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Published: March 10th 2014
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Temples, here i come! We have both agreed - a trip to Siem Reap has to be on a must-visit list in Asia.....what can we say - it is special.....
Temples, temples, temples Angkor Wat temple complex is considered number one attraction in Cambodia. Angkor Wat temple was dedicated to the Hindu God -Vishnu - and remained a place of worship since its foundation. It is thought to be a miniature replica of the universe. We were lucky to have a guide who took us for a tour starting from the eastern gate and for the most part, believe it or not, we were able to enjoy the temple with no people around. While the tour is certainly helpful, in a sweltering heat, we were soon swimming in dates, dimensions, battle scenes and unpronounceable names of kings. Jaya, who? The next day we visited the Bayon temple and its massive carved faces of Avalokitesvara (one of those unpronounceable names). It is apparently a tripadvisor favourite. The faces are massive and executed with such skill that, depending on time of the day and the angle of the sun, they can seem to change their expression. The
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Maria in action. Time to receive more information and try to remember more names and dates Maria! Bayon depicts ordinary Khmer life rather than the Hindu mythology seen at most other temples. Finally, Maria's favourite was perhaps the Ta Prohm temple. It is a smaller beautiful temple bound by massive roots of huge trees.This made it for a very atmospheric visit. A lot of people know about it (including Maria) because of the blockbuster Lara Croft - Tomb Raider was filmed there. Ta Prohm is where the most amazing scenes were created. Our guide said the government plans to cut the trees since they can destroy the temple .....while understandable, few would argue that these trees are now very much became a part of the temple. Difficult choice.....
Hotels, hotels, hotels La residence d'angkor - great hotel. Very peaceful, particularly during the low season when we visited. Art decorations in the hotel are stunning and something that Maria particularly loved. Stone carvings are heavy but are beautiful pieces of art. We bought one at Artisans D'ankor shop which was preceded by a quick tour to educate tourists on various handicrafts and techniques for making them. Buying your souvenirs after that is
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Angkor wat and its water reflection...tricky! more of an experience than a simple buy.
Night market, Old market, and Artisans d'Angkor Old Market and the surrounding area including nearby Pub Street, Pub Street alleys and the Night Market is considered a must see when visiting Siem Reap. The Old Market offers the deepest selection of souvenirs and is a good place for a budget meal and a taste of Cambodian cuisine. At the time of our visit (considered a low season), the Night market didn't seem to be particularly busy. While we didn't have to fight crowds, this made us for a very easy targets and we were approached for merchandise sellers continuously. Nevertheless, it is an easy place to find good souvenirs and get 1$ massage. Matt didn't get his foot massage, but bought 3 t-shirts at 2 USD each.....this is what is called a bargain!
Tuk Tuks They are really comfortable and have a roof which helps with sun protection. We took one to see a temple on the second day and even
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not bad for iphone, right? took one to the airport. It actually was an enjoyable 20 some minute ride
Local food, german food For local food, we ate at cambodian fish - Fish amok, and a local chicken on sugar cane stick, and some local fish. Fish amok is essentially a fish mousse with fresh coconut milk and kroeung ( a type of Khmer curry paste) and is served in a banana leaf. We wanted to like it, but the dish didn't hit our taste buds. Chicken on a sugar stick had a much better flavour. Given Matt's attachment to anything German, we visited a local german restaurant (just finding it took us about 40 min). The owner was a character and shortly after our request, he got us our long-awaited german bear and food (sausages and breaded chicken). Plate sizes were true to German taste - HUGE. We couldn't finish!
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