Back from Cambodia for sometimes de, now only got time to back-post for what happened in Cambodia.
The First Day (14/03/2008)
This is the first day in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Everything is fine, only not enough rest. Yesterday night whole night didn’t sleep because we need to go to airport around 3am, the Limo reached our place on time, and before 4am we reached LCCT.
After finished our early breakfast in Mc D, then we check-in before the long queue form, because we know that everyday only one flight to go to Siem Reap. I’m not sure why, maybe AirAsia giving out many promotion, so this period a lot of people travel with AirAsia. On the plane, totally full, AirAsia really make a lot of many.
During the time waiting for boarding, we feel so boring and sleepy, not enough sleep and boring with the time of waiting. When on board, we cannot sleep in the first place, just because this the good time for us to take the sunrise shots on the plane. Both of us sit at the different side, so that we can take the different shots. Too bad that the one sit beside me is a little boy, he really make a lot of noise during the 2 hours flight.
8.50am (Siem Reap time-zone 7.50am), arrived Siem Reap International Airport. After settle everything with the custom then we thought that there should be someone waiting us at the arriving hall, because the hotel promised to send someone to pick us up in the airport. But after one hour waiting there, with another two ladies, from Indonesia, we decided to take the taxi.
Meet with the driver.
We meet with this driver who persuades us to take him as our driver to visit the temples and some places around Siem Reap. He charges us 100USD for the four days ride, and he changed my plan, but he promised that he will bring us to some other temple that out from the park. Since we got no idea where to get a good-driver for the following days, so we decided to take him as our driver.
After settle down everything in the hotel then we bring our tools and walk out to the street. Just like what happened in Bangkok, when you walk on the street sure many taxi driver or tuk tuk driver will ask you to take their service. A bit annoyed.
The weather in Siem Reap almost kill me, not only sun block is needed but I need to drink a lot of water. Not like Bangkok or Pattaya, in Siem Reap is not that easy for you to get the water supply; you need to walk for a distance to get the drinks from the store.
On the street, we try the French toast ice cream, and the coconut. This the first time I try out the French toast with ‘local ice cream’, they called it ‘Min Ice Cream’. This ice cream made by a kind of fruit (or mixed with some other fruit whereby we also no idea what in it), called ‘Min’, not sure what kind of fruit it is, but the taste so special. For the coconut, I still prefer Thailand coconut, miss it.
We stay out there not more than 2hours, then the sun force us to go back to our hotel. We bought some drinks from the Angkor Market, then went back to out room. I cannot stand for the hot sun anymore.
Take a nap to recharge ourselves, and then continue our activities with the night market and the night life in Siem Reap. Visit the Angkor Night Market near by the CAB Bank, on Sivatha Blvd. Road. The traffic in this city make us don’t know how to cross the road. Their traffic really terrible, a lot of motorbike, one motorbike can fit up to 5person on it.
Ready ourselves for the next day activities, sleep… zzZZzz…
For the second day (15/03/2008) in Cambodia
The second morning in Siem Reap City, like always don’t wish to wake up so early in the morning, 6.30am. Take our first breakfast in this city around 7am; take it in the hotel we’re staying. Our driver reached to our hotel as he’d promised, 8am, and we start our plan for today – visit Angkor Archaeological Park.
The first check point we stop is the ticket counter, at the main entrance of Angkor Archaeological Park. We get our three days pass for 40USD, they take less than 1 minutes to ready our pass, fast. We’re so lucky that not so many people buy the ticket, so we no need to wait for it.
First half day: Angkor Thom South Gate – Bayon – Baphuon – Phimeanakas – Royal Palace – Terrance of the Elephants – Prasats Sour Prat – Terrace of the Leper King – Ta Prohm – Banteay Kdei – Sras Srang (From 8am – 1pm, 5hours)
Second half day: Angkor Wat – Phnom Bakheng (From 3pm – 6.30pm, 3 ½ hours)
Whole day we facing all the ‘stone building’, first few building really interesting for us, but when come to another few more similar building, we started to feel bored. Getting tired.
All the gates are the same, the different will be which is the one they’re ‘safe’. The south gate of the Angkor Thom City is the most wonderful, or prefect gate, compare to the other gate, so we take such a long time to finish our work in this gate. The driver didn’t expect us will take more than half an hour to finish it, just because he do not understand our purpose to visit this place.
Too many people visit this park is the main problem for us during this competition (or vacation). Wherever we go we’ll meet with many tourists from other country. Every time when we try to get the better angle for our shots, sure someone will pass by the place, or someone will block the view. (I don’t wish to waste a lot of time to edit the photos…)
Today I drink more than 3Liters water for the whole day trip, luckily the driver ready enough mineral water for us. (This is part of the service they included in the package.) You can imagine that how hot the weather is in this city, plus you needed to walk under the big bright sun. Now I know why this park no needs to ready too many toilets.
Third day morning
Today we wake up early morning, around 4.15am, just try to catch the great moment for the sunrise at Angkor Wat. 5.15am, our driver, Rithy, reach to our hotel on time. The sky out there still very dark, but on the road got many vehicle, this city ‘wake up’ de.
We thought that still got time for us to pick up the good place for our sunrise shots, but we never expect that others reach there much more earlier than us. Inside Angkor Wat already full with people who going there for the same purpose.
Since the nice place taken by others so we just try to find other angle to get the shots. Walk around the ‘city’, the crowd is everywhere… haiz.
Amazing moment
The moment when the sun climb up to the peak of the Angkor Wat, nothing is beautiful than this picture. Awesome. I can’t believe that the sun can be so big and it just so close to us. Let my photos tell you how nice it is.
The sunrise takes us for one and a half hour, compare to the sunrise in the other place, this will be the top on the list. I love it.
After the sunrise, we take our breakfast at this local restaurant near by Angkor Wat. American Breakfast mixed with local style.
Schedule for Today
Banteay Srei – Pre Rup – East Mebon – Ta Som – Neak Pean – Preah Khan
Today our schedule is to finish the rest of the main temple in this park. The first place to visit is the Banteay Srei, a place located a bit far form Angkor Wat, about 25-30km. This not a big temple, but it was the most beautiful pink sandstone religious complex in Siem Reap. This temple also known as ‘Citadel of Women’.
I feel a bit annoyed to take photo in the temple full with other tourist, just because very hard to get the photos that you really want. It always happened that they will become part of your photo, or part of their body will be background of my photo.
Another tired day.