BY SANDY INTERNATIONAL
When most people I know think of Asian countries to visit, Cambodia doesn’t immediately come to their minds. They usually dream of visiting Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, and Bangkok. I know this because I felt the same way before I visited the Kingdom of Cambodia, a country that is indeed a hidden treasure.
In the Spring of 2017, my friend was taking a journey through a few Asian countries so I decided to tag along. We had only planned to stay in Cambodia for 48 hours because we'd assumed it wouldn't be as interesting as the other countries on our itinerary, big mistake. In fact, Cambodia was the best experience of our entire four-country trip.
For starters, the only thing we knew about Cambodia was the Angkor Wat, the famed stone temple complex used as a location during the filming of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider starring Angelina Jolie and Daniel Craig in 2001. We quickly discovered on arrival that Cambodia had much more to offer, beyond Siem Reap. Almost everything in Cambodia was relatively affordable. We booked the Tanei Boutique Villa, a very picturesque boutique hotel at under $30/night for a 4-person room. Included in the package were: free transportation to and from the airport, free rides through the city in a tuk tuk(a two-wheeled carriage pulled by a motorbike), and complimentary breakfast. The hotel staff was overly accommodating to ensure we had the best stay at their resort.
Angkor Wat
Pictures don't do justice to the jewel that is Angkor Wat. The complex is so extensive that you should set aside a few days to thoroughly explore and enjoy it. Because of our short trip we visited the two most popular areas: Ta Prohm and Center Structure or Main Temple. We bought a day pass. Female visitors are required to dress modestly while in the complex, so we had to buy scarves to cover our shoulders(I took off my scarf for the pictures). One of the highlights of our tour were the many blessings we received from monks. We were also lucky to get a few pictures with the monks although it’s technically prohibited. The best way to get around the complex is to hire a tuk tuk.
Pub Street: The Place To Be
Located in Siem Reap, Pub Street is a popular corridor for tourists because of its mix of social attractions: restaurants, bars, clubs, and spas. Food and drinks tended to be a little more expensive in this area, but still affordable by US or European standards. The food was similar to Thai and Vietnamese cuisines, most dishes included rice, meat, vegetables and soup with a variety of side spices and dipping sauces. If you're an Asian cuisine enthusiast, Cambodia is an excellent place to feast on a variety of foods without breaking the bank.
At night, the crowd was young and vibrant. Music was blasting from many of the restaurant-turned-club establishments, with a great mix of genres, including, much to our delight, AfroBeats. You could easily dance in the street or go into one of the clubs for a more traditional nightlife experience. The main attraction for me was the super cheap massages. I may have gotten at least 3 hours of massages a day. For about $5, you could get a 30-minute foot massage and for $18, you could get a 1.5-hour massage with a body scrub and hot oils.
Cambodia Re-Do
We almost paid to extend our stay in Cambodia because we had such a good time and didn’t want to leave. I vowed to come back to explore more of Siem Reap and visit other provinces in the country. The attractions, cheap massages, and beautiful architecture definitely struck a chord in my heart, therefore I am planning to return to Cambodia for at least a five-day stay. The two days we spent in Siem Reap left me craving for more..
For the Love of Travel,
Sandy __________
You can follow Sandy’s Travel adventures:
IG: @sandyisinternational
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Website: www.sandyisinternational.com
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