Angkor, WHAT?!

Finally, Siem Reap. It took us 6 hours to reach Siem Reap from Phnom Penh. And amazingly cheap ride for only 4USD. We've arrived at around 12mn and luckily we took the offer of the lady from Phnom Penh who exchanges money and also an agent for the buses - to check the hostel of her friend in Siem Reap and we will be picked up from the bus station for free.

The deal was just to check the place, if we like it, we can stay, if not, they will be willing to bring us to other hostels around. Not bad! But I loved the place immediately. The room was high-ceilinged, with two beds, bathroom with a bathtub, TV with cable, and a big ceiling fan for only 4USD a night for sweet dreams at Sweet Dreams. (Address and contact number below).

Long trip got me tired which is unusual. Normally, I get hyper but I was sick the past days so I went straight to bed. We have to wake up early to have enough time exploring the Angkor Wat and its surroundings.

To rent a bicycle or hire a tuk-tuk... that was the discussion early in the morning BUT the tuk-tuk won. I don't really know how but there seems to be no struggle. Hehehe... Which turned out to be the best choice as it rained heavy early in the afternoon.

The day pass for the Angkor Wat is 20USD. Quite expensive but there is no other option but to buy the ticket and get the best out of it. They will have your photograph taken and print it with the ticket. And guards will be checking them when you enter a temple.

We headed to the Angkor Wat first. I don't really know what I felt when I saw the temple but I am sure I wasn't that amazed. I think it is the effect of so much temples I've seen in Laos. It seems to me that is a place where tourists "must-go" and "see" but there seems to be nothing magical to if - at least for me. I've been to the Prambanan and Burubudor Temples in Indonesia and there was this magical feeling. In Angkor Wat, there was none. Or it was the fatigue after travelling for almost 2 months. Though I won't discourage people from going there. It really depends on the person's taste and what he/she wants to experience and see.

Still, we went on with the other temples and to some more temples and some more. Whew, man, one day around these temples is really too much.

I've decided to skip the sunset which is quite famous for tourists BECAUSE I don't want to be fighting for a space on that little hill where they said to be the best place to see the sun set. I won't fight to snap a photo of a sunset and won't even enjoy it.

We went back to the guest house and freshened up. It was my last night in Cambodia before heading back to Vietnam for a conference. We decided to skip the street where we are staying for dinner. And boom... we found an eat-all-you-can hotpot for 3USD complete with dessert and all. Beer prices is not that bad either. If you want to look for it, it is just along the main road near Watbo St. I missed to get the name but it is something like a Thai Restaurant.

Now, I have to sleep for a long trip back to Ho Chi Minh.

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SWEET DREAMS GUEST HOUSE AND RESTAURANT
House # 0126 Watbo St., Watbo Village, Salakomreouk Commune, Siem Reap
T: (855) 92 548 600, (855) 16 751 004
E: sweet_dreams999@hotmail.com