Cambodia
August 24th, 2011While studying Southeast Asia in college I fell in love with the region. I could even focus in the history classes which is not like me at all! I was fascinated by the temples of Angkor Wat and the sad history of Cambodia. The time finally came for me to visit the country I have been dreaming and wondering about for so long. We didn’t have enough time to stop in Phnom Phen, capital city of Cambodia and home to the horrors of the Khmer Rouge from 1975-1979. Next time around I will be sure to stop there. We choose to go to Siam Reap and explore the temples hidden in the jungle. The journey there was really not as bad as I thought it was going to be. Although it took a few hours longer than we were told, this was not our first rodeo and we figured it would take a few extra hours.
The van driver was crazy on the roads, Kristen and I were in the very back seat getting tossed around a bit. It made for a good laugh and great conversation with the others in the van. Before the boarder we stopped to get visas. Alexa, our new friend from Vancouver, Canada, had her passport and credit cards stolen during the Full Moon Party and she was extra sketched out about the visa stop. She also met a guy who said they stopped him for a visa before the boarder, but was ripped off and had to repay again at the boarder. After asking the gentlemen running our journey to Cambodia numerous questions, and talking with the other people in the same place as us, we decided to go with it. Everything turned out well and we made it safely into Cambodia. On the journey there we met Alexa and Phil, who are both such awesome and nice people. Phil is also from Canada, but went to law school in Michigan and is now living in Vietnam working as a lawyer among other projects. Really smart guy. The four of us ended up spending the entire time together in Cambodia.
The bus to take us from the boarder into Siam Reap had not arrived yet and was not equipped with air conditioning. Our newly formed group decided to share a taxi into town because the cost was next to nothing(maybe 2-3 USD per person for over an hour drive) and would save time and energy. The drive into Siam Reap was captivating. There’s nothing but never ending green fields against a bright blue sky with wondering water buffalo, and the occasional house with it’s family hanging around outside. So stunning to drive through that I didn’t even take a picture. I want to regret this now, but at the time I didn’t think about it because I couldn’t stop looking out the window at the sheer beauty of the country. The second you get to Cambodia it has a different from Thailand. Much different. For starters they drive on the same side of the road as USA and Korea, unlike Thailand. The people have a slightly different look to them, things are much cheaper, the infrastructure seems much more minimal, and life moves slower, except of course for the giant casino.We booked a hotel through one of the guys who helped us get to the boarder. Alexa shared our room with us and Phil got a room upstairs. We spent the entire time in Cambodia with them, it was awesome! We checked in and went to eat some Khmer food. Delicious and similar to Thai food, but cheaper. It is almost wrong how cheap it is in Cambodia. They take US dollars, so everything was in US prices. Pitchers of beer are 3 dollars, one draft beer is .50 cents. Food prices are just a cheap, 5 dollars for amazing fajitas, large American breakfasts for 4.75...and the list goes on. The restaurants in Siam Reap are westernized, but surprisingly nicely done and the food was exceptional. Kristen and I ate just about everything we could due to lack of decent western food in our city in Korea. That night we went to a few different bars and wondered around a bit. It was a good night, a much different scene from Thailand. Siam Reap has a wonderful small town feel with a lot less craziness. People were definitely enjoying themselves, but not to the extremes of Thailand.Thursday August 25, 2011
After sleeping in a bit, we all met downstairs for some breakfast at the hotel. We decided not to explore the Angkor Wat temples just yet. Sunrise is supposed to be amazing so we decided to make it an early night and go the following morning. We went to a hotel across the road from where we were staying and relaxed by the rooftop pool. The pool was a lot smaller than expected, but it fulfilled what we needed it for! Also, there was a wonderful view of Siam Reap. This was the first day of full on relaxation and it was much needed. That afternoon we all rented bikes and took off to explore the city. We check out the grounds of a high school, watched Phil challenge some high school students to a soccer match, and went to the out skirts of the city where no foreigners venture. We stopped to get a drink and talked to the owner of the place about the area. He said no foreigners ever get out that far. There were no menus, and people on the whole block were staring at us. He informed us the building across the street used to be a big gambling, sex, and drug venue. The government finally shut it down because there was some underage sex issues. This man was amazing, he had nearly perfect English and worked with many different organizations helping children to excel and have bright futures. Sounds like Cambodia is really trying to change things so the future of their children is much better.
Friday August 26, 2011
We got up before the sunrise to ride bikes to the temples, but unfortunately it was raining so hard I could barley see out of the window, and the wind was fierce. It seemed like a freaking monsoon. Sunrise may have been out, but we still had sunset! After breakfast a few hours later, we rented our bikes again and rode out of the city, down a long road lined by jungle. What an amazing bike ride! Exploring the temples was not only a dream come true, but a life changing experience. During the sunset I watched the light change on the faces of the ladies carved into the stone walls of the temple. I couldn’t even comprehend how many times they have watched the sunset. It’s mind blowing to think about how old the temples are, how beautiful they are, and that I actually made it there. We explored all afternoon while scoping out the best spot to watch the sunset. Most people seemed to be leaving while the sun was setting, but we found a nice ledge that looked over a court yard. We truly relaxed and took it all in, such a wonderful time and place we all shared together.
The bike ride home is something I will never forget. The sun was down and gone by the time we got back to the bikes. The cars, and shuttle vans were pulling out and down the road as we rode our bikes into the darkness of the jungle. After a few minutes all the cars were gone and it was basically a blackout except for a tiny glow through the trees where the sun had set. The jungle came alive, the sound of the frogs were so loud, and the numerous other animals and insects that were out there. Getting back into Siam Reap was on another level. Street lights, people on bikes, moped, cars, trucks all honking while coming and going at us in every direction. I thought to myself that this was no longer an awesome idea, but living in Asia I have learned to be much more street savvy. We all got separated from each other in the madness, but reunited back at the bike place safe and sound. Alexa and I got there first, then Phil and Kristen showed up after. Literally the second they got off their bikes it began to downpour. We were all so happy, we just stood in the rain and got drenched. It was a surreal night to say the least. Words cannot describe!
That night we treated ourselves to an amazing dinner. We went to an Italian place and ordered bottles of wine, sparkling water, pizza, a meat and cheese platter, salad and bread. The meal was over the top amazing, and was under 50 USD. In the states the dinner would have cost over 100 USD easy. I can say that this day was one of the most memorable thus far in my life and I would not change a single thing.
Saturday August 27, 2011
Today we took a tuk tuk to a much further temple in the Angkor Wat complex called Ta Prohm. This is famous because it was in the movie “Tomb Raider” with Angelina Jolie. Also, because the jungle has taken over with minimal restoration. Tourists are allowed to climb and crawl all over the temples like Indiana Jones style. We were blown away again by these temples. The entire afternoon was spent taking pictures and exploring. There is nothing like crawling around ancient temple ruins deep inside a jungle. Talk about an amazing vacation, one I wish I could take every year.
That night Kristin and I had our flight back to Bangkok to head home. I couldn’t imagine a better way to end such an amazing trip. It was sad to leave Alexa and Phil. Although we only spent a few days with them, it felt like a lifetime. Maybe someday we will all cross paths again, if not the time we had together was priceless. Traveling with Kristin was better than I could have imagined. Such a great travel buddy, we are both excited for more adventures in the future. So I can honestly say that this was the best trip of my life so far, but with every vacation, passing week, and new adventure life seems to get better and better. I can’t imagine what will come next, but now that I reside in Asia I am sure more of my dreams will come true. I cannot wait to share my upcoming adventures with you all. Thanks for reading and I hope you can find some entertainment in my journey. XOXO Miss Maggie Love
Check out my photos Day 1&2 :https://picasaweb.google.com/103972019290631417090/SiamReapCambodiaDay12?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGD3tO8m62ItAE
Day 3:https://picasaweb.google.com/103972019290631417090/SiamReapCambodiaDay3?authkey=Gv1sRgCNfexrLLl9XwPQ
