Brunch and…Ta Prohm…

February 5,2025

After our wonderful morning in Angkor, we left the temple complex for brunch…

These are all the vehicles waiting for folks …look at how far away they are…it would have been so challenging if we had to make this trek on foot.

On our way to brunch…I can’t tell you how much fun we had riding in the Remork.

Once again we had no idea what to expect…here’s the quote from our itinerary: “enjoy a Khmer breakfast and juice and coffee at a traditional Khmer wooden house.” So the wooden house turns out to be a traditional road house: Sala Kdei.

We were struck with the beautiful setting…entrance is from a very busy road…behind bamboo fencing.

We followed Savy down the fragrant pathway…

Arriving at the outdoor dining venue … we were greeted warmly by our host.

We learned the history of Cambodian roadhouses -“sala” and received an explanation of our brunch menu. Sala are open air rest stops found along rural roads.

We were happy to discover so many lotus flowers throughout the venue.

I explored a bit as we waited for our meal…

I wish I could have captured the fragrance in a bottle.

My new favorite tea: Jasmine and Lemongrass

So you place the noodles in your bowl, add your condiments…

…then ladle in your broth.

Everything was beyond delicious…including the rice porridge.

One of the best features of this wonderful meal was the leisurely pace…we were able to savor every bite and our beautiful surroundings.

While Timmy finished his fruit plate, our host took me through the main building.

When we learned that the Sala is not open to the public …and only available for private bookings, we were grateful that our travel folks booked the space and terrific meal for us ♥️

That’s Timmy and Savy

So freaking lucky

Fully sated and rested we hopped back into the Remork and headed to the deserted North Gate of Ta Prohm. Ta Prohm was built in the late twelfth century. The temple was built without mortar and after it was abandoned, trees took root in the loosened stones.

Once again our driver, got us as close as he could. We walked through the forest and after checking out this temple…

…and taking note of the distance to the ruins…

…further than it looks…so we…

…Parked Timmy

And Savy and I set off.

There’s lots of rubble…

I was as equally fascinated by the ruins and the trees.

Heads of Buddhas were cut off and stolen during Pol Pots regime.

When the Khmer empire fell in the 15th century…the temple was abandoned.

Japan is funding repairs and restoration

Nature always finds a way.

My favorite tree♥️

Workers funded by Japan

I loved being able to clamber all over the temple and it’s grounds.

One last look back.

We fetched Timmy and headed back to the hotel

Folks fishing

Sra Srang resorvoir…on the way back to Raffles. We returned to the hotel and crashed for a few hours. We were exhausted. Being old is not for sissies.