Cambodia, Day 3, January 29, 2014
Siem Reap, Cambodia
This morning
we were both awakened early. Bags were out as we went to breakfast and then
departed at 7:30 along with our new guide, Soeng. It was a 195 mile drive to
Siem Reap. The road all the way to our 2:00 lunch stop was under construction
and very bumpy and dusty.
We had
several "Learning and Discovery" stops in the morning with each
including a "Happy Room." The first, at 9:00, was to visit a family
that made and decorated large copper pots. They forge and mold many kinds of
things from copper. Most people prefer the items that were silver-plated. I
resisted them all. 
Then about
10:00 we stopped to visit a family that ran a Tarantula Farm. We had
"holding" opportunities! I actually held one! Then we followed the
owner out to the field to find some more. The tarantulas she looked for were
about 4-5 inches in diameter, legs included. They live in small holes in the
ground and eat tree roots. Immediately after getting a new one she takes a
stick, puts it under their fangs and breaks them off. This is called
de-fanging. Then they can no longer bite. We took the captured de-fanged
tarantulas back to her place where she killed them. She washed them thoroughly,
tossed them with salt and pepper, and let one of our group place them one by
one into hot oil to cook. After they were crispy she drained them and we had a
chance to sample one. I was so brave that I ate part of a leg. It was crispy
and fibrous. Enough adventure for the day. The villagers ate the rest as
snacks.
Lunch was at
a restaurant where we had our own little room on planks over the edge of a
lake. There was a big variety of food. Back on the bus we continued the drive.
The next rest stop was at an Ancient Nagel Bridge, built over 800 years ago. On
both sides of each end there was a statue of Naga, the eight-headed snake. It was
one of many old bridges along this road.
The drive
continued through small towns and the countryside. We certainly got a clear
view of life in this third world country. The road did improve but only a bit.
We checked in at the Angkor Home Hotel and I had enough time to grab a shower
before we met at 7:00 for dinner at a local restaurant. Paul then told everyone
that it was my birthday and for desert Vit brought a cake with one large candle
on it. I made the first cut, then it was shared with everyone.
All in all
it was a good birthday, which included munching on tarantulas and ending with
Black Forest Cake. And, we arrived at our destination safely, what more could a
person want.
That's it for now. Grace and Paul
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