SIEM REAP CAMBODIA

Day 19 of my Southeast Asia trip started in with a one-hour morning Thai AirAsia flight from Bangkok to Siem Reap Cambodia.  Most famously known as the home to Angkor Wat, the “Capital of Temples”, Siem Reap also offered a number of other delights during my four night stay.  

 

 

Siem Reap is the second largest city in Cambodia as well as the capital and largest city in the Siem Reap Province  in Northwest Cambodia. 

 

My Thai AirAsia flight landed at the new Siem Reap Angkor International Airport 

which opened only 6 days prior to my arrival, on October 16, 2023. 

 

 

Inside the new Siem Reap Angkor International Airport

This new $1.1 billion dollar China-funded airport is slated to handle seven million tourists annually and is now the main gateway to the countries most popular tourist site, the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Complex.  The new airport is located about 31 miles from the protected Angkor Complex area and replaces the old Siem Reap International Airport, which first opened in 1932 and was located only three miles from the Angkor Complex.

 

 DAY 1

My adventure began with a very warm welcome from my private Aurora Travel tour guide and accompanying driver.  After a forty minute drive, I stepped inside the doors to the Angkor Holiday Hotel, my home for the next four nights. 

Again I was warmly welcomed by the staff.  Quickly and efficiently I was assigned room #329.  It proved to be very spacious and comfy, with a very reliable wi-fi.  After a refreshing swim in the pool, I was ready to explore the area around the hotel.  

 

I felt very safe walking the streets, even after sunset.  I discovered a local gem, the "Curry Walla Restaurant", a delightful Indian restaurant recommended by some locals. The bill for two? A mere $3.87USD.  

 

On the walk back to the hotel I decided to stop at a local supermarket which I affectionately nicknamed the “Cat Store”.  Why the Cat Store you ask?  Twenty cats, the majority being Persian, roamed freely inside, adding a very unique touch to the visit.   

DAY 2

A complimentary buffet breakfast at 6am set the tone for the day.  My private guide from Aurora Travel picked me up precisely at 8:30am for a full day of exploring.  The day included stops at Angkor Thorm, the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer Empire, established in the late twelfth century.

 

 

The Bayon Temple: Another Khmer temple related to Buddhism built in the late twelfth or early thirteenth century. 

 

 The Ta Prohm Temple:   This temple is referred to as the "Tomb Raider Temple" or the "Angelina Jolie Temple" due to it's depiction in the 2001 film "Laura Croft: Tomb Raider".

Lastly, the ever iconic and most famous Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992.

 

 

Note:  All of these temples, and especially Angkor Wat, require fairly good mobility due to their uneven surfaces and the amount of steps to negotiate.  

 

After a very exhausting and sweaty morning, with the temperature in the low nineties and humidity running ninety-five percent, I welcomed an ice cold bottle of water and a moist towelette from the driver before setting off to the restaurant for lunch. 

 

A very hearty lunch awaited at the Khmer Village Restaurant.  This lunch was not included in our tour price and came to $11.50 for the two of us. 

 

Once I had been dropped off back at the hotel, a short nap quickly ensued.

 

Newly refreshed from my nap, I then walked two blocks to the laundry service. I had dropped off 2.5 kilos (5.5 pounds) at 8am that morning and added the express service fee. This would allow me to pick it up anytime from 5-8pm that same day.  The cost came to $5USD, including the additional express fee. 

 

DAY 3

Mr. Sakhorn, my new found friend and dedicated tuk-tuk driver, drove me around town, taking time for viewing temples, longboats, fruit bats, and a poignant visit to the Wat Thmey Killing Fields Memorial. 

 

The visit to the Killing Fields Memorial was a highly emotional experience but a must see to understand the harrowing account of the torture, hunger and death that happened here from 1975-1979, actually 3 years, 8 months and 21 days.  

You tube video link

My evening adventure included a return dinner visit to Curry Walla Restaurant,  and another stop at the  “Cat Store” supermarket along with a second laundry pickup for Marci.

 

While in Siem Reap I sampled many of the local beers which included Hunaman,  Klang, Tiger, Anchor and Angkor.  All of them proved to be of excellent quality as well as being very cheap, usually under $2USD each. 

 

DAY 4

For 50,000KHR ($12.12USD as of this writing) for the day, I once again hired my private tuk-tuk driver, Mr. Sakhorn. This time my exploration included fish ponds, a monastery school, the French Quarter, a silver and silk factory and finally the old market.   

 

Mr. Sakhorn, the tuk-tuk driver

During my morning sightseeing Mr Sakhorn stopped at the Morakot Angkor Khmer Cultural Show, allowing me ample time to make dinner/show reservations for the 6:30pm performance.  I was even able to pre-select my desired table.  

 

Morakot Angkor Khmer Cultural Show Entrance

 

 

Mr. Sakhorn then dropped me back at the hotel.  It was early afternoon so a short rest and dip in the pool was in order before heading out to the 6:30pm show at the Morakot Angkor Khmer Cultural Show.

NOTE:  This is not to be missed.  

 

The Morakot Angkor Khmer Culture Show includes a fantastic buffet dinner, the largest I have encountered on any of my travels.  The menu selection included a wide variety of foods from around the world but most notably to me was the local dishes offered.   

KHMER DISHES INCLUDING:

·      Duck Breast and Curried Rice

Pan-Fried Duck Breast, Steamed Jasmine Rice with curry spices, Root vegetables, served with pepper-lime sauce.

·      Fish Amok

                        Fish Fillet, Khmer Spices, Coconut Cream, Noni Leaves

·      Lobster Curry

                        Fresh Lobster, Curry Spices, Coconut Cream, Root Vegetables

·      Soup of the Celestials

                        Fresh Lobster, Young Coconut Meat

·      Teuk Krueng

   Pound Fish Fillet, Khmer Fish Paste, Coconut Cream, Seasonal Fresh       Vegetables.

·      Seafood Black Seaweed Soup

                        Shrimps, Squids, Black Seaweed, Coriander Leaves

·      Pork Tenderloin Sweet n' Sour Sauce

                        Pork Tenderloin, Tomatoes, Bell Peppers, Onions, Rice

·      Spicy Stir Fried Squid

                        Inspired by Korean cuisine culture.

·      Stir Fried Pork and Ginger

                        Pork, Ginger, Garlic, Spring Onion, Oyster Sauce

·      Sautéed Prawns with Garlic

                        Unpeeled Prawns, Garlic, Onions, Spring Onions, Black Pepper

There were more choices than I could count. 

 

Desserts were also numerous and varied.  A favorite staple was the Morakot Dessert Special of banana pudding, Khmer Style, made of pounded banana, coconut milk and rice flour.  No matter what you're craving, this buffet is sure to gratify your taste buds.

 

I further enhanced this culinary experience with a nice bottle of white wine at an additional cost $18. Total cost for the evening was $40, $22 for the dinner and show and $18 for the bottle of wine - and so worth it!

 

The one-of-a-kind traditional dance show and cultural experience incorporates the once lost art dating back centuries ago.  The performance chronicles the rich history of the Khmer Kingdom as well as the Dark Ages of Cambodia.

 

The cultural experience included five traditional dances:

·      Ream Keh Mythology Dance

The journey of Prince Preah Ream to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king of Laingka City, Rawana.  

 

 

 

 

·      Cardamom Harvest Dance

The celebration of the cardamom harvest, an invaluable spice that has woven its way into both culinary delights and cultural traditions.

 

 

·      Bokator Martial Art Dance

Bokator draws inspiration from observing animal movements in nature. Its techniques encompass a diverse range of strikes, kicks, locks, throws, and ground-fighting.

 

    

 

·      Peacock Dance

A tribute to Cambodia's natural beauty and the creatures that inhabit its landscapes.

 

 

·      Apsara Dance (personally my favorite)

An embodiment of grace and mystique, The movement, with arms sweeping like the flight of swans, symbolizes purity and elegance.

    

 

I wasn’t certain that my tuk-tuk driver, Mr. Sakhorn, would be waiting for me since I had already paid him for the day but, as promised, there he was to whisk me back to the hotel for the night.   

DAY 5

 

A 5:30am wake-up call was followed by the complimentary buffet breakfast at 6:10am.  Today would be my departure day from Siem Reap.  My private driver from Aurora Travel arrived right on schedule at 7:30am.  My iPhone indicated it was 7:45am when I stepped out of the van to find myself at the local bus station.  Luggage was checked and now I was ready for the six-hour bus journey from Siem Reap Cambodia to Phnom Penh Cambodia.

 

Marci and I had been assigned seats 2A and 2B.  Once onboard each passenger was given a small pastry, a bottle of water and a moist towelette.  A thirty minute lunch stop occurred at 11:30am, with a final ten minute stop about one hour outside of Phnom Penh. 

 

The adventure continues!