Day 1: Siem Reap Heaven

Air Asia, now everyone can fly...just don't get suck in the turbine.


First thing we did was check in and freshen up. I stayed in Golden Temple Villa. Ok place considering the money we pay. Fan and air-conditioned. Water with heater... I one of those who still need warm water to shower in a burning hot day. Free breakfast which was delicious, free coffee and tea and banana. Free pool table to play some pool, and most of all, free PC usage with internet access! USD15 a night, what more can I ask for?

Oh, and it wasn't really that hot there. Like Malaysia la. I don't get why everyone is such a princess. It's the same heat you get from Malaysian weather when you wqalk under the sun the whole day. Think about it and quit being a baby. Me and LF had no issues with the heat. (...at least not yet) It's like going to the zoo la. Not hot meh? Oh, we have a TV and Cambodia have a lot more channels, a lot of Korean series, and I can watch our TV3 there and HBO too.


We had our lunch at the guest house restaurant and headed to see the miniature Angkor Temples.


Dy Proeung and 3 more persons took 3 years to get the architecture and scaling done. Dy took a whole year to complete the miniature Angkor Wat temple. He was praised by one of the Cambodian kings and awarded by the government. He currently have 4 miniatures around, the first in his home, second in his workshop, third in Phnom Phen and the last in the cultural village in Siem Reap.


He also did the Bayon and Batey Kdei. Really impressive. If you see something you like, buy it there because it is much cheaper. I think his workshop supplies to the tourist stalls in the markets. Dy told me that sharing the knowledge on how to build the miniature was his passion and he was actually training the neighborhood kids to make them. I was a few of them there working on their own stuff too.


Speaking about his neighbors, they almost broke into this home once! Yep...crocodiles. A lot of Cambodian rare them to be sold to Bangkok or Phnom Phen. They are fed fish, and at about 15 years of age, then can be sold for USD3000. 150kg of croc meat... I didn't get to eat them though... HAHAHA.


This is the first local Wat we went to. Wat Po Lanka. Nothing special....yet. I notice that at all the temple gates, they have this gate keeper god thing. Hell keeper maybe?


We went to Wat An Kau Saa next, but my tuk-tuk drive only stopped us at the school next door, we could not find the way in to the temple. Even the school corridors and staircase is decorated with styles.


The water pump still works you know. It's everywhere. One at my guest house too.


We still had a little time to spare before sunset so out tuk-tuk driver brought us to a place to do some shopping. Not worth talking about because everything sold there was at cut throat price. The old reason he brought us there was because he will have a commission if we buy anything there. We left the place quick and boom Angkor Wat!


Didn't manage to catch the sun set because clouds were everywhere... and it was drizzling a little. =(

Disappointed, we left for the Killing Field. FYI, it's free entry to the Angkor Temple area after 5pm. You can continue to use your ticket for the following day. Tickets are sold in a day block (USD20), 3 days (USD40), 1 week (USD60). Get a 1 day pass if you are unsure if you can see rocks the whole day. You can always get another pass the next day. Get the 3 days and 1 week pass only if you are really passionate about the history, the stones, the carvings, the myth, the Apsara dancers, the friendly kids, and delicious (but dirty to some people) food.


There will be a group of people there explaining the history of the killing, the Khmer Rouge regime, Pol pot, Brother 2 and all. You will be hinted to donate some money to their school of language for the orphan kids later on. Do donate as this will help, if not much, just a little will do from the heart.

Email this guy called Udorm, he knows a lot of the history and will be able to explain to you in detail if you are interested to know. Of course, only if you are going to Siem Reap's killing field.


It was dark when we left the killing field....to kill at the Dead Fish Tower.


The food there was ok, but many cheap good food anywhere else. The decoration is something else though. The place reminds me of Nailies, but a bigger better version of the tree house mamak. Dead Fish Tower have floor tiers, very unique tables and settings too. They have their Apsara dancing performance at 7pm. You will have to seat at the elevated floors to watch the performance.


At about 7.20pm, the traditional courting dance is performed. Their dancing and facial expression was so real. I think I was blushing while watching them dance.

Our tuk-tuk driver left us at Dead Fish Tower. I was pissed because we had to walk home in the dark just because we didn't want to go to the restaurant he recommended where he could have gotten commission. &*%$*)_*#()_)#@@#

Anyway, we found our way back easily and took us only a 5 minutes walk. Town was really small. We passed by a few markets like the 7Elevent. Got a can of famous Angkor beer for USD0.55. Nice and delicious. Burbbbb!

Check out the food review at Eat First Think Later.