Angkor Wat at Sunrise

A "must do" experience when visiting Angkor Wat is to take an early morning tour to catch Angkor Wat as it changes colors as sunrise approaches.

Waking up early morning to get there at 4am is a minor inconvenience. You appreciate even more Angkor Wat as you watch in awe this truly magnificent temple in the different colors of sunrise.

Truly Amazing Angkor Wat

Deservedly the highlight of a trip to Cambodia is a visit to the Angkor Wat. To get to this spectacular temple you have to cross the long stone bridge above the moat and what awaits is a truly amazing complex of temples that is impressive both when viewed from a distance and up close.

The walls of the temples have intricate carvings and bas-reliefs of demons and gods. Equally impressive are the many Hindu god statues inside the temples.

Angkor Wat deserves its place as one of the true ancient wonders of the world!

Preah Khan Surprise

After seeing Angkor Vat and Angkor Thom, I thought I had already seen the best of the Angkor temples and it will really be hard to still be impressed by another of these khmer ancient sites.

But I have to say that Preah Khan was a most pleasant surprise. I was not expecting much. Thought that this is just another one of those Khmer temples. But Preah Khan stands on its own as one of the better preserved temples with fine carvings and stonework. Its ancient structures also reminds you of the temples of Greece and Egypt with a lot of pillar and columns. Preah Khan which may have been a Buddhist university is one of Angkor's largest complexes.

Amazing Angkor Thom

One of the highlights of a trip to Siem Reap is a visit to the Angkor Thom temples. Within this massive and sprawling complex are four amazing monuments namely Bayon, Baphuon, Terrace of Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King.

The most impressive temple is Bayon where you will find 216 gargantuan faces of Avalokiteshavara, the Buddha of Compassion.

Ta Prohm: Trees on Temples

The magnificent temples of Ta Prohm have been used as a set for the popular films, Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider. So I had this feeling of awe of being in the actual movie set of films that I enjoyed watching in my younger days.

Ta Prohm's ancient temples with its overgrown trees which are actually part and on top of the temples are truly an awesome sight. The temples of Ta Prohm are in the midst of a tropical forest with a lot of old trees and vegetation. And this is what makes these temples unique and different from the equally impressive temples of Egypt.

Rolous Temples: The Beginnings

To fully appreciate the temples of Angkor best to start with the Rolous Group which includes Bakong and Preah Kong. While the temples of Rolous are not are impressive as the major monuments of Angkor, they nonetheless provide an insight into the beginnings and evolution of Khmer architecture.

Siem Reap Shines

Siemp Reap is a pleasant 4 hour bus ride from Phonm Penh. Once in Siem Reap you instantly feel the small town vibe and immediately welcome being here instead of the bigger city which is Phonm Penh.

It is a charming town with a river canal running around it. Accommodations are priced reasonably, food is cheap, and shopping is good value at the Old Market and Night Market. In Bar St area(photo above) near the Old Market, you will find bars and restaurants which are very tastefully done in modern or Khmer architecture. You can also experience Cambodian massage in the massage and spa places in the area. A massage is an anticipated treat after a day spent walking around the ancient temples of Angkor Wat.

A stay in Siem Reap, which is still has a lot of Old French shophouses, complements the ancient attractions around Angkor.

Sad Memories of a Civil War

Unless you are a war afficionado, the Killing Fields located about 14km from central Phonm Penh is not worth a visit. On display are skulls and bones of casualties of the civil war in Cambodia. There are also areas which are identified as the fields where men, women and children were executed.

More interesting is the Tuol Sleng Museum. The display of a rusty single bed in a classroom, photo exhibit of war atrocities,and detention and torture areas are disturbing.

Phonm Penh's Pride

Phonm Penh's best attraction is its Royal Palace which is still the official residence of its King. It is impressive in its own right but pales in comparison to the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

Within the compound of the Royal Palace is the Silver Pagoda, the floor of which is covered with 5000 shining silver tiles. Inside the Pagoda is a baccarat crystal Buddha and life-sized solid gold Buddha which is adorned with diamonds. Unfortunately, photography is not permitted so you just have to be content to view these truly remarkable Buddhas.

Passing Phonm Penh

I was not expecting great scenic or historical sites in Phonm Penh so I alloted just 2 days to go around the city before proceeding to my final destination in Cambodia which was Siem Reap.

The tourist area is around the Sisowath Quay along the Tonle Sap river. This is where the nice hotels and restaurants are located. You will also find restored french colonial buildings in the area. Sisowath Quay is nice enough for a pleasant afternoon or evening stroll by the river. The restaurants in the area are a bit pricey with meals costing an average of US$5.00 per person.

The best place I visited is the National Museum, housed in a beautiful pink painted building done in Khmer architecture. The museum has an impressive collection of Khmer artworks.

Best place to shop for souvenirs and presents to bring home like scarfs and Cambodian handicrafts is the Russian Market. The Old Market done also in Khmer architecture is worth visiting for cheap shoes,shirts, and fruits.

Vietnam to Cambodia: A River Runs Through It

Mekong River in Cambodia


Mekong River in Vietnam


To get to Cambodia from Vietnam, I opted to take a 2 day 1 night tour from Saigon Vietnam that ends in Phnom Penh in Cambodia. It was a pleasant boat ride along the Mekong River in Vietnam in a comfortable boat that brings you to Vin Xuong border.

At the Vietnam border, you will be brought by your guide to river side restaurants to wait while he takes care of getting your departure stamp on your passport. These cheap looking restaurants have unreasonably high prices considering the quality of the food. On my way to the Cambodia side of the border, saw cardboard sign which fell to the ground prepared by a unhappy tourist, "Beware of Scams in Vietnam border!"

Had no problems with Cambodia immigration. No visas required for Philippine passport holders. After clearing immigration, you will board another motor boat that will travel through the same Mekong River to bring you to Phnom Penh. I was unhappy with the quality of the Cambodian boat. It was a wooden boat but with no proper seats. So it was an uncomfortable 3 hour boat ride to the capital of Cambodia. Good thing that I found a reclining seat at the back of the boat which made the trip more pleasant for me.