Cambodia 2023
Our group is departing today to fly to Siem Reap in Cambodia about an hour flight. We arrived and went toTa Prohm or temple of trees. Tomb Raiders was filmed here, Raiders of list arc and Transformers. Checked into our beautiful old world hotel Raffles.
The next day we went to the Pagoda with alms and received a blessing by a monk. Then to Banteay Srei Temple or temple of women. In the afternoon we went to Angkor Thom and Bayon. In the evening we went on a gondola ride at Angkor Thom moat of course with a gondola bar following us.
The following day was the highlight of seeing the temples we rose early and went to Angkor Wat to see the sunrise. Pretty spectacular.
We boarded a flight and went to Phnom Penh the capital of Cambodia. Very colonial feeling to the city and safe. Great restaurants the city is undergoing a renaissance after years of war. We went to the Tool Sleng Museum, during the years of the Khmer Rouge rule it was a prison known for its brutality. Then we went to the killing fields very emotional our guides having lived through it had a hard time telling us of that time in their lives. Extremely sad.
The next day we went to Wat Phnom, a popular temple known for giving good luck. We went to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, then to the National museum. Very busy day.
Cambodia Travel tips and Things to see
- Best things Seam Reap
- Temples of Angkor
- Ta Prohm Temple
- Banteay Sri, Citadel of women
- Angkor Wat at sunrise
- Best things to do in Phnom Penh
- Tuol Sleng Museum
- Choeung Ek, Killing Fields of Kmer Rouge
- Psah Tuoi Tom Pong Market silk goods, jeweler
- Sunset Cruise down the Mekong River
- Best things to do in Phnom Penh
- Ride a tuk tuk
- Visit the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda
Gondola cruise on the Angkor Them moat.
Angkor Wat sculpted in the walls
Accommodation
In Cambodia Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor, old world hotel, the rooms were smaller because of when the hotel was built. Seam Reap Raffles Hotel Le Royal same old world feeling I thought beautiful.
1. Travel Tips you need to get a Visa to enter Cambodia, the current cost is $30.00 USD. My tour operator suggested getting it on arrival.
2. Get a little local money for tips you don’t need much. Most of the hotels will exchanged USD for the Riel.
2. Packing Tips
Cambodia packing tips bring comfortable shoes you walk everywhere. It is also very warm in the sun bring a hat.
Currency: The official currency of Cambodia is the Cambodian Riel (KHR). 1 KHR is equivalent to 0.00026 USD.
Credit Cards & ATMs: Many shops, restaurants, and hotels accept credit cards, especially in bigger cities that are often visited by tourists.
Final thoughts
I really enjoyed Cambodia it had an old world feel about it. The hotels were beautiful but definitely from colonial times. The old time elevators that you closed the gates to go up.
I felt that what we saw was amazing Ankgor Wat is truly one of the wonders of the world to see. It was worth the trip just to see the temples its like stepping into a time warp.
Seeing the killing fields and the brutal Tuol Sleng prison was emotional. All in all loved Cambodia I don’t think I would go back but so glad to see what I did.
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