Siem Reap......

    Second full day in Siem Reap. Awoke to learn that 'The Donald' is now president. Not a betting

Only rivaled by the Hitler boutique in Delhi.....

man, but I was 99 1/2% sure that another result would have prevailed!! Glad that I did not bet the house on that one!
           I set myself a no stress day to recover from the heat and stairs of Angkor. I have reviewed once again the photographs taken and feel generally pleased with the results. I took about 250 shots and suppose ideally that I should have ranked and culled these down to the 'kepers' of no more than 20. Problem is that one tends to fall in love with ones output, especially somewhere as photogenic as Angkor Wat. Likely, I will never return here so I suppose it a natural loathing to destroy memories of a day I will not forget.
           Siem Reap has been designated by the Cambodian govt., and it's foreign aid donors, as the future economic powerhouse of the central region. Located on major routes and just 7 kms

River view--- Siem Reap

Stone statue out side an hotel...

from the Angkor Wat temple complex, it clearly has plans to develop beyond a one day tourist 'quickie' to the temples and leave. High end business structures  (exhibition halls and convention centres), resorts etc are springing up along the strip leading to the temple complex all with the aim of holding visitors in town longer.

Buddhist cow effigy at temple...

            Siem Reap city is quite picturesque based on the standards of the region, with a large night market aimed at the first time (less sophisticated) tourist---of which there are 10's of millions just over the border in China and all very keen for an initial taste of the 'outside world'. The English language is omni-present in central Siem Reap, with a wide variety of restaurants, both local and western foods. The economy in Cambodian cities appears to operate at two different levels ----locals pay one price and tourists another. Realise that this is universal, but the difference does seem to be extreme here and one has to be able to haggle aggressively. The high value of the Cambodian currency vs. the greenback----- has been pegged at current levels for 20 years, assures that imports of items that tourists demand are likely available---significantly better than Vietnam, where retail store offerings are comparatively thin in terms of selection.