An Outstanding 8 Days in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Siem Reap is a must see for mainly one reason - Angkor Wat. It simply defines the region. The whole city depends on the revenue from the millions of people who visit this architecturally stunning religious site. We discovered at the end of our time here that the National Museum of Cambodia should be seen prior to a trip out to Angkor Wat. Fortunately we made the right decision to hire a guide who gave a great tour and had a vast knowledge of the temple site. We had a three day pass ($40 each) which gave us ample opportunity to view the magnificent structures at the temple sites. Keep in mind that Angkor Wat was carved out of the jungle and over the centuries plant life has become imbedded in the stone buildings (not only plants but trees). Suffice it to say the more information you have before your visit will enhance your time there. It was not all about the temples.

Here are some of the things we did and things you might consider if you travel here: Floating Village with a guide ( Thy Chan - he was exceptional and goes the extra mile to make sure your needs are met - thysiemreaptuktuk@gmail.com ), night market where you will meet many other travelers like yourself, artisan workshops, NGO - New Hope for Cambodia and the National Museum.

We keep referring to this trip we are on as an informal experiential course in SE Asian Studies. Our instructors are the people we meet everyday - hotel employees, tuktuk drivers, guides, books, the Internet and in particular other travelers. Siem Reap has many faces. Many of the hotels are like palaces and are often surrounded by some of the worst poverty that we have seen so far. We had the good fortune to visit New Hope for Cambodia that is located in the center of the worst slum in Siem Reap. Many of the children in this area end up in the sex trade. This NGO offers education to 400 kids, medical support to families, and training to assist families unlearning how to support themselves.

You can why we would enjoy our 8 days here. The hotel was one of the best yet: great room, great staff and a great pool all for $30/night. A nice bookend to the trip was Doug's participation in a 10 km run at Angkor Wat that saw 5200 runners from 58 countries take part.

Tomorrow we head to Phnom Penh. Soon with our daughter-in-law's help we will get more pictures on the blog.

Trip at a glance

Weather - hot and humid

Hotel- Prum Bayon - excellent - $30/night

Guide,car and driver - $50/day

Admission to Temples - $40 each

Meals - $7-$31