On Constitution Day we went to visit the family home of Chanath, our Tuk Tuk driver’s wife. They are like a second family to Vuthy, whose parents are no longer alive. Errol and Pat came on the trip. The house is in the Prey Kabbas District, Takeo Province about 90 minutes from Phnom Penh. 
On the way there we stopped at one of the oldest temples in Cambodia, dating earli
er than Angkor Wat and Buddhism in Cambodia. Phnom Chiso temple was built in the early 11th century by King Suryavarman I (AD 1002-1050), who practiced Brahmanism. Constructed of sandstone and other stones, it is 60 meters long and 50 meters wide and sits atop a mountain. The temple is surrounded by two galleries. The first gallery is 60 meters long on each side. The second, smaller gallery, is in the middle, where there is the main worship place with two doors and a wooden statue. There are beautiful sculptures on the lintel and the pillars. People usually climb the staircase on the west side of the mountain, which has 390 steps and descend by the south side staircase, which has 408 steps. Another set of stairs in front of the temple links the temple to Sen Chhmos temple, Sen Phouvang temple and Tonie Om, a lake considered sacred by Brahmans and used for washing away sins. A large rock yard nearby about 100 meters long and 80 meters was once the site of several other temples, but only parts of these temples remain standing.A highlight for Clancy was his first experience with Cambodian treats, Shaved Ice with Condensed milk, sugar syrup and mango cordial poured over the top…Yummy!
On the way down we stopped at a silk making school and we bought some Cambodian silk.
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