The Gravy Train

the fish go nom nom nom

In Siem Reap a few weeks ago, the hubby and I tried out a fish spa, which are wildly popular here in Asia.  The concept is this: you fork over between US $3-5, a kind spa lady leads you to a tank filled with approximately 1,500 fish about the size of large goldfish, and you stick your feet into the tank and let the fish do a natural version of a foot scrub by chewing on your feet.  You see, the fish are a specific species that love to eat dead skin.  

I'll pause to let you shudder.

Just so you can fully appreciate the experience of having a thousand tiny, ravenously hungry fishes rush towards your feet, here's a video of me trying to enjoy the experience (but laughing and squirming at the same time).  Even though the concept alternately grossed me out and made me giggle to no end, the fish really did a great job of making my feet feel baby soft afterwards.  I mean, for what it's worth.

For those of you in the DC area, a fish spa has recently opened up in Alexandria, Virginia, so let me know what you think of the experience! (And thanks to Angel, Amy and Daniel for sending me the great birthday present so that I could capture the fun!)

politics aside, there's tasty street food there

Our local food experience in Cambodia including ensuring that we were supporting the cause of the right political party

"Where should we go to lunch?" we asked our guide.  It was almost 1:00 in the afternoon, and the hot, dusty afternoon sun was beating down on us.

"Well," said Kurthia, our guide.  "Angkor has many fine tourist cafes and restaurants serving Khmer food or Western food."

The hubby and I shook our heads.  Earlier that morning, we'd had a discussion with Kurthia about the restaurant the hubby and I had visited for dinner the night before.  While we'd enjoyed our meal and discovered that we really like Khmer food, we also wondered how authentic our experience was.  We were, after all, sitting in a quaint little candlelit cafe while group after group of tourists wandered up the sidewalk toward us.  "No, no," we'd said, almost in unison.  "Where would you eat for lunch?" 

Kurthia paused, and perhaps due to his halting English language skills, chose his words carefully.  "I think maybe you might think where I eat is ... er ... not so hygienic."

cambodia: wat is awesome

The view of Angkor Wat from the side entrance, also known as the "elephant entrance," because that's where the king used to enter.  On an elephant.

Last week we took a three-day weekend to visit Siem Reap, Cambodia, one of the larger cities in the country and the jumping-off point to Angkor Wat.  Angkor is actually a region of Cambodia that served as the ancient capital, and there are over two hundred temples and ancient structures dotting the countryside. 

I've wanted to visit Cambodia for years, but I'd always thought of it as a place that required months of planning and at least an extended week's stay.  It seemed so distant and foreign, and so unlike any other Asian country I've visited.  

Happily, though, after living here for a few months, we've discovered that Siem Reap is just a short two-hour direct flight on AirAsia from Kuala Lumpur.