It all started with a funny thought to literally do “temple run” in Angkor Wat. It was early January of this year when I, with my travel buddies, then decided to have an Easter Escapade in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Technically, we booked our flights months ago without expecting anything -- no specific itinerary, though I did a little research a week before our flight. I learned that Cambodia is very laidback and that it is very hot and humid in Siem Reap. Here below is how our journey had been.
The Flight Must Go On.
We got stressed/nervous right before our flight to Siem Reap. Everything was going too well until my attention was called because airport workers have found gun bullets in one of our check-in suitcases. True enough, they belong to Christian “Inay” Cabalza. They were not his. He just borrowed the luggage. He was asked to make a letter shortly during boarding and made it in the nick of time. Lesson learned: check your bags before entering the airport. Inay was able to fly with us.
Deplaning.
After more than 3 hours of travel time, we finally arrived in Siem Reap. The moment we deplaned, we felt that it was hot. Hotter than our very own Philippines! The airport was not remarkable, though I’ve seen a big statue of an elephant and pictures of the majestic Angkor Wat, which were displayed elsewhere. I found no Money Changer which I find very strange. Surprisingly (and conveniently), primary currency used in Cambodia is US Dollars. It is equally acceptable as their national currency, Cambodian Riel.
Pub Street.
Right after we secured our stuff in Angkor Riviera Hotel, our official home when we were in Siem Reap, we explored around the vicinity. First stop was the Pub Street. This is the busiest street in Siem Reap, especially at night. Locals and tourists were all there for night gimmick. It was a beer night for us, documented by lots of self-captured group photos. Second and last nights were also spent at this happy street.
Gad Around Siem Reap.
First morning in Siem Reap and so we started it by trying out the hotel’s Intercontinental breakfast buffet. The food was great! We then decided to go out, find a convenience store, mall perhaps, and shop a little. To our surprise, we found only one mall that sells not-our-type stuff. There were a few boutiques, mostly local ones, but also not our type. So we instead tried looking for a fastfood where we can have our lunch. Lucky to have found KFC! They serve food different from what we have here. Gravy has extra charge, OMG! We headed back to the hotel and scheduled for a boat ride to Tonle Sap River. There we found a floating market. To be honest, I didn’t like it very much. I’ve seen it in Thailand and I liked it way better!
Temple Tour.
The most exciting part of this trip was the temple tour. It was hot and we all got sweaty but it was fun! We do not want to feel temple-burnout so we opted to just go and see only three: Angkor Wat (UNESCO cultural heritage), Ta Prohm Temple (home of the giant roots, where Tomb Raider was shot), and Bayon Temple (temple of the smiling gods). I love its intricate carvings and how they looked so aged which shows rich history.
The People.
Khmer = Cambodian. It’s like Pinoy = Filipino. In general, Khmer are very friendly. They speak English well in Chinese accent but in softer tone. They were smiling most of the time and in my observation, they do not rush things. No one is in a hurry! If you ordered for something, they will do it at their own slow pace.
The Food.
As compared to Philippines, food in Cambodia is cheaper, whether in a hotel or in any streetside, without compromising the taste. I enjoyed eating all the food I tried, especially they were extra spicy. The highlight of the food we ate in Siem Reap was the Happy Pizza that after finishing a slice, you will feel happy because of the secret ingredient. Don’t judge us. If you know what I’m saying, it’s legal in Cambodia. Besides, it’s medicinal!
Haggle! Haggle!
Everything in Cambodia is unreasonably priced. So if you want a ride, haggle! You want a food/drink, haggle! You want to buy this and that, haggle! If there is a country where you must be good in haggling, Cambodia is the place to be. Khmer overpriced anything they sell/offer so it is important to bargain.
The Fly Back.
Though we enjoyed our stay in Siem Reap, this is our very first time to feel so excited about flying back to the Philippines. Usually, it was hard to leave the place we visit, but this time, we almost jump of excitement when we saw the plane that will bring us back to the country where we call home. I appreciate Philippines all the more after this recent trip. Truly, there’s no place like home! We gotta love our own!
I can't share everything that happened in Cambodia. Overall, our Easter escapade in Siem Reap was super fun. The bad parts were all part of the trip. The place may have not reach the level of our expectations and we say, that was a “humbling journey,” but who cares? All we need is to be with a happy group and each must have a clear mindset of charging everything to experience! So to my travel buddies, thanks for the memories and the experiences, and everything in between. I am looking forward to our 7th country to visit!
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