Angkor Archaeological Park

Backpacking South East Asia by the Hand Signs
Day 1: Petronas Twin Towers
Day 2: Genting Highlands
Day 3: Batu Caves + Putrajaya
Day 4: Cu Chi and HCMC tour + Water Puppet Show
Day 5: Apsara Show
Day 6: Angkor Wat

Cambodia is beyond Angkor Wat. There are lots more of interesting temples around Siem Reap. But before I continued with the tour, here's what I had for lunch.

grilled eggplant with meat
it's so Pinoy, feels like home!

Again, napakataas na ng lagnat ko at that time. I just wished matapos na yung tour. But my wish can't be granted. Andami pang surrounding temples! And this is the hardest part of blogging, I can't remember these temples' names. Drop me a message for corrections, please.

Preah Khan. A huge, highly explorable, monastic complex.

Preah Khan

Preah Khan

Bantay Kdei. Sprawling, largely unrestored, monastic complex in much the same style as a Ta Prohm.

Bantay Kdei

Ta Som. Small Bayon-style monastic omplex consisting of a relatively flat enclosure, face tower gopuras.

Ta Som

Ta Som

Ta Prohm. Of similar designs to Preah Khan and Bantay Kdei, this sprawling monastic complex is only partially cleared of jungle overgrowth.

jungle overgrowth

back view

Ta Prohm - location of Tomb Raider

huge tress crawling up

a very touristy place

Angkor Thom. Literally means "Great City" was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. It was established in the late twelfth century by king Jayavarman VII.

headless Naga - mythological and multiheaded snakes

South Gate of Angkor Thom

closer look

Terrace of the Leper King. An impressively large terrace, named after the Statue of the Leper King that sits on the top. (Leper King because discoloration and moss grew on the original statue was reminiscent of a person with leprosy)

Terrace of the Leper King

wall carvings

Hindu god

Terrace of the Elephants. An impressive, two and a half-meter tall, 300 meter long terrace wall adorned with carved elephants and garudas that spans the heart of Angkor Thom.

Terrace of the Elephants

behind me are the elephant carvings with their huge tusks
dala ko ang payong na yan wherever I go!

yeah, I was impressed with the carvings + the color

Phimeanakas. This celestial temple is an impressive laterite and sandstone pyramid. Legend has it that the golden tower crowned the temple and was inhabited by a serpent, which would transform into a woman. The kings of Angkor were required to make love with the serpent every night, else disaster befall him or the kingdom.

Phimeanakas

Bayon. The most distinctive feature is the multitude of serene and massive stone faces on the many towers which jut out from the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak.

Bayon

why are you smiling?

framed Bayon faces

It rained for 15mins (thank you Lord! hilong-hilo na ko sa init) and the sun became strikingly hot again. Ayun na pala ang definition ng "rainy season" nila. My tour guide explained they dont experience typhoons in Cambodia. I asked him again if they have experience floods, and he said yes. Nyahaha!

meet my tourguide Kim Rieng and his tuktuk driver friend
kimrieng9@gmail.com

If I have to plan my Cambodia trip all over again (but luckily I wont kasi lumabo ang mata ko kakasearch ng SEA trip na to), I would spend an extra day in Siem Reap. The place's beauty is beyond Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples. It's worth the not-so-easy-trip to get there.

..whew, next entry: day 7 in Bangkok!

Day 6: The Angkor Wat

Backpacking South East Asia by the Hand Signs
Day 1: Petronas Twin Towers
Day 2: Genting Highlands
Day 3: Batu Caves + Putrajaya
Day 4: Cu Chi and HCMC tour + Water Puppet Show
Day 5: Apsara Show

After I arrived in Siem Reap, I immediately called Kim Rieng (kimrieng9@gmail.com), an Angkor guide, and confirmed my Angkor tour the day after. Kim Rieng only charges $20 per day (no additional charge for the sunrise tour), the cheapest rate I found online. I also hired a tuktuk which cost $13. Ayoko magbike around the park kahit ayun uso sa mga backpackers. Wise choice I say.

The following day at 5:30am, Kim Rieng and the tuktuk driver fetched me up in the guesthouse. After traveling 1,891 kms from Manila, I'll finally be able to see the most raved about Angkor Wat with my own eyes. It was hard to hide the excitement I felt.

We passed by a booth and had my photo taken. I had an instant ID. I paid $20 for a day pass. This rate is already good for almost all of the nearby temples.

the map and my day pass with picture

hundreds of spectators around the world travel (including me)
went all the way here to see the majestic angkor wat

and it really pays to catch the sunrise

there's the Angkor peaks, Im already breathless!

and finally, Kingdom of Wonder indeed

Angkor Wat literally means City Temple. Kim Rieng told me the five towers of Angkor Wat represent the mythical Mount Meru which also has five peaks, and this structure was built only with bare hands. Some years ago, a king named Suryavarman built a temple and dedicated it to Vishnu, a hindu god.

may restoration na nagaganap

tour the complex by riding a hot air balloon

Angkor Wat complex

back of Angkor Wat (an unobstructed view)

Day 6 of my backpacking SEA trip: the Angkor Wat

a side view

closer look

Every angle is beautiful and breathtaking. This place is really worth visiting.

Kim guided me inside. He told stories behind the well preserved Bas Reliefs. These wall carvings showed me the hard works and artistic side of Cambodian people. The carvings represented the stories of Vishnu, Indra, some gods and demons and apsaras.

Churning of the Ocean of Milk

Krisha riding a cow

There are also galleries which are taken from Mahabharata scenes, Army of Suryavarman II, Heaven and Hell story, and others. I cant remember everything.

Actually hiring a tour guide is optional, you can tour the complex all by yourself. But Im happy I chose to get a guide. Why? Because with a guide, I had a strategic and less time consuming tour inside. I dont have to walk back where I began the tour, my tour guide exactly knew where's the nearest gate to the next temple. Another thing, if I feel like skipping this particular temple, my tour guide will just call the tuktuk driver on his mobile and right away he'll pick us up and bring us to the next temple. And of course, I need someone else to take my photos. Hihi

the well preserved carvings

What amazed me the most? I learned that Cambodian tour guides can speak French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and English of course! For people who belong in a third world country and can actually speak more than 3 foreign languages, that is really impressive! *claps*

the multilingual Cambodian tour guide

Moving on.
Here are more pictures inside Angkor Wat.

I didnt enter that one

the very steep way up the tower

another view

the Apsaras on the wall

And of course, there are many Buddha statues inside. Kim explained to me the meaning of Buddha's hand signs. Ang galing, now I know!

there's a meaning beyond Buddha's hand position

Earth As Witness - Buddha's hand position

Just so you know, the sun is unforgiving in Cambodia. I have read this a couple of times in the forums but I assumed westerners can't just handle the heat here in Asia. Having lived in a tropical country, sanay din ako sa init. Guess I was so wrong. Ibang level yung init sa Cambodia. Partida dahil rainy season pa sila ngayon, what more kung summer time! Now Im thankful I visited this place in the wet season. Sa sobrang init, nilagnat ako. Sa pagod na din siguro. But I cant stop, I have traveled almost 2,000 kms just to see this place. I knew I need to proceed.

please click here for the other temples

Day5: Siem Reap at Last + Apsara Show

Backpacking South East Asia by the Hand Signs
Day 1: Petronas Twin Towers
Day 2: Genting Highlands
Day 3: Batu Caves + Putrajaya
Day 4: Cu Chi and HCMC tour + Water Puppet Show

What I hate most in this backpacking trip is I need to transfer from one place to another; and that means I need to pack my things over and over again. The more I have used/dirty clothes, the harder it is to pack. Oh well in time, magiging talent ko din mag-organize ng bag.

Moving on..
Day 5: At exactly 6:30am, the bus to Siem Reap picked me up directly at Nguyen Khang Hotel. Ticket costs $20. I sat beside a Vietnamese woman and she was eating a local sandwich. I asked her where did she buy that, apparently she just smiled and gestured she didn't understand me. After several exchange of sign languages she went down the bus.

Act of Kindness #3
The woman returned and handed me a sandwich. Yes, she bought me one. I insisted on paying her but she didn't accept it. How sweet, she reminds me of my mother.

a Vietnamese sandwich - source

It tasted differently from the usual sandwich here in Manila, nonetheless I enjoyed it. Besides I don't know how long will I be staying in this bus until I reach Siem Reap.

That woman also served us my guide. It'll be the first time I will cross borders overland, and Im doing it all by myself.

After 3 hours I think, the bus stopped. Someone from the bus company collected our passports. Since the woman beside me gave hers without a doubt, I also surrendered mine. Then almost everyone got out of the bus, and so I followed them too. Gaya-gaya!

We entered a hall with many people. Now Im sure we're exiting Vietnam border - Moc Bai. Someone in the immigration will call your name (as he was holding your passport), he will stamp it, and after that you can pass. Since that person cant pronounce my name, he shouted "Philippines" instead. Ü Btw, it is prohibited to take photos inside.

I passed through the hall and saw the same bus we rode earlier. I saw the other passengers boarding so I followed them and boarded the bus again.
Some minutes later, I had a first glimpse of Cambodia. This is indeed the Kingdom of Wonder. I cant deny I got very excited. Everyone got their things and went out of the bus. I followed them again. Crossing Cambodia border is more organized than what Vietnam border has. I lined up and got my passport stamped and that's it. Again, taking pictures is prohibited.

Whew, Im finally in Cambodia! And this is the 2nd country where I traveled solo. I looked for the bus and boarded in again. At 11:30, we stopped by an unknown place. I followed the other passengers and found out it's a small eatery. I don't know how to order so I observed other passengers first. I don't have any Riels yet so I handed the waitress some dollars. I ordered a rice meal with fried chicken and vegetables.

After a satisfying meal, I went back to the bus and waited for the other passengers. Our journey continued. At 2pm, the bus stopped and everyone stood up and got their things. Ok, ano nangyayari? Ayun pala we're already in Pnomh Penh - a city in Cambodia. Almost everyone disappeared as I went out of the bus. I dont know where to go. I looked for the kind woman beside me and said "Siem Reap". She understood and said "aahh, Siem Reap". She dragged me to a bus across the street where we're standing and talked to the driver. This driver took my things and put it inside the cabin. I thanked the fine woman for assisting me though we dont understand each other at all.

I boarded the bus and found many western backpackers in it. I knew it will took another long journey and I needed a leg room this time. Lucky me, no one sat beside me. The 2seats were all mine.

The view was already breathtaking but I haven't really seen the Angkor. At 5pm, the bus stopped. akala ko yun na, hindi pa pala. Another stopover for everyone to rest, go the the rest room, or eat. I asked some lady vendors how far was Siem Reap, and she said in 2-3 hours more. I decided to eat a local sandwich, feeling ko equivalent ng Siopao yun, but after a few bites, I threw it. Baka masira kasi tyan ko sa unfamiliar food, mahirap na. Nasa byahe pa kami na hindi ko alam kelan hihinto.

At 8pm, naiinip na ko. Ang tagal, parang never ending na bus ride. Gusto ko matulog pero wala naman akong kasama na gigising sakin in case nasa Siem Reap na kami so delikado mahimbing ako sa pagtulog.

Finally after 14-15 hours, I finally reached Siem Reap. The bus stopped and I saw many tuktuk drivers around it. I saw a man who's handing a signboard with my name on it. Yep, I made reservations in a cheap guesthouse and luckily they also offer free pickup.

a welcome drink at Bou Savy

Bou Savy Guesthouse is the name of my accommodation in Siem Reap. For only $12, I got a private room with aircon, fan, ensuite bathroom, fridge, free breakfast, free dinner, free pick up from the bus station, and a 10% discount on top of it all. Super bargain!

instead of a Single Room they gave me a Twin Room
(with no additional charges)

tv, fridge, ensuite bathroom

What did I put inside the fridge?

kelangan pa ba i-memorize yan? *winks*

Among the 4 countries I visited in this SEA trip, Cambodia's map stood out. They provide every tourist a free book containing Pnomh Penh and Siem Reap's Angkor guides, city maps, transportation, restaurants, bars, hotels, guest houses, traditional performances, markets, boutiques, and galleries. All complete with the website, location, and contact details. Super!!!

super detailed Siem Reap guide book
(and showcasing my red nail polish)

Bou Savy Guesthouse
http://www.bousavyguesthouse.com/

I planned to spent my first night in Siem Reap in a local restaurant that offers Apsara Show. Apsara is a traditional Cambodian / Khmer dance. Khmer is pronounced as Kmey (turo ng tour guide namely Kim Rieng). As per my tour guide's recommendation, I settled at Koulen Restaurant. Dinner Buffet + Apsara Show is $10.

Koulen Resto

buffet table

It's best to come here with reservations. There were many guests from different countries. Here are some of Khmer food.

meang pork, fruits, fried and spring rolls, stir fry noodles

veggies, curry, crispy chicken, native desserts

I cant take a photo of everything but my favorites that night were: Pumpkin soup, Stir fried noodles (bentang benta sakin ulit), Crispy Chicken, and Satay.

a plate of Khmer food

And because I made a reservation in advance, I was entitled for a good seat with a good view of the most awaited Apsara Show.

the Apsara dancers

they look stiff, but they dance so subtle

There were various performances that night. This traditional dance is a must see. And do I need to mention their costumes are really outstanding?

the dancers - up close

photo op session at the end of the show

Im really dying to have my photo taken with the dancers but I cant trust anybody who I can hand over my camera with. There I found this Chinese guy, he was with his parents. I asked him politely if he could take a photo of me. He willingly agreed. Yey!

dancing the Khmer way

Chinese guy: are you signaling me to stop?
Me: no, sorry for misinterpreting. i just need to pose with my 5 fingers.
(oo nga naman, parang STOP sign kasi yung kamay ko).. hihi

and that ends my Day 5 (whew, ang hirap ng low light shots!)

Koulen Restaurant

koulen_resto@yahoo.com

Note: because I miscalculated my time of arrival in Siem Reap, I missed this show at 7:30pm. This buffet + Apsara show took place on my 2nd night.

click here for the Angkor Wat complex