ADIML: Siem Reap
Earlier in August, I went on a 2 weeks trip to Cambodia with 2 other travellers whom I met through Couchsurfing. I managed to document a ADIML while I was in Siem Reap. The day started with a beautiful sunrise at Angkor Wat then travelling more than 2hrs on a tuk-tuk to see the temples that are on the outskirt of Siem Reap. It also inlcudes yummy indian dinner, food scrub and a fruit call kraline :) This is my 15 August 2009 in 70 photos total
Rise and Shine - We only got 15mins to get ready!
Our tuk-tuk driver is ready to bring us to see the sunrise at Angkor Wat.
My travel buddy from Australia - Belinda
My other travel buddy who is also from Singapore - Farhan
Looking like there is already a large crowd. We managed to squeeze to the front and found a spot to sit.
Isn't this just beautiful? We just sat there, sipping our hot tea and taking in the sights. Life is good!
We couldnt stay long as we have a long drive ahead of us.
One last glimpse of the sunrise.
The local are already up and about doing their daily errands. Most of the locals either ride a bicycle or a motobike.
We stopped for gas.
We're heading first to Kbal Spean which is about 2.5hrs ride (by tuk-tuk) away from the city. The drive took us into the local villages and vast paddy fields.The Khmers are very warm and friendly people, always smiling/waving hello at us whenever we drove past them.
We finally got to our destination - Kbal Spean or also known as River of the 1000 Lingas.
We had to show our pass to the guard at the check-point. We bought the 3 day pass which cost US$40 as it gives us enough time to see all of the temples. Losing your pass and getting caught entering any of the temples without it will cost you a US$100 fine!
We had to do a bit of trekking (1500m) first before we get to see the stone cravings.
We had to do a bit of trekking (1500m) first before we get to see the stone cravings.
Yay just 100m more to go .. woot!
The stone carvings by the riverbed. According to my guidebook, they were only just recently discovered in 1968.
Saw some workers cleaning up the river
All that walking, made us very hungry, sat down for some breakfast.
Time Check
We walked further down the trail and got to the waterfall where some university students were having a picnic.
Water was cold but refreshing.
Trekking back down to the checkpoint.
Saw some pretty blooms
A Khmer lady was selling this by the road side. It is made of glutinous rice and banana and it was yummmmm.
That's That's our driver, Chroy. Off to the temples now.
The scene that greeted us when we got to the first temple. This is a common sight though - locals kids crowding around tourist and trying to get them to buy their postcards, t-shirts, scarves and whatnot.
This is the Banteay Srei, a 10th century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god, Shiva
No rain today
Oink-Oink! I am still amazed at how the Khmers can carry almost everything on their bike. And also squeezed like 4 or 5 people on a bike too!!
The is the first of the Rolous group of temples we're seeing today. This is the Preah Ko temple.
I am not sure what this is called in english but the locals called it "kraline" (sp) She gave me some to try, and its nothing like what I ever tasted before. You peel the blue skin off then eat the brown flesh and spit the seed out.
Writing on the wall.
Another time check and we're off to the nex temple.
The Bakong Temple. Because the Rolous group of temples are quite remote, they're quite deserted too, so we have the whole temples to ourselves :)
The steps is a real killer every time .... they are usually very high and at some temples that we visited the previous day, we even had to be on our all fours to climb up.
Happy faces.
Off to the last temple.
The Lolei Temple
Have no idea why the stones are placed like that.
There was a group of school kids asking for donations for their school near the temple so we gave them some riels and got a flower each.
We're all temple-out by now and ready to head back to the hotel.
Once we got back to our guesthouse, I watch some telly and got some shut eye.
Woke up around 6pm, had a quick shower and out of the door again.
Searching for a nice restaurant to have our last meal together. All of us will be flying home the next day.
We ended up in an Indian restaurant with some nice curry, naan bread and basmati rice.
And wash it all down with masala tea.
It was still early and we didnt feel like going back to the guesthouse, so we walked to the nearby night market instead.
The usual suspect - shops selling t-shirts, wallets, dresses, wallets.
These books are the photocopied version. They are pretty decent and the pages are readable but the maps on the guide books can be quite blurry sometimes.
I decided to treat myself to a foot scrub and massage.
After an hour of pampering, I met up with the rest and we start walking back to our guesthouse. Stopped by the local mart and got myself a drink. Funny how, some of the things in Cambodia are in french too (beside Vietnam and Laos)
I need to sort my things and packed. Farhan and me have a very early morning flight to catch the next day. Belinda flight was later in the day so she get to sleep in.
The owner of the guesthouse gave us a basket of rambutan as a going away gift. We had stayed at his place for almost a week and thoroughly enjoyed my stay there. Btw, name of the place is Ta Som Guesthouse if any of you intend to be in Siem Reap anytime soon.
Last time check of the day.
The others were watching True Blood and I fell asleep right after this.
x-posted in ADIML