Asia by Hammock

We just finished three exhausting days in Siem Reap climbing up temples and barely escaping gigantic rolling boulders. Angkor Wat is a huge temple complex, dating back to the 800s and is remarkably well restored. Theres nothing really that funny about it, especially when you wake up at 4:30am everyday to see the sunrise and try to convince the hawker children that you don't really need one bamboo flute, let alone two. But a few tips for anyone who may be in the area:

• Get a guide book, Ancient Angkor was good, and even though we left it behind on the last day, we had turned into Indiana Jones wannabes identifying lintels, shiva-ite sect markings and the omnipresnt "gore"uda the steed of vishnu with a certain nerdy abandon.
• Ta Prohm was really neat early in the morning (they filmed Tomb Raider here)
• Ta Keo was great for sunset, almost as good a view as Bakheng and no people
• Kbal Spaen is worth going to if you go to Bantrea Srei (which you should), go to Kbal Spaen first then Bantrea Srei around lunch time
• Budget $5 to buy a fake "authentic" Cambodian National Police Badge from a Cambodian National Police Officer
• Know your geography and capitals, you feel really stupid when the 12 year old Cambodia girl informs you that Springfield, not Chicago, is the capital of Illinois.

Angkor was really awesome, definitely worth seeing if you are in this part of the world. The bus rides were less awesome and the layers of grime we wiped off our faces afterwards were even less awesome. The Cambodian roads supposedly are equivalent to the Congo jungle tracks.

During our day in Bangkok, we made a remarkable discovery. In a country that has no word for "refill", yet alone free refills, Outback Steakhouse offers you bottomless beverages. I've never drank so much Sprite in my life. Its also billed as America's #1 Steakhouse which is close enough for me. Of course we didn't eat anything beyond a jacket potato and a slice of bread because it was too expensive. (pushing $10..)

We're in Ko Phangan now with the Full Moon Party tomorrow night. Fear And Loathing: Ko Phangan? I hope not... or do I?

Steve and Eddie and Fran is wandering around somewhere