Trip Journal: Cambodia

Trip journal #SuperfriendsinSiemReap

snapshots

some like it hot!!!

#khmerfood

#foodies

#healthyeats

Cambodian Soup Cambodian BBQ provides a cozy and comfortable atmosphere to enjoy the most social dish on the Khmer menu. Phnom Pleung literally translated as “Fire Mountain� is a unique style BBQ centrally positioned on the table so everyone can relish in the hands-on dining experience. You will be spoilt for choice as you select from our variety of fresh meats on offer, such as crocodile, ostrich, chicken, beef or seafood. Cambodian BBQ is the perfect place to discover new sensations and enjoy a memorable moment with family or friends.

by the pool

At Auberge Mont Royale ‘d Angkor Hotel

Psar Chaa (Old Market)

Pub Street

Visitor’s Information

You need to buy your ticket for the temples yourself at the entrance.

It costs $20 for a day, $40 for 3 days and $60 for 7 days. This pass is needed to visit any of the temples within the park. The main ticket sales office is the Angkor Conservation Area ticket booth on Charles de Gaulle road, the road between Siem Reap and Angkor Wat. All Angkor passes are available here.

Banteay Srei

Considered by many to be the jewel in the crown of Angkorian art, Banteay Srei is cut from stone of a pinkish hue and includes some of the finest stone carving anywhere on earth. Begun in AD 967, it is one of the smallest sites at Angkor, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in stature.The art gallery of Angkor, Banteay Srei, a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, is wonderfully well preserved and many of its carvings are three-dimensional.

Preah Khan

The Preah Khan temple is situated at the northern edge of the Angkor Archaeological Park, one of the most significant buildings erected during the ancient Khmer empire. Preah Khan’s are defined by a protective moat and fortified walls adorned by monumental carved stone garudas—eagle-like divine beings. The temple complex includes entryways, towers, ceremonial spaces, courtyards, shrines, and a variety of connecting corridors.

outtakes

outtakes

Prasat Neak Pean

Neak Pean is a large square man-made pond (70 meters, 230 feet each side) bordered by steps and surrounded by four smaller ponds.

A small circular island with a stepped base of seven laterite tiers is in the center of the large square pond. Small elephants sculpted in the round originally stood on the four comers. The central tower was dedicated to Avalokitesvara.

Winding Back to Siem Reap Cambodia is a captivating beauty, yet less well known and visited than its neighboring countries like Thailand and Vietnam, but it’s famous for two things: the lotus fields and temples.

Pnom Penh is the capital and the largest city in Cambodia, since it’s the business center and pretty not much of a tourist destination, travelers prefer to stay in Siem Reap.

Siem Reap is the third largest city and home to one of

the world’s ancient wonders – The Angkor Wat (Capital Temple). Popular for its Night Market in Pub Street, where most things and everything is within your reach – authentic Khmer cuisine, mix of street and exotic food, bars with live bands, variety shops, massage parlors, coffee shops, hotels, travel agencies and convenient stores are in one bounty package.

Oh boy, here, everything is “cheap” you just need to have lots of one dollar bill in your pocket and you

surely never go empty-handed.

What should you do? Where should you eat? Where should you stay? These back-of-the-head questions do not apply in Siem Reap, everyday feels like a neverending adventure, this is what Superfriends have discovered in this tour which marks a significant highlight of their very first out-of-the-country adventure trip. @jherks_calis

East Mebon

The East Mebon temple is located 500 meters northeast of Pre Rup temple, built in AD 952 by King Rajendravarman.

While West Mebon temple is located of the west Baray, the largest reservoir of the Angkor area. It was originally surrounded by square rampart with three square, sand stone gopuras and a sanctuary on one level crowned with a lotus. Most tower have collapsed, but the three one the east side are reasonably intact.

West Mebon

Angkor Wat

Angkor is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia. Stretching over some 400 km2, including forested area, Angkor Archaeological Park contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century.

They include the famous Temple of Angkor Wat and, at Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple with its countless sculptural decorations. UNESCO has set up a wide-ranging programme to safeguard this symbolic site and its surroundings.

outtakes

outtakes

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm is among the largest of the monuments in the Angkor complex, the in scrimption gives an idea of the size of the temple. The complex included 260 statues of gods, 39 towers with pinnacles and 566 groups of residences. Ta Prohm comprises a series of long low buildings standing on one level, which are enclosed by rectangular laterite wall (600 by 1,000 meters, 1,959 by 3,281 feet). Only traces of the wall are still visible. The center of the monument is reached by a series of towers connected with passages. This arrangement forms a ‘ sort of sacred way into the heart of the monument’; three-square galleries enclose the area.

outtakes

outtakes

Bayon

The Bayon is located in the center of the city of Angkor Thom 1500 meters (4921 feet) from the south gate. Enter tower of the Bayon is from the east. rasat Bayon was built in late 12th century to early 13th century, by the King Jayavarman VII, dedicated to Buddhist. A peculiarity of the Bayon is the absence of an enclosing wall, comprising three levels with its complex the arrangements: a maze of galleries, passages and steps connected in a way that make the levels practically indistinguishable and creates dim lighting, narrow walkways, and low ceilings.

Angkor Balloon The hot-air balloon is both an ancient and modern aircraft. This kind of aircraft, in the form of the Kongming Lantern, first appeared during the early part of the Three Kingdoms period, that’s why it is said an ancient aircraft.

In Siem Reap, we’re invited to experience the wonder, silence & romance of hot air ballooning over picturesque scenery .

tuk-tuk

Riding a tuk-tuk is more of an experience rather than a practical way to get around in Siem Reap.

Yet it’s the best place to ride one, to go around visit temples and to see its amazing architecture and culture while enjoying Siem Reap’s cool breeze.

outtakes

Village biking in Siem Reap One of the things that tourists will notice in Siem Reap is the popular use of bicycles as a mode of transportation. Aside from tuk-tuk, locals and tourists hop from one place to another with bicycles not only because of the lenient road rules but also because tourist spots are within striking distance.

Superfriends toured the temples using a vehicle with a tour guide so we decided to include village biking in our agenda. We rented bikes and accompanied by our

tour guide Min, we explored Siem Reap’s countryside to have an intimate view of the luscious scenic spots and have wonderful insights of the locals’ way of life.

It was a 25-km trail through rice fields and small villages. We stopped by this temple called Pagoda and saw monks doing their religious ritual. We never missed the beauty of lotus flowers and spent a few minutes taking photos of it. Khmer children welcomed us with their hearty smiles, and we mingled with the

locals who were weaving baskets as a source of their livelihood.

Our tourist guide also brought us to this small sari-sari store, fronting it is an improvised bamboo hut where we sat down to rest, talk, laugh, and drink Cambodian beer.

All in all, the four-hour bike ride in the countryside was definitely an absolute delight! @len_armea

All Rights Reserved. 2016. Photos by @akosibigver @len_armea @jherks_calis @superfriendstravel.