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Leisure & Travel | www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com
DECEMBER 2018 — FIFTYPLUS
Cambodia
the mass of bus parties is 7 to 9 a.m.
From page 25
If you go
each temple was the center of a busy community. As they were typically built of wood, they are now entirely vanished. At its height, the region boasted a population of 1 million at the time London was a small town of 50,000. Today, 2 million tourists clamber through the crumbling ancient monuments each year. Tickets are required to enter what is loosely called the Angkor Archaeological Park. Admission is $20 for one day. Tickets are printed with your photo, and they are checked at various stops. The fine for entering without a ticket is $100. The most popular of the temples built by god-kings is Angkor Wat. Other bestvisited stops are the walled city of Angkor Thom, where you’ll see dozens of towers plastered with faces, and Ta Prohm, with its semi-ruined shrines and statues smothered by giant tree roots. Angkor Wat is the national symbol and the highlight of any visit to Cambodia. Dominated by five lotus flower towers, it was built in the 12th century to honor the Hindu god Vishnu. It is the largest, best preserved and most religiously significant of the Angkor temples. On approach, you first cross a vast moat on a broad causeway. Once you enter the main building, you climb through a series of galleries and courtyards before reaching the central sanctuary, which gives views back to the causeway and across the surrounding countryside. Intricate stone carvings adorn nearly every surface, with more than 1,000 Apsaras, or celestial dancers, sculpted into the walls. Along the outer gallery walls run the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which narrates stories from Hindu mythology. Be ready to climb steps to reach different levels, as well as a steep ladder-like staircase to the top. Due to its popularity, Angkor Wat can be crowded. The best time to visit to avoid
Cambodian hotels can be very inexpensive. The ones below have English-speaking staffs and websites in English and represent the range of prices.
Phnom Phen You Khin, a three-story guest house with pool. Rates range from $39 to $59. www.youkhinhouse.com The Quay, a 32-room boutique hotel overlooking the Tonle Sap River and Mekong Rivers. Rates range from $75 to $95. www.thequayhotel.com Raffles Hotel Le Royal is a luxury hotel with rates from $230 to $292. www.raffles.com
Siem Reap Low-price Ivy Guest House has non-airconditioned rooms for $6 to $8. Rooms with air conditioning are $15. www.ivyguesthouse.com The moderately priced Villa Medamrei offers free pickup from the airport or bus station. www.villamedamrei.com Rambutan Hotel has some rooms with private rooftop terraces and apartments that range from $126 to $152. All come with complimentary foot massages. www.rambutans.info For further tourist information, contact: • Cambodian Ministry of Tourism, country’s highlights, information on accommodations, history and Khmer culture. www.tourismcambodia.org • Canby Publications, convenient online extracts from Cambodian city guides. canbypublications.com • Cambodian Information Centre, information on everything from clubs and organizations to the legal system. www.cambodia.org The least expensive roundtrip flight to Phnom Phen from Byrd International Airport in mid-January is $1,089 on United Airlines.
M A R K YO U R C A L E NDAR
Dec. 15
19TH CENTURY CHRISTMAS FOR GRANDKIDS
Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier invite visitors to experience the splendor of a 19th century Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring the grandkids to meet a ‘Thomas Nast’ Santa Claus, complete with photo opportunities, cookies and hot chocolate. Nast is considered to be the “Father of the American Cartoon.” All activities are included with regular park admission ($15 for adults; $12 for military, students, and adults 62 and older; $8 for children six to 12). Children five and under are admitted free. The park is located at 6125 Boydton Plank Rd., Petersburg. For more information, visit www.pamplinpark.org.
Dec. 15
CERAMIC HOLIDAY SHOW AND SALE
Clayworks Supplies is holding an all-ceramic Holiday Warehouse Show and Sale on Saturday, Dec. 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This annual event features 18 RVA area potters who represent a wide range of ceramic styles. There will be light refreshments, and a percentage of the sales will benefit the Circle Preschool Program. Clayworks is located at 2277 Dabney Rd. F, Richmond. For more information, contact Le Hazelgrove at (804) 319-6329.