Ta Prohm

On to Ta Prohm

Trying to prevent a few melt downs.
We were too ambitious - two temples in one afternoon.
We learn our lesson.

Siem Reap & Bayon Temple

When we arrived to Siem Reap, we traveled to our hotel via tuk tuk
(yes, our luggage, stroller and family of 5 in a tuk tuk).
After check-in, we hired a tour guide, which ended up being just a babysitter, and headed to Angkor

Luckily, we got the camera to work manually,
but we weren't able to use the flash or adjust the aperture.

Bayon temple was our first stop.

The boys were going wild climbing all over.

Farewell Phnom Penh

After the museum, we headed to the Royal Palace
where the camera was dropped and broken.

Nice . . . broken camera before we visit Angkor Wat

National Museum

The next morning we headed to the National Museum near our hotel.

Oliver is laughing not screaming - I think he likes flowers.

Meeting a new friend

We could only take pictures outside -
but the museum was full of sculptures and statues from the 6th century.

Tuol Sleng Museum

We then visited a former school that the Khmer Rouge turned into a prison.

Each room contained graphic photos,

So the boys waited outside

Following our rather somber Thanksgiving morning -
We saw Wat Phnom (a large pagoda on top of the only hill in Phnom Penh) where wild monkeys live.
The also saw the U.S. embassy which is across the street.

We then feasted at a restaurant near the Tonle Sap River.
Cambodian cuisine is quite good so it was an amazing Thanksgiving meal.

After lunch we shopped for about 30 minutes - which was too long for the boys
We realized it had been a long day so we headed to the hotel to swim and relax

The Killing Fields

After a ride through the city, we visited The Killing Fields.
(An old extermination camp about 15 km outside of Phnom Penh)

The boys leaving flowers

There are more than 8000 skulls in the Memorial Stupa

Oliver bonding with our tour guide while we visit a mass grave.

Luckily the boys didn't really understand what we were seeing.

Oliver playing in the sand

until we saw this -
Yes, a human jaw bone with teeth right in the middle of the path.

There were bone and bits of clothing everywhere that no one has properly buried.

This young guard worked at the camp and was actually on trial while we were there.

His picture was all over the newspaper

Typical dress of the Khmer Rouge

Thanksgiving in Cambodia

We arrived quite late, thanks to the ever present delays out of Guangzhou Airport,
so we were a little tired Thanksgiving morning.
We celebrated the day touring Phnom Penh via TukTuk

The city was like Ho Chi Min but less crowed and more laid back.

We failed to bring the car seats,

but I think they were secure enough.
Safety first.

More Birthdays

My baby is 2!

No candles won't stop us

Getting some help from his brothers -
Thank you Grandparents for the great gifts!

Loving the frosting mustache

His favorite gift -

Birthday Boy

Look who's 4 !
(well, about a couple months ago: this blog is always 2 months behind)

We first celebrated at his preschool on Friday -
a day before his actual birthday.

The Monkey class enjoying some cake

He then got Breakfast in Bed the next morning

followed by a special lunch with Dad at his favorite restaurant
(Brick oven Pizza, of course)

Presents were then torn open -
Oliver hates sitting - he feels left out.

Then another Cake
(I love the drawing on the wall behind Isaac)

Oliver was loving all the cake