It was just before 6 a.m., and as I watch the sunrise over vast temples of Angkor Wat, chills ran down my spine. Words cannot capture how watching the sunrise over these ancient awe-inspiring temples made me feel. It’s this feeling that made me fall in love with travel. It was quite the adventure getting to this point, but I knew in this moment that it was all worth it.
The Temples: Angkor Wat is the largest temple of the massive Angkor Archaeological Park. This site was the capital of the massive Khmer empire from the 9th to 15th centuries, an empire that stretched from Myanmar to Vietnam. The vast ruins are spread over an area of more than 400 square kilometers. (staff, 2018) There are still numerous temples standing included the massive Angkor Wat, Angkor Bayon, Ta Proh, and hundreds, maybe even thousands more.
The complex was originally Hindu, but in the 13-14th centuries it changed to Buddhist. It was a site for Buddhist pilgrimages for centuries. If you get there early enough, you can see Buddhist monks walking about. When I was exploring the temples were several offerings and decorative shrines throughout. It was amazing!
How to get there and around: You can fly directly into Siem Reap, which is a small and beautiful airport. I arranged an airport pick up with my hotel. I am sure the grab app (Asia’s version of uber) would have sufficed, but I always like to have my initial ride to my hotel planned. After arriving at the hotel, the hotel booked my tuk tuk to Angkor. I could easily walk into Siem Reap and explore when I wanted too. The tuk tuks in Siem Reap were motorcycles with carriages. It totally made me feel like Cinderella. Getting to Angkor for the sunrise, my tuk tuk driver picked me up at 5 and took me to buy my tickets. Then he drove me up to each of the temples I wanted to see. It was the best way to see the temples. I know I totally sound like a bum, but it was quite the drive between temples.
Where to stay: You can stay in Siem Reap, a lovely town 5 miles south of the Angkor ruins. Hostels are definitely an option, but with the low cost, it’s a great opportunity to treat yourself. I splurged and got a room at the Hari Residence and Spa. For $30 a night, I had an enormous room with a roof top pool and an amazing roof top restaurant. I ordered steak and lobster and bottles of wine for $50 a meal. (I just got off deployment lol) It was crazy. From the minute I landed at the airport, I was completely spoiled. I had my own personal concierge, David. He arranged everything from my transport to Angkor to my meals. If you’re looking for a place in your vacation to sleep in a room with no one else and spoil yourself a little bit, this is it.
https://www.hariresidence.com/
Cambodia entry requirements: A visa was required for entry into Cambodia but was super easy to get. It was just a visa on arrival, and the airport was organized in issuing them. Most of the people on my plane needed visas, but I had mine in about a half an hour.
Safety: As a 115 pound woman that looks nothing like the local populous, I felt completely safe. I walked around alone during the day, but hesitated to do it at night. I was too tired from my day of exploring to stay out late anyways. Things to note- Cambodia has free school but is still a very poor nation. You will see children pan handling. I was told not to give them money because it encourages them to not go to school. Prostitution is illegal but still prevalent. So, be wary.
Tips and tricks: The Angkor complex is still considered a sacred place of temples. I wouldn’t show up with my knees or shoulder exposed. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes. Although, the tuk tuk drivers take you very close to the temples, the temples are massive. I found myself exploring, climbing, and on my feet all day. July was hot and humid. Make sure you bring water resistant sunscreen. I found that the locals at the market were extremely pushy. Be ready to negotiate. Everything was cheap, and it was worth it.
Until Next time,
Dez
staff, n. g. (2018, september 26). national geographic . Retrieved from soar city Cambodia’s stunning stone city: https://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/travel/soar-over-cambodias-stunning-stone-city.aspx
