After almost one week in Bangkok it was finally time for a new country as I discover more of Asia! Beautiful Cambodia and the town Siem Reap, here I come!! Cambodia was always thought to be my destination to relax and unwind. Why you wonder? Mainly because the holiday resorts are quite cheap and the thought of hanging around the pool was very tempting. I haven‘t really done it that much in Europe either and there is certainly no better spot to write my blog!
Furthermore I thought staying here for a week or two and slowly looking at all the temples a bit everyday would be a far better experience than battling the tourists and the heat. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it?
From Bangkok I had a few options to get to Siem Reap. Initially I thought I do it by bus but I decided to fly. It seemed easier to get across the border and have a visa organised at the airport. And it was all pretty simple. In addition the view from the plane over Cambodia was absolutely breathtaking. I have one month in Cambodia and I am definitely ready to relax and explore.
Beautiful Cambodia
Cambodia is a Southeast Asian nation and Phnom Penh is the capital city. I am currently in the northwest area in Siam Reap where the Temple Angkor Wat sits. Although I haven’t seen all of Cambodia yet I am convinced of the beauty of this country already.
“There’s a magic about this charming yet confounding kingdom that casts a spell on visitors. In Cambodia, ancient and modern worlds collide to create an authentic adventure“ (Lonely Planet quote)
No more words needed. Come and see for yourself!
The town Siem Reap
Siem Reap sits in northwestern Cambodia and is a popular resort town and a getaway to the Angkor region and temples.
It is a busy and vibrant town with lots of tourists and locals buzzing around at all times. There is a clear overload of Tuk Tuk drivers waiting for customers and scooters are definitely the main transport. There is no need for a car really! From the popular Pub Street where you can buy beer for 0.50USD, to the variety of restaurants and touristy market stalls, there is never a dull moment in Siem Reap. It is definitely a great place to spend a few days or even weeks in. Life here is simple and that is what I enjoy most about it.
Best place to stay: Home Indochine d’Angkor Hotel
It has a great pool, super friendly staff and perfect location for all the restaurants and bars!
Markets and the locals
The local fresh produce markets are visually quite amazing. The fruit and veggies are always beautifully stacked in big baskets and the ladies are sitting there plugging the herbs having their morning gossip chats with other females. It makes for lots of great photos. However I am not a big fan of walking through the markets. Not only due to the crowds but also the smell of the fish and the meat sitting right next to each other, in the heat with no refrigerator is very very strong. My nose can’t handle it.
Watching the locals going on about their daily business in Cambodia and the town of Siem Reap is my favourite part though. Whether it is driving their kids around on the scooter (sometimes there are up to 5 kids sitting on one scooter), or setting up their little trailer to create a juice or food stall, they all seem happy in their basic way of living.
I have been in the town of Siem Reap for a few days already and have been very successful in relaxing. My daily activities have been swimming, walking, going for a massage and sampling the local Khmer cuisine. However I am definitely looking forward to visiting the temples very soon, esp. Angkor Wat. That shall be my next blog!
But for now the pool is waiting so until the next time! xx (read more about my Cambodia travels here)..
