Cambodia - Siem Reap

Had our decent breakfast before we leave Phnom Penh to Siem Reap.

Here is what I always do. When I visit a country, I always try to visit 2 cities or more at the same time. You don't have time to fly in to one country twice if you have a target to visit ALL 2,469,501 cities in the world by age 50. In my previous trip to Japan, I made 4 visits - Osaka, Tokyo, Kobe & Kyoto in 10 days. When I 1st ventured into the world of travelling back in year 2009, I did HongKong & Macau in 4 days. I regretted my Vietnam visit though, I miss Hanoi.

Gearing up for 6 hours ride. No fancy outfit needed. It's a bus ride for God sake!

I opted for buses and trains in between cities so that money can stretch more on good food, comfy accommodation and little shopping. Well, if you are some rich bastards or some "vacation whore" (a person who escorting strangers he/she know online. Bring nothing but a piece of pussy/ pair of balls) then, yep, go ahead with domestic plane or bullet train. But you will miss every details that lays between the 2 cities.

You can choose either boat, taxi or bus to reach Siem Reap from Phnom Penh city (vice versa). It took 7 hours to arrive Siem Reap by boat and 6 hours by bus. We decided to take a boat so that we can see the village along the Mekong river, however, the boat didn't make the trip that day due to insufficient number of passengers. The boat need a "full house" trip.

Never mind that. There are plenty coach company run in Phnom Penh - you just need to choose the one that provide the newest and nicest coach. We chose Giant Ibis. It costs USD 13 per trip per person and it came with a small bottle of mineral water, a snack/bread and wifi on board.

It's not like I don't know where to put on what - well, the bottle is too small for the holder, I have my handbag on my lap, so I just try to maximize the use of space provided.

....and this is Mike's definition of maximizing the use of space.

Never mind him.

I was entertained by the sights of 'flooded' Cambodia for the 1st few hours.

Sight of Floating village while we crossing the Mekong river. So I skipped Ton Le Sap visit in Siem Reap since I already got a picture of what it looks like.

We had 2 stops during this 6 hours journey. 1st was for toilet break and the 2nd one is for lunch break.

1 hour before arriving Siem Reap, I saw this green field which looks like a golf field at some resort. Actually it is not. It's a paddy field. But the view was so refreshing, it helps stimulate your tired, sleepy eyes back to normal.

We had our TukTuk guy waiting for us at the bus station in Siem Reap and drove us to our hotel - Golden Temple Hotel.

It's a 3 star boutique resort like hotel, however, it has a 5 star demeanor. Not because they served us a very refreshing kaffir lime juice with snacks sitting on fancy tray during our check in, but the way the staff greeting us, responding and feeding us with all of information that we need plus suggestion and unlimited smiles. They are very helpful and good in English too. There is nothing they can't or this resort can't do for you. Im not talking about morning/ wake up call service. NO. 

From arranging flight and bus ticket booking, tours and activities, navigating, safety and a whole lot more without charging us extra/ service fees. Trust me. I've been in one of Four Season resort property. But when it comes to this boutique resort, I think Four Season need more to learn from this small property that - excellent hospitality can come in a small price.

Not to mention the location is 5 minutes walk from great night life, free high speed internet in the room, free 1 hour Khmer massage  spa, picnic lunch, cooking class.... We had our GOLDEN EXPERIENCE with this property.

Our room not only comes with coffee & tea, flat tv screen, dvd player blah blah blah. 

But this 02 specific dvds on the table! I told the staff that escorted us to the room about how people on the streets trying to sell us these dvds with ridiculous price.. and now we can watch it for FREE! Yes, I did watch these two at night before I go to sleep. It is easier to learn about one place by audio visual compared to reading. No, don't get me wrong. I still love reading, but audio visual left more impact to the imagination and faster understanding compared to reading.

I recommend this boutique resort to everybody! 

Freshen up and put on a piece I bought in Phnom Penh central market. I wanna feel this Kingdom!

Made a stop at Siem Reap Old Market. Since I had a few orders from my girlfriends on the stuffs I put on facebook earlier on. Pants, sandals, accessories... I can do this forever!

Pure Silver by Cambodia.

They even have all  kind of animals crafted in silver too.

And then we move to night market to check out what it has to offer.

Mostly are silver products

Just pretend you cry. You off with free fishy therapy :)

Siem Reap has it all. From highly valuable UNESCO world heritage site and lively nightlife are all in one small vicinity. If you are a true backpackers, you can do Siem Reap by foot and bicycle which costs you almost nothing.

If you ever wanted to visit Siem Reap, make sure you stay nearby spot that I circled on the map - where the restaurants, markets, ATMs & public transportation is a holler away.

It's time for dinner. So we headed to Pub Street to find decent restaurant and a place to chill.

I love it here. I love it when it made me feel like home.

..and I noticed that crocodile dish is everywhere. It almost famous than chicken or beef. Anyways, Im not that gastronomic adventurer , and I told my BF that if he wish to try those exotic food, do it without me by his side. Make sure I do not know about it. Or else I would never kiss his lips again :(

So finally we found a restaurant which has no crocodile or snake on its menu.

We both love agreed on this restaurant just by looking at its name "AMOK". Plus, Mike has this Amok madness attack and all he wanted is to eat Amok dishes again and again.

Khmer dinnerware and settings makes everything is so Khmer. I  wanted everything pure Khmer tonight.

Finally we choose the set for 02 which costs us about USD 28 or 38..(forgot) the set consists of 1) Khmer fried spring rolls for appetizer 2) Grilled beef on skewer 3) Khmer fish Tomyum 4) Khmer mango salad 5) Amok Chicken 6) Khmer Stir fried vegetables and a steam rice in banana leaf.  

Look at the food presentation! I don't need to wait for honeymoon or birthday or anniversary to experience nice thing in life. Just find it and live in it.  

..and the taste wise - awesome. We love everything they served.

last but not least.. the menu comes with 5 different yoghurt ice cream sampler - Mango, Lotus, Pineapple, Lime and Passion fruit.   

This is what I gave them that day :)

I don't make late night dinner or dinner after 8pm as a habit. But when I do, I go home and turn onto youtube and find the best work out for the sin that I have committed.

Here's one to share with you. The best so far.

It's easier to shed 1 kilo of the unnecessary rather 7! Her six packs inspired me.

P/S: I don't work out to please other people with my figure. I work out to please myself when I look into the mirror - every morning, naked.

...to be continued.

Kingdom of Cambodia - A Phnom Penh's taste

and here is the video of me experiencing Tuk Tuk ride in Cambodia.




Made a quick stop at Phnom Penh's Central Market before meeting The Royal Highness'...garden and bricks.

Girls, behold.

A dome shaped like building, resembling Angkorian stupa with 4 vast hallways branching out - a home of hundreds stalls offering what market supposed to offer. From clothes to accessories, 

To silver blings lover, Cambodian provide good quality pure silver with price trice cheaper than in KL.

Cheap.

and from paintings and dust collectors for your living room.

Bring out your bargain skills and this place turns you to an instant merchant. No more souvenir shit. If your friends ask for it, tell them - "here, I sell you cheap. Consider my selling (cheap) price as my gift for you on top of it" 

Cambodia is the place for you to buy good quality accessories like silver and semi precious stones compared with what you can get in China. In term of clothes & leathers, they don't have much compared to Indonesia and Vietnam, I guess?

Anyways, I bought 2 Cambodian pants here and put it on my facebook wall. What I know, few friends of mine wanted it too. Sandal, rings... instant merchant, that's what I am :)

Enough about merchant shit. Let's go back to the 3rd sightseeing I am about to share with you..

Our Tuk Tuk driver dropped us down at pigeon field before the Palace entrance. Feeling Trafalgar square la kejap. Beware of the little kids around that pigeon field. Once you talk to them or suddenly they are so nice to gather the pigeons around you - they will follow you for a kilometer or two, asking you to buy packed dried corn for the pigeons from them.

and it is so amazing that this picture taken by my SIII . Actually all pictures are. I was thinking to ditch my dslr like totally. I really want to travel light - small luggage and no bulky camera. I don't want to appear too touristy with big bulk camera hanging around my neck :(

Stood on 435 meters long by 421 meters wide, is the Preah Borom Reach Veang Chatomuk Mongkul, or The Royal Palace. This palace was constructed twice, 1st on year 1434 and 2nd was on year 1866 heavily sculptured with traditional Khmer architecture. Pavilions are characterized by many tiered roofs which are symbols of prosperity and this place now merely function as a museum and open to the visitors, daily.

The Eastern Gate or The Victory Gate.

The Royal Palace adorned in yellow and white - yellow represents Buddhism and white represents Brahmanism.

The previous buildings were wooden and then reconstructed in concrete - but their original forms have been preserved.

The Throne Hall - The visitors are not allowed to step into it or take pictures. But what I can tell you is this - inside, the furniture are all in gold and the floors luxury carpeted in beautiful yellow and red.

and then we were entering the southern section of the Royal Palace called The Pagoda of the Emerald Buddha or The Silver Pagoda.

It is called Temple of Emerald Buddha due to the fact the main image housed inside is made of Emerald. The floor completely covered with 5329 silver tiles, each tile weighing 1.125kgs - made this temple known as Silver Pagoda to the westerners.

As usual, even the visitors/ tourists are allowed to step in, however photographs are completely disallowed. Inside there are 1650 artifacts, most are Buddhist statue (which looks like completely mold in gold, or maybe plated in gold) precious and semi precious stones like diamonds, sapphire, rubies are inlaid.

I am not sure if you still remember the history of Malaya during Majapahit or Ramayana or whatever (I hate history, I swear) but my point is I remember about "Bunga Emas" (Golden Flower) that Malaya has to come up as a tax payment or as a token during Majapahit reign - I saw that inside this building! There are silver and bronze flower as well. 

Pond full of blooming lotus surrounded this temple.

Once you enter The Silver Pagoda, you will notice this white tower surrounding every corner of this temple. I was amazed by the sculptures embedded on every inch of its surface and thought it is something like Khmer traditional 'gazebo' for the royals to beautify the temple's landscape.

It turns out this Khmer gazebo is tomb of His Majesty King. It contains the cremated ashes of Kings and the great great grand father of His Majesty King =.=" (aku punya la berposing atas batu nisan ni kau tahu???)

and this one is belong to the princess. Notice the shape of the stupa for male and females.

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA - OCTOBER 17: People light candles and pray to honour former King Norodom Sihanouk on a street corner on October 17, 2012 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. King Norodom Sihanouk died of a heart attack in Beijing on Monday at the age of 89. Thousands of people lined the streets and the Royal Palace park to view the kings body as it arrived home from Beijing. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

The west part of this Silver Pagoda, model of Angkor Wat sit beautifully with every inch, every detail, resembling the real Angkor Wat in Siem Reap - haunting my desire be in Siem Reap to see this remarkable constructions of classical antiquity with my own eyes.

While you approaching the exit gate, you will be entertained by live shows and performance by the locals - helping you to glance to the life inside the palace back in the past. They have clothes and household equipment displayed behind the glass and traditional music is playing.

By looking at this map - Khmer, Kingdom of Cambodia really had its full glory in the past. It's a sad thing that, they lost it now together with Riel...

We went back to our hotel area for a dinner. In every journey you made during your travel, it seems like you are bound to meet, see or taste something that you can never forget - and it stays in your mind like a dream ever since...

It sets a new benchmark in your taste buds.

The most delicious Pumpkin Soup I ever had in my ENTIRE LIFE. The smell of pumpkin and cheese already telling me that I will never forget the taste.

..and as for Mike, he found his new love in his taste buds - Amok Chicken. He even pledge that, this dish came after his favorite food spaghetti & pizza NOW.

So, if you ever come to Phnom Penh, come to the riverside and find this restaurant called "Karma". Recommended!

To be continued...

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