Khmer time.
Before this trip, I knew very little about Cambodia. I didn’t even know what language they spoke. Embarrassing. For those of you that are in the same boat, it’s Khmer. Of the 17 million people that live there, 90% are Khmer people, the native ethnic group of Cambodia and also the prominent language. In my short time in the country, I learned that Khmer people are so welcoming and positive. Cambodia is bordered by Vietnam, Thailand and Laos so there was no way I was going to Southeast Asia and not visiting. After some research and recommendations, I decided to only head to Siem Reap. After seeing all the goodness Cambodia had to offer, this may have been a mistake, but I already had plans for after, so I can always go back. See below for all the reasons I loved this country – besides being picked up from the airport in a tuk tuk, or a carriage strapped to the back of a motorbike (an electric rickshaw in reality) for only $3.
Temple tour.
Angkor Wat is one of the most well-known and largest temples in the world. It is a HUGE complex that brings in thousands of tourists each year. Most visitors do a sunrise tour to see the sun come up directly behind the temple towers and reflect on the water – photos here just don’t do it justice. Also, it is so hot (100 degrees plus) that morning is a bit more manageable to walk around the temple. I booked a tour with Get Your Guide and was picked up at 4am along with about ten other travelers. Vuthy was our tour guide for the day and was full of passion and knowledge for his country. He was a temple boy for 20 years and so kept us entertained all morning. He also took on the role of photographer as he knew all the good spots to capture the beauty of the structures. As a solo traveler, I always appreciate someone who offers to take photos because I do not need any more selfies (I am sure you feel the same).
While it was a very sleepy morning (no coffee = grumpy Jen) we finally got coffee and breakfast around 9am after visiting three unique temples. There are more than 50 temples in the greater Siem Reap region. On this tour we also visited Ta Prohm, Bonteay Kdei, Bayon and Baphoun temples. While Angkor Wat was incredible, my favorite temple of the day was the Ta Prohm with trees growing and engrained in the structures. The temple’s claim to fame – part of Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie was filmed there. When we got back to the hostel, I took a much-needed nap and got Mexican for dinner. Don’t judge me, sometimes you just need a little taste of home. The nachos were mouthwatering, and I ate every last bite. The day was absolutely perfect!
Floating village.
Tonle Lap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, is located just outside of Siem Reap. I booked a tour to visit a floating village and take a boat out to watch the sunset. We were picked up at our hostel and made the hour journey to the lake. Because it was still dry season in Cambodia, the lake levels were very low (anywhere from three to ten meters lower than what it would normally be in wet season). Therefore, the homes in the village were not actually “floating”, but just on VERY high stilts in the dirt. We walked through the streets to get a closer look of the local community, when during rainy season we would need to take a boat to get around. We were bombarded with children when we arrived, many asking for money, but instead we bought notepads and pencils from a woman to give to them. However, I am not sure they use the goodies…as soon as we gave it to them, they put it down and ran away – could be a scam. Either way, it felt good to do something for the kids. What I found interesting is that many of the older kids were playing volleyball underneath the homes and the younger ones were playing cards in what looked like some sort of gambling scheme.
After coming to the end of the village, we walked to a long wooden boat in a river leading out to the lake. We rode to the middle of the lake where there were several floating restaurants. We had about an hour to hang here until sunset. In the middle of the restaurant, there were four crocodiles in a cage. Terrifying. Ironically on the menu was fried snake and crocodile (hopefully not one of their siblings). We learned these are common dishes in the area. Naturally I had to try one of them, so I choose the fried snake. I blindly bit into the piece…big mistake. I didn’t realize how many bones were in the spine of snake. It was more work to eat the snake with more bones than meat. It tastes like a white fish. I washed it down with a Cambodia beer while we took in the stunning views of the sunset. It was a wonderful way to end the day. When I returned, I headed out to karaoke with the hostel crew. No, I didn’t sing. If I did, it would have been Justin Bieber for obvious reasons.
Tour de beer and food.
I stayed at Mad Monkey Hostel in Siem Reap, one of my favorite hostels thus far on my trip. The staff was wonderful (shout out to Ellie and Boren), the people were fun, and the experience was one I will never forget. There are two pools, a huge rooftop deck, and really good breakfast options (all important features when picking a hostel). When I got there, I immediately met two lovely ladies, Bish and Jess. They were headed on the hostel organized bar crawl through the well-known Pub Street (made for tourists with loud music and overpriced beverages) that evening. I bought my ticket and was along for the ride. There were probably about 30 people or so on the bar crawl and we danced the night away at three different bars. We had an absolute blast! There is a bar crawl every other day, and because I had so much fun on the first one, I may have gone on some others…its hard for me to say no to a good time!
My last day in Cambodia, I booked a cooking class. I was picked up in a tuk tuk and joined by one other participant from Canada. We were driven to a VERY local market and bought some unique fruits to try. We arrived at an open-air kitchen area and picked out what we wanted to make. I made fresh spring rolls (obviously), Fish Amok (a popular Cambodian curry soup), and spicy papaya salad with dried shrimp. Dee was our lovely chef and walked us through each ingredient, step, and cracked jokes the whole time. Most of the food was fresh from their garden and you could tell, it was so fresh and delicious. I told Dee I liked my food extra spicy and she picked me some tiny peppers that would do the trick. When I have a garden one day, they will be the first thing I plant. We left with full bellies and huge smiles on our faces. The food always tastes better if you make it. I have the recipes if anyone would like them, send me a message 😊.
The jen essentials for cambodia.
- Knee and shoulder covers (for any visit to a temple, there is a clothing requirement – respect the culture)
- Alarm clock (3:30am comes quick)
- Tuk tuk (You can order a tuk tuk from the grab app – and it is the best way to get around)
- Fresh spring rolls (like Vietnam, you can find them everywhere, I CANNOT GET ENOUGH)
- More than one week (I wish I had more time in Cambodia as I enjoyed it so much)
- Tolerance for spicy food (those tiny peppers are seriously dangerous…and that’s saying a lot because I love spicy food)
- A good book (it rained several afternoons – reading is the perfect pastime)
- Joss energy (it is like red bull in a powder and normally partnered with liquor for a boost of energy during the late evening bar crawls)
- Air-conditioned rooms (it was over 100 degrees each day, AKA constant sweat)
- New FUN friends (Bish, Jess and I are planning to reunite in Mexico in October and I cannot wait 😊)
Wrap it up jen.
I did not have enough time (common struggle of a traveler trying to see so many places in a short amount of time) to explore other cities in Cambodia. Based on my week in Siem Reap, that was a mistake. There is so much history, culture, and beauty to explore. Not to mention the people are so kind and appreciative. I feel so grateful to be visiting these different countries, even if for short amount of time. It is a time I will never forget on this trip.
On our tour of the temples, Vuthy kept cracking jokes and puns about the temples. Just my style (you all know I love a good pun). He made us feel so welcome and ANGKORed into what makes his country so incredible. Say WAT?
Up next: Thailand for pad thai and island hopping.
Signing off for now,
Jennifer