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Published: August 6th 2007
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Day 1
Flew into Siem Reap by Air Asia from KL arriving at 12.10. The hotel was confused with the local time. However, I called Ms Sophia of Chenla GH thru my roaming handphone. We waited for about 20 mins for pickup by the GH limousine. SR was hot and humid. After our noon shower, we discussed our holiday plan with the boss. Intend to stay for 4D3N and prefer the moto tuk tuk - cost US 10.00 per day.
We took fish amok and barbequed pork ribs for lunch. Later, we headed to the temple zone, stopping at the entrance to get visitors pass for 3 days costing US40.00. (20.00 for 1 day).
Because it was a hot afternoon, we went to Ta Prohm, Ta Keo,Ta Nei, Angkor Thom,Bayon,Baphuon and Phnom Bakheng to see the sunset.
There was roaring thunder and rained quite heavily when we got back to the hotel. It is near to monsoon season.
Day 2
Woke up very early and the tuk tuk driver was already wating at 5.00am to take us to Angkor Wat for sunrise.We spend about 3 hours there.Then..over to Angkor Thom for breakfast at No 8 stall. At Angkor Thom,we visited
Giant tree at Ta Prohm
Bapuon...but closed for restoration... walked over nearby to see the Elephant Terrace,Leper King Terace and Phimeanakas & The Royal Palace.
The guide took us further to Preah Khan,Neak Pean,Ta Som,East Mebon,Pre Rup and ended at Banteay Kdai for the day. Our legs was already aching and came back to SR town for massage. The Aspara Dinner show was booked at 7.30pm at Koulen II.
Day3
Again woke up at 5.00am for Banteay Srei about 25Km. A temple of great beauty with many delicacy of decoration and arts. It tells stories of ancient time. On the way to Banteay Samre, we stopped at the Landmine Museum. We passed thru the Royal Place and asked the driver to drop us at the Central Market for light shopping. Then, we walked down to the Old Market area for lunch and to see the local activities.The speed boat to Phnom Penh takes 9 hours because of the low tide water. We decided to book with Mekong Express bus for tomorrow.
Day 4
The owner of Chenla bid us farewell ealier in the morning at 6.10am.The Mekong shuttle bus picked us and the others along the route towards
the bus station. Then, changing
Octopussy roots
to a big bus. The journey to PP was smooth and comfortable with English and Cambodian Karaoka/movie. The stewardess also gives us information about the place and scenery along the journey. Later, she gave everybody a sandwich,drinking water,orange and tissue towel. I really don't expect for US10 bus fare. The bus stopped for 1/2 hr lunch at Kampong Thom. We saw fried cricket,bugs and spiders sold and eaten like peanuts. Later , we arrived PP stopping in Mekong office at about 12.30pm. It was mad rush by the tuk tuk drivers catch the guests. We called the Royal Starr to pick us to their hotel. After checking in, we walked tover to tour the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National Museum. Since we have extra time, we took a tuk tuk and went to visit the Tuol Sleng genocide museum - once a neighborhood high school was seized in 1975 by the Khmer Rouge and converted it into a detention and torture center . Read more at www.dccam.org/Tuol_Sleng_Prison.htm. Between 1-2 million Cambodians (and many thousands of foreigners) were starved to death, were tortured, or killed, during his brutal reign of terror. While those
who survived the tortures were transported to
Let play hide n seek
the infamous extermination camp of Choeung Ek Killing Fields. It is sad and unbeliveable this has happened. May all souls rested in peace.
Day 5
In the morning, we crossed over to Mekong Island to see the way of lives in the villages. Many families was weaving silk cloth for living. People are poor here. On the way back, we dropped by Wat Phnom. At the entrance, you can see a huge clock on the ground. The Wat was located the 30 meter hill. Two good places for shopping at Central market (Psar Thmei) and Russian Market ( Psar Tuol Tom Pong). Our hotel was located along Sisowath Quay at the riverside.In the morning, the locals will execrise and running along the the Quay. You can see beautiful sunrise from the hotel room. The tourist boat will cruise along the river front in the late afternoon.
Day 6
Since there was plenty of time and our flight is at 1635. Called a guide and went to the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek (14Km fromPP). From 1975-1979, the KR slaughtered almost 20,000 Cambodians at this camp. The
memorial stupa erected was filled with the shulls and bones exhumed from
Silk-cotton tree root over the wall
the surrounding mass graves- supposed to be orchards and ricefields. What's a national nightmare?
I came back to town for lunch at Sebastain Khmer food Rest. The noodle and fried rice was really good and cost 1.5- 2.00 only. Then, we walked past the local market on the way back to hotel. The taxi to the airport was US 7.00 but the departure tax was a bit expensive costing US 25.00 per person.
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