Siem Reap and the temples.

We've reached the last stage of the Cambodian Christmas tour; the city of Siem Reap and it amazing temples, where the Angkor Wat is just one of the high lights.
Yesterday morning we left the calm spot Kampot in the south, where we've enjoyed the last couple of days. In a taxi we conquered the 150 kilometers of combined dirt road and bumpy bumpy tar road back to Phnom Penh. After this experience I'm quite happy that we chose to fly up to Siem Reap, instead of another 4 to 6 hours of Cambodian style traffic on the roads. The taxi trip was an adventure and to times very stressing as the dust from the dirt road didn't leave much sight ahead for the driver, so sometimes the overtaking of trucks, ox driven wagons and public country style tuk-tuk "buses", made the trip like watching a horror movie, and I've still got the red markes, from where Catriona drilled her nails into my knees every time another huge truck just appeared out of the dust cloud just in front of us. The ride was also some mind blowing experience in the way of what we could witness on the way of the lifestyle of the Cambodian people in the country side. Living along this dirt road, many of the houses and field are just covered under a layer of red dust from the road, so in my imagination I just cannot stop to think about their cows and chickens, or not to mention the vegetables, meat and other goods they were trying to sell from small huts along the road. All just covered ion a red carpet of dust.
Coming to Siem Reap from Kampot, is in some ways like getting back to civilasation, as here it is more developed and most of the houses are well restored and in a good condition. On the other hand is is yet stressing, as this has all to do with tourism and an area of town -called "Down Town"or "Pub Street"- is like a western enclave of fancy pubs and restaurants, where you can dine your small exquisite tapas in your evening rope, paying the 20 dollar bill, and when you leave and walk for 2 minutes you see children and older people sit along the road trying to find some plastic bottles or beer cans from the rubbish bin. For them 20 dollars could mean food for the whole family in one month or more.
So at the first glance; Siem Reap is fancy and developed -for some very few, and I'm not sure that I like it that much!