Transport
We took the bus from Phnom Penh Straight to Siem Reap it cost 11$ each (more expensive due to festival) and took around 7 hours with the mass of traffic! We both had dodgy stomachs so were thankful of the regular stops! We wanted to be in Siem Reap for the Khmer New Year as there were supposed to be lots of street parties, fairs and just generally a good feel about the place!
We took the bus from Phnom Penh Straight to Siem Reap it cost 11$ each (more expensive due to festival) and took around 7 hours with the mass of traffic! We both had dodgy stomachs so were thankful of the regular stops! We wanted to be in Siem Reap for the Khmer New Year as there were supposed to be lots of street parties, fairs and just generally a good feel about the place!
Accommodation
We stayed in HI Siem Reap 2 (Deluxe) it's an upmarket hostel at 7$ a night including breakfast. They make your beds every day, provide fresh towels and the best bit is the pool! It was very much necessary in the 40°C heat! The staff were helpful and the location great.
We stayed in HI Siem Reap 2 (Deluxe) it's an upmarket hostel at 7$ a night including breakfast. They make your beds every day, provide fresh towels and the best bit is the pool! It was very much necessary in the 40°C heat! The staff were helpful and the location great.
Day 1
After arriving from our long bus journey we searched our bags for our swimwear and kindles to chill on the roof. This was a bad moment...realising one of our kindles had gone and then on further inspection also our action camera...it seemed someone had been riffling through our bags. So on discovering this gutting news and feeling very deflated we went to the roof catching the last of the sun before heading out for dinner. We didn't venture far, just down the road we went to Abba Cafe...not the cheesefest we'd hoped for, but actually a beautiful place with excellent staff who have a great attention to detail and of course delish foods!
After arriving from our long bus journey we searched our bags for our swimwear and kindles to chill on the roof. This was a bad moment...realising one of our kindles had gone and then on further inspection also our action camera...it seemed someone had been riffling through our bags. So on discovering this gutting news and feeling very deflated we went to the roof catching the last of the sun before heading out for dinner. We didn't venture far, just down the road we went to Abba Cafe...not the cheesefest we'd hoped for, but actually a beautiful place with excellent staff who have a great attention to detail and of course delish foods!
Day 2
We had a relaxing pool day today, taking care of ourselves as Abi still was sick and we both still felt pretty deflated from the earlier days discovery. We treated ourselves to pure comfort food for lunch...we went to a recommended Italian 'IL forno' and ordered a lasagna and margarita pizza with a nice glass of white wine and beer. It was exactly what we needed and we both felt much happier after. Outside the streets were already filling with water fights, so obviously I joined in! That evening we ate noodles from a street cart (making up for our expensive lunch ) and observed the streets festivities before heading to bed!
We had a relaxing pool day today, taking care of ourselves as Abi still was sick and we both still felt pretty deflated from the earlier days discovery. We treated ourselves to pure comfort food for lunch...we went to a recommended Italian 'IL forno' and ordered a lasagna and margarita pizza with a nice glass of white wine and beer. It was exactly what we needed and we both felt much happier after. Outside the streets were already filling with water fights, so obviously I joined in! That evening we ate noodles from a street cart (making up for our expensive lunch ) and observed the streets festivities before heading to bed!
Day 3
Today we woke up late and took bicycles into the Ankor Park. We bought a 3 day pass at $40 each so we coukd really see the temples properly. The whole place was heaving with locals for the festival. It meant we took so long to get in and the temples were even more overcrowded than usual.
We managed to look superficially around Angkor (due to crowds) and then, Bayan before heading to Phnom Bakheng (on top of a big hill) to watch sunset. It did unfortunately take us nearly 2 hours to get home due to traffic ehich meant riding our bicycles in the dark...not the easiest thing to do without lights and very bumpy roads!
Today we woke up late and took bicycles into the Ankor Park. We bought a 3 day pass at $40 each so we coukd really see the temples properly. The whole place was heaving with locals for the festival. It meant we took so long to get in and the temples were even more overcrowded than usual.
We managed to look superficially around Angkor (due to crowds) and then, Bayan before heading to Phnom Bakheng (on top of a big hill) to watch sunset. It did unfortunately take us nearly 2 hours to get home due to traffic ehich meant riding our bicycles in the dark...not the easiest thing to do without lights and very bumpy roads!
Day 4
Due to the festival still being on, we had a chill day by the pool and wandering the streets of Siem Reap avoiding crowds! We had a nice lunch and planned upcoming days travel. We also went into town at night to join in with the new year celebrations, getting thoroughly soaked and covered in baby powder!
Due to the festival still being on, we had a chill day by the pool and wandering the streets of Siem Reap avoiding crowds! We had a nice lunch and planned upcoming days travel. We also went into town at night to join in with the new year celebrations, getting thoroughly soaked and covered in baby powder!
Day 5
We awoke very early to be picked up by our tuk tuk driver (04.30am) for a Sunrise at Angkor Wat, followed by the small loop. This cost $20 (extra for sunrise) and we were kept suitably refreshed by our driver who had a very efficient cool box and plenty of water and wet hand towels.
The Small loop included; Angkor Wat Bayan, takeo, ta prohm, banteay kdei. A good selection of different temples and thankfully we were able to see a couple before the temperatures became too unbearable. We arrived back at the hostel around 2 having spent time looking round each properly. It was spectacular. We really couldnt believe how well preserved the temples were and how many there were for us to see!
We awoke very early to be picked up by our tuk tuk driver (04.30am) for a Sunrise at Angkor Wat, followed by the small loop. This cost $20 (extra for sunrise) and we were kept suitably refreshed by our driver who had a very efficient cool box and plenty of water and wet hand towels.
The Small loop included; Angkor Wat Bayan, takeo, ta prohm, banteay kdei. A good selection of different temples and thankfully we were able to see a couple before the temperatures became too unbearable. We arrived back at the hostel around 2 having spent time looking round each properly. It was spectacular. We really couldnt believe how well preserved the temples were and how many there were for us to see!
Day 6
On our last day in Siem Reap we took advantage of our 3rd day on our pass and visited the Large loop- this cost $15 and included; preah khan, neak pean, ta som, east mebon, pre rup. We left at 7.30am and were back by midday. Many of these temples are smaller so took less time to wander around, whic we were thankful for as the temperatures again soared to 40+oc!
On our last day in Siem Reap we took advantage of our 3rd day on our pass and visited the Large loop- this cost $15 and included; preah khan, neak pean, ta som, east mebon, pre rup. We left at 7.30am and were back by midday. Many of these temples are smaller so took less time to wander around, whic we were thankful for as the temperatures again soared to 40+oc!
Day 7
Today we took the Bus (organised by AVT travel very helpful company!) to an eco village near the boarder of Laos for a few days in a bamboo hut on the Mekong where we could see the very rare Mekong Irrawady Dolphins.
Today we took the Bus (organised by AVT travel very helpful company!) to an eco village near the boarder of Laos for a few days in a bamboo hut on the Mekong where we could see the very rare Mekong Irrawady Dolphins.
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| Early AM Sunruse at Angkor Wat |
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| Sunrise over the Temple |
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| Intricately carved door frames! |
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| A tree growing right out of the temple! |
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| The Lepur King - |
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| The many faces of Bayon Temple |
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| Sunset at Bayon |
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