walk home nicely stuffed.
It’s still hot though – so we decide to go for a quick jump in the pool to cool off before bed. Lovely end to a very interesting day!
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