Angkor Wat and the other ancient temples near Siem Reap, Cambodia have long been on our bucket list of must-see places. Its only a 2 1/2 hour flight from Manila. So, together with friends Wayne, Julius and Dee, we headed there in late January for about 4 days of sight seeing.
Wayne, Julius and Dee were picked up at the airport by Da Mao in his new tuktuk, the most common way of getting around. Wayne and Julius had been in Cambodia last year and befriended Da, their tour guide. In an incredible fit of generosity, they donated the money necessary for Da to buy his own tuktuk, and here it was! Not bad for someone known for being such a cheapskate! Since luggage for all five of wouldn't fit in one tuktuk, our hotel arranged for Tony and I to be picked up.
Da was our tour guide, tuktuk driver and friend throughout our stay. Without the luggage, all five of us could now squeeze in. His knowledge of the area and his enthusiasm for the temples and their history were amazing. He was such a big part of the trip's success and the group's fun.
On day one, Da took us straight to Angkor Wat. Although probably the best known, it's just one of dozens of ancient temple ruins in the area that are part of the UNESCO world heritage site. The architecture, carvings, history, beauty and sheer scale gave me goose bumps. I'm still trying to fathom how many people it must have taken to dig the moat alone. Later in the day, we went to Ta Prohm. This temple has had more minimal restoration, with massive trees and roots covering many of the structures. It starts to give you a real sense of the work that has gone into restoring Angkor Wat and some of the other temples over the years.
Day two took us to two more temples, Angkor Thom and Preah Khan. Each has its own character and history. All of them are equally awe-inspiring. I had no idea of the extent of Khmer civilization and construction during that era (about 12th - 14th centuries plus or minus).
Day three took us on a ride through the countryside to a fishing village, Kompong Phluk. (Dee opted for a spa day instead - smart lady!) The village is quite a ways out, and the last few kilometers are on a dusty bumpy dirt road. Then on to a small boat that takes you down the river. All structures along the river are built on some of the tallest bamboo stilts I've seen. Flooding here can be severe. But the scenery and images were awesome.
Siem Reap is the local city nearby the temples. Tourism has exploded in the area, but the city still maintains some decent charm. Virtually all the hotels are here, and its also the place to shop with markets everywhere. If you're in to bars and night life, Pub Street is the place to go. Wayne's hotel is owned and run by a friend from San Francisco, and it was fun visiting with him. There are some great restaurants in town, too, and we had several really good dinners. I'm afraid I wasn't brave enough to try the fried snakes, frogs and insects being sold on the street.
The Siem Reap economy is all based on US dollars. Prices are quoted and paid in dollars. ATMs spit out dollars. Its a little bizarre. When shopping, bargaining is definitely expected. Wayne's $17 book quickly became $6. Dee's $18 dollar shirt quickly became $3!
Our final day was spent at in Siem Reap. Wayne, Julius and Dee enjoyed the silk farm and the National Museum. Tony and I enjoyed a foot massage and the Artisans d'Angkor.
This was a spectacular trip!
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