Siem Reap and a trip to the Angkor Wat complex

2.3.2018

After more than 3 months, we leave Malaysia and move to Cambodia. It is a little bit unusual place for tourists, but it is PARADISE for backpackers! Our flight was from Kuala Lumpur to Siem Reap. Already on the plane, the staff gave us the cards for the immigration department. At the airport, we received another 2, we filled in all of them, paid for one person 30 USD and waited for a tourist visa (30 days). Everything was without a problem.

We found our accommodation in Airbnb again, near Night Market Street (where we bought our dinners for $ 1.5), around 8km to Angkor Wat and as a bonus, we got breakfasts and an airport transfer. We were surprised because our transfer was the traditional local TUK-TUK. All you have to know is the fact that the roads aren´t in the best condition and there are deep holes in many places. But when I remember the status of the Czech roads after winter – it is nothing that we couldn´t see in our country…

Siem Reap

The city is sometimes called the gate to Angkor Wat complex. The city is the capital of the province of Siem Reap and spreads over the Siem Reap River, which enters to the largest South Asian lake Tonlesap.

There is no theater, cinema or other entertainment in the city, all nightlife takes place around PUB STREET and ANGKOR NIGHT MARKET (Pub Street is not the official name of the street, but only a nickname created by a high concentration of pubs, restaurants, and bars around).

3.3.2018 – Cycling around Siem Reap

The next day, we decided to ask for bicycle rentals. We got an offer from the hostel that they will make a deal with a TUK-TUK and we will have a driver for our trip to Angkor Wat complex for all day, but the price was high for us – A day trip for $ 18. We could rent bicycles for $ 8 /day. And after experiencing Singapore, you have a whole different experience than when you sit in a vehicle. And we wanted to know the place where we stayed, the first day we made a city tour. The last point of the ride was the Kong Moch Pagoda (the Buddhist temple that we saw in Thailand a lot). In fact, there were several temples in the city, just not as exceptional as in Thailand (where our first stop was). But I can say the only good reference about the city. It is a city where you can see local architecture, nature, population, no tourists (only backpackers) and prices that are not altered by high tourism. Martin said that he was as excited as he had visited Thailand for the first time six years ago. The question is: How long it will last because this country is becoming more and more hot favorites for travelers.

4.3.2018 – Trip to the Angkor Wat complex

After breakfast, we didn´t expect anything, we took bicycles and went north to the Angkor Wat complex. Previously, we informed about where and how tickets are being purchased – the ticket office is halfway, roughly 3.5 km. We went all the way down a decent road and looked around for a checkout. We were quite surprised when we suddenly stood in front of the gate and they wanted tickets from us. We found out that we missed the ticket office but we didn´t see the pointer. So we didn´t stay, turn the wheels and go back to look for the ticket office. (note: at the gate, the inspector informed us that the ticket office is far away and that it will take a long time on the bicycle, he wanted to negotiate a price with us about transport by TUK-TUK ….. but we know these tricks a bit, we told him, that we don´t need a help). He informed us that it will be at least 5km, but after 2km we were at the ticket office.

You have the option of purchasing:

1 day for 37 USD or 2-3 days for USD 62 per person

We were decided for 1 day. We also read various remarks from travelers, and even though the complex is extensive, many temples are then repeated with architecture. We decided to visit the 3 most popular and most famous.

Angkor Wat

It was built at the beginning of the 12th century as a royal temple and capital. Temples and shrines are built of sandstone and there are brick walls too. It is a top example of Khmer architecture. One of the first Western visitors was a Portuguese missionary in 1586, who remarked, “It is a completely extraordinary structure, indescribable by a pen that can not be compared to any building elsewhere in the world.” They are the best-preserved complex in Cambodia even after being hidden for hundreds of years in the jungle. The complex has become a symbol of Cambodia and has been depicted on the national flag since 1863. They are the only historic buildings that survived the rule of the Khmer Rouge. In 1992, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Angkor Thom

The new capital city, after Angkor was plundered in 1177 during the invasion of Chama army. The name means “Big City”. There is a 100m wide ditch around the walls. We can see the preserved buildings include the central Bayon Temple. The palace or other buildings, unfortunately, didn´t survive, because they were built mainly from wood.

The Prohm

The modern name of the temple, the original name was Rajavihara. It was built at the end of the 12th century and at the beginning of the 13th century in Bayon style. Unlike most Angkorian temples, it is in the state in which it was found. Buildings are the victims of the jungle, but you will not forget about this place!

And the last point: this is the place where Tomb Raider was filmed with the Angelina Jolie