Finally sitting down to start blogging about my Cambodia trip. It seems funny, every time I start blogging about a trip after I come back, it always start with ‘finally’.
Anyway, Day 1, I was looking forward to the bed in the hotel I’ve booked in Siem Reap. Not that the bed was Simmons Beautyrest series or anything near its quality. After all, I’m staying in a USD7 per night hotel, not RTP’s sister hotel in Siem Reap, which cost USD75 per night at the employee rate (I laughed at my manager when he suggested taking up the employee rate at Grand Hotel D’Angkor). Simply, it was because I hadn’t have more than 5 hours of sleep since the day before.
My flight to Siem Reap was scheduled at 6am. To prevent my wallet from suffering from pre-trip slimming, and consequently depriving a taxi driver of a little more bump in his bank account, I took the night train and stayed overnight at the airport.
It was cold and I hadn’t had a jacket with me because I didn’t want to carry extra weight. This meant I didn’t get more than 30 minutes of dozing all added up.
Good thing about taking Jetstar is it is still operating out of Terminal 1, and it has pre-arranged seating. Therefore, there was no ‘*Ding* + boarding mad rush’ occurring.
Anyway, Day 1, I was looking forward to the bed in the hotel I’ve booked in Siem Reap. Not that the bed was Simmons Beautyrest series or anything near its quality. After all, I’m staying in a USD7 per night hotel, not RTP’s sister hotel in Siem Reap, which cost USD75 per night at the employee rate (I laughed at my manager when he suggested taking up the employee rate at Grand Hotel D’Angkor). Simply, it was because I hadn’t have more than 5 hours of sleep since the day before.
My flight to Siem Reap was scheduled at 6am. To prevent my wallet from suffering from pre-trip slimming, and consequently depriving a taxi driver of a little more bump in his bank account, I took the night train and stayed overnight at the airport.
It was cold and I hadn’t had a jacket with me because I didn’t want to carry extra weight. This meant I didn’t get more than 30 minutes of dozing all added up.
Good thing about taking Jetstar is it is still operating out of Terminal 1, and it has pre-arranged seating. Therefore, there was no ‘*Ding* + boarding mad rush’ occurring.
An empty departure area @ 4am
The flight was uneventful. Again, I attempted to sleep, but the angle of the seat’s headrest prevented me from getting anything more than a less than fitful doze.
Reaching Siem Reap, I was the first to be out of the airport plainly due to my no check-in luggage travelling policy. I had expected a van to pick me up. Instead, the hotel gave me my first experience of travelling in a Cambodian tuk-tuk.
Reaching Siem Reap, I was the first to be out of the airport plainly due to my no check-in luggage travelling policy. I had expected a van to pick me up. Instead, the hotel gave me my first experience of travelling in a Cambodian tuk-tuk.
My tuk-tuk driver with 4D numbers
Reaching the hotel, I had to wait awhile for my room to be ready. By the time I reach the room, I totally scrapped any idea of a sleep first. I revised my plans and proceeded to Angkor Wat – on a bicycle.
My travel research had shown that cycling to Angkor Wat and many of the major sites is possible. It’s just a matter of a longer travel time, a cardio work out and the risk of getting hit by a vehicle on its busy and sometimes narrow and bumpy roads. At the cost of USD1.50 compared to USD12 for a whole day tuk-tuk rental, it was a well-worth risk to take for a poor traveller like me.
The range of the bicycles available is not something one will release fireworks and scream with delight for. All bicycles are China-made with only a single gear, seat supported by dual spring and a basket in front. The only difference is whether the handlebar is U-shaped or T-shaped.
I got the U-shaped bar on this first day, and it was a tough beast to tame. The bicycle was tough to manoeuvre, rickety, too well used and probably as old as the relic I was going to see. I won’t puff up my chest and say I’d got no problems handling it. Truth be told, I wasn’t used to this type of bicycle, and placing my bag in the front basket sometimes keep it off balance. In fact, I hadn’t reached Angkor Wat without any incident.
I fell down once along the road. Luckily, there weren’t any vehicles coming at me either way at that time to carpet the road with my brains. After that fall, I learnt to tame the bicycle slowly, instead of in a rush.
My travel research had shown that cycling to Angkor Wat and many of the major sites is possible. It’s just a matter of a longer travel time, a cardio work out and the risk of getting hit by a vehicle on its busy and sometimes narrow and bumpy roads. At the cost of USD1.50 compared to USD12 for a whole day tuk-tuk rental, it was a well-worth risk to take for a poor traveller like me.
The range of the bicycles available is not something one will release fireworks and scream with delight for. All bicycles are China-made with only a single gear, seat supported by dual spring and a basket in front. The only difference is whether the handlebar is U-shaped or T-shaped.
I got the U-shaped bar on this first day, and it was a tough beast to tame. The bicycle was tough to manoeuvre, rickety, too well used and probably as old as the relic I was going to see. I won’t puff up my chest and say I’d got no problems handling it. Truth be told, I wasn’t used to this type of bicycle, and placing my bag in the front basket sometimes keep it off balance. In fact, I hadn’t reached Angkor Wat without any incident.
I fell down once along the road. Luckily, there weren’t any vehicles coming at me either way at that time to carpet the road with my brains. After that fall, I learnt to tame the bicycle slowly, instead of in a rush.
Main gate to Angkor
Reaching Angkor Wat, there wasn’t any of the ‘wow’ effect on me. It was only when I walked in I realised I was looking at its main gate, not the Wat itself yet. Only upon stepping in did I come to see the large space the entire temple took up from its moat to the five towers.
Parts of Angkor Wat were being repaired and reconstructed when I was there. Over the course of the next few days, I would learn that different temple sites are adopted and sponsored by different countries as part of the conservation efforts.
Parts of Angkor Wat were being repaired and reconstructed when I was there. Over the course of the next few days, I would learn that different temple sites are adopted and sponsored by different countries as part of the conservation efforts.
Obligatory, touristy photo of Angkor Wat with reflection
Walking within Angkor Wat itself, I discovered that all four sides are symmetrically similar. The most impressive thing would be the bas reliefs and wall carvings. The bas reliefs along 8 lengths of walls running approximately 58 metres long each depicts 4 different stories.
Intricate wall carving
Touring of the central and 4 side towers were not permitted during my visit as conservation efforts were on-going. Nevertheless, just from the outside and the surrounding corridors, the marvel of the architectural design is enough to impress.
Towers under repair
Walking out from Angkor Wat after spending a good 3 hours odd inside (surprisingly how easy it is to lose time wandering inside), it was still early to return to the hotel. However, there wasn’t enough time left to tour another temple, not to mention I need to spread my itinerary over 4 more days.
With nothing planned, I cycled off in a direction, not knowing where it would take me. Down the road, I passed by a helicopter airfield. Apparently they provide touring of Siem Reap by helicopters. At the same time, they have a hot air balloon service much like our DHL balloon, only bigger, to view Siem Reap.
With nothing planned, I cycled off in a direction, not knowing where it would take me. Down the road, I passed by a helicopter airfield. Apparently they provide touring of Siem Reap by helicopters. At the same time, they have a hot air balloon service much like our DHL balloon, only bigger, to view Siem Reap.
Siem Reap Balloon
I didn’t stop to enquire about the price. No doubt it’ll be out of my budget, and most importantly, I had no desire to be up so high.
After a couple of kilometres, I came upon a dirt road. Seeming to lead into a village, I cycled in. The view of the village was refreshing. No tall concrete buildings but just houses in acres and acres of land unblemished by any city eyesore.
The dirt road seemed never ending. I didn’t carry on to find out after cycling more than 30 minutes in. It was not a question of lacking the spirit of adventure. Rather, the issue was cycling on the super bumpy dirt road on an old rickety bicycle. I was without a doubt that I most probably won’t have any children in the future.
After a couple of kilometres, I came upon a dirt road. Seeming to lead into a village, I cycled in. The view of the village was refreshing. No tall concrete buildings but just houses in acres and acres of land unblemished by any city eyesore.
The dirt road seemed never ending. I didn’t carry on to find out after cycling more than 30 minutes in. It was not a question of lacking the spirit of adventure. Rather, the issue was cycling on the super bumpy dirt road on an old rickety bicycle. I was without a doubt that I most probably won’t have any children in the future.
Village dirt road
Fortunately, with only a few near misses, I didn’t lose control of my bike and fell into any mud puddles or heaps of cow dung fertilising the road.
Fried noodle - Khmer style
By the time I left the dirt road behind, I was famished. Giving viewing sunset at Angkor Wat a miss, I headed back towards Siem Reap searching for my dinner and of course, long await rest.
posted by Cylee at
3:40 pm I