Headed to Angkor Wat this morning and were sweating it out before we got there! 32 degrees and I reckon that was in the shade.
Angkor is regarded as one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia and is a UNESCO heritage site. Angkor Archaeological Park, over 400 sq kms in size, contains the remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century including the famous Temple of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and the Bayon Temple with its sculptural decorations.
I’m keen to read more post our visit so you may like more information too. Tomorrow we see more of Angkor so will likely be of interest (maybe).
Had another multiple course lunch today at Champey, a Cambodian restaurant in the city. Thankfully air conditioned and food good too. We will be rolling home at this rate.
This afternoon, I went by tuk-tuk to the school run by Future of Kymer Children Organization set up as an NGO 4 years ago to provide free sustainable education and community services to under-privileged local children. The organisation looks to be doing a great job and the children were delightful, chatty and entertained us well. We were presented with drawings as we left and they sang to us accompanying themselves with a ukelele orchestra.
Then onto Artisans Angkor, a Cambodian company set up in 1990’s to help young rural people find work near their own villages. They have developed a training programme and now have 48 workshops providing employment to artisans, including some with hearing impairment. They receive fair wages and an employee collective now owns 20% of the company. They sell their beautiful products – stone and wood carving, laquering, silk products, ceramics, silver plated objects and silk paintings in a shop and turnover is reinvested for social purposes. Inspiring.
Tuk-tuks great way of getting round- pretty dusty though and was given a mask today.
Very early start tomorrow so early to bed tonight.
Afternoon visits to FKC and Artisans
