We only had more than 2 hours of sleep since he is on the late afternoon shift at work. As usual, I woke up first and got ready for our much awaited travel to Cambodia.
Our flight was 620 am, so we were at the airport before 5am. After checking in our bags, we went to McDonald’s for a brief breakfast. Then decided to go to the gate and just wait there until we are about to board.
The flight to Siam Reap was a breeze. The weather was good, considering the past few days have been rainy. We arrived in Siam Reap 7am (1 hour difference with KL). The airport was just small, where the building looks like those traditional Khmer buildings we see in pictures. As soon as our passports were stamped, and we got our bags, we hurriedly went out to check if someone from the guesthouse is there waiting for us. And there, I saw my name on a piece of cardboard, being held by this small guy who was all smile welcoming us to their country. He came with his ‘tuktuk’ which was our companion for our entire stay in SR. And by the way, our driver, Savey, was the best, the friendliest we have ever encountered so far in most of our travels here and there. Plus the most hardworking, I’d say.
Day 1
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| Bou Savey Guesthouse |
As soon as we arrived at the guesthouse (Bou Savey Guesthouse), we were served with a banana-pineapple shake. Bovorn (the owner) suggested that since we will be leaving so early on our 3rd day, we just pay the room rental then the tour separate (actually, it’s the same if calculated). So we agreed then he informed us it will be Savey who will give us the tour in his tuktuk as soon as we are ready. So we dropped our bags in the room, quite spacey I’d say. And the guesthouse itself is like being in your family’s house situated in the province, very homey.
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| Ticket Counter before entering Angkor Wat Complex |
Our first stop, buy our Angkor Wat tickets.A day costs $20, but they have this ticket that you pay $40 for 2days but you have 1 day free. Since we will be staying there for 2 days (excluding the day we leave for KL), I bought the $40 ticket. (I’d say this is the most expensive we have paid in the entire trip to SR).
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| Our on the spot personalized Angkor Wat tickets!!! |
Then off we went inside the Angkor Complex. The area is clean, full of trees on both sides of the roads (mostly mangroves). Along our tuktuk ride to the temples, we passed by a group of monkeys being fed with bananas by a group of tourists who went into the complex by bicycles, which can be rented out.
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| The famous Angkor Thom gate |
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| South Gate of Angkor Thom (Right Side) |
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| South Gate of Angkor Thom (Left Side) |
This is one of those famous temples in the Angkor complex, always gracing the pages of magazines. I was so excited when we were in the South Gate of Angkor Thom. I was actually more excited to see this one than the Angkor Wat :P After 5 mins. Of taking pictures here and there, we went further.
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| Prasat Bayon |
Savey dropped us in Prasat Byon temple and had us roam the area with the temple near it in then finally meet at the end in an hour. This is where the famous faces of Bayon is located. I’d say the temples are full of people and you will really think how much money the temples are contributing for Cambodia tourism (and maybe help them in restoring these beautiful temples). You will be surprised that Angkor Wat has tourist guides who can actually speak the language of the tourists, like French, Korean, Japanese, etc. So linguistic!
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| Famous faces of Bayon |
It was really hot but there are some parts of the temples that are cool mostly because of the stones.
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| Phimeanakas |
From Angkor Thom, we moved to the next temple - Phimeanakas. It’s like Parthenon in Greece! We just took pictures down and decided not to go up since the weather was so hot.
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| Terrace of the Elephants (Just took pictures then off we go!) |
We were so hot and thirsty and were so glad that when we met Savey, he offered us very cold bottles of mineral water free of charge. I think I managed to drink 2 bottles. J
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| Ta Keo Temple |
The Ta Keo temple was under restoration and Savey advised us not to go up because some parts are not safe. Before venturing around the temple, we asked him to take a picture of us. I’d say this is such a nice picture (and the only decent one we had) since we usually travel alone so we don’t have someone to take our pictures.
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| Nice shot of us by Savey! |
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| Paintings (most were traced from the Angkor wat walls) |
Far down the temple, there was a seller of paintings that were mostly patterned from the temples carvings. The local guy, who was so proficient in English and pronounces the words so good, actually managed to persuade us to buy 3 for $15. We took the Ramayana drawings with Apsara (until now it’s still sitting there in our living room wrapped in its case). Savey saw us then told us that there are actually more sellers of that kind outside the complex. He asked how much we paid for it then said it’s still ok, he thought the seller outsmarted us. Sino ba naman di matatakot sa kasama ko?!?! Hehehe
We later went to the temple where the Tomb Raider was taken - Ta Phrom. And we were really lost, pero we were, dami kasi iikutan.
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Ta Phrom - Tomb Raider scene
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Angkor Wat was under construction the time we were there and there were so many tourists going up the highest temple so we didn't dare go. But it was magnificent to actually be in one of the UNESCO Heritage Site.
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| See the renovation in the Angkor Wat temple? |
We went back to the guesthouse to take a rest after going to the souvenir shop which sells expensive items (so di kami bumili). Idlip ng konti then we went for the Apsara dance with the buffet dinner.
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| Apsara Dancers (Sophea Angkor Pich Restaurant) |
Luckily, Neil liked the food so worth it na rin. It was fun to watch those girls dance their traditional dance. After dinner, we went to the Night Market. And it was heaven for us to shop those US goodies, like Gap shirts, North Face belt bag, Kipling bag, etc. Worth it. It was our first trip na super shopping talaga!
Day 2
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| Nice shot of Neil with the Angkor Wat at the background at sunrise! |
We woke up early to see the sunrise in the Angkor Wat. Nothing spectacular as the temples was under construction that time. They say that both sunrise and sunset can be seen and perfectly situated at both ends of the temple. After much ado, we went back to the guesthouse for breakfast.
Then, went to a farther place to see the oldest temple - Bantay Srey Temple.
Quite an adventure for us riding the tuktuk for almost an hour but it was worth it, seeing all those rice fields, having the wind blow at our faces, makes us feel like we are in the province in the Philippines.
After the trip to the temple, we went back to Angkor Wat to see the remaining temples we have left to see the day before.
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| Ta Som Temple |
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| A wall in Ta Som temple |
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Neak Pean temple - the temple already submerged to water (there is a pond surrounding this temple but it seems like the water grew higher and higher) |
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| Preah Khan Temple |
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| Stupa in the middle of the Preah Khan temple |
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| still Preah Khan temple |
We went back to the guesthouse earlier to take a nap then asked Savey to fetch us again at night to go back to the Night Market (see, we loved this place!).
Our flight the next day was the earliest flight so we can rest longer as the following day is a working day. All in all, it was such a pleasant trip. Now, I want to see other UNESCO Heritage sites as well! This trip is indeed a wonderful birthday trip for me!
(I didn’t mention all the temples that we went to but it was all beautiful! And since there are too many temples, I am not even sure if all I have mentioned here are the correct names, sigh!!! )
I'm thinking of making many changes for 2013, wishing and praying that this would be better than this year.
commercial products. And my other favorites are the Pink Deodorant, the Cool Chamomile Feminine Wash, the Strawbery Facial Scrub, the lotion (let's just say almost all HHN products that I have used) and of course the Sunflower Beauty Oil. More reviews of the HHN products next blog :) (And I am making Max, go for organic toiletries as well :P)
