We started the day early today. Met up with the guide at 5 am to catch the sunrise at Angkor Wat. This is one of the "must-dos" so many people were already waiting at the pond area when we reached there.
It was nice but not what I imagined it to be. I was expecting a red egg yolk rising behind the temples. We did not see any yolk but the colour of the clouds changed as the sun rose. Still pretty.
We stayed back to explore the temple while majority of the tourists return to their hotels to catch up on their sleep or have breakfast. Angkor Wat was quiet and peaceful and we enjoyed having it to ourselves most of the time or sharing with some fellow tourists. The climb up to the top was easier and less dangerous with the new staircase. We could no longer use the stone steps which are really steep. Blessing in disguise? Maybe.
We returned to the hotel for breakfast at 9 am and took a long, good rest in the room. For the first time, I took a nap while on holiday!
Met up with the guide in the afternoon for Banteay Srei and Banteay Samre. They are much smaller in size but very nice. We had Banteay Samre to ourselves. It's a gem often missed out by people due to their tight schedule. I am glad we had time for it.
Dinner was taken at Khmer kitchen restaurant. We ordered amok fish, cashew nuts with chicken and baked sweet potato with chicken. As usual, we over ordered again.
It started pouring when we were about to finish dinner. We had sat for a long while before hopping onto a tuk-tuk to go back to hotel. We redeemed our cocktail at the lotus bar and went back to our room.
This is so far the most relaxing trip we had, with lots of free time and ample sleep. Haha!
Tomorrow we are going to Angkor Thom and Ta Phrom. Am looking forward to it! Oh yes, we need to decide on the place to see sunset. Should we go to the less crowded or nicer one? We have one night to decide.
我的哲學之道
Showing posts with label Siem Reap. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Siem Reap. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Day 1 Siem Reap
After experiencing a bad jam at ECP that nearly caused us our flight, we decided to be kiasu and made more allowance for traveling time. Luckily there was no jam this time and we arrived at terminal 2 safely ahead of schedule.
As we checked in at the counter, the excitement sank in - yes, we are going to Siem Reap. We are going to Angkor Wat FINALLY! Nearly 90% of the people who knew that we are going there this time had the same response, "I thought you have been there?" I don't know why, but many had the impression that we have covered the entire Indochina. No, Laos is the only country we have been to. Even then, I must qualify that we have only set foot on Vientiane, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang.
I was looking forward to a relaxing trip at Siem Reap. I can't help but think it's going to be very much like Luang Prabang.
The 140-minute silkair flight was ok, except for the food. I shall keep the complaints to myself. I quite like the airport. The architecture is very Cambodian. To my pleasant surprise, the airport was very quiet, orderly and efficient. My bag was already on the belt, waiting for me to pick it up. Clearing the customs was a breeze- no visa needed for Singaporeans.
We saw the hotel staff as soon as we made a left turn. We checked into the hotel after a 15-minute drive, took a rest in our room before exploring the hotel facilities. We have a complimentary foot massage and cocktail yet to redeem. Perhaps we will do so tomorrow.
Lunch was at a Khmer restaurant about 200 meters from the hotel. We had fried rice, noodles and spring rolls. Beer is cheaper than soft drinks so we ordered a beer Lao. The rice was nice, can't say the same for the noodles. It had a unique taste which wasn't to my liking. Not sure if it's the taste of ghee.
Strong winds started blowing strongly while we were eating. I was wondering if the canvas roof will tear. The waitress was trying to stop the wind from blowing away the glasses. Luckily she succeeded. After a while, it poured very heavily. We decided to wait for the rain to subside. Before 2 pm, we were able to make our way back to the hotel with the help of my mini umbrella. There were puddles of mud water in the potholes and when the cars drove past, the water splashed onto me, slightly. Once again, I was reminded of the flood we have back at home. Haha!
We met up with our guide at 2.30 pm and set off for the lake. The guide spoke really good English. We were so embarrassed with ours.
The boat ride was quite nice despite the slight drizzle. It's amazing how the Cambodians can live in such bad conditions. Though poor, they looked happy. Many were enjoying swinging in their hanmooks, watching tv with their family and the children derived fun waving at the tourists... They have no iPhones, no iPads.... They may not even know that such things exist. Life is hard, but happiness is simple. I thought about myself, my life as the boat moved back to the jetty.... What do I really want? I have no answer....
We asked the guide to drop us off at the old market. He took us around for a while and left when we decided to have dinner there. After walking round and round a few times, we finally settled for Khmer BBQ. Arghhh, another sinful meal! We took a tuk-tuk back to the hotel after a short walk at the night market. Back in the room before 8 pm. That's early!
Tomorrow we are going to watch the sunrise. I hope the weather will be good.
Age is catching up. I'm feeling tired already. It's time to sleep.:)
As we checked in at the counter, the excitement sank in - yes, we are going to Siem Reap. We are going to Angkor Wat FINALLY! Nearly 90% of the people who knew that we are going there this time had the same response, "I thought you have been there?" I don't know why, but many had the impression that we have covered the entire Indochina. No, Laos is the only country we have been to. Even then, I must qualify that we have only set foot on Vientiane, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang.
I was looking forward to a relaxing trip at Siem Reap. I can't help but think it's going to be very much like Luang Prabang.
The 140-minute silkair flight was ok, except for the food. I shall keep the complaints to myself. I quite like the airport. The architecture is very Cambodian. To my pleasant surprise, the airport was very quiet, orderly and efficient. My bag was already on the belt, waiting for me to pick it up. Clearing the customs was a breeze- no visa needed for Singaporeans.
We saw the hotel staff as soon as we made a left turn. We checked into the hotel after a 15-minute drive, took a rest in our room before exploring the hotel facilities. We have a complimentary foot massage and cocktail yet to redeem. Perhaps we will do so tomorrow.
Lunch was at a Khmer restaurant about 200 meters from the hotel. We had fried rice, noodles and spring rolls. Beer is cheaper than soft drinks so we ordered a beer Lao. The rice was nice, can't say the same for the noodles. It had a unique taste which wasn't to my liking. Not sure if it's the taste of ghee.
Strong winds started blowing strongly while we were eating. I was wondering if the canvas roof will tear. The waitress was trying to stop the wind from blowing away the glasses. Luckily she succeeded. After a while, it poured very heavily. We decided to wait for the rain to subside. Before 2 pm, we were able to make our way back to the hotel with the help of my mini umbrella. There were puddles of mud water in the potholes and when the cars drove past, the water splashed onto me, slightly. Once again, I was reminded of the flood we have back at home. Haha!
We met up with our guide at 2.30 pm and set off for the lake. The guide spoke really good English. We were so embarrassed with ours.
The boat ride was quite nice despite the slight drizzle. It's amazing how the Cambodians can live in such bad conditions. Though poor, they looked happy. Many were enjoying swinging in their hanmooks, watching tv with their family and the children derived fun waving at the tourists... They have no iPhones, no iPads.... They may not even know that such things exist. Life is hard, but happiness is simple. I thought about myself, my life as the boat moved back to the jetty.... What do I really want? I have no answer....
We asked the guide to drop us off at the old market. He took us around for a while and left when we decided to have dinner there. After walking round and round a few times, we finally settled for Khmer BBQ. Arghhh, another sinful meal! We took a tuk-tuk back to the hotel after a short walk at the night market. Back in the room before 8 pm. That's early!
Tomorrow we are going to watch the sunrise. I hope the weather will be good.
Age is catching up. I'm feeling tired already. It's time to sleep.:)
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