How To Spend a Relaxing Day in Siem Reap

Day 4  January 8, 2015
Spent a big chunk of the morning at the aptly named Peace Café, a vegetarian place that offered yoga and cooking classes. Hippyish, with an ethical and healthy vibe, it had the perfect setting for hanging out and catching my breath. We settled down on cushioned cane chairs in the shade of a wide limbed tree in their inviting garden. I was so overwhelmed by everything I'd seen and done in the last two days, and needed time to assimilate all the information. I also wanted to spend some time reading about Cambodia's ancient and recent past. So while sipping a chilled, fresh passionfruit juice, I first read about the glorious Angkor era when there was such an industriously creative energy manifested in the erection of grandiose monuments. Then I read about the genocidal rule of the Khmer Rouge (1975-1979), led by Pol Pot, which set about transforming Cambodia into a nation of slaves. The sick, infirm, intellectuals, or anyone not capable of performing a task was put to death. To think that many of the young people we saw around us were the offspring of people who lived in terror of a maniac dictator! It was truly heartbreaking. How is it that humans are capable of such cruelty? So Pol Pot was a psychopath. But what about his supporters who carried out his orders? It was interesting to me that the Vietnamese freed Cambodia -exactly 36 years ago - on January 7, 1979.

After two brutal days of temple touring we were desperate for a serious massage. Not like the weird one we had at our hotel yesterday on a regular bed, with clothes on, and the young ladies weren't even sure what we had ordered. And we certainly didn't want to take a chance on one of those numerous cheap places scattered all over the town. Alicia did some online research and came across rave reviews of Lemongrass Garden Spa. After a delicious lunch of tropical fruit salad from a roadside fruit juice vendor who very obligingly sliced up whatever fruit I requested, we went for our full body aromatherapy massages.

As soon as we entered the tastefully furnished and air-conditioned front office, we knew we were in for a good time. The experience was everything you could expect at a top end spa in the west - soft music, soothing aromas, low lighting - plus more. They served us herbal teas before and after the treatment. And the Asian style massage which involved pressing, kneading, stretching, and rubbing with fragrant oils was sheer luxury. Knowing I deserved this made it all the more enjoyable.

Afterwards we checked out the crafts at Artisan's d'Angkor, famous for helping the community by providing creative opportunities for locals. The silks and carvings were all beautiful and overpriced too, but we bought a few small items to support the cause.

After sunset cocktails at our hotel's rooftop bar we decided to check out the $1.00 tapas deal at the Soria Moria Fusion Restaurant. Every Wednesday evening they ran a training program for young adults registered with local NGO's as part of their extensive social program. Young men and women received training in the various aspects of food service by experienced chefs, turning the place into a cooking school on this evening of the week. We dined here to support their efforts, and were rewarded by a topnotch dinner. The menu was amazingly huge and quite international with chicken satay, meatballs, and sausage rolls. But there were a reasonable number of vegetarian options like samosas and spring rolls which were crisp, light, and filled with well spiced vegetables.
A fantastic meal with great ambience from the many local families dining there.
What a blissful day!