SEAP REAP: CULTURAL CAPITAL OF CAMBODIA
--------------------------------------------------
Spectacular ancient monuments and temples, local markets bustling with myriad colours, delectable food and drink options, and a happy carefree vibe in the air, there's so much to explore and experience in Siem Reap.
My 2-day itinerary of Siem Reap had two main checklists:
✓ In the daytime, get lost in the grandiosity of the Angkor temples. Re-live the pomposity and magniloquence of a bygone era.
✓ Get a taste of the vibrant Khmer culture. Local markets come to life everyday as tourists flock to the Night Market and Pub Street in hordes. Don't forget to explore and try out the different Khmer cuisine options.
TEMPLED-OUT in SIEM REAP
----------------------------------------
PRO TIP: Owing to their immense popularity, Angkor temples attract huge crowds. If you want to avoid the crowd, visit the areas post noon hours.
✓ Angkor Wat Temple :
=================
The Angkor civilization is believed to have flourished along the banks of the Tonle Sap Lake in northwest Cambodia.
The most prominent symbol of Angkor civilization, the Angkor Wat is a symbolic representation of the Hindu universe.
As you walk around, try shutting out yourself from the humdrum of modern life and imagine how life must have been back in those days. The lifestyle, clothing, food, art, commerce, it must have been an interesting world !!
✓ Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom :
=========================
Constructed in 12th century, Angkor Thom houses the captivating Bayon Temple. Built by Jayavarman VII, it is unique due to its smiling face carvings (54 towers are decorated with 216 smiling faces).
The intricate carvings on the outer walls depict vivid scenes of everyday life in 12th-century Cambodia. These include battle scenes, life around Tonle Sap lake, images of hunters, woman giving birth, even people picking lice from other’s hair!!
✓ Baphuon Temple, Angkor Thom :
===========================
Baphuon is a visually glamorous temple in Angkor Thom. Visit this photogenic temple for its intricate carvings. A steep staircase leads to the terrace which offers spectacular bird’s eye view of the Angkor Thom complex.
✓ Ta Prohm (aka Lara Croft's Tomb Raider Temple) :
==================================
Ta Prohm symbolises beauty in ruins. Its crumbling structures are embraced by the gradually encroaching forest striving to reclaim its territory.
Built around 1186, it was dedicated to the mother of Jayavarman VII.
✓ Crocodile Tree :
==============
One of the most famous spots in Ta Prohm is the so-called ‘Tomb Raider tree’ or the ‘Crocodile Tree’, where Angelina Jolie’s character Lara Croft from the said movie plucks some Jasmine flowers before falling through the ground into a labyrinth of underground caves.
✓ Kbal Spean :
============
Northeast of Angkor, this place is famous for its carved riverbed aka The ‘River of a Thousand Lingas’ (Linga is a religious Hindu symbol).
It was ‘discovered’ in 1969, when ethnologist Jean Boulbet was shown the area by a hermit.
It combines a beautiful trek 2 km uphill through the woods while passing by some interesting boulder formations along the way. Don’t forget to carry sufficient water with you.
✓ Beng Mealea :
=============
Its is quite similar to Angor Wat, but sans the crowd. Plus more wilderness and more peaceful!!
✓ Tonle Sap Lake :
===============
It is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. In the dry season, the lake drains into the Tonle Sap river, which then flows into Mekong River. However, in the rainy season, the excess water from Mekong flows into Tonle Sap river and causes the flow to reverse and drain into Tonle Sap lake.
You may plan a visit to a floating, stilted villages and get a peek of how people live in the stilted high-rises floating on water and make a living out of fishing, raising crocodiles and making souvenirs. Th entire communities are built on floating stilts, including schools, dispensaries, community centres etc.
NOTE:
=====
Preferable to visit in wet season where the floating villages are on a bigger scale and are a sight to behold during the sunsets. I visited the place in dry season and found it to be a little hyped considering the tickets were on the pricey side.
✓ Apsara theatre shows :
===================
A delectable combo of entertainment and food. Get a taste of traditional Khmer life with a spectacular and colourful theatrical rendition and the very best of selected Khmer cuisine.
KOH RONG – RAW, PRISTINE & SUNSHINE GALORE
-----------------------------------------------------------
Koh Rong is a small island off the coast of Sihanoukville.
Known for its white sand beaches, turquoise blue, emerald green waters, a wild coast guarded by mountains and dotted by forests, it is a visual treat.
An idyllic beach retreat, you can stay right next to the beach, laze on the cool sands in the evenings, relax on a hammock watching the stars, watch the small fishes swim in shallow waters at twilight, hike through the forests in search of waterfalls and get bewitched by the luminous bio-phosphorescence at night.
Koh Rong was a surprise package for me and regretfully a very short destination.
It so much more time!!
How to go to Koh Rong
=================
Commute to Koh Rong is fairly simple. There are many ferries that ply between Sihanoukville’s Paradise beach and Koh Long on a frequent basis. Unless you are on a shoe-string budget and have the luxury of time, it is advisable to book on any of the fast ferries. The cheaper ones are usually slow and erratic in schedules.
NOTE: If you know your return date, make sure to book yourself for the return ferry in advance.
Some popular ferry companies are listed below:
# Speed Ferry Cambodia
# Buva Sea
# GTVC speedboat
# Cambodia Island Speed Ferry
# Happy Boat
Koh Rong has many beaches, some very popular, some less popular and some secluded and pristine. Ensure you know which beach you are heading to and board the ferry bound for the intended place.
Below is a list of the popular beaches.
KOH TOCH
========
This is the main tourist beach and is flanked by hotels, bars, restaurants, hostels, food stalls and tour companies.
It is comparatively more crowded than the other beaches. You can find many affordable accommodations here, some for even as low as 10$ USD. There are some beautiful tree-houses and beach bungalows along the shore to choose from as well.
✓ A very popular thing to do at Koh Toch is island hopping. The usual half-day tours start at USD 10$ and are an amazing value for money. These tours often include snorkelling including the gear hire, barbecue lunch, island hopping, unlimited drinks, fishing lessons, sunset on the boat and a dip with the bioluminescent phytoplankton. YES.. all of it for only 10$. Sounds crazy, right!!
Long Set (4k) Beach
===============
An easy 30-40 minute walk from Koh Toch. It gets quieter as you walk further away from Koh Toch.
Don your explorer’s hat and wander around exploring the nearby area and lush jungles.
Coconut Beach
===========
Characterised by secluded white sand beaches and aquamarine water. In short, PARADISE.
Nature Beach
==========
Famous for calm, relaxing beaches with excellent snorkelling sites.
Daem Thkov Village
===============
It is a small fishing village near Coconut beach. Visit this place to get a glimpse of traditional Cambodian island life and devour on some amazing sea food.
Flora and Fauna International has a base in the village, working towards promoting marine conservation.
Lonely Beach
==========
Situated at the northernmost tip of the island, it stands true to its name. And that is what is perhaps it’s USP. The isolated beach is fringed with dozens of palm trees, and at night the crystal clear water lights up with glowing bioluminescent plankton. Sounds too good to be true, right!!
Police Beach
==========
Named after the police station set up here, Police Beach located towards the south of the island is best known for its late-night parties.
High Point rope park
================
Get a bird’s eye view of the Koh Rong island while dangling from the rain-forest canopy via a zip-line.
Visit Koh Rong Samloem
===================
Located a short 20-minute ferry trip away, Koh Rong Samloem is Koh Rong’s stunning sister island. The main tourist beach, Saracen Bay, is famous for its picturesque laid-back atmosphere. Other famous beaches include Lazy Beach, Sunset Beach and M’Pai Bay.
PHNOM PENH – THE BUSTLING CAPITAL CITY
---------------------------------------------------------------
When it was first built by the French in the 1920s, Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia was considered as one of the most beautiful cities in Asia.
Phnom Penh (literally, ‘Penh’s Hill’) derives its name from the present Wat Phnom (‘Hill Temple’). As per legend, the temple was built by a widow named Lady Penh in 1372, to house four bronze Buddha statues and a stone statue of Lord Vishnu she found inside a Koki tree floating down the Tonle Sap river.
Today, Phnom Penh is just like any other typical Asian city, crowded, fast-paced, dusty, yet so vibrant and colourful.
But, it’s not very difficult to find its heart, spot the friendly smiles and a warm feeling of welcome wherever you go.
My checklist for Phnom Penh included:
✓ The Killing fields/Choeung Ek genocidal centre
================================
The Killing fields/Choeung Ek genocidal centre is one of the world’s most (in)famous dark tourism sites. It depicts the immense suffering and misery endured by the Cambodians during the horrific regime of Khmer Rouge.
Graphical displays of horrendous tools of torture and harrowing tales of systematic elimination of a substantial chunk of the population; this place sits heavy on your soul and heart long after you have visited this place.
Many travel brochures warn tourists before visiting this site lest it turn out to be distressing and stressful for some. I feel it is a must see for anyone visiting Cambodia in order to understand Khmer history and develop a sense of respect and empathy for its dark past.
✓ Prison S-21/Tuol Sleng genocide museum
================================
In 1975, Tuol Svay Prey High School was taken over by Khmer regime's security forces and turned into a prison known as Security Prison 21 (S-21). It eventually became the largest centre of detention and torture in the Khmer regime.
✓ Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda
=========================
Beautiful, exquisite and extravagant, the royal residence is a famous tourist spot known for its beautiful murals, temples and regal splendour. Within the palace vicinity, is housed the Silver Pagoda, also known as Wat Preah Keo or Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The name comes from the gleaming silver tiles adorning the floor.
✓ Traditional Dance Show
====================
The Traditional Dance Show is a series of performances put up by Cambodian Living Arts to provide a sneak peek into the country’s history, culture and art.
✓ Go Souvenir hunting
=================
Visit the Central or Russian Market for souvenir hunting or just go for a stroll through the bustling markets. Navigate through the maze of insane varieties of food stalls, artsy artefacts and other colourful stalls.
==================================
Thus ends my express trip to Cambodia!!
Ever since, I had read about Cambodia and Angkor Wat in history text-books in school, there was a burning desire to experience its magic in person. The desire stands check-listed today. Bidding adieu to Cambodia with lots of memories, some beautiful hand-made souvenirs and a deep feeling of reverence. ARKOON (Thank you in Cambodia) !!
The first thing that strikes one about Cambodia is the delicate balance between its old world charm and the tell-tale signs of a rapidly developing country.
Quite often, brushed aside as just another south-east Asian country or shadowed by its more famous neighbours like Thailand and Vietnam, Cambodia in my view is a humble enchantress, shimmering with alluring mysticism and untouched beauties.
CAMBODIA – THE KINGDOM OF WONDER
================================
The north of Cambodia boasts of exquisite temples, shrines and the bygone era of pompous regalia. In contrast, the south is raw and natural, dotted with sparkling white sand beaches and bio-diversity hotspots.
The capital province is a reflection of the country’s tryst with many political changes over the years, some good, some bad, some horrific.
However, it is heartening to see the unbreakable resilience with which the country strives to arise again from the ashes of its dark past.
Cambodia is a country of contrasts. Cambodia is the kingdom of wonder.
The smiles are pure, the hearts are unsullied.
The sheer simplicity of Khmer life is a welcome escape from the mundanity of our busy lives.
Best time to visit Cambodia
=====================
✓ May to Oct – Although considered as low season, this may be the preferable time to visit Cambodia, especially towards the end of the said period. The monsoons bring a welcome respite from the heat, plus there are comparatively less tourists and more greenery.
✓ Nov to Mar – High season marked by dry climate and more touristy crowds.
My express trip to Cambodia comprised of:
---------------------------------------------------------
✓ 2 days in Siem Reap
✓ 2 days in Koh Rong
✓ 1 day in Phnom Penh
If you have more time, you can include few more days in:
# Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem.
# Kep – beautiful, coastal city offering snorkelling and water activities.
# Kampot – famous for its world-famous spices (black peppers) and its lush-green rainforests.
# Kratie – famous for Irrawaddy dolphins and blissful sunsets along Mekong river.
# Mondulkiri – famous for waterfalls and elephant sanctuaries.
Check out the details about my 5-day itinerary below.