Just a short update: (too slow computer and too many mosquitoes....)
Today we took the bicycle (rented at our guesthouse) and went to visit several temples of the Angkor group. Riding the bike through an area with so many ancient temples is really a great experience :). Too bad I won't be able to upload any pictures, that would show it much better than I could describe it...
Yesterday we went to visit the temples of the Rolous group (some of the oldest temples in this region). We went there by 'tuktuk' as it is pretty far out of the central area. Too bad the roads are not developed very well, so when driving around lots of dust keeps blowing around. But still very nice to drive around and see some more of the country side. Also the temples were really amazing.
In the afternoon we were supposed to visit another temple; Phnom Krom; but our driver told us that there is no temple there...and that people just go there to take a boat ride on the lake. So when we arrived there we did go for the boat ride...at first quite regretted going on the boat ride as it seemed like an open sewer...at least it did smell like one...but later when we arrived at the lake it appeared to be a pretty interesting boat ride. On the lake there were thousands of floating houses, schools and sportsgrounds. We did stop at an orphanage school for children, and after we checked around a bit and donated some money we went back to the starting point. On the way back I asked the tuktuk driver to stop at the stairs heading to the top of the mountain so we could still go and have a look. When we arrived at the top we did found the temple! Althou not very big and in a pretty bad state it was still interesting to see as from the top of the mountain we did have a great view over the lake and at the other side the city of Siem Reap.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Siem Reap
Today we will be visiting the oldest temples in Siem Reap. Yesterday we went to the Old Market/Pub street area to hang around, after that we went to get the pass for entry to the Angkor temples.
When you get the pass for the next day you are allowed in on that afternoon to enjoy the sunset, so that is what we did. Seeing the sunset from on of the oldest temples in Siem Reap was really amazing.
BTW internet is really really slow here....makes it really hard to update or read anything! Takes about 30 minutes to start up the computer!
When you get the pass for the next day you are allowed in on that afternoon to enjoy the sunset, so that is what we did. Seeing the sunset from on of the oldest temples in Siem Reap was really amazing.
BTW internet is really really slow here....makes it really hard to update or read anything! Takes about 30 minutes to start up the computer!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Arrived in Siem Reap
This morning we didn't do too much, slept out a bit and packed for our bus ride. The bus departed at 11.30 to Siem Reap.
The bus ride itself was nothing special. But when we almost arrived at Siem Reap; after almost 7 hours in the bus; we did already see the amazing sunset.
Fortunately we already made a booking for a guesthouse; we did that at our neighbour hotel in Phnom Penh. So the 'tuk tuk' driver of Smiley Guesthouse was already waiting for us.
So we checked in at Smiley and had dinner in their restaurant. Khmer Omellete, Amoc Fish and Cambodian style spring rolls.
Probably will be going for an early sleep as I am really exhausted! And tomorrow will probably be a busy day, first seeing the city and in the late afternoon heading towards some of the Angkor temples.
The bus ride itself was nothing special. But when we almost arrived at Siem Reap; after almost 7 hours in the bus; we did already see the amazing sunset.
Fortunately we already made a booking for a guesthouse; we did that at our neighbour hotel in Phnom Penh. So the 'tuk tuk' driver of Smiley Guesthouse was already waiting for us.
So we checked in at Smiley and had dinner in their restaurant. Khmer Omellete, Amoc Fish and Cambodian style spring rolls.
Probably will be going for an early sleep as I am really exhausted! And tomorrow will probably be a busy day, first seeing the city and in the late afternoon heading towards some of the Angkor temples.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Another day in Phnom Penh
Today we went for a walking tour trough Phnom Penh. We started the day with breakfast at our neighbour hotel, and then took the same 'tuk tuk' to the starting point of the walking tour: Wat Phnom; a temple complex on a hill.
On the way from the foot of the hill towards the temple we were 'greeted' by several beggar children. I did give one the cookies I had already been carrying around for several days but that only drew more attention on us...
So while going up the children kept following us up and kept asking for money...made it quite annoying to enjoy the temple at first. When going into the temple had to take off my shoes, and in my mind already saw the kids running away with them ;). So did decide to play it save and carry my shoes with me. Luckily after we were done the children had probably already found new victims so we could enjoy it a lot more from then on. From the hilltop we could also see several monkeys playing around in the trees downstairs.
Then we went on to the cental market. Around the actual central market are many stalls with only very narrow dark isles in between them. The stuff they sold wasn't very interesting, many watches and cloths/clothing. But the style of market was still very different from the ones in Hong Kong, so it was still worth to make a short visit. We did buy spring rolls there fried ones and the ones in rice paper.
Afterwards we went to the new market, actually more like a shopping mall.... There we went to a fast food place and ordered a Cambodia burger. (actually mainly to make use of their place to eat our spring rolls ;).
Then went to the booking office of the bus company and got the tickets to Siem Reap. We will be departing tomorrow morning at 11.30, will take about 6 hours to arrive in Siem Reap.
After getting the bus tickets went to the National museum were a lot of beautiful statues were on display. Among them a lot that came from Angkor Wat. Did hang around in the museum for a pretty long time, and at around 16.00 we decided we had to leave as we still wanted to visit the royal palace and silver pagoda (which would be closing at 17.00). But when we arrived at the entrance at 16.20 we found out that they already didn't allow any people going in anymore :(. Bad luck, but at least will still have something left for when we are here on our way back :).
Then decided to have a small snack in a korean restaurant, but the small snack turned out to be a full meal. We ordered Kimchi pancake, but later found out it included soup, rice, 8 bowls of vegetables and dessert... The food was really nice and cheap for the amount we got!
Then walked on to the independance monument which looked great as the sky behind it looked amazing. Then headed back to the hotel to drop off our stuff, woud finally be getting my haircut! But the 2 salons nearby only do haircuts for female.... So have a feeling I will arrive back in Hong Kong as one of the Beatles ;).
On the way from the foot of the hill towards the temple we were 'greeted' by several beggar children. I did give one the cookies I had already been carrying around for several days but that only drew more attention on us...
So while going up the children kept following us up and kept asking for money...made it quite annoying to enjoy the temple at first. When going into the temple had to take off my shoes, and in my mind already saw the kids running away with them ;). So did decide to play it save and carry my shoes with me. Luckily after we were done the children had probably already found new victims so we could enjoy it a lot more from then on. From the hilltop we could also see several monkeys playing around in the trees downstairs.
Then we went on to the cental market. Around the actual central market are many stalls with only very narrow dark isles in between them. The stuff they sold wasn't very interesting, many watches and cloths/clothing. But the style of market was still very different from the ones in Hong Kong, so it was still worth to make a short visit. We did buy spring rolls there fried ones and the ones in rice paper.
Afterwards we went to the new market, actually more like a shopping mall.... There we went to a fast food place and ordered a Cambodia burger. (actually mainly to make use of their place to eat our spring rolls ;).
Then went to the booking office of the bus company and got the tickets to Siem Reap. We will be departing tomorrow morning at 11.30, will take about 6 hours to arrive in Siem Reap.
After getting the bus tickets went to the National museum were a lot of beautiful statues were on display. Among them a lot that came from Angkor Wat. Did hang around in the museum for a pretty long time, and at around 16.00 we decided we had to leave as we still wanted to visit the royal palace and silver pagoda (which would be closing at 17.00). But when we arrived at the entrance at 16.20 we found out that they already didn't allow any people going in anymore :(. Bad luck, but at least will still have something left for when we are here on our way back :).
Then decided to have a small snack in a korean restaurant, but the small snack turned out to be a full meal. We ordered Kimchi pancake, but later found out it included soup, rice, 8 bowls of vegetables and dessert... The food was really nice and cheap for the amount we got!
Then walked on to the independance monument which looked great as the sky behind it looked amazing. Then headed back to the hotel to drop off our stuff, woud finally be getting my haircut! But the 2 salons nearby only do haircuts for female.... So have a feeling I will arrive back in Hong Kong as one of the Beatles ;).
Monday, March 30, 2009
Staying in Phnom Penh
This morning we changed to another hotel. We didn't really like the one we were staying at, very humid and dark inside!
Now we moved to a much better place. A quite new hotel, clean and bright (street view window). Only problem is that they don't provide internet service.... :(.
Now using the internet service from the hotel next door, but will have to pay for their service, so will keep it short, it is after all supposed to be a budget trip ;).
After moving to the new hotel we decided to take the 'tuk tuk' to the killing fields. About half an hour ride through the hot streets of Phnom Penh. (40*C). The killing fields were something quite tragic to see, and a pretty weird feeling to walk around on the remains of many people who were killed there. Everywhere we walked we could see the leftovers of pieces of clothing worn by them and at some places we could still see some bones left in the ground.
In the 'remembrance tower' (made this name up myself ;) there were many skulls shown, and you could clearly see how the person was killed (bullet hole, axe impact, hamer hole etc.).
After this we rode back to the city for visiting the genocide museum, this is inside a former school which during the khmer rouge period was used as a prison and from here many people were brought to the killing fields for executing (the place we went earlier).
So not a very enjoyable day, but think a must when visiting Cambodia as unfortunately this has become a very important part of their (recent) history.
Now we moved to a much better place. A quite new hotel, clean and bright (street view window). Only problem is that they don't provide internet service.... :(.
Now using the internet service from the hotel next door, but will have to pay for their service, so will keep it short, it is after all supposed to be a budget trip ;).
After moving to the new hotel we decided to take the 'tuk tuk' to the killing fields. About half an hour ride through the hot streets of Phnom Penh. (40*C). The killing fields were something quite tragic to see, and a pretty weird feeling to walk around on the remains of many people who were killed there. Everywhere we walked we could see the leftovers of pieces of clothing worn by them and at some places we could still see some bones left in the ground.
In the 'remembrance tower' (made this name up myself ;) there were many skulls shown, and you could clearly see how the person was killed (bullet hole, axe impact, hamer hole etc.).
After this we rode back to the city for visiting the genocide museum, this is inside a former school which during the khmer rouge period was used as a prison and from here many people were brought to the killing fields for executing (the place we went earlier).
So not a very enjoyable day, but think a must when visiting Cambodia as unfortunately this has become a very important part of their (recent) history.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Arrived in Phnom Penh
We arrived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia!
Unfortunately the internet/computer is really slow here, so not very convenient to update about the past few days :'(. Hopefully tomorrow at another hostel the internet service will be better!
But anyway, did want to leave this post so everyone knows we are still alive ;). Gotta get back to my room soon; to drink lots of water though as it is SOOO hot here behind the computer...
Unfortunately the internet/computer is really slow here, so not very convenient to update about the past few days :'(. Hopefully tomorrow at another hostel the internet service will be better!
But anyway, did want to leave this post so everyone knows we are still alive ;). Gotta get back to my room soon; to drink lots of water though as it is SOOO hot here behind the computer...
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