After breakfast, heading into the ancient city to explore Ta Prohm `Tomb Raider` fame. Ta Prohm has been abandoned to the elements, a reminder that while empires rise and fall, the riotous power of nature marches on, oblivious to the dramas of human history. Left as it was ‘discovered’ by French explorer Henri Mouhout in 1860, the tentacle-like tree roots here are slowly strangling the surviving stones, man first conquering nature to create, nature later conquering man to destroy.
Head further out through rural countryside to the small but beautiful temple of Banteay Srei. This temple is largely built of pink sandstone, a harder rock that can be more elaborately carved and better survives the rigors of time.
We will go to local pagoda, where you should change to clothes we can get wet in as here we will experience the ceremony “Srouch Teok”, which roughly translates into “Water blessing”. A monk will chant in ancient Pali as he splashes water over us, washing away our sins and bad luck so we can start fresh and by being a good person can increase our good luck. Then continue to have a boat trip to enjoy the beautiful lake view and mangrove forest on the lake, then spend rest of the morning at the largest village on the lake to discover the fascinating daily lives of the local people who leave on the water.
This evening we will enjoy Herbal Compress Massage – combine healing effects of an aromatherapy massage with application of heated herbal compress. This treatment purifies, relaxes, warms, relieves aches and pains and improves blood circulation whilst stimulating the senses.
Overnight in Siem Reap.