Siem Reap - Day 2 (24 Feb 12) - Bayon

Bayon is another site with carving of faces. After a while, it all looked the same to me. We spent only an hour or less at Bayon. Like Angkor Wat, many of the statues were destroyed or plundered during wars or invasion. Jewels encrusted on the statues were removed.

Siem Reap - Day 2 (24 Feb 12) - Angkor Wat

The reason to visit Siem Reap - Angkor Wat.

I was told I must go for the sunrise so we dragged ourselves out of bed at 4am (luckily Cambodia was 1 hour behind Singapore, so it was 5am in Singapore) so that we could meet our driver and guide at 5am. We arrived around 530am and it was still in total darkness.

Luckily there were other people with torch lights so we could see the ground better and followed the others. It took a while and slowly we saw the sun peeking out and bathed Angkor Wat in shades of orange, purple and pink.

Angkor Wat was a huge compound and some areas were being restored. Since 2009, they added wooden boards over existing steps and railings so that it made navigation easier for visitors. It was amazing how the people then were able to build something so complex, with beautiful intricate carvings on the pillars and columns.

We only spent about 2 hours or so at Angkor Wat and it got hot once the sun was up.

Siem Reap - Day 1 (23 Feb 12)

It has been tiring, trying to sort out the pictures. We arrived in the late afternoon on Thursday and were met by the hotel driver. It was HOT once we got out of the plane. There was no aerobridge, so we walked on the tarmac and waited under the hot sun as the long line of passengers slowly inched into the immigration building.

We booked La Niche D'Angkor, a local boutique hotel just off the central area of Siem Reap. I do prefer boutique hotels when traveling in the region as I find it more cozy and personalized. Plus it also helps their economy when you go local.

As friends have told me to head to FCC Angkor for a drink and to catch the sunset, it was quite a mad rush for us to check in and unpack and go to FCC.

FCC Angkor is set in a colonial style building, similar to Singapore's Raffles Hotel in the old days. Open air with ceiling fans rotating lazily to cool the air. We got a table on the terrace with a view (hotel helped us made the reservations), so we could see the river just in front and the other guests having a drink on the ground level. We did see the sunset but it was nothing spectacular.

Drinks were cheap during Happy Hour at 50% off (US$2.75 after discount). I had the caipirinha and it was strong. Nice!

We shared the salt and pepper calamari - tiny squids but pretty decent, crunchy and tasty.

I had the Cambodian Tasting Plate - steamed fish curry (fish amok), pork and prawn spring rolls, banana blossom and chicken salad, stir fried beef with toasted rice, pork brochettes (satay) with pickled vegetables.

I love the fish curry and beef, not so much on the salad, brochettes and spring roll.

The others ordered the hot and spicy prawn udon (came with fishballs in tomyam broth) and tandoori salmon which was accompanied with long beans and roasted potatoes. Both were equally good.

It was our most expensive meal in Siem Reap at around US$60, including tips as there was no service charge or tax, but it was also the best in terms of food quality and service and presentation. I guessed you pay for what you get. Otherwise food is generally cheap to tourists from wealthier countries.