siem reap day 1

Title: Siem Reap Episode One
Starring: Sylviaorange, Lucyriver and Wee
Camera: Lucyriver and Sylviaorange
Director: Lucyriver

Our plane landed in Siem Reap International Airport at 0800 local time. Cambodia is an hour behind Malaysia. However, we didn't adjust our watch therefore there were a few times we confused ourselves with the time. Take extra note when setting the alarm clock. You don't want to wake up and discover that you could have slept for another hour.

Visa is not required for Malaysian, therefore we were whisked swiftly out of the airport and greeted us were the shinning sun and cold wind. It is cool and dry in December. Our eyes started to ventured around the so many people standing there holding placards with names. We had pre-arranged with our guesthouse for pick up.

What greeted us was not only our guesthouse's tuk tuk driver but another person holding sylviaorange's name. He was the driver that we had contacted earlier for price information but no confirmation as we had confirmed with another driver instead. That was the first surprise - just one e-mail inquiring prices is enough to book/confirm you a driver. No further confirmation is needed.

Our tuk tuk driver driving out of the airport with us and our luggage.

There was no scary feeling in the tuk tuk, everything is so 'open'. Instead we were fascinated by the sights of Siem Reap. The environment is so flat either from above the plane or on the land. No tall buildings in sight. Tuk tuk is everywhere. Driving is on the right hand side.

Our Bou Savy guesthouse is located off the main road. Therefore, it was quiet at night. As soon as we got off, our luggage were taken and we were ushered into our room at the top. Our triple room, USD 18 a night.

Pink curtains adorn the room, well, modest enough for us to get our beauty sleep. It was an air-conditioned room with fan, mini fridge and washroom. F0r more information, check out their website, http://www.bousavyguesthouse.com

Surprise number two - For the fan, number one is the fastest going slower till number five is the slowest - as surveyed by Wee who initially thought number one is the slowest where she almost ripped off people's fan.

And surprise number three - slits on the washroom door where we cleverly hung a towel over it during our stay. The housekeepers removed it the next day and we rehung it. And it was kept there from then on. They may have got the idea why. We thought our door is the unique one. On subsequent 'exploration', other rooms are unique too.

This is our welcome drink, mixed fruit drink. It was too 'banana'. One small bottle of mineral water is provided every day for everyone. Room is also being made every day.

No deposit was asked for registration. Sylviaorange just needed to fill a form, that's all. Free maps and guidebooks can be obtained at the guesthouse.

Our confirmed driver was supposed to meet us at 0930. We waited till past 1000. No shadow to be seen. In the end, we ended up with Pilot, the tuk tuk driver who picked us up from the airport.

Our first destination is Tonle Sap Lake. The guesthouse provided us with a guide, Sina to help us to buy tickets. According to them, this way is cheaper, USD12.

The journey to the lake was a bumpy ride as we hadn't get used to the tuk tuk. Traffic was a chaos, though drivers seemed to be able to zoom their way in and out smoothly.

However, the scenery at both sides of the road was very fascinating. From rows of houses on land, changing to the green fields till stilts of houses at the lake.

In the tuk-tuk waiting for Sina to purchase the tickets.

The boat carried just four of us with little sailors navigating the 'ship'.

Rows of stilted houses along the bank.


A floating chapel.



A floating school.

A floating basketball court.


One of the little sailors, preparing for docking to a floating souvenir shop .


Crocodiles under the house.

Sina threw a plateful of small fish and it created this effect of splashing fish.
Sylviaorange said she must have a mug of Angkor beer before leaving.

A bunch of tourists taking a dip in the water.

A little girl navigating her 'ship'. Her cargo? A little boy in green shirt behind her, out of lens.


Water is for daily cleaning.

A boy scooping water out of his 'ship'.

After touring the lake, we landed ourselves at the Old Market. Time was running short as we were having our lunch there too. We only managed to grabbed some decorative magnets and browsed some of the shops in a flash.

Our first lunch in Siem Reap at the Khmer Kitchen which is located just opposite the Old Market.

After lunch, we went to the Cambodian Cultural Village. It is just located at the road side. We already seen it when coming from the airport. Ticket price is USD11, used to be USD9.






Musicians playing chinese musical intruments? Sylviaorange said that the second from the left guy is good looking. Lucyriver said the guy playing the yang qin is more good looking.

This cute little girl was sitting in front of us when we were watching the Khmer Wedding Ceremony. She looked so pensive at that time that she didn't give a damn to a twenty something guy sitting beside her who was trying to flirt with her.

The bride is the one holding the umbrella. The whole wedding were conducted in Khmer so we just presumed that the couple facing each other are the parents. Too young to be parents? So, the 'mother' was eating a banana and then discovered a ring in it, hahaha and later the 'father' did the same.

The bride was washing the feet of the bridegroom.

The bridegroom and the bride. Sylviaorange commented on the bridegroom looking like Mr. Bean. Lucyriver totally agreed.

Fancy having this in your home? The ingredients are morning glory (blue), allamanda (yellow), bougainvillea (pink) jasmine (white) and lantana (deep yellow) and voila, beautiful floating potpourri of flowers.

For us, the Cambodian Cultural Village was not up to our expectations. It was quite boring. Perhaps it was due to us visiting in the afternoon and walking under the hot sun. Should be interesting if we really explore the area and going deep into the variety of houses. Some extra note, you will also see statues of elephants, king kong and even the man of steel.

There are various shows at various time and location according to the schedule. If you wish to watch most of the shows, it will take quite a time in there.

As there were still little time, Pilot took us to the killing field but nothing much to see there. There was a glass monument where skulls and bones are piled in it. If you got a guide with you, you will understand better about the whole thing.

Our last destination for today was Bakheng to watch sunset. You will need a pass to enter the temples or park as tourist police will be placed at the entrance checking passes. We bought a three-day pass, USD40. Photo was taken at the spot and printed on the pass. It was a rather 'fragile' paper where for the next three days we guarded it with all our heart.

If interested, you can also go for the air balloon trip to see the sunset. It was in our plan before but we dropped it when we arrived there. Just not in the mood for it.

To go up to Bakheng, we walked a distance of uphill road. People were everywhere, old and young, trekking up the road to see the sunset. Sylviaorange was like wind, swishing left and right. Lucyriver was worried of losing track of her. It really forced Lucyriver to push to the limit. Must remember to exercise after this trip.

Upon reaching the temple, we still need to 'crawl' up the stairs to the top.

Crowds of people were everywhere snapping the glorious moment of the sunset.

Extra careful steps must be taken when ascending or descending the stairs as it takes just one ball to get the whole balls rolling down, hehehe.

The sunset was beautiful, just that it was so impossible to get a picture without a head in it. As soon as the sun set, it was getting dark and we made a quick move in getting down. Little children pursued us to get us to buy something. Just one look at them or the things that they are selling, they will glue to you.

We bought the book 'Ancient Angkor', USD5.

In watching the sunset, Lucyriver had the most gruesome exercise of legs. Will Lucyriver be able to make it to all the temples in the next three days? Read on.

The night view of Angkor Wat, picture taken across the lake.


CLockwise from the top left: Amok Beef, Spring Rolls and Amok Fish. The Amok fish tastes quite nice, very mild. No spicy flavour is detected.