The JaYmes Escape

“Picture, Picture”, cry the kids excitedly as I approach; they immediately arrange themselves into a perfect pose. Playing at the entrance to Cambodia’s most famous temple, Angkor Wat, is clearly feigned recreation. “Dollar, Dollar”, they shout as, although this is clearly a well-practised game, they stare in wonder at their image on my camera’s tiny screen. This is, of course, expected, and my hand is already in my pocket reaching for some of Uncle Sam’s world-famous vouchers.

Yesterday I learnt my first word of Khmer, the local language: plee-uhng, which means rain. Kai plee-uhng is the rainy season, which is now. Hot and humid mornings are followed by an hour or two of torrential plee-uhng after lunch which slows to a dribble later on. Thankfully I was aware of this in advance and picked up a massive umbrella in Singapore for S$3 (about £1). Expect to see it in some of the temple photos.