Angkor Star Siem Reap

On Monday afternoon, we arrived in Siem Reap, Cambodia. We were met at the airport by our driver for the Angkor tour the following two days. He dropped us at our hotel, Angkor Star Hotel, which was pretty nice. After slumming it at budget accommodations in Luang Prabang for three nights, we stayed at a nicer place in a large suite with cable TV. We basically picked it though because it had a pool, and we knew it would be very hot here (it's in the 90's F). After walking down to the old market...

Cambodia has been amazing and I am so happy that I am spending the most time here on my trip. Both Tanya & I have enjoyed it immensely and would return. While exploring the ruins around Siem Reap we have been able to see more of the countryside & forests and it is beautiful and still has a serene quality. The people are also soooo kind. We have even found the adults & children who harass the tourists to buy things or to give them money to be more pleasant than those in other count...

We agreed that our first full day in Siem Reap should be laid back, and just a chance to explore the city. Siem Reap is a fairly small town - only 1.5km square or so, so everything is walkable - IF you can stand the heat. This is very much a touristy town... there are tuk-tuks everywhere offering to take us somewhere. The Cambodia tuk-tuk is basically a small covered 2-man carriage that is towed behind a motorcycle. It seems to be held on by an overgrown nut and bolt, so you just keep our fin...

Our day started at 5.00am today (yes, I CAN do it!!) and we travelled by tuk tuk to the Angkor Wat complex to catch the sunrise. We had been warned that this is a serious tourist trap, but it's just something you have to do. Fortunately, it's the low season, so it's not as bad as it could have been. The sunset itself wasn't too spectacular but I took a bunch of photos anyhow. We then spent the next hour or so wandering around the temple complex. It's absolutely amazing when you look at the in...

Touchdown on the runway - and the fun begins! Walking from the plane to the terminal, we had were quite excited about being here - somewhere completely new and unknown for both of us. The first thing we had to do at the airport was apply for our visa. We knew the process - fill in a form, hand over US$20, they take a photo and you're done. Should be simple. Mr Customs Guy took our forms (they were as unsmiling as the US customs people). He then told us 1000 Thai Baht (which is about US$32-33)...

I made it to Angkor Wat! I went with Rodica, Stacy, Maggie, Dermot and Sonni. We were only there for 20 hours or so, but it was completely worth it! It really was incredible-the most amazing historical site I've seen. We flew in and met our driver and guide and headed straight for Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is known for its formal architecture and balanced proportions. The vistas were awesome. Stacey and I climbed up these incredibly steep steps. We made it to the top and immediately had a moment...

Mon ami Nico de Toulon (car j'ai d'autres amis Nico...) m'explique que je suis trop speed en vacances. Il a peut-être raison, puisqu'il a pu tester par lui-même. Toujours est-il que j'ai hésité sur le nombre de jours à passer à Phnom Penh (il n'y a paraît-il pas grand chose à voir), pour finalement décider de n'y rester qu'un seul jour. Je devrai de toute façon y repasser, alors autant partir rapidement sur Siem Reap, la destination ultime de tout voyage au Cambodge. Les joies du voyage en so...

Angkor me voilà ! Ah problème... Le chauffeur de tuk-tuk qui fait le planton devant l'hôtel veut absolument me « vendre » un grand tour (journée complète) ou un petit tour (demis-journée) des temples. Non, je veux juste un « one-way » avec un « drop off » à Angkor Wat. J'ai en effet prévu de découvrir le site à pied... Il finit par céder pour $5, je propose $3. Il refuse, je pars, je n'ai pas fait 10 mètres qu'un de ses collègues me rattrape. C'est parti ! C'est assez bien organisé. A mi-chem...

The Mekong Express flew along at an average speed of 25mph to Siem Reap and there was a tour guide in the front speaking loud enough that you knew someone was talking on the microphone, but not loud enough to hear or understand what she was saying. I love buses.

Fortunately, Siem Reap is awesome. They have a central bar/restaurant area that was a $2 tuk tuk (picture a rikshaw attached to a moped) ride away from our hotel. We went to a great Khmer restaurant our first night and had a 7-...