We planned a quiet day today so that we could take care of our laundry, hang out by the pool and spend the evening at Phare, The Cambodian Circus. Taking care of laundry involved walking about 20 meters from the hotel and putting our laundry bag on a scale. Weighing in at 2 kilograms, we were told the cost would be $2.00 and to come back for it at 5 pm.
Hanging out at the pool was just as effortless. We staked out a couple of lounge chairs, spread out our towels and rested, read, swam and baked. It was another very hot day in Siem Reap and so a couple of hours was more than enough to spend at the pool.
A walk downtown took us to neat little cafe where we had lunch. Even though Cambodia is the poorest country in South East Asia, Siem Reap is such a tourist town that there are many good restaurants and hotels. There are also zillions of tuk tuk drivers, all trying to make a living. As we walked back towards the hotel we were asked many times, "tuk tuk madam?" There were several long canoes and some decorations on the water which I assume are in preparation for the Water Festival which begins next week.
We booked John Henry to pick us up at 7 and drive us to Phare. It began as an art school formed 20 years ago by 9 children and their art teacher when they returned home from a refugee camp after the fall of the Khmer Rouge. A music school and theatre school were next, and finally, the circus school. Today more than 1,200 pupils attend the public school daily and 500 attend the alternative schools.
The performed incredible moves while telling a Cambodian folktale. The energy, emotion, enthusiasm and talent displayed by the performers was truly astounding. John Henry, our loyal tuk tuk driver was waiting for us after the performance and delivered us to our hotel.
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