Day 1
Morning 8am local time landed, got our stuff & head to Sala Bai Hotel, which is a free hotel school based in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Each year, the school, trains 100 young disadvantaged Cambodians to the four main professions of the hospitality industry: restaurant waiter/waitress, cook, receptionist & housekeeping attendants...
Since we can’t check-in because the room is not available yet, so we went for breakfast at a place our guide/tuk tuk driver recommended. He said he will always bring people to eat there when they visit. The price there is ok as I won’t call it cheap. Of course the first thing to be ordered is Amok Fish, which is highly recommended to try, a must must dish. After lunch, we went to buy bottled water as other source of drinking water is not encourage. After that we went to change some USD into local riel money. Then went back to check into the room, and rested. Then in the afternoon, around 3, we went to the old market area, where I bought 2 little bags and not any other things since its only my first day there… after the mini shopping, we went out on a 45 minutes drive by tuk tuk to the fame largest freshwater lake in South East Asia, Tonle Sap lake and floating market to see sunset, we was there since 5pm and waited til 6 something, and the sun still don’t want to take a rest, so we set on our trip back towards the shore, and manage to see the sun setting in… went back to old market area, and had dinner at one of those stores near to Pub street, and after that tour around those few roads to see what they have.. it is suppose to be the most happening place for that town, but then ~~ just lot of drinks, and its really cheap, starting from prices like 0.75usd.. OMG~~~ but I didn’t drink there la…
Since our guide needed to leave first, so we had our dinner, and after dinner, we walk around awhile... Then v could either walk or take a tuk tuk back... V decided to just start walking walking, while looking for some local food to eat, and walk walk walk was on the right track till v miss one of the road & got lost... So v ask ppl 4 guidance... Then happen 2 walk pass a lowly light stretch of road... So v just walk and walk... Then suddenly got some1 say Hello... I see see around, those few shops, in front & the side lanes r all prostitutes... Quite sure of that, coz of the way they dress... Then manage 2 find our own street... Walking down the street, some side lanes also got those girls... They not say very pretty type... size on the bigger side... First night in town, also sendiri walk bc lo... Geng lo...
Day 2
In the morning went to get Angkor 3 day pass... Then the first thing is go to ANGKOR WAT as our first temple and starting point of the temple visit... after that went into BAYON by its north gate, took lunch there since we was quite tired and hungry, after that only walk around those few temples there, namely BAYON, BAPHUON, PRASAT SUOR PRAT, THOMMANOM, ELEPHANT TERRACE and surrounding temple... After the tiring walk under the hot sun, we then headed to 2 temple, CHAU SAY TEVODA and TA KEO... Tat place the things are sold very cheap.. After tat went to Ta Prohm.. it is one of the site that Tomb Raider was film. Unfortunately, restoration and preservation work was being carried out at that place… after spending close to an hour there, we headed back to our hotel… on the way, we stopped to have Sugar Cane juice which was very sweet, and nice, I would say that it is much better than malaysia's.. after resting and showering, we went for dinner was at Moloppor Cafe, which is suppose to be a highly recommended place to eat by books and people that have been there. the food they serve are pizza, western food, noodles, rice, bread and so on, a wide variety, the best thing for that place is they have a steam pool? Something like that where you can soak in the water, but there is time slot for guys and girls, I think girls is from 5-8pm; and guys from 8-11pm… something like that… hours after the dinner, we had supper of kuih under the moon light during the Blackout of around +/- 1 hour...
Day 3
In the morning, we had French bun 4 breakfast. It is French loft + veg + pork meat wit some fat… quite popular among tourist, but the local don’t really like it so much… since its day 2 for the temple pass, it is recommended and normally Big circle are done. Big Circle are those temples that are located further from each other. I think we went to SRAS SRANG, PREAH KHAN, and EAST MEBON… while 2 more was kept for the next day because I FELL DOWN a temple, SPRAIN my ankle =( so the guide said, I better take a rest, and we went back to the hotel after lunch, and rested the whole afternoon. No worries as we have a lot of time. The pain really hurt badly before I went to sleep that night. Just a little movement and it would hurt, depending on how much I move it… in the evening, since cash is already low after settling the big bills, like hotel, tuk tuk, Angkor Wat pass, we went to find a place where they accept VISA, and of course not too expensive la… since buffet with cultural dance is a must try and see, so we went around few places, the first 2 don’t accept, but our last try at a more posh looking, but price the same place accept cards, so we went in… WOW~~ nice dinning environment… but then the choice of food is not that much, only bout 8 kind, including rice, noodles(few variety), veg, meat, amok fish with banana leave, etc… and they actually serve fried banana(our goreng pisang leh)… the meal cost us bout RM53(its USD12+2)… the food was not nice at all… it was dry, not tasty… the dance was not too bad, but not that many…. The main thing of this meal was… I MET MY FREN… so happen we are in the same city, went to the same place at the same night, and sat at the same area, some more they was usher to our next table… the moment I saw her, I was like, am I seeing right~~~ so gam de o….they are doing a 6 week tour of 3 country, if I remember correctly is Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam… my first expression when I heard 6 weeks was, OMG~~ so much money o…. anyway, we chat through dinner, and snap a group photo outside the restaurant… for those who is from HELP, or knows me, the girl is Jasmine Sim la… haha… so now again, how big can SEA(south east asia) be…. Maybe it is fated that they see my pathetic state from the fall… =(
Day 4
We had breakfast at old market since it was pretty early, and we have to go far places today, and today is our LAST day for the Angkor Wat pass… while sitting at a store eating our noodle, we started to chat with a guy next to us. And later he said that he is an archeologist from US working and living there for the past 4 and the half years in Phnom Penh. He then told us where 2 visit, what to see and so on. A very friendly guy.. of course the kiasu me, and kampung me, that have never met an archeologist, took a photo with him la… my fren call me, Brad Pitt. LOL~~~
After that we started our 37km road journey to BANTEAY SREI, where there is 2 stories, 1 is that the whole temple was made and craft by woman ONLY, that is why the art are so fine, and the other is to hide the queen after the war. The doors are all so low, inside should not be that big, and there is craving all over, even on the floor that is why people can only see from the side… Our next stop was KBAL SPEAN, where we had to climb up 1.5km on jungle path to see the carvings in the water. Some had already faded, while some can still be seen. There is also a mini waterfall there… although sign say NO picnicking, but people still do go there to picnic while enjoying the waterfall… on the way back, the tired me slept all the way till we stopped for lunch at a store, at GOD knows where… After that we visited the 2 more temples, TA SOM & NEAK PEAN that we left it from yesterday. And then back to GH to shower, then went to a silk shop, Asia Craft, where they sell fine silk, and craft that is expensive…
After tat was the concert by Dr. Beat Richner wit his cello. He does this every Saturday at 7.15pm to raise funds for the children hospital that he runs. It is called Kantha Bopha I & II in Phnom Penh, and Jayavarman VII in Siem Reap. For more information you can look it at BEATOCELLO. After the concert ended, we went to buy some items at Angkor market, and headed back to our Guest House (GH), did mask, and fell asleep. Amazingly everyday, we would auto wake up around 7am…
Day 5
This morning, we had French bun wit meat for breakfast again. Since our 3 days pass has expired, and we had several options to choose from, like the Mar museum and other places, but we decided to visit Wat Bo, which is a world heritage which was recommended by the archeologists... It is like a mini museum, called the archeological museum... we spend around 45 minutes there, before going to the old market for lunch, then to Senteurs to buy some expensive gifts... Then shop around old market for more souvenirs... there were 2 t-shirts: “Same Same But different” & “No Money No Honey” that we bought… since in the evening, we was going for picnic by the lake, so we decided to get more beer at Angkor market... the alcohol and cigarette are cheap there… a can of beer is around 0.60usd… in the evening, we went Picnic at a lake, where we bought bbq chicken + bbq fish + rice 4 dinner. we saw the day turn into grey, as the sun calls it a day. We left around 7pm, and headed back to GH, but with some food and fruits of course… haha… we then started to pack our bags 4 2moro early morning departure. So fast the trip had to come to an end again… how I wish I could stay for more days there… haha…
Day 6
Woke up early early, did our final packing, got ready & waited 4 our tuk tuk 2 send us to the airport.
We Check in our bags, and mine was just nice at 14.9kg. Haha... damn good at estimating.. LOL~~~ Then pass the boarding scanner to the waiting hall.. Their scanner lousy de, 1 whole full bottle of water also can pass.. But then they can know got a small pen inside the bag o...
Back at LCCT, there was long q before the immigration, ppl are all q-ing 2 pass the themer scan 4 check 4 heat(fever).. After that, it was all clear. last minute decided to catch 2 Black label from the shelf, even thought my check-in already had wine, but never mind, 1 liter per pax ma...
FAQ:
1. Did I eat insect, worms?
The answer is NO~~ I’m not so adventures yet, and also the oil that they use to fry it, no way I would eat it… but reason NO.1 is the main reason. there is few flavors that you could try. Original, spicy, extra spicy, etc…
Some sample offers at the temple, sold by kids…
@ Angkor wat Bought 2set of post cards @usd3(start price, usd2 each), handband at usd1..
@ CHAU SAY TEVODA and TA KEO... 6 bracelet for usd1, even can get offer for 7 for usd1, post cards at 2pack for usd1.. there was also a nice Angkor "silk drawing"table top display at usd5 later say usd3 only...
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