MY KHMER SUMMER

MY KHMER SUMMER

When my life took a heavy toll on work … I have forgotten or I simply never had the time to write … not that I have found it less fulfilling … but I simply never had the time.  Then by some divine intervention I was “forced” to rest … I had the time but with much prodding from my one avid reader, Direk Vincent Dy Buncio, one of the artistic geniuses behind Eat Bulaga, the longest noontime show in the land,  now known as EB. And if someone whose mind is as keen as that and looks forward to my travelogues … I am deeply humbled.

Cambodia … one of the most beautiful Asian country, a friend once told me.  So when my close friends had their calendar cleared … we flew … not knowing that I will be flying to a new adventure that I will forever remember for the rest of my life … when my creativity is acknowledged and adored.

Best Time to Visit: Feb 17-23

Weather: Hot and Hotter … warm, humid, sunny

Outfit: Cotton / light colored / krama (Khmer scarf) / shades/ hat / sandals or Crocs (it’s personal)

Two hours and 19 minutes … Siem Reap International Airport.  One airport that looks like a museum with gigantic stone statues that is worthy of my Instagram post  in urhighnessqueenV.

Siem Reap International Airport

Lo and behold, when my Agoda Voucher said … with free airport transfers … I was impressed … but when I saw the “transfer” that it was a “tuk-tuk” … my innate “social climber” instinct said not LO AND BEHOLD  but LO AND HOLD IT!!!! I will ride that with a driver named Rat? This Rat touched our hearts as the days passed… a young man full of sad stories, dreams and ambitions.

Airport Transfer : Tuk Tuk with Driver Rat

For paying tourist the fares are : $7 (taxis) and $5 (tuk-tuk)

Tip #1: Never change your US Dollars to Cambodian Riel … they use USD in Siem!

Cambodian Riel

The night scene of Siem Reap from the airport looks like Laguna … very rural. 

We stayed in Secrets Pavillion Villa which I helped transform and can be found towards the end of this blog.

After the much practiced speech and welcome drinks from the man whom I will found out is the owner of the place who got a dose my ADHD streak, we proceeded to where the night life is.  The owner is Sothearith Voeun  or Sivatha for an easier recall.

Welcome Drink

We headed for the PUB STREET.  The street name that made my bestie said YES! to this trip which initially she didn’t want to take. Yes, and every night … we were here!

The Pub Street !

DAY 2

I woke up to a coral-colored sun. This one will kick the daylights out of you.  Amazing!

Coral-Colored Morning Sun

Breakfast … wow! Eggs with bread /butter and fruits (banana/watermelon/melon) for FREE!

FREE Breakfast

TEMPLE TOUR 1 CENTRAL ANGKOR (SMALL CIRCUIT)

Map of Temple Tours

Hire a tuk-tuk to take you to the temples $15 for 8 hours.  Hire a tour guide $20-25 a day.

On the way to the Temple Run

Tip #2: Book a tour guide beforehand … especially during peak season.

Park Admission  One day : $20 / Three Days: $40 / Seven Days: $60

Tip #3: Children under 12 enter for free after showing a passport so always bring it with you.

Tip #4: Krama .Sunscreen.Cottons.Comfy Shoes … Must haves for this Temple Run

Tip #5 Take the Elephant Ride for $15 .  I never did … regrets!

Elephant Ride for $15

The Small Circuit takes in several of the major and minor temples in the area. Beginning at Angkor Wat and running for seventeen kilometers the circuit takes in the major elements of Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm, and Banteay Kdei, and some of the minor but interesting temples such as the Baphoun, The Terrace of the Leper King, The Terrace of the Elephants, the Twelve Prasats, Spean Thma and Sras Srang before returning to Angkor Wat.  (Cambodia Travel.Com)

Entrance at the South Gate of Angkor Thom (Big Thom) 3-walled moated royal city. There are 2 rows of giant statues on the left (facing the gate) are the Devas (deities) and on the right are the Asuras (nature-beings)  carrying the Naga ( giant serpent ).

Entrance at the South Gate of Angkor Thom

Moat Surrounding the Temple

Bayon is amazing known for its giant faces and most recognizable in Khmer Art  with 37 standing towers.  Massive!

Bayon

Interior

Picture for a Fee

 Baphuon  … Recently reopened after the restoration that began in 1970s. Note the large reclining Buddha on the west side.  But we were so tired to enter this.

Baphuon

TIP# 6 : Always bring a cold bottle of mineral water.

Terrace of the Elephants …  2.5 meter tall, 300 meter long

Terrace of the Elephants

Terrace of the Leper King  … the statue was found here  with its lichen-eaten condition that gave it the appearance of leprosy.

Terrace of the Leper King ( Cambodia Travel.com)

Ta Prohm  … sprawling monastic complex … fig and silk-cotton trees grow from the temples. Enthralling!

 Ta Prohm

Walls of Ta Prohm

Tip# 7 Guides/Drivers get free lunch in the restaurants where they brought the tourists.

Drivers’ Lounge

THE REVERED ANGKOR WAT . Angkor means “Capital City or Holy City”. This is the centrepiece … visually, architecturally and artistically breathtaking … but at 2 in the afternoon you can add  swooning-ly sizzling  in the adjectives…

Outside Angkor Wat’s Gate with a Monk

Tip # 8 . 1^st trip to this is imperative after 2pm because backlighting obscures the view.

 This is a temple mountain dedicated to Vishnu. Walls are covered with bas-relief and carvings and while the guide is explaining … I just wanna walk away because I can’t understand a word he is saying … and here I was…

Walls with Carvings

Background: 12-meter tall brick & laterite pyramid – funerary temple— at Prasat Baksei Chamkrong

Monkey w/ the Angkor Wat Backdrop

   

Monks Outside the Temple

RELECTION SHOWS 6 TOWERS BUT IN FRONT YOU WILL ONLY SEE 5 TOWERS

  

Vishnu

Vishnu – maintainer or preserver / “ to settle”  In the Puranas, Vishnu is described as having the divine blue colour of water-filled clouds and as having four arms. He is depicted as holding a padma or lotus flower in the lower left hand, a gada or mace in the lower right hand, a shankha or conch in the upper left hand and a Sudarshana Chakra or discus weapon in the upper right hand. Vishnu is also described in the Bhagavad Gita as having a ‘Universal Form’ (Vishvarupa or Viraat Purusha) which is beyond the ordinary limits of human perception or imagination.  (Wikipedia)

ANGKOR BALLOON RIDE  $ 35 for 10 minutes within the temple complex … Pretty safe because this is tied to a cable.

Tip # 9 . Best time to go is 5pm but pre-book to avoid waiting.

ANGKOR BALLOON RIDE

This is aerial shot of Angkor without using a light aircraft but needed long lens for a better pix and it is pretty hazy.

Aerial Shot of Angkor Wat

NIGHT MARKET SHOPPING  – Old Market ( Phsar Chas ) . Souvenirs, trinkets and anything under the moon.

 

MASSAGE … to wrap up the day

1.       FISH MASSAGE  – $ 1 – let the fishes do the massage

Fish Massage

2.       FOOT MASSAGE – $ 1 – 15 minutes …

Tip # 11 .Try this after the Temple Run.

 PAY IT FORWARD … Just do this.

Tip # 12 . Be generous.  They are working hard for this … not just begging.

DAY 3

 Take 2: Breakfast … wow! Eggs with bread /butter and fruits (banana/watermelon/melon) for FREE!

TON LE SAP LAKE TOUR  – Take a Tuk tuk $15 . Admission Fee: $15.  No need for tour guide.

This is amazing for Caucasians or Europeans but ordinary to Filipinos.  This huge dumbbell-shaped lake stretches across the NW section of Siem.  Floating Villages/Community  and  Stilted Houses  (like in Samal). 

There is a floating restaurant with souvenirs and with children carrying snakes around them begging for cash if you want a picture taken with them.  Sad. Why do I have to pay $15 for this … to scare myself?  Will it go to the community? Do I need to Cambodia to see this while it is a common sight in my country. Was the $15 a waste … in my heart , I don’t think so.

And it got me thinking ….

Taken from : Child Safe FB Account. To find out ChildSafe Traveler Tips log on to : http://www.thinkchildsafe.org/

Tip # 13 . One of the reasons why I love to travel … learning compassion.

 

DAY 4

Take 3: Breakfast … wow! Eggs with bread /butter and fruits (banana/watermelon/melon) for FREE!

The twenty-six kilometer Grand Circuit is an extension on the little circuit but taking in Preah Khan, Preah Neak Pean to the Eastern Mebon and the various monuments like Ta Som, Preah Rup, before returning to Angkor Wat and is highly recommended for anyone spending three or more days in the complex. The Big Circuit encompasses a good representation of the rich variety of architecture here. (Cambodia Travel.Com)

Preah Khan – sacred sword – huge monastic complex . This is one of my fave temples. Better because there are not much tourists.

Preah Neak Pean –which means coiled serpent. This is surrounded by a pool . Water has healing properties according to the legend.

Ta Som – small Bayon-style monastic complex and the miniature version of Ta Prohm . A huge tree is is growing on top of the eastern gopura which is destroying the gate and a photo classic.

Preah Rup – architecturally and artistically superior temple mountain.

DAY 5

 Take 4: Breakfast … wow! Eggs with bread /butter and fruits (banana/watermelon/melon) for FREE!

More Shopping and going around town

VNC – my fave shoe store in Siem Reap … and sale!

Hello Kitty! in Siem

Exhibit by John McDermott

Ceramic Making

 

 HomeStyling … my make over in this blog …

https://tripsandthecity.wordpress.com/2013/02/23/secrets-pavillion-boutique-villa/

Arriving in a Tuk tuk but leaving in Lexus … not bad at all !

FOODIE IN KHMER’S KITCHEN

STREET FOOD …

  

Foodie Radar … won’t stop at nothing even street food! My Saigon trip will always be remembered as my best street Pho in the world. So again I took the leap .

Now, it can be told … the Crepes sold in the street … man, you gotta try this!  $ 1

 Noodles  – $ 1 – this is yummy! filling and cheap!

ANGKOR FLOWER …

–           Home of best Coconut Shake in Siem!

1.       Fried Rice Vegetable  with Egg – $5 – good!

2.       Fried Rice with Seafood – $6 – better

3.       Fried Rice Spices with Seafood – $6 – best

4.       Noodles with Seafood – great

 5.       French Fried (sic) with Beef Lok Lak – $6

Beef Lok Lak from Smokin’ Pot Restaurant submitted by corykaplin

These ingredients serve 1, so multiply up as you wish.
– 150g chicken breast, beef, even shrimp – sliced (shrimp would not be sliced)
– 1/2 teaspoon sugar
– 1/2 teaspoon salt
– 1/2 teaspoon crushed black pepper
– 1/3 teaspoon chilli sauce (optional, preferably vietnamese or chinese chili sauce)
– 1 teaspoon oil + extra for cooking
– 1 tablespoon soy sauce
– 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
– 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup
– 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
– 1/2 an onion, chopped
– A few lettuce leaves
– Rice
For the pepper sauce:
– 1/2 teaspoon sugar
– 1/2 teaspoon salt
– 1/2 teaspoon crushed back pepper
– 1/2 teaspoon crushed garlic
– 1/4 of a lime

 Mix sugar, salt, pepper, oil, soy sauce, oyster sauce, ketchup and garlic in a mixing bowl, add meat and coat thoroughly. Marinate 30 to 60 minutes. Mix salt, sugar, pepper and garlic in small bowls (pepper sauce for each person) Add oil to a wok, sauté onions until brown and add chicken, stir fry 5 to 10 minutes, until done. Mix in chili sauce as desired. Prepare serving plates with rice and a bed of lettuce. Just before serving, squeeze the juice of 1/2 lime into the pepper sauce and stir lightly. Serve chicken over lettuce with pepper sauce on side. The chicken is eaten wrapped in a lettuce leaf and dipped into the pepper sauce. For a little more punch, add chili sauce to marinade rather than while cooking and marinate an extra 30 minutes.

     CAMBODIAN SOUP RESTAURANT

–          Great Food .  Average meal:  $5.

Tip # 10 . Upstairs : Free Apsara Show recommended by Lonely Planet.

1.  Personal Favorite is the spare ribs. 
2. Tried the most talked about Khmer Amok (pieces of fish fillet with coconut cream, onion, cauli flower leaf, egg and traditional Khmer spices … my 1^st and my last.  $3.75
3. Khmer Curry – Traditional Khmer chicken curry cooked with carrots, onions , potatoes and long beans in coconut cream
4. Fried Khmer Spring Rolls – yum!

THE BLUEPUMPKIN – icecream

LIM KIM CHENG RESTAURANT 

–           Typical Khmer food in the market place

THE GOLDEN COCONUT

THE RED PIANO – made famous by the visit of Angelina Jolie

Tip # 10 . Don’t miss this bar. Try Tomb Raider Cocktail.

ANGKOR WHAT

THE PHSAR LEU BAKERY 

KHMER FAMILY RESTAURANT

        

Khmer Dessert – Khmer traditional dessert similar to palm fruit with ice, sugar and coconut milk

Must Have: Shrimp with Long Beans / Vegetable Rice in Pineapple Container/Spare Ribs

 ANGKOR PALM

 – Siem Reap’s Restaurant of the Year

Must Have: Angkor Palm Platter good for 2 at $ 10 : Fresh Spring Roll, Mango Salad, Local Spare Ribs Pork, Fish Amok, Homemade Green Curry, Cha Ta Kuong (stir fried water spinach) , Rice, Dessert

SAM BROTHER

 – found in the local Cambodian Pub Street

–  Must Have: Stir-Fried Corn

LUCKY PLAZA

 Must Buy: Watermelon Seeds

 

BEER/WINE

Angkor Premium Beer  

Cambodia Beer

 Palm Wine 

Bye Cambodia … see you again!  What makes it a cut above the rest of the Asian countries I have visited?  People are warm and nice and as hospitable as the Filipinos. May they be able to maintain what they are despite the popularity this country is gaining.  We gained friends here … learned from them.  Don’t lose the naivety … this makes you special and different , Cambodia.