Cambodia

by Paowie and Finns

I am a wanderer.  I love traveling and discovering new places.  The Angkor Wat in Cambodia is one of the places I have always wanted to visit and last year, for my birthday trip, I was finally able to do so.

Note: I always go out-of-town for my birthday.  It’s like my treat to myself.

wasn't able to capture it during sunrise because it drizzled that day. i got this shot after we came out at around 1030am
          Angkor Wat Temple
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      Stone Guard Statues, Bayon Temple entrance
Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia is the world’s largest archeological site. It extends over about 400 square kilometers and is a complex of temples, the most famous of which is Angkor Wat.
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When I first saw Angkor Wat, I was overwhelmed.  I thought to myself, how people without engineering or architecture degrees could have done something as beautiful as this?! The architecture is sophisticated even by today’s standards.  This was built by ancient people when there was no technology or heavy equipment!
ta phrom is where they shot the film Tomb Raider
                   Ta Phrom Temple
Angkor Wat was built during the early years of the 12th century by Suryavaram II to honor the Hindu god Vishnu. It is a symbolic representation of Hindu cosmology.
the smiling buddha in Bayon Temple
                Smiling Buddha in Bayon Temple
This is not your usual temple.  If you can only visit one temple in your lifetime, make it Angkor Wat. This architectural wonder combines deep spirituality and precision engineering.
Preah Khan
                 Preah Khan Temple
It’s hot in Siem Reap and you have to climb stairs that seem to have been designed for teenagers with agile bodies but you must visit!
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Elephant Terrace at the Leper King Temple

i just had to do the lara croft pose My Lara Croft pose.  He He!

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locals selling handcrafted leather outside of the temples.

The other temples worth visiting aside from Angkor Wat is Bayon, Angkor Thom, Preah Khan, Ta Phrom and Pre Rup.  Angkor Wat Temple entrance costs 20USD for one day and 40USD for three days and 60USD for seven days (to be used on consecutive days).  You can get a tuktuk and rent it for one whole day for 15USD or be adventurous and rent a bike for one whole day for 7USD.

We also went to the Floating Village tour along Tonle Sap River , but we didn’t dare go to the crocodile farm because we were told we had to transfer to a SMALLER boat.

20141123_105136 A School in the Floating Village

One of the best places to go eat, relax, have a drink and go people-watching is in Pub Street.  There are a lot of food choices, and fish spas and massage salons are everywhere.

one of the best thing to do in Siem Reap aside from the Temple Run is to relax and people sighting along Pub Street

 

 

and get some tomb raider drink at red piano
                                                       Tomb Raider drink at Red Piano.

Other things to do in Siem Reap :  Go watch an Apsara Dance , it is usually held in a big convention hall and with a fee of around 24USD.  It also comes with buffet dinner… Or just go to Central Market for shopping.

Where to Eat and THE must-try:  Cambodian BBQ which usually includes crocodile meat and Khmer food.

20141121_091459One of my favorites– simple and hearty noodle soup.

To get there, we took the direct flight from Manila to Siem Reap via Cebu Pacific availing of their promo fare and the distance from the airport to our hotel is around 18 minutes via tuktuk.
We stayed at Royal Crown Resort and Spa.  The rooms start from Php 2,500.00 (50USD) and it comes with free buffet breakfast.  Location of the hotel is very accessible and about 5minutes walk to the Central Market and Pub Street area. Their currency is Cambodian Riel but the US dollar reigns supreme and is accepted everywhere.

20141120_232451Hotel Hallway 

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