Hello!
I am visiting the Siem Reap
to see Cambodia’s world famous Angkor Wat and other ancient temples
taste its authentic Cambodian BBQ
learning about its scarred history
biking around to taking in all the local sights and sounds
not to forget bargain shopping
and experiencing its cultures
All done, safely, inexpensively and easily
Anything I can do, you can do…
According to the oral history
during the reign of King Ang Chan in the 1500s
he named the city Siem Reap
means the defeat of Siam
former name for Thailand
Today, its home to a population of quarter million
and site of Cambodia’s most famous tourist destinations, the Angkor Wat Temple
There are many options in getting to Siem Reap
Buses is least expensive option and are available from the capital Phnom Penh and other Cambodian cities
Buses are also available from Thailand, Laos and Vietnam
But beware of the VISA Scam
you can get visa on arrival for a flat price with no processing fees
Do not pay any official pay processing fees or tips as encourages corruption
Given time constraint, I flew in and took the official flat rate airport ride to downtown
I am on a Tuk Tuk right now
It cost $5.00 U.S. Dollars
that will take you directly to your hotel
As of 2016, the flat rate are $7.00 for taxi, $5.00 for tux tux motorbike and $2.00 on the back of a motorcycle.
However, most hotels will offer complimentary pickup if arranged in advance.
I recommend you stay close to Pub Street
the home to local markets, night market and many foreign and local pubs and restaurants
I like to special thank to my host here
the Norwegian owner Katrine of the Babel Guesthouse for accommodating me during filming of this episode
The best of all breakfast is included with all your stay
We’ll start by visiting on foot to The Pub Street
the center of the Siem Reap’s nightlife comprises of lively bars, cocktail lounges and restaurants catered to foreigners
This includes budget travelers such as $1.00 or less beers and cocktails during the happy hours
and many open late until 4 in the morning
But let’s eat something first
the price for most street food and desert stalls cost around $2.00 or less
and $1.00 for drinks, such as fresh juice and smoothies
So this is my first street food experience here in Siem Reap
This is what I got
its stirred fried noodles with beef
and that is $2.00 U.S. Dollars
Its sweet and spicy
not too bad
Not far away is the Old Market or Phsar Chas
geared towards both locals and foreigners
So, this is actually one of the two markets here in Siem Reap
and normally this one is the Local Market and close around 6 o'clock
but tonight is Saturday
it close little later
so the best option for us is to check the Night Market across the street
Established in 2012
the Siem Reap Night Market consist of 240 souvenirs shops designed in a smoothly laid out huts
built from natural materials and designed beautifully in Khmer style
This is where you can find traditional Cambodian made handicrafts
such clothing
silk
painting
photography
jewelries
wool
and stone carvings
So, here is the second market
The Night Market
just keep in mind one thing though
when you pay in U.S. Dollars
they will give you back change in local currency
which is the Riel
and the exchange rate is pretty much fixed
and have your calculators ready
and make sure they give you back the right change
because $1.00 U.S. Dollars get your a ride anywhere on a Tuk Tuk pretty much in the city
now other thing is...
there is no price on anything
so, you just have to do a good job of bargaining
another reason to bargain... seriously!!!
One of the interesting thing you can see behind me is actually...
something call the fish massage
where you put your feet in
and the fish will actually bite off the dead skins
Alright
$2.00 for half hour
but you can get it cheaper if you bargain!
So make sure you bargain really hard
Siem Reap is easily accessible by foot throughout the downtown core
if you want to venture far to visit the nearby temples and museums
you can also rent a bicycle for only $2.00 a day
Taxi to anywhere in the city on the back of a motorcycle or Tuk Tuk only cost $1.00
However, to visit Angkor Wat and other temples inside Angkor Archaeological Park
especially for the sunrise
I recommend you book a Tuk-Tuk as dawn is dark
and you can easily gets lost and ending up in long ticket queues
By the way, bring a flash light
The Angkor Wat or the Capital Temple is largest religious monument in the world
with the site measuring 162.6 hectares
Originally constructed as a Hindu temple of god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire
gradually transforming into a Buddhist temple toward the end of the 12th century
As the best-preserved temple at the site
it is the only one to have remained a significant religious center since its foundation
The temple is based on the classical style of Khmer architecture
It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag and currency
When I was a little boy
I played Socom, the U.S. Navy Seal
one of the level is that I have to come this exact temple
and eliminate Khmer Rouge
is also my dream as a child to come here in person
and today I am here...
Angkor Wat is famous for its extensive decoration with the inner walls bearing a series of large-scale scenes mainly depicting episodes from the Hindu epics
The admission ticket includes access to all of the temples and other sites within the Angkor Archaeological Park
we are going next to another well known temple
so this is the Bayon Temple
another one of the very important site here in Siem Reap
Built in the late 12th or early 13th century as the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII
The Bayon's most distinctive feature is the multitude of serene and smiling stone faces on the many towers
I am most impress about all these temples are its stone masonry
they are so precise
The inner gallery is raised above ground level
and has doubled corners with canvases decorated with scenes from Hindu mythology
One level higher is the upper terrace
the home to the famous "face towers" of the Bayon
each of which supports two, three or most commonly four gigantic smiling faces
The number of faces is approximately 200
but since some are only partially preserved
there can be no definitive count
The last temple we’ll visit is the Ta Prohm Temple
Built in the Bayon style largely in the late 12th and early 13th centuries
however the temple was abandoned and neglected during the 15th century
Now before you having a temple fatigue
you have to check out this one
this is the same temple that Angelina Jolie actually shot the Tomb Raider in
and the...
its pretty interesting...
as with all the temples
well, can't tell whats the different
but you paid for it, you should really enjoy it
The trees growing out of the ruins are perhaps the most distinctive feature
the two species predominate are the larger is the silk-cotton tree
The size is incredible and their endless roots coiling more like reptiles than plants
Despite my belief in supporting the local economy
I urged all of you not to ride any animals that appear mistreated
This is part of responsible travel and we should never tolerate animal cruelty
I like to re-emphasis from many of my previous episodes that I do not support giving money to children or buying from them
Doing so will only encourage them not to attend school and robbing them of a future for short-term monetary gain
However I do support giving donation to many music bands consists of physically disabled or blind members who are victims of landmine
Don’t spend more than half day visiting temples, as there is many interesting attractions waiting for you to explore
This is exactly I am going to do by visiting the Royal Gardens
also a short walk from Pub Street
This is actually the Royal Gardens right now
there is really not much to see here at this moment
but they are proposing to build a Royal Residence here
so it will be interesting in few years what happens
Right next to the garden is a Preah Ang Chek and Ang Chom Shrine
It contains the statues of two sisters
thought to have been Angkorian princesses
and have been hidden from the eyes of invaders and treasure hunters by successive generations of monks
Finally, in 1990 the statues have been moved to the current shrine
The legend of the two sisters, which are said to bring good luck when worshiped
Each day
the worshipers offers the sisters with flowers and wash the hands and feet of the statues with small bowls of blessed water
Especially Ang Chek
the taller, more slender of the two statues
whose outstretched palm displays a Sanskrit protection symbol
Also few minutes away is the home to Angkor National Museum
dedicated to the collection, preservation and presentation of Angkorian artifacts
Including educating the art and culture of Khmer civilization
However, the admission is $12
which we felt is excessive in our opinion
and camera is not allowed
Along the way to the next destination, we pass by the Angkor Shopping Center
This is where you can see various handcraft gemstones and jewelries
For those who want to learn about Cambodian culture
the Cambodian Cultural Village is definitely must see
The theme park covers 210,000 square meters
with eleven village presenting miniature versions of important historical buildings and structures
with local customs
However, its $12.00 U.S. Dollars
I decided to pass on and visit the next attraction just right across the street
So, I am here at the War Museum here in Siem Reap
It's normally I do not go to museums
but I haven't being to any in long time
so I might as well just check it out
it's only $5.00 U.S. Dollars
and I am already seeing the airplanes on this side
so, what the heck, let's just get going
The War Museum covers the last three decades of the 20th century during the Khmer Rouge’s reign of terror
Opening in 2001 on 2 hectares land
the collection on display was gathered from provinces in which the most savage fighting of the Cambodian Civil War took place
and is mostly made up of a mix of Chinese, American and Soviet hardware
I actually never see so many weapons, tanks, and machine guns
I guess this is the legacy of Cambodia's bloody Civil War
it's actually little scary
but I think its important to learn about the country's history to know why people are the way they are
There are two aircraft on display
including a Chinese made Shenyang F-6 fighter used by the Khmer Rouge between 1975 – 1979
and participated in ground attacks during Kampuchea-Vietnamese border clashes
Another aircraft on display is the Soviet produced Mil MI-8 medium twin-turbine helicopter
The museum also display smaller weapons
such as machine guns, and RPG or rocket propelled grenades and uniforms
Well, its not every day you get the hold a rocket propelled grenade
It also dedicate a large showcase to the horror of landmines
and to victims as it is a major problem in present day Cambodia
especially in rural areas
Cambodia has one of the most concentrated landmines country in the world
most of the landmine are actually not planted by themselves
and the...
you know by the foreign powers
there is not much interest wanting to clean their own mess they leave behind
After a long day
there is an off beaten path attraction that is suitable for relaxing out
the town of Chong Khneas or referred to as the floating village
Just 15 km south of Siem Reap
located in the banks of the Great Lake Tonle Sap
the largest fresh water in South East Asia
and 90% of its population earn a living by fishing and farming
Oh yeah, don’t forget to support the local economy by trying out their tasty inexpensive food
However, if you are still hungry...
Don’t worry, you can try the authentic all you can eat Cambodian Khmer styled BBQ or “Phnom Pleung”
translated to Fire Mountain
bunch of meats here
seafood...
you pick your own
then you go back
put it in the pot and grill it yourself
thats try it out
that is my selection for now
now this is excellent...
let me tell you how you do it
that's fat
put this over
and then you put
you put the meat on top
that is how the Cambodian BBQ are suppose be done
Off course, no meal will completed without a local desert
Next morning, I return to the airport the same way on a Tuk Tuk
The cost for this 20 minutes ride is $5.00
and you can arrange it thru your hostel
With that being said, I hope you enjoy your stay and find this guide useful
Don’t forget to like, comment, share and subscribe
Thank you for watching!