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Having popped back to Kuala Lumpur to visit mum and dad, I was asked by mum if I wanted to make a side-trip to Cambodia to visit Angkor. Naturally, I said yes – especially as we were going to get free flights from Malaysia to Siem Reap courtesy of my brother who works for Air Asia (Malaysia’s low-cost carrier – “Now Everyone Can Fly !”)
Arriving in Siem Reap, it's clear that Angkor is no longer off the beaten track. Multiple hotels line the main roads and tourist buses cause mini traffic jams in town. I was anxious that the main temple sites of Angkor outside Siem Reap would be overrun but fortunately our guide planned a circuit of the temples specifically to avoid the crowds. It did however, mean that we drew up to the Angkor Wat in the full glare of the midday sun.
Angkor Wat
It's an unbelievable monument ! Generally considered to be the world’s largest religious edifice, Angkor Wat itself doesn’t disappoint. Built by King Suryavarman II in the 12th century, the silhouette of the Hindu temple is instantly recognisable when you pull up to it. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.
Angkor Thom
It's difficult to imagine a city of 1 million inhabitants in the 12th century (as a comparison the population of London reached the million mark around 1800). There are several gates to the ancient city entered through causeways which are lined by angels and demons. Modern day tourists can choose to enter the city on elephants but we took the air-conditioned option of our Toyota minivan. Angkor Thom was established by King Jayavarman VII in the twelfth century and at its centre lies the Bayon temple. In contrast to Angkor Wat, Bayon is a Buddhist monument and again, strangely familiar. (I think I must have watched too many travel programmes on the Discovery channel!)
More temples and Tonle Sap lake
We spend a few more days exploring the large numbers of temples in the region (wish I could remember the names of them !). Many of them have beautiful carvings of apsaras or ‘celestial maidens’. We also spend an afternoon on Tonle Sap lake visiting the floating villages on the lake.Cambodian food
Yummy ! Cambodian food resembles Thai food but is less spicy. They seem to use coconut milk more liberally in their food in comparison with the Thais. In particular, I got hooked on the coconut ice-creams / sorbets.How we got there
We flew from Kuala Lumpur to Siem Reap on Air Asia and stayed in Siem Reap for 4 nights. Our hotel (the Preah Khan hotel) was a nondescript 4 star hotel full of Koreanand Japanese tour groups.
Our ratings for Angkor
1-5 stars
1-5 stars
Accomodation
**
Service
***
Dining
***
Location
*****