Date: 02 Feb 2018 Days: 2 Days 1 Night Currency: USD
It was a rare morning because I woke up early, 0630 to be exact. Usually that would be my sleeping time on my weekend. I was browsing my #Instagram on my laptop. Then, a notification from #AirAsia popped in my screen. It was great deal.
So, I buzzed my close friends (Vanitha & Tulasi) in Whatsapp group flooding dozens of messages. I want an immediate response. I gave damn on their sleeping time.
This is good deal and I can’t let this go. We were planning a vacation. We wanted to out from the country but we do not know where to go. It’s hard to fix a place when you are kept counting the expenses. “Hence, this is definitely a great deal”. I said to myself.
Yeah!! I got responses. My friends were messaging me. We had two choice #Phuket and #SiemReap. After exchanging nonstop opinions, we chose #SiemReap only because of #Angkorwat. We really wanted to visit this temple.
I can’t wait any longer. I purchased the tickets for three of us together with an accommodation where the total cost is MYR1478.70 (2 Days 1 Night). That’s approximately RM493 per person. After months of discussion, this was a quick and an unplanned decision. We were so happy about it. Then, we have totally forgotten the trip until few days before the departure. One of us has to remind us. Well, that’s surely Vanita. She is a perfect planner. Then, we rushed to exchange currency and packed our bags in a day or two. “Bags are packed. I’m ready to fly” we exchanged Whatsapp message. Within a day, we were at airport around 0400 hugging each other for meeting after months.
1| Where we stayed
We stayed at hotel Angkor Voyage Villa at Sok San Road. It’s a three star hotel because we do not want to spend so much of money into hotel. Even though we had little dissatisfaction especially when it’s failed to reflect the expectation as displayed by Air Asia on their page, we are ok with it. The hotel is located in the middle of Siem Reap town. So, most of the places are within reach of walking distance around 5 minutes and quite safe. The receptionist or the care taker of the hotel (Ms Sofia) is so friendly tho. We became good friends and exchanged facebook IDs. Should I come back to Siem Reap, I planned to stay here again.
Rating: 3/5
2|First Day
We checked in then out to survey the nearby areas. This place is crowded with budget hotels, restaurants, food stalls, fish message, souvenirs shops, banks and tuk-tuks. There were uncountable alleys and the spaces are well used. Don’t be surprised if you found a hotel at aisle or ATM machine on the top of the drainage. The cables are overloaded and I’m not sure how they are maintaining it. It’s totally mesmerizing. WIFI is easily available at every restaurant. One thing is sure; this place is crammed by foreigners probably because a bottle of beer is just USD1. We visited the nearby museum and checked out the surroundings of the town.
When we returned to hotel, we purchased two days tour package recommended by Ms Sofia. Then, we followed the package arrangement and headed to floating village. It took almost an hour journey to reach the floating village by a van then to a boat. Alternatively, you can take tuk-tuk (please skip this on dry season) or taxi. It’s so hazy due to dry season until the driver only has 30% visibility of the road. Along the tour, we were been briefed by our young and handsome tour guy. Since it’s a dry season therefore the village is not flooded. Yet, it’s an incredible experience too because we got to walk the village where the ground is usually covered by water. After the village visit, we went to crocodile farm (that how they call it but the reality is they kept few crocodiles in a big net). This is where you will get to experience the floating restaurant. You can choose to have dinner here (expensive though, normal meal is between USD7 to USD11) or a short trip with small boat to visit the deep of mangrove forest. They charge you USD20 per boat which can accommodate 4 people. Then, we head to middle of #TonleSap Lake to enjoy the sunset. I got to know that Tonle Sap is a lake even though it is feels like sea. It’s huge. We have been told that once upon a time, they were so many crocodiles on this lake where now is none because most of it had been captured by locals for money. Since our boat has top deck, we took the top deck to enjoy the view. It was incredible experience. When the sun is down, we head back to town and reached our hotel around 0200. It was exhausting yet a great day.
Rating: 4/5
3| Second Day
As early as 0500, our tour guide picked us at our hotel entrance. Today is an exciting day because we are going to #Angkorwat. This is the main reason why we are here. We got to move as early as 0500 to witness the sunrise on the top of the Angkot. This is one of the MUST to do item if you visit Siem Reap. The entrance pass for four temple visit (#Angkorwat, #AngkorThom, #TaProhm, #BaYon) is USD20 p/person for a day. Keep you pass safely because if you lost it you have to repurchase it.
Around 0645 we are all ready waiting for the sunrise. Unfortunately, we couldn’t witness the rise because it’s too cloudy. Better luck next time. Once it’s bright, we started our tour covering the temples one after another with its history being briefed by our tour guy. I couldn’t imagine how they have built these amazing empires. This is too huge to digest. The entire history is surrounded within the conflict occurred between the #Hindu and the #Buddhist. Every time the temple is conquered by any of them the act of destroy and demolish the existence of the other took place. That’s make the history too deep even to dig. My favorite temple was #Angkorwat and #BaYon. I almost lost in #BaYon temple because it looks the same at every five entrance. The precision and perfection of architecture is mind blowing. We ended our tour with #LionGate and back to Siem Reap town around 0800. Then, we thank our tour guy and returned to our hotel to have an hour of good rest before exploring the night market.
The night market is just five minutes walking distance from our hotel. It’s UV light everywhere and so happening compared to day time. Every corner is flooded with goodies and foods. There were loud music with beers and vodka as it’s seems like heaven.
We have been told that the famous restaurant here is Kher Kitchen. You can check their menu here. Since it’s too crowded and people are queuing up for so long we opted to alternative. We were like walked almost every alleys looking for the best food. Finally, we settled down at this restaurant called D-town. You can check their menu, rating and comments here with some other recommended restaurants. We tasted the Siem Reap famous #Amok fish. It was so good that you can never get enough. Besides, we loved their mango salad. It was satisfying dinner.
Then, it’s a shopping time. In here, I guess night is the most suitable time to shop because it just a shopping heaven in here. There were so many goods and crafts. The cheapest is the V-neck cotton t-shirt that cost only USD1. No doubt, we bought plenty of t-shirts of all sizes. Besides, you can never get bored with their crafts and arts. I nearly lost on this world if precious #artworks. On that night, I have made a decision to come to explore all these amazing works. If you are fan if silk, this is the right heaven for you.
4| Fourth Day
I couldn’t believe that it’s time to pack up. We have decided to pack early so that we can spend the rest of the time to enjoy some nice foods before catching up our flight at 1400. We were so fascinated by the food so we took our lunch an hour right after the breakfast. We ordered plenty of dishes for our lunch at nearby restaurant. The plus point is every person who ate here had an hour of privilege of free fish massage. Since we have been too friendly to the restaurant owner we had an advantage of extra hours of the fish massage. How lucky we are.
Then, it’s time to head to airport. This time we decided to take tuk-tuk (USD9) just to experience it. It took us forty five minutes to reach the air port. After hours, we are back at our homeland #Malaysia around 1800.
It was a memorable journey to three of us. I personally made a decision to visit the place again because I’m not done yet. #SiemReap, you got me.
If you would like to read my other local travelling experiences, you can check it out here, here, here , here and here.
tatta, (bubbye)
#tamaka
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