Day 1
Arrived at Siem Reap in the afternoon following an uneventful flight on Jetstar. We had packed light for this 5D4N trip, me with a backpack and she with a cabin bag. I was pleasantly surprised at the efficiency of the Siem Reap airport. Immigration and luggage collection was a breeze, and I even managed to get my wifi egg from Seatel - 7-day unlimited data for USD5 - right outside arrival.
Saem Siem Reap Hotel was just 10 minutes away from the hotel. Hotel pick-up was available. After we've settled in our room, we headed out to town in a tuk tuk. USD 2 for a short ride to Night Market. There wasn't much to see; the street stalls reminded me of those Bangkok but less modern. So we walked up to Pub Street instead.
That's where the action is!
I love how the place is peppered with cafes, and the atmosphere is alive with music, neon light, tourists. We ended up drinking cheap beer (as low as USD 0.25) and chatting with fellow tourists.
Great start to our trip.
Great start to our trip.
Day 2
We booked the Angkor Wat small circuit tour with our hotel, raring to go at 8.30am. We chose to take a tuk tuk for the full-day tour. At USD15, it is cheaper compared to a car which could cost USD30-40.
Our guide for the day was Mr. Teav Kimsan. We bought a 3-day pass for Angkor Wat at $40 instead of a day pass at $20, so that it would give us some flexibility for the rest of our trip (tickets are bought at a separate ticket building - huge crowds!).
Our route for the day was Bayon, Bapuon, Ta Prohm (Tom Raider Temple), and finally Angkor Wat. The temples are beautiful; each is unique in its own right. We were glad to have Kimsan explaining the rich history behind the structures; it gave more meaning to the visit. And I think we could have gotten lost many times over without a guide. The distance between each temple is far (I wouldn't recommend walking!) and once you enter into a temple, you could easily lose yourself in the winding corridors and endless doorways.
We were dead beat by the time we ended our tour. We asked Kimsan to drop us at a massage parlour. Our feet needed much pampering after a day's walking!
Day 3
It was the most exciting day for me because we had signed up for a full-day cooking class at USD40 per pax. The idea was planted by a former colleague, and I was pretty hyped to be learning Cambodian cuisine. What I loved about Beyond.Unique Escape is that they give back to society. We got to visit a local family, present a bag of rice, before starting our full day cooking class.
The open air kitchen was situated in Treak Village some 15 minutes away from town centre. It was a muddy, bumpy ride but once arrived, we were greeted by a large, breezy cooking area with pots and utensils neatly lined up. For the rest of the day, we learned to cook two 3-course meals. We took a break in between to eat our own creations. By the second half, we were so stuffed that we packed the rest away for dinner.
Highly recommended!
In the evening, we tuk tuk to the Old Market and Art Centre Night Market. I've been wanting to get a hammock ever since I noticed its prevalent use in Siem Reap. And I got my best buy there - a colourful nylon hammock for USD3. I love it already!
Day 4
We engaged Kimsan again for a full-day tour. This time, we booked a car with air-conditioning so that we can travel further, faster without getting a mouthful of dust. Our itinerary for the day was sunrise at Angkor Wat (4am!), Banteay Srei temple (an hour's ride north), grand circuit tour - Preah Khan, Neak Pean and Pre-rup - followed by a visit to the floating village Kampung Phluk (an hour's ride south). Very ambitious.
We paid USD25 per pax to get on a one-hour boat ride around Kampung Phluk. Some tourists complained that it's way too pricey for a simple ride, but I rather enjoyed the wind in my face. We went all the way to the edge of Tonle Sap lake. On the way back, we paid another USD5 each to get onto a dinghy which took us into the flooded forest. It was an interesting experience. But we had to stand firm when the lady rowing us stopped by a boat selling snacks and stationery. We only agreed to pay USD1 for a bunch of pencils. "Children very poor," the sad faced vendor said. I know. But helping you buy pencils ain't the best way to help them. Guilty sigh.
Tired as we were, we went for another around of beer at the Pub Street. It's our last night in Siem Reap, a place I've grown fond of. Sobs.
We were dead beat by the time we ended our tour. We asked Kimsan to drop us at a massage parlour. Our feet needed much pampering after a day's walking!
Day 3
It was the most exciting day for me because we had signed up for a full-day cooking class at USD40 per pax. The idea was planted by a former colleague, and I was pretty hyped to be learning Cambodian cuisine. What I loved about Beyond.Unique Escape is that they give back to society. We got to visit a local family, present a bag of rice, before starting our full day cooking class.
The open air kitchen was situated in Treak Village some 15 minutes away from town centre. It was a muddy, bumpy ride but once arrived, we were greeted by a large, breezy cooking area with pots and utensils neatly lined up. For the rest of the day, we learned to cook two 3-course meals. We took a break in between to eat our own creations. By the second half, we were so stuffed that we packed the rest away for dinner.
Highly recommended!
Day 4
We engaged Kimsan again for a full-day tour. This time, we booked a car with air-conditioning so that we can travel further, faster without getting a mouthful of dust. Our itinerary for the day was sunrise at Angkor Wat (4am!), Banteay Srei temple (an hour's ride north), grand circuit tour - Preah Khan, Neak Pean and Pre-rup - followed by a visit to the floating village Kampung Phluk (an hour's ride south). Very ambitious.
We paid USD25 per pax to get on a one-hour boat ride around Kampung Phluk. Some tourists complained that it's way too pricey for a simple ride, but I rather enjoyed the wind in my face. We went all the way to the edge of Tonle Sap lake. On the way back, we paid another USD5 each to get onto a dinghy which took us into the flooded forest. It was an interesting experience. But we had to stand firm when the lady rowing us stopped by a boat selling snacks and stationery. We only agreed to pay USD1 for a bunch of pencils. "Children very poor," the sad faced vendor said. I know. But helping you buy pencils ain't the best way to help them. Guilty sigh.
Tired as we were, we went for another around of beer at the Pub Street. It's our last night in Siem Reap, a place I've grown fond of. Sobs.
Day 5
We took advantage of the hotel discount to pamper ourselves with a 2.5-hour spa session. It's much cleaner compared to the one outside, and only slightly pricier. We considered exploring a waterfall an hour's drive away, but decided not to risk it. We'll save it for next time.
Yes, Siem Reap, till next time! :(
Tips for Siem Reap travel:
- The roads are VERY dusty, so bring hankie and shades to cover your face!
- Wear sturdy shoes when visiting the temples - you don't want to hurt yourself climbing over jutting rocks. Cover your shoulders and knees too, because these are religious places.
- It's best to hire a guide to get around the temples. A good way to get immersed in the history and culture of Cambodia too. Kimsan's email is teavkimsan@yahoo.com and he can be found on trip advisor.
- Food around the temples and tourist attractions are pricey so bring your own if you don't want to pay USD7 for fried rice.
- Tips are not expected, although I gave Kimsan some because I really appreciate his attentive service. Below is a photo of him drawing on the sand to explain the Angkor Thom construction.
- Best season to visit Siem Reap is between November to February. From March onwards, the weather can get hot and stuffy. It's also not advisable to go to the floating villages during the hot and dry season because it can get smelly!
- Lastly, try not to give money to the children because it encourages a culture of begging. If they follow you and try to sell you something, a polite "No, thank you." will do. Don't say you will buy later because they will remember and get angry if you don't keep your word!
