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CAPTIVATING CAMBODIA: SIEM REAP UNCOVERED

Updated: Dec 17

Cambodia is a destination that is often overlooked by many. I personally hadn't really thought of spending a vacation in Cambodia. However, when I found myself in Phuket, Thailand, I thought why not hop over to a new destination rather than seeing more of Thailand? While checking flight options out of Phuket to neighboring countries, I found a direct flight to Siem Reap and so, that's where my journey to Cambodia began.


Upon landing in Cambodia, I booked a Grab straight to my hotel. I booked my stay at a Moroccan-inspired boutique resort, Sarai Resort & Spa.


Buses were available from the airport to the city center. The airport is about an hour away from the city center, but the drive is quite nice and relaxing. There is an option of booking a tuk-tuk if you want an affordable alternative as well., but Cambodia is pretty cheap, and even more affordable than other parts of Southeast Asia, such as Thailand.


The first afternoon was spent relaxing and resting Halal options are very limited in Cambodia. We ended having our first meal at Muslim Family Kitchen, which was within walking distance from our hotel.


We tried the local dishes, such as Lok Lak, which is a Cambodian pepper beef. The best part? The food only costs $2-3 USD per dish.


The first evening ended with a facial and massage. We passed by Pub Street and the night market. Also known as Street 8, you can expect to find several dining options, street food, and massage parlors.


We walked back to our hotel, passing by Psar Chas, the Old Market by the river! You'll come across many stalls, each selling similar types of souvenirs, including keychains, handicrafts, clothes and more. Locals frequent the market to buy their produce and meat.


On our first full day in Siem Reap, we headed to the floating village. You need to take a boat tour to get to the stilt homes and Tonle Sap lake - the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. We opted to visit the floating village of Kampong Phluk.



It is one hour away from downtown Siem Reap. You have to pay an entrance fee, which includes the boat ride to the village. It's a unique experience and allows you to delve into a traditional lifestyle, while also allowing you to support the locals in the community. In addition to seeing the fisheries, stores and hospitals along the way, you can also take a canoe ride through the mangrove forest for an additional fee.


This experience can be done in other parts of Southeast Asia, but I suggest doing more research on the places you are keen to visit first, as you may fall victim to scams or tourist traps. I personally avoided it in Thailand for that very reason.


Upon return to the city, we made a stop at the Made in Cambodia market. If you are looking to support small businesses and shop for unique gifts, this is the place for it! Everything was so beautifully done, and the best part that it is all locally made. You can expect to find artwork, jewelry, accessories and so much more, despite it being a small place.


We ended our day with yet another massage and had dinner at the Cambodian Muslim Restaurant this time, which is only steps away from Muslim Family Kitchen. Personally, I found the food to be better here, though it took longer to be ready, but I liked that they had a prayer space. I got the pineapple fried rice, as well as the lok lak.

We had an early start on our second day, as we made our way to Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat, meaning "temple city," is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world's largest religious monument. Originally a Hindu temple turned into a Buddhist temple, Angkor Wat draws people from around the world. It is split into three levels, representing the underworld, the earth and heaven. Ideally, if you are able to make it in time for sunrise, it is best as will have a stunning view of the temple. You have the option of either purchasing a multi-day entry pass or a single day pass. We personally opted for the latter, since our time in Cambodia was limited. We also spent only about 2.5-3 hours exploring the area, and decided to make our way back to the hotel after for breakfast, before exploring the rest.


Even if you only have one day to explore Angkor Archaeological Park, it is doable. Angkor Wat allows you to reflect on the grandeur of the Khmer Empire. You will find very detailed stone carvings on the monument and there is a huge area to walk around. You may also find some locals selling clothes and souvenirs nearby.



You can also visit Bayon, known for its iconic stone faces carved into the towers. Our driver took us to Ta Prohm as well, better known as the "Tomb Raider Temple." There, we found there were jeep tours. I personally didn't find the place to be as nice, especially since I visited it after Angkor Wat, but it does have lots of ancient stone buildings, tangled with tree roots and the walk over from the parking was nice.


If you are looking for something smaller, you can also visit Banteay Srei. After spending a day exploring the temples, I was "templed-out" and ready to call it a day.


We happened to be in Siem Reap during the weekend of the dragon boat festival, hence there was more traffic than usual. However, this gave us the opportunity to interact with more locals and see behind the scenes of their usual festivities.


People came from far just for the festival, some streets were blocked off and there was a lot of booths set up near the river, selling food and local crafts. We saw people praying together before their competition and kids taking part in the festival as well.


As we had a late night sleeper bus booked to the capital, Phnom Penh, we spent the evening at the Phare, The Cambodian Circus. We debated between that and the Apsara dinner and dance show (traditional dance), but as we had just seen a similar show in Thailand, we decided to go for the circus. There are no animals in the show, which is great to see! I got bored during the show since I found it to be very repetitive. However, after learning more about the history behind Phare, I found that it is a circus with purpose!



The story behind it goes back to 1979 after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime. Cambodians who fled to the border of Thailand stayed in refugee camps and was helped by an art teacher, who used drawing classes as therapy. A public school, called Phare Ponleu Selpak (translates to "The Brightness of the Arts") offering free education to underprivileged kids in Battambang was later founded and the circus became an extension of that. The circus allows students and graduates alike to showcase their skills and earn a living. The revenue from the circus goes back to the school's artistic, social and communication outreach programs and helps empower the children in the community.


Our driver dropped us at the station, where we took the sleeper bus to Phnom Penh. The ride went pretty smoothly, and I slept throughout the entire night, but ensured to put an alarm closer to our arrival time. The only downside is that they don't really announce the stops, so you have to keep track of it to ensure you don't miss yours, since the bus goes to Vietnam. They made one pit stop in the night, since the bus does not have any washrooms.


Despite landing around 6 am, I caught a different vibe compared to Siem Reap. It is a bigger city and more hectic, with a lot more traffic. There is not much to do and/or see, and I didn't like the hustle-bustle of the city, thus we decided to book a flight to Taipei.


Have you been to Cambodia? Let me know!




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