After wolfing down our egg and cucumber salads and some fruit at Angkor Wat, we made our way to the minibus and drove almost an hour north through the countryside to Banteay Srei, one of the oldest and most ornate (but small) temple complexes associated with Angkor.  

This was really the first time we'd been out in the rural areas besides out trip to Chuong Ek (Killing Fields) and this drive was nice because we got to see all of the kids going to school in the blue and white uniforms (school starts at 0700), people driving their motobikes to work (5 is still our max number we've seen on a motobike), cows and buffalo in the rice fields, homes, farms, etc.

Kean told us that this is called the "Women's Temple" because the carving of the rocks is so delicate and fine that the people usually assumed that it could only have been done by women with small hands.  He then told us that that, in fact, was not the case and that all of the stone carvers of those days were men.  

It was nice to be the first ones at the Temple and we pretty much had the place to ourselves.  As usual, there were several dogs around, including one terribly mangy and sad black dog that followed us around.  We also some some local flora and fauna.

After touring the complex, we relaxed with some cold drinks and, again, the cadets shopped for souvenirs.

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