Cambodia and beyond

My mom and I just returned from Cambodia....

It was an amazing three days, where we got to visit the temples near Siam Reap, including the very famous Angkor Wat. It was incredible to see so many ruined sites, and to imagine what it must have been like 1,000 years ago. It is also striking how poor Cambodia - we were able to hire a very good guide and a car and driver for under $50 per day. There were many children at every site peddling souveniers when they should have been in school, but their families need the extra income from every member of the household. It's very sad and a bit of a dilemma. Do you support the kids and encourage this kind of begging/selling, or do you refrain from buying so their families can't live?

It is HOT here - I am a bit sunburnt and am increasingly mistaken as being from Thailand or the Philippines, rather than Japan or Singapore as I was when I first arrived.

We are going to brave the stifling heat and smog of Bangkok in a couple of minutes to checkout Chinatown, a 5 ton golden Buddha, and the infamous red light district. My mother has insisted that we get in there at 5pm (when the knock off night market first opens) and out before nightfall.

There is so much to see and do, I can't believe 1/3 of my vacation is already over! While I've missed all my friends, it has been a good experience to be away from everything that is familiar.

I too am thinking about other things to do with myself. My long-time dream of being a National Geographic photographer has been revived, alongside some romanticized visions of being micro-financier/educator/archeologist in the Cambodian country-side.

Ok, have a fabulous weekend Chicago friends, Christine, and David. I wish I could be there!

Love,
Cat