Would You Like a Pringle With That Beetle?

Wow - what a hectic week since I last wrote. Let me tell you Cambodia is fantastic but there is so much to see and such an incredible history that fitting it all in has been impossible.... I'm sure Matt will write more details as my bed is currently calling my name. We took a 16 hour train from Bangkok to Chang Mai in Northern Thailand last night and I, being the light sleeper that I am, slept for probabaly two hours while the rest of the time I was tossed back and forth in my bunk as we moved along the bumpy track. The heat at least started to disappear around 1am so even though I was awake I wasn't soaking wet with sweat as we had been on the previous day's 12 hour bus ride from Cambodia to Thailand...lovely image I'm sure. Matt was asleep in the bunk above me oblivious to the fact that throughout the night I was mastering the abilty to pee over a 6 inch whole with my feet propped up on these two metal foot rests as the train tracks moved by underneath (another nice visual - I'm sure)!!

Anyhow - Cambodia is fabulous. This is a generalization but everyone has a beautiful smile and I felt they hadn't been corrupted with tourism to the point where you felt like someone was trying to cheat you or be sneaky as I have seen in past countries I have visited. People were genuine and helpful and excited about our interest in the culture. When we were in Siem Reap we went to a cooking school and of course explored the Wats. I made this dish called Amok chicken and it was sooooo good - we're making a feast that you all are invited to when we return. Angkor Wat is of course breathtaking and the day we explored the temples we arrived just in time to see the sun rise over the back of the biggest one.

Matt and I arrived in Siem Reap from Phenom Phen via bus and had another great experience with the locals. When the bus stopped for a short lunch break we had our go-to meal of veggie fried rice. Matt was still hungry so he bought a tube of Pringles (loaded baked potato flavor which was quite good and 4 days later we tried sushi flavored Lays)-random but good- and as we walked away the cutest little girl ever just gave me the biggest smile. She was sitting on the curb with what I guess were her mom, sister, and brother and they were sharing a bag of freshly cooked beetles. She watched Matt and I eat a chip as we watched her tear the legs and wings off of the little bugs. We all smiled at one another again so I offered her a chip. She was reluctant but took it and tentatively took a bite... She never did offer me one of her beetles but the smile was worth it. Fun Times - I'm cutting this short for now but we'll get back to some Cambodia moments.
I love traveling... more later. I need sleep. xo, H