I went there with Evelyn Koh because both of us just wish to get away from work, which I permanently am. So maybe just away from Singapore. And why Siem Reap??? So we don't shop, maybe not for Evelyn though.
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| Siem Reap travel buddy, Evelyn Koh |
We took Silkair to Siem Reap via Da Nang, Vietnam. Apparently Silkair is cheaper than Tiger Air by SGD10, plus it consist of in-flight food and baggage check-in. You have to pay for Tiger Air.
Siem Reap uses US dollars as their main currency but uses Rial as US loose change. $0.10 is 400 Rials. So it may seem expensive but it's actually not. Point to note, do bring small denominations of notes, highest $50. Major expenses would cost loosely around $10. And please check if the notes are in good conditions. They do not accept torn notes, AT ALL.
Our hotel is Royal Crown Hotel. It's just across the river from the Old Market, about 5mins walk. Using Agoda hotel booking, we managed to snag a superior twin room for SGD 35/day, instead of a basic rate of SGD 65/day. It includes a daily breakfast for 2 and an airport transfer.
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| Picture from website. But actually it's 4 storey high. Maybe after renovation |
The main attraction for Siem Reap is definately Angkor Wat, a symbol of Cambodia. I guess without Angkor Wat, no one would want to visit Siem Reap.
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| Map of the temples of Angkor |
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| 1. Angkor Wat exterior for Sunrise |
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| 2. Exploring the majestic Angkor Wat |
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| 3. Victory Gate |
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| 4. Banyon for some happy Buddhas |
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| 5. Climbed the steep stairs of Phimeanakas |
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| 6. Taming elephants at the Terrace of the Elephants |
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| 7. Restoration works at the Terrace of the Leper King |
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| 8. Re-enactment of "Tomb Raider" in Ta Phrom |
Hence, we headed back to town for light-shopping and massage after the whole morning of walking and climbing. A noted massage place is Body Tune, beside Old Market facing the river. The price maybe steep but it's the best so far. $20 for a 1.5hr traditional Thai massage. You can even bathe for more rejuvenation.
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| Rejuvenated after the massage |
Main attraction done, so what other activity can we do there? We did a bike expedition on the third day. We went around town on 2 wheels (bicycle) and 4 wheels (ATV - All Terrain Vehicle) around the paddy fields for sunset.
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| Morning on 2 wheels (on different bicycles mind you) |
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| Evening on 4 wheels |
What a typical Singaporean would ask for is FOOD. What would you expect to eat there? There are tons of food all over the Old Market or locally known as Psar Chaa. Pub Street houses a lot of good restaurants serving both western and local cuisines. Do try out the different Khmer dishes. To note is the Amok (meat with santan, egg and many herbs. Taste like a drier lemak chilli padi). There's mostly grilled stuffs like ribs, frog, chicken, prawn etc. They even have exotic food such as crocodile and snake, but it fetches a high price. A good 2 meals with a starters side dish and 2 drinks would cost an average of below $15. And the local draft beer cost a freaking $0.50. It cost lesser than water, $1.
Street food is the cheapest thing. A rice dish cost maximum $2 but the atmosphere at night can be irritating, especially with flies that are attracted to lights. Most of the streetside foodstalls are underneath billboards, so there will be tons of those critters.
And as a coffee junkie, there isn't much cafe to note. But a good cafe to check out is Common Ground. It's extremely similar to Starbucks, even up to their believes of helping the community. Common Ground would have a better publicity if they are better located. They are located near the Central Market, in the alley behind Angkor Riviera Hotel. Another good coffee to try is the Mexican Coffee from the Blue Pumpkin cafe at Old Market.
Siem Reap is a totally different kind of holiday for me. It's more of a cultural holiday, trying out what the locals eat and do, even to checking out what they do in their villages. My normal holiday shopping spree is at a halt. Most of the items I've shopped are for people. In all, Siem Reap is a great place to visit, ONCE.
, even to checking out what they do in their villages. My normal holiday shopping spree is at a halt. Most of the items I've shopped are for people. In all, Siem Reap is a great place to visit, ONCE. To better interpret in thousands words of the holiday, do check out the photo album:
Till the next holidays,
Ja Matta
