Siem Reap, Cambodia (2013) Day 2: Angkor Wat at Sunrise

Date Visited: 2nd March 2013

On the second day of our Siem Reap trip, we woke up as early as 4am, before the sun appeared. Luckily for us, Cambodia time is 1 hour behind our Malaysia time and technically we had to wake up and be ready before 6am Malaysia time. Our driver was ready earlier and picked us from the guest house for the main highlight of this trip, none other than the sunrise at Angkor Wat.

Tip Before Going To Angkor Wat

Despite how rush you are especially when you wake up late in such an early hour, make sure you bring along your Temple Pass before heading out or else, it will waste your time to go back to your lodging again and take your temple pass. Worst to worst, there would be possibility you might miss the sunrise.

Once we arrived the destination, it was really dark. Using our smartphone, we turned on the flashlight to lead us into Angkor Wat. Just when we thought we were the earliest one, we were so surprised there are almost hundred of tourists gathered before us. Almost all of them prepared and ready positioned their camera to get the best shot for the sunrise. Therefore, I would advise you to be there by 4.30am Cambodia time, at least.

Waited for more than an hour, here's the time that everybody waited for;

#1: Sunrise at the world heritage of Angkor Wat with the reflection of the entire temples

Honestly speaking, it's not easy to take the above shot cause beside being short, everyone was holding their camera so high up. Thanks to a friendly Caucasian who was eventually standing in front of me, he gave his best spot for me. 

#2: Group photo. Credit to Kming

#3: Local kid with selling postcard for US$1 only. So young but he can speak different kind of languages; English, Mandarin and even Japanese and Korean.

Right after we done with the sunrise shooting, we spent few hours ventured around Angkor Wat.

#4: Aspara and devata statues are characteristic of the Angkor Wat style

#5: 

#6: Part of Angkor Wat structures

#7: One director, two photographers and two actors. "Lights, Camera, Action!"


#8: Final glimpse of Angkor Wat before leaving 

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Siem Reap, Cambodia (2013) Day 1: First Day in Siem Reap

Date Visited: 1st March 2013

Since ever my collegemates and I graduated 6 years ago, we always wanna have a gathering trip but it's not easy anyway cause sometimes it's difficult for us to find the suitable date for us to gather for a trip. Finally, like finally we managed to arrange our hectic schedule for a gathering trip and for my part, I managed to secured airtickets to Siem Reap, Cambodia for 7 people, at least. Although not many of my collegemates able to join this, but at least I managed to gather few of us. And here we are to the "Kingdom of Wonders".

The flight to Siem Reap from Kuala Lumpur was as early at 6:50 am. As usual, I reached LCCT one night before the actual flight as I had to fly over from Kota Kinabalu. Two flights in a row was extremely tired and exhausted but I can't wait for our adventures around Siem Reap. The journey took almost 2 hours and finally we reached the destination we've been waiting for almost a year.

#1: Siem Reap International Airport, second largest airport in Cambodia and its modern architecture is based on the traditional Khmer style.

#2: Welcome to the Kingdom of Wonders signboard

Once we got out from the arrival hall, we were greeted by a friendly local driver which we hired directly from the guest house we reserved. His name is Sao Titan and we called him, Sao. He is very good in speaking English and he always told us many kind of jokes, including some dirty jokes as well. He dropped us in our guest house before starting our tour at 5pm of their local time. By the way, Cambodia time is 1 hour behind our Malaysia time.

#3: MotherHome Guesthouse

We booked 4 rooms and three rooms were ready by the time we reached. We even allowed to check-in earlier. More review of this guest house will be in the next upcoming post.

Once we done with everything, we went out for lunch hunting. Can't wait to explore more of Siem Reap city.

#4: Motordop which commonly known as tuk-tuk

#5: KFC? Perhaps next time

#6: We settled down in a small eatery which served most on local foods - especially Khmer dishes. 

[Clockwise from left: Fried Rice Loklak, Rice with Chicken, Coconut shake, Angkor Premium Beer (local beer) and Bread Omelet with Vegetables]

#7: From there, we took tuk-tuk to Old Market for another souvenirs hunting. So many things can be found here - fridge magnets, keychains, T-shirts, handicraft and silks which are incredibly cheap.

Right at 5pm of local time, Sao, our driver picked us up from guest house to purchase the 3 Days Temple Pass.

#8: For more info about the temple pass, refer above.

#9: Paid directly and on the spot, they will snap photo of you directly. Must keep this pass properly cause any time, they will do investigation or checking before entry to certain temples.

Done with passes, we went to Phnom Bakheng for sunset viewing.

#10: What a long queue before can go up to Phnom Bakheng

#11: Before back to the guest house, we requested Sao to drop us at Art Center Night Market which similar to Old Market but its only open during the night time.

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Siem Reap, Cambodia 2013 (Sneak Peek)

Have anyone of you organise a gathering trip with your school/college/unimates after graduated? Yes, I did and I think I did almost every year with different group of friends of mine. Most of my trips since year 2010 until now were either gathering trips with my secondary classmates, collegemates and even my UK unimates. Since ever all of us graduated, it's is so hard and rare to hang out together and in my own opinion, one of the best way is to have a gathering trip. However, it's not easy anyway cause sometimes it's difficult for us to find the suitable date for us to gather for a trip. Take for example for my last year Bali trip, it was supposed to be a gathering trip with my collegemates but turns out to be only 3 people were joining.

Luckily last year I managed to secure airtickets to Cambodia for 7 people at least. Actually this suppose to be my first trip for this year but turns out I went Johor Bahru and Singapore early of this year and also to Bangkok with my family last month for Chinese New Year holidays. Hence, I didn't spend much time to plan well for this trip as I was busy with closing account and setting my own business at the same time. But I glad that everything turns out well despite the scorching hot weather throughout our visit.

So, here's what my friends and I did during our 6 days trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia:

#1: Witness the mesmerizing sunset at Angkor Wat

#2: Bayon Temple, one of famous landmark of Siem Reap 

#3: Ta Phrom, this is where Angelina Jolie stood for the film Tomb Raider

#4: Sunset moment at floating village in Tonle Sap Lake

#5: Watching Aspara dancing show while enjoy our buffet dinner

#6: Bought some souvenirs such as postcards, fridge magnets, T-shirt for memento at Old Market 

#7: Almost every night we went Pub Street for dinner and also for night market which is nearby.

#8: Despite their poor living standard, I was so surprised that Cambodia people tends to be more friendly and love to smile to the tourists. 

For this trip, I really enjoy myself to the fullest - laughing non-stop and talking with my friends and this reminds me of my young, free and bold college life. Now, we are looking forward for our next trip. Wondering where should we heading next? In between and out of my expectation, my friends gave me a huge surprised by celebrating my early birthday in Cambodia. I was so shocked and my tears almost shedding cause I never ever thought they will purposely go and find birthday cake for me. Thank you so much, my friends!

#9: Celebrated my early birthday while having Chinese cuisine somewhere nearby Pub Street

Oh well, I am feeling kinda exhausted and tired now cause except for November last year, I had travelled abroad every month since last year August until now. But all of these paid off when I received this kind of message:

Looks like I need to change my course to Tourism and become tourist guide. Don't you think so?

So without looking any further, Cambodia concluded as my third trip for this year and also marked as the 27th country I'd visited up to date. 

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