[Grad Trip] Day 1 – Siam Reap
Spent the night at Soo Fan’s place to share a cab to LCCT at 6am. Met up with the rest of the people at the airport to begin our journey to Cambodia and Vietnam.
The moment we stepped out from the airplane, we had nothing in mind – we don’t know where to go or where tos tart. The only thing we know is that we needed a transport to get to the heart of the town.
We were greeted in a friendly manner by our van driver (aka taxi) after we purchased our USD$10 transport to town for the 6 of us. There, he ‘offered’ to be our day-tour-guide where he’ll drive us around in his van. We didn’t know what to think or expect so we just agreed to listen to what he had to offer. After bringing us to a few guest houses and hotels, after which we stayed at a place called Angkor Voyage Villa for $7 per person, we told him of our planned itinerary. Little did we know the ‘mistake’ we’ve done by hiring a day tour guide. It’s damn expensive and the places he ‘recommends’ to us are not cheap at all. But what’s done is done and we hired him for two days at USD$40 per day.
- Tonle Sap
- Artisan d’Angkor
- Sunset at Phnom Bakheng
It’s about 30min ride from Psaar Cha (the place we lived) to the Tonle Sap river. We ‘bargained’ to USD$10 for a 1.5 hours boat ride to see the fresh water lake which happens to provide Cambodia 80% of their source of protein.
It’s an eye opener for us to look at a civilization living in the river. Their houses, schools and shops are atop of boats where their mode of transportation is either swim or by a small motor boat. They do everything on this river, from washing food, plates, clothes, body to playing, pee and shit.
We rode through a fishing village first before heading out in the open at Tonle Sap lake. When out in the open, it seems like an endless sight of water. No obstacles, no buildings, no islands and very few boats within our line of sight. It’s like a wasteland of murky water.
We visited a few shops and dropped by in a school where tourists can make donations to buy stationaries and books for the children there.
Children in school
We visited this place where workshops to restore the Angkor temples are at. The workers there are dumb and deaf and they carve very beautiful sculptures.
We had a tour guide bringing us around the different places in the workshop and how the statues are being made. From the stones, to the drawings, the patterns, carvings, painting and then the finishing. Beautiful works they have there.
We purchased our one-day Angkor Pass for USD$20 in the evening and right after that, our driver took us to see the sun set at Phnom Bakheng.
Phnom Bakheng is a temple sitting on top of a mountain and was built at the end of the 9th century. It was a 20-min climb to the top of the hill. While climbing up, we saw alot of ruins left by the Angkorians.
For me, it’s a sad sight as much of the carvings have faded and the monuments ‘deteriorating’. The carvings are shallower and there are many statues not in its place. Anyhow, the top is quite a grand sight and we waited there for the sunset…
That’s the end of our first day. We ate at a local cafe where food is USD$1. Our first ‘cheap’ place to eat where the menu doesn’t have english words. Have to rely on our driver to order for us.
