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Three days visiting the Angkor temples
When I worked in Hong Kong, I made a decision to travel to neighbouring countries as much as I could on the weekends. One of my friends was living in HK at the same time and we discussed visiting Siem Reap. I had been to Phnom Penh at that stage so was eager to travel again to Cambodia. So I met my friend and her daughter at the airport one Friday for a long weekend away to see the temples.
Seim Reap is a really popular resort town and this is because it’s the gateway to the Angkor region and in particular the Angkor temples. My friend did the research and booked us into a wonderful resort. We knew, because the weather was so hot, that we would only do sightseeing in the morning then after lunch return to our hotel and just relax. So we definitely needed somewhere with a pool, spa and area to sit and read in the shade. Our resort was perfect for just these things.
Over the weekend, we engaged a tour guide through the hotel and were firstly taken to the most famous sights in Siem Reap, Angkor Wat being one, which is truly spectacular especially its reflection on the lake. One thing I do remember about this temple is the one on the national flag of Cambodia. Bit of worthless information really!!
Unfortunately we did not make it to see the sunset over Angkor Wat (think this was due to us finding extremely cheap cocktails in the restaurant/bar street of Siem Reap) where we also enjoyed incredibly delicious and inexpensive Cambodian food.
We visited many temples and each was different and amazing. It truly is a mind-blowing experience to see these temples and structures and hear about their history and restoration.
We visited Angkor Thom, Angkor Prohm and the Bayon Temple. Really so much to see in such a short time.
And I think most people know that Angkor Prohm is where the movie Tomb Raider was made with trees growing in and out of the ruins; a spectacular sight.
One of the parts I loved was walking into one of the Wats (temples) but I can’t recall which one, there were statues on the side as you walk up to the entrance. (for me it reminded me of the walk to the Ming Tombs in Beijing with the statues lining the pathway for the Emperor). We also posed for some fun photos whilst still trying to be respectful.
On our last day we took a boat ride along the river and saw some amazing sights; people living along the river in little huts or on boats – it was something I am really glad I did as it showed me how some of the Cambodians live in Siem Reap.
And the locals going about their daily duties…
Another friend of mine is going to be working in Phnom Penh in 2017 and I have promised I shall visit as I would love to re-visit Siem Reap – it’s so incredible!!
One final and [I think] humorous photo is of a local monkey eating an ice-cream – I guess you need that if you have just drunk four bottles of beer (ha ha)…
carentaylor said:
What a wonderful experience!! Little furry guy certainly looks chilled lol 😉
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Sophie said:
Hey Sue, really loved this post, and… “Unfortunately we did not make it to see the sunset over Angkor Wat (think this was due to us finding extremely cheap cocktails in the restaurant/bar street” !!! I recognize you well here, always ready to have a good time around nice cocktails or wine! Hahaha I couldn’t help it but smile when reading this! Joke aside, I do love your pictures of the little huts, and even though the Angkor temple pictures show a great touristic site too, I think the huts part of your trip would also have been what I’d had enjoyed the most during that weekend away!
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Ha ha. Thanks Caren.
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carentaylor said:
🙂
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feralc4t said:
Alcoholic monkeys? I must see that 😀
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Ticket to Adventures said:
Great post! I visited the Angkor temples a couple of years back and it was definitely the highlight of my 2 month travel in Sout East Asia. I wish I had gone on a boat ride along the river too, looks very interesting. Hope you will go to Phnom Penh, plenty of things to see and do, but lots of horrible remainders of the country’s cruel history.
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JohnRH said:
Fascinating. Great pix.
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Little Miss Traveller said:
Fascinating post! Another country I hope to get an opportunity to visit sometime.
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Rotwein Wanderer said:
Amazing! I have to see more places inAsia!
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sidran said:
What a stunning place !Like the fun pic as well as the monkey cooling off.Cheers.
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Lignum Draco said:
Thanks for taking us there. Apparently Angkor is number 1 in The Lonely Planet’s Hot list of top 500 places to visit book, and by a wide margin.
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Marta said:
Went there in 2009 and absolutely loved it. Now I want to go to Bagan in Myanmar!
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vinneve said:
Wow! that looks interesting! I like to go to places like that and I’ve never been to Cambodia. Not sure if I can be able to now, though. Good to see your new post 🙂
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Amy said:
These are great photos of this magnificent place. Thank you for the fabulous tour!
I love the last shot, four bottles of beer and an ice cream, life is good… 🙂
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thank you very much. I did travel to PP but only for a weekend. As I was staying with friends we didn’t visit the sites that show the cruel history but I think when I return I should visit.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Ha ha. Thanks Sophie.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thank you John.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thank you very much.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Hope you do!!!
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thank you. I really did enjoy this trip.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Oh wow I didn’t know that but I know why. It was incredible.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Oh I will have to check out Bagan. I want to return to Myanmar. I only went to the new capital for a conference. That was boring and flew in and out without any sightseeing. I now must return.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thank you Vinneve. It certainly was an amazing place. So glad I had the opportunity to visit. Sometimes it’s just where you are in the world that affords you the opportunity to visit other places isn’t it.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Ha ha Amy. Thank you!!
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youngofw said:
This is my favorite place! 😎
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threebrits said:
Just back from a trip to Cambodia! We only took 1 day to see all the temples! Crazy to think you did it in 3 days!! The sunrise at Angkor wat was spectacular, however the cocktails in siem reap were pretty good too! Hehe!!
Post about my time in Siem Reap has just gone live! http://www.threebrits.com
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thabk you for stopping by. I wish I saw the sunrise. Just about to check out your post.
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threebrits said:
Thanks for stopping by our blog too!!!!!
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ankay said:
beautiful post! I just got back from Siem Reap and totally loved it
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thanks so much. So glad you loved it.
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