Our group of 5 – Harvey & Bev, Debbie & Larry and Cousin Ron travelled to Siem Reap, Cambodia from Kuala Lumpur on Air Asia. When we booked our flight on this smaller, regional airline, we were surprised when we were prompted to pick our meal for the trip. On a two hour flight? More than just a package of pretzels? Well, it was true and the meal we were presented with was quite tasty.

Cambodia has had a long and turbulent history, dating from the earliest documented settlements around 5000 BC. I won’t try to outline all of the rulers, regimes and conflicts that have occurred although I may touch on some as we visit various locations. Detailed histories are available on-line.

To enter Cambodia, a Canadian must obtain a tourist e-Visa. This can be done quite easily on-line; after completing the application and submitting the fee of ~$40, you receive your e-visa by email in a few days. You must also complete an arrival form within 7 days of your arrival.

Arrival was very easy. The immigration officer wanted our passports and boarding passes. He didn’t even look at our e-Visas or arrival cards but perhaps it is all linked to the passport info.

Siem Reap (SR) is renowned as the home of the famous temples of Angkor – more on them later – but it has reinvented itself from a backwater town to offer many other enjoyable sights and activities.

Our hotel of choice was the Golden Temple Hotel. This small 48 room hotel was like an oasis in the busy city. The hotel decor was lovely and peaceful, our rooms were spacious and immaculate and the staff were amazing – friendly, respectful, helpful and they seemed to be everywhere doing everything.

The hotel had sent a driver to meet us at the airport. This was our first encounter with ‘D’, who became part of our amazing stay in SR. He was an incredible driver, managing the crazy traffic in a calm and efficient manner. He’s also a great guy!

After having our welcome drink and snacks at the hotel, we settled in our rooms.

We then strolled to the Riverside Walkway. This walk, running along both sides of the Siem Reap River is a busy area, with both locals and tourists converging.

Psar Chas – the Old Market – sits next to the river. There are many closely packed stalls and narrow alleyways. We checked out a few as we walked. Next to the market is Pub Street. As the name implies, this pedestrian street is lined with pubs and restaurants.

For dinner on our first night, we chose a Mexican restaurant just off of Pub Street. The food was great!

It was then early to bed as Day 1 would begin early!!

The Golden Temple organized a 3 day private tour itinerary for our party of five. This was a great way to ensure we experienced all the area had to offer without the stress of coordinating it ourselves.

Day 1: 5 am, yes that’s 5:00 AM! Our guide, Sinet Heng, met us in the hotel lobby along with our driver ‘D’. These two became an important part of our group for the next 3 days and we couldn’t have asked for anything better! Sinet is an accredited guide. This certification is given following a year long training and regular recertification. His knowledge and his way of presenting it are excellent. He’s also a great photographer!

We were off to Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage site recognized for its artistic and historic temples, structures, canals and forested areas.

The temples of Angkor are scattered over ~400 sq km of countryside. These ancient monuments are considered to be one of the world’s great architectural masterpieces, for the number, size and artistry. The most famous of the temples is Angkor Wat, featuring its stunning five corncob towers and multiple bas-relief galleries. King Suryavarman II decreed that the temple was to built in 37 years – this occurred on schedule – from 1113 – 1150. It was originally a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, but was later transformed into a Buddhist site.

Sunrise over Angkor Wat is renowned for its beauty. Unfortunately, on the day we visited, the sky was cloudy and we did not experience the spectacle. However, this was a blessing in disguise as the overcast skies and occasional rain showers resulted in a day where, although it was hot and humid, we did not have to contend with the blistering sun.

Angkor Wat is surrounded by a 200 meter wide moat. Our guide, Sinet, was able to lead us around the massive structure in a manner that avoided the crowds. All the way, he explained the stories being told by the detailed carvings and the significance of the structures. We learned so much about the ancient history of Cambodia as we toured. Here are just a few of the many photos.

The hotel had provided us with a great breakfast box which we enjoyed after touring Angkor Wat.

Our next stop was at Ta Prohm. The crumbling ruins of this temple are caught within the grip of giant kapok trees. The temple was constructed in the early 13th century by Jayavarman VII on the site of a sixth century shrine. Ta Prohm was a Buddhist monastery that housed 12,000 people with an additional 80,000 employed to service and maintain the complex. In modern culture, Ta Prohm is often referred to as the ‘Tomb Raider Temple” as it was featured in the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider film.

We next travelled to visit Banteay Srei. Banteay Srei, meaning ‘Citadel of Women’ was constructed during the 10th century. It is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. This is one of the smallest of Angkor’s temples but it is definitely one of the most beautiful! The temple was constructed from rose-pink sandstone and is covered with elaborate carvings. The walls, doors, lintels and pediments display floral motifs and Ramayana scenes. This temple is different in that it was built by two local dignitaries rather than by a king.

We were served an amazing lunch by the Temple Group staff at Srah Srang, an Angkorian Royal Pond.

We then returned to the hotel for a much-needed late afternoon and evening rest.

What an amazing start to our Cambodian adventure. There is so much more one could say about each of the temples – but I will leave that to your own research if you are interested.

Stay tuned for Days 2 & 3.

Cheers,

Bev & Harvey