Siem Reap, Cambodia
What a fantastic memory in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I live in Thailand, so is just a 1 hour flight from Bangkok, Thailand to Siem Reap, Cambodia, which is home to the famous Angkor complex. I have been thinking about making this trip for quite a long time, then the planets aligned for this trip. I have a close friend, aka Nebraska, who had texted me a month before telling me he would be in Thailand for a few weeks and asked if I would be in Thailand during his time here. My answer was yes, but I had already decided on a long weekend to Cambodia. A quick reply from him, “ok cool, I will go with you!”
Flights
All set, shared my flights, hotel, and how to get a tourist visa for Cambodia with my friend. Mr. Penguin and I met Nebraska in Bangkok for the night and then took the 10:10 am flight the next morning from Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) to Siem Reap (REP). Flights, after some research, the budget friendly option seemed to fly out of DMK airport on Air Asia. There were several flights each way every day. You can choose to fly out of Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), but the price and number of flights were higher & limited. The new Siem Reap Angkor International Airport is set to open towards the end of 2023, so should be more choices for flights, especially for more distant visitors.
Mr. Penguin about to board our flight to Siem Reap
Visa/Angkor Tickets
Always use the official Cambodia government website for the E-Visa. Simple to use and only takes a few days for the Cambodian government to issue your visa. I had read of a few scam sites promising a visa, but just use the government site. Myself and Nebraska had problems trying to scan our passports into the website, but in the end we just entered the details in manually. You will need to add a recent passport sized photo to upload to the website. Simple process – here is the link https://www.angkorenterprise.gov.kh/
From the same website you can go ahead and get your Angkor passes. This is convenient, especially if on the first day, you want to catch a sunrise photos, since the office at Angkor Wat opens later in the morning. Or the other option is to arrive to Siem Reap and go purchase your ticket(s) from the office the day before you plan on visiting Ankgor.
Angkor and Angkor Wat
I am a photographer, and after some research on the internet, I found Laurent Dambies, a French photographer who has lived in Siem Reap for quite a while, and provides photo tours of the Angkor Wat and other areas of Cambodia. I highly recommend Laurent, as a photographer, he knew exactly which temples to go to depending on the time of day (lighting/shadows). I was able to expand my knowledge of wide angle photography and lighting. I booked a full day tour with him. He picked me up from my hotel with a private driver at 5:00 am and returned me to my hotel after sunset. Laurent and I exchanged numerous emails before going to Cambodia discussing photo gear and what to bring. I am still in contact with Laurent and often ask his advice on photos and the start of my website. Without a doubt, I will choose to spend the day with him again next time I am in Siem Reap.
Laurent runs Angkor Photography Tours and I highly recommend him.
I think it took me a full day to start to get my mind around how massive the Angkor site truly is. After spending quite a few years around Washington, D.C., it struck me that it was a giant capital city. Monuments, temples, roadways, and man-made lakes reminded me of Washington D.C., a truly planned grand monumental city. All the temples I visited were special. Morning sunrise photo in front of the pond at Angkor Wat. The famous Ta Prohm Temple from the movie “Tomb Raider” with the giant trees growing from the ruins. The giant faces of Bayon Temple, which just glowed during sunset was remarkable. Probably my favorite was the hallways of Preah Kan Temple and finding the devatas call the sisters, where locals still place offerings. Also outside of Preah Kan Temple, you can find a Buddha carving that was destroyed – quite a pleasant find.
The carvings across Angkor are amazing, you can see the Hindu stories of “Churning of the Ocean Milk – that represents the creation of the universe. You will see the gods (devas) and the demons (asuras) represented in the different temples. The Naga, a serpent king, is seen often, you will even see it the city of Siem Reap if you pay attention. Just another bonus, and a reminder to look into the details.
Siem Reap
Plenty of choices of hotels to stay at in Siem Reap. Many boutique type hotels, check out Google maps and read the reviews. I stayed at the Apsara Residence Hotel, just across the river and within walking distance from the Pub street area. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay with them, and the hospitality with the staff was extraordinary.
Pub street is vibrant and you will find just about any type of food you are looking for. Try the crocodile meat while in Siem Reap, not bad. Another plus is Cambodian beer is very inexpensive.
The US dollar is the main currency in Cambodia, but the Cambodian Riel is often used. At the time of this writing, the exchange rate is close 1 USD to 4,000 Riels.
Tuk Tuk Tour
I feel like I can’t write this blog without explaining another highlight of my trip – a private Tuk Tuk tour of the city and surrounding area. I got the inspration from a You Tuber that I follow – Paddy Dole. Paddy has travel throughout Thailand via a scooter and has videos from Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Phillipenes. After watching an episode of his where he took a tour with “Cowboy”, I had to try it out. It didn’t take long. You will find many themed Tuk Tuks in Siem Reap.
We saw a Tuk Tuk driver that had the theme of Batman near Pub street. I asked him if he knew Cowboy and asked where was he. He replied he is was on a tour at the temple, but that he offered the same services. After a quick negotiation – Batman, Nebraska, Mr. Penguin, and I were set. Batman procured a cooler of beer on ice, connected his speaker, turned on Johnny Cash, and we were off. Toured the city, and then got off the beaten path a little.
Mr. Penguin meets Mr. Batman :-)
Stopped at a water buffalo field and watched a woman herding the animals with a sling shot. There at the buffalo field, we had a very personal talk with our driver Batman. It was very humbling hearing him telling us of his memories as a child during the turbulent times in Cambodia. Batman was close to mine and Nebraska’s age.
Over the course of a 3 hour tour a few more highlights: Pulled over the side of the road to watch some kids in a drainage ditch catching small fish by hand. Found another Tuk Tuk driver who’s passengers were monks on a dirt road that stopped and allowed me to take a photo. Stopped at a crocodile farm and went further south of Siem Reap near the ferry area. Here we met a family that was selling food on the side of the road in front of their house. After sampling different susuasges, crocodile meat, and a grilled snake, we set off back to Siem Reap. Nebraska exchanged infromation with Batman and used him for his own tour of Angkor Wat the next day and transport to the airport.
When traveling, there is the tourist feeling and then there sometimes a connection feeling. A connection with a place, a moment, or with a person. I felt a connection while in Cambodia. I really enjoyed interacting with the Cambodians, very likable, personable, and seemed genuine.
I hope you enjoyed my experience. Let me know your thoughts.