Day 18 - Siem Reap, Cambodia
Trip Start
Dec 04, 2007
1
18
33
Trip End
Jan 05, 2008
Siem Reap,
Cambodia
Friday, December 21, 2007
Tipped our guide $15 and our driver $5 but in divisible notes if they want to even things out. Tipping is a foreign concept given that we come from New Zealand so you never really know how much to give but following our guide books this was acceptable...I hope!
Overall, I'd say that Phnom Penh has come a long way since 2002 and is shaping up as a modern Asian city, worth a visit and easily ticked off the list in two full days. We could have used an extra day to see the Khmer Rouge Prison museum and the Killing Fields as well as avoid the early mornings but thems the breaks with limited budget and time
Our plane to Siem Reap
.Had about 30 mins to kill before we got onto the plane so tried to get some sleep...unsuccessfully.
Arrived in Siem Reap to a newly designed airport, again, a huge improvement from 2002. The tourist dollar is really helping here!
Met by our guide, Bok, and our driver Nian, then checked into our hotel, which is very nice! The room was not ready so we stashed the suitcases and headed off on the first tour of the Angkor Temples.
First up was the Victory Gate, followed by the twin temples of Thommanon (prounouced Tommanon) and Chau Say Tevoda Takeo and Ta Prohm (as seen in the movie Tomb Raider). Excellent!
Then it was onto Banteay Kdei (surrounded by four concentric walls), Srah Srang (the pool of ablutions - used for bathing) and Prasat Kravan.
Back to the hotel, checked in, showered and then had lunch (it was part of the tour so for all intents and purposes free) and then more temples in the afternoon.
The North Gate of Angkor Thom (pronounced Tom), Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Som, Mebon Oriental (with stone elephants on each corner which Silla loved) and Pre Rup (very impressive!).
Back to the hotel and a quick swim to thank Eli for being a good girl and then dinner in the hotel. We were feeling too tired to go exploring after the long day.
Back to the room and crashed.
