Cambodia - Siem Reap

THE INITAL PLAN :

WHERE TO SLEEP Hostel Downtown Siem Reap Hostel

Why : Because a friend of a friend is the owner :) and it's quite central.

WHAT TO VISIT IN SIEM REP

For the next days until departure I will visit Ankor Wat (meaning “City Temple”) only 7km away from Siem Rep. Built around the first half of 12th century by King Suryavarman II. I will get sone pass ; 1-day pass ($20), 3-day pass ($40) and a week pass ($60).

The main temples to visit seems to be : ta Prohm, Angkor Thom ( Locals pronounce this temple “Uncle Tom”)

WHAT HAPPEN THERE :

DAY 1 :

Arriving at the Siem Reap Gian Ibis main station, it's raining, I spent quite a good night sleeping from 9 pm to 6h20 am. I escape most of the Tuk Tuk and try to localized my hostel on the map ... um a bit too far I really need a tuk tuk. I met this funny driver who told me discreetly that he has a car and that it's more comfortable when it's raining. Negotiate it for 2 $ and let's go to the Downtown Hostel where Will booked a 12 $ double bed room for me. This driver is definitely too funny, he spent the day asking and negotiating to go to the Angkor temples but in a really nice way. I finally get a lat price, 15$ for the small tour and 20$ for the big tour. If i find other people he can make it to 20$ for all and 25$ for the big tour. Arriving at the hotel, it's impossible to check in until 3 pm because the room are not ready, it's raining a lot I just spend some time writing and the blog and 2 English boys are in the same situation with the check in ... Let's go to the temple then.

We got a ticket for 62 $ 3 days (you can also take a 1 day for 37$, to buy the day before in order to go to the sun rise)

The first day from 9 to the sunset we visit many many temples that i have no idea what was the name or even the story, our driver was not a proper guide just a driver. But what i can say is the most impressive part to me was how the nature take over and grow in between every single hole left by the construction. Some of the trees are more than 1100 years, and it's really impressive. The temples have been built for most of them start 10th century and so on, the frame are still there, most of the roofs are gone. You go from rooms to room like a proper maze and discover the best spot to take some souvenir pictures.

Back to the hotel it's already time to get some free shot, a tradition at downtown Siem Reap hostel that won't leave you bad memories. Everybody in the hostel is getting along with each other the atmosphere is nice, full of Irish, English, American and me the little french. Rose, the bartender bring us to Last Call and then Pub Street. What a night, I meet my dance floor partner Alana, during this night, we will travel together in Laos later.

DAY 2 :

The relaxing day, I have not been sleeping so well the last night, like most of the night during this trip but whatever i am not here for sleeping but to travel. Today it's full body massage day and visit of the night market. We got some lunch in front of the guest house, the steak at 5$ was so needed. 1h massage for 6$ and the day is all gone, time to sleep tomorrow we have to wake up at 4 am to see the sunrise.

DAY 3 :

The perfect day, after a tough alarm at 4 am, we are already sitting in front on the Angkor Wat having coffee et negotiating a mattress to sit on the floor (it rains last night). At first, it looks cool but not that amazing like people described it but then around 5h30 the magic happen : white, red, yellow, purple, blue, the sky is changing color every 5 minutes, it's magic. The Chinese behind us did not get up enough early they are fighting to get in front, on our little mattress we are far from the mess, we enjoy the moment.

Finally we finish the big loop and decided to drive, 30 minutes to the lady temple. It's a temple where the cravings are all made by women, it's so details and precise that it look like this have been done few years ago.

After the lady temple, we are feeling already super tired, but let's go to the butterfly farm, it's 5$ more to enter but that worth the price. We got a guide who details everything from the birth to the dead of the butterfly and all the species. it took them a year to build this. I love learning so much but on top of that you get surrounded by 100 of butterfly, it's amazing.

After the visit, we got back to the temples and finished the tour, it was a bit too much temples we skip some of them. But I have to say that the big loop look much better than the small one and it would be easy to do it all in 1 day. Let's go for a 2 hours nap, some beers and dance a bit in pub street, it won't take us long to decide to go home.

DAY 4 :

I wanted to cross the Laos border on day 4 but the bus start only at 8 am in order to cross the boarder during the day, so i had to wait one more day. During the day I talk with Alana who wants to do the same, we decided to do it together. And what an experience...