This morning we went to have Cambodian cooking class. We had made a booking for it the previous evening. It included being picked up from the hotel, so at exactly 9 there was a tuk tuk to pick us up.
Also on the tuk tuk was the chef who would be teaching us. At first we went to the market to buy some of the ingredients. The market itself wasn't very special, quite similair to markets in HK, but they do had a much larger variety of foods.
After buying the ingredients we went to the place where we would do the cooking. It was at a pretty nice place, on a rooftop overlooking the russian embassy. Luckily there still was enough coverage to provide some needed shadow.
The foods we would be making were Cambodian style spring rolls and Amok Fish. We started out with the spring rolls, actually started out making the sweet and sour peanut sauce for the spring rolls. Was quite interesting to really make the sauce, involved chopping up and mashing quite a lot of ingredients.
The spring rolls itself was pretty straight forward.... Should definately be something we can recreate when we are back in HK!
The Amok Fish; once again quite a lot of different herbs involved so more chopping and grinding. Hope we can recreate this one in HK as well, but less certain that we can find all the necassary herbs there...
Afterwards we finally went to visit the royal palace (we actually intended to visit it when we stayed in Phnom Penh before). Really very alike the royal palace in Bangkok...
After we were done there we took the tuk tuk to bring us to the Russian market. Unfortanately quite shortly after we arrived there they started closing down. But Casey still succeeded in buying several scarfs, and we also succeeded in buying a cd of a Cambodian song we have kept hearing during our stay in Cambodia!
Then we went back to the hotel to book our bus tickets for heading back to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. But both buscompanies they have contact with were fully booked until the 14th! We then found out that many Cambodians would be visiting Vietnam as they would have holiday for the Cambodian New Year. We then went to check next door where they sell tickets for a different bus service. Fortunately that one still had a few seats left for departure tomorrow! Not at the time that we would have prefered but still very happy that we succeeded. We will now be departing at 13.30 from Phnom Penh. And should be arriving about 6 hours later in Ho Chi Minh City.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Back in Phnom Penh
This morning we took the 7.30 bus heading back from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. It was a 7 hours bus ride but it felt like it took ages... Quite uncomfortable seats and also due to me having pretty bad stomach pain :(.
Two days ago we went for another bicycle tour visiting some temples in the Angkor area. One of them the famous Tombraider temple. That one looked really nice as nature really has taken over some parts of the temple complex.
And yesterday we took Tuk Tuk for a daytrip at first we went to Kbal Spean, an area with waterfall and some stone carvings. On the way back the Tuk Tuk broke down... The chain didn't have any grip anymore on the rotorblade. So we wasted a lot of our time on waiting for the Tuk Tuk to be fixed! Therefore we didn't have time anymore to visit some temples we intended, but we did still make a quick stop at the landmine museum. Very tragic to read some stories of innocent landmine victims... And also very tragic that this is still such a huge issue here!
Just before heading back to the hotel we made a booking for a cooking class. So tomorrow morning at around 8.30 we will be picked up from here to learn some traditional khmer cooking. Hope the food prepared by myself will help me to ease some of my stomach pain ;).
Two days ago we went for another bicycle tour visiting some temples in the Angkor area. One of them the famous Tombraider temple. That one looked really nice as nature really has taken over some parts of the temple complex.
And yesterday we took Tuk Tuk for a daytrip at first we went to Kbal Spean, an area with waterfall and some stone carvings. On the way back the Tuk Tuk broke down... The chain didn't have any grip anymore on the rotorblade. So we wasted a lot of our time on waiting for the Tuk Tuk to be fixed! Therefore we didn't have time anymore to visit some temples we intended, but we did still make a quick stop at the landmine museum. Very tragic to read some stories of innocent landmine victims... And also very tragic that this is still such a huge issue here!
Just before heading back to the hotel we made a booking for a cooking class. So tomorrow morning at around 8.30 we will be picked up from here to learn some traditional khmer cooking. Hope the food prepared by myself will help me to ease some of my stomach pain ;).
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Home got broken in...
Yesterday early in the evening we received a SMS informing us our house got broken in! We directly rushed to the reception to call Casey's relatives to find out more. Both of us were extremely concerned that our computer would be gone, as that would mean we would have lost all the digital pictures we made in the past few years!
Fortunatly we soon found out that the computer was still there. What a huge relief! And after checking more it seemed that all the other valuables were still there as well...so seems nothing has been taken. Seems like the burglar(s) were interupted while doing their job?
Initially it did directly think about flying back to Hong Kong to check out the siuation by myself. But now after slept on it and having seen the pictures send to us by email start thinking it might be better to try and still make the best out of this trip. It is kind off a once in a lifetime chance to see Cambodia and Vietnam... Especially as we already seen quite a bit of it it would make it more unlikely for us to return anywhere in the near future. So our short term plan now is to at least finish the 2 remaining days of our Angkor pass and then head back to Phnom Penh. (there are no direct flights back to HK from Siem Reap anyways...).
Before all this happened we did still have another amazing bicycle trip, this time through the Angkor Thom temple complexes. Really enjoyable although in the afternoon it did become quite harsh as started to develop sunburn. Must have been the hottest day we experienced here so far: 42*C at some point.
Fortunatly we soon found out that the computer was still there. What a huge relief! And after checking more it seemed that all the other valuables were still there as well...so seems nothing has been taken. Seems like the burglar(s) were interupted while doing their job?
Initially it did directly think about flying back to Hong Kong to check out the siuation by myself. But now after slept on it and having seen the pictures send to us by email start thinking it might be better to try and still make the best out of this trip. It is kind off a once in a lifetime chance to see Cambodia and Vietnam... Especially as we already seen quite a bit of it it would make it more unlikely for us to return anywhere in the near future. So our short term plan now is to at least finish the 2 remaining days of our Angkor pass and then head back to Phnom Penh. (there are no direct flights back to HK from Siem Reap anyways...).
Before all this happened we did still have another amazing bicycle trip, this time through the Angkor Thom temple complexes. Really enjoyable although in the afternoon it did become quite harsh as started to develop sunburn. Must have been the hottest day we experienced here so far: 42*C at some point.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Angkor Wat
Today, once again, we rented bicycles. This time we went to see Angkor Wat. But before we went to see the temple I did finally go for a haircut! On the way back home yesterday we did pass a hair salon. But when I checked whether they would be able to cut my hair they told me they would only do it during day time... So went back there this morning and had the Beatles style completely shaved off. Now have about 1 cm of hair left, really refreshing in this hot weather!
So afterwards went on towards the temple. The whole temple complex of Angkor Wat is huge. And really amazing to be walking around in it. Unfortunately the main section of the temple is closed off for repair work? That was quite a disappointment! Seems they will only reopen it again when they have made the stairs more safe for the general public. (must agree in many temples so far you really have to pay attention to every step you make on the stairs, very steep and very small and often quite damaged as well).
Althou I think this temple was really amazing still think another temple we visited the day before (Banteay Srey) was even more impressive. That one really has a lot of detailed stone carvings all over the place.
Tomorrow we will be waking up very early if everything goes according to plan as we intend to go see the sunrise at Sram Srei. So goodnight for now ;).
So afterwards went on towards the temple. The whole temple complex of Angkor Wat is huge. And really amazing to be walking around in it. Unfortunately the main section of the temple is closed off for repair work? That was quite a disappointment! Seems they will only reopen it again when they have made the stairs more safe for the general public. (must agree in many temples so far you really have to pay attention to every step you make on the stairs, very steep and very small and often quite damaged as well).
Althou I think this temple was really amazing still think another temple we visited the day before (Banteay Srey) was even more impressive. That one really has a lot of detailed stone carvings all over the place.
Tomorrow we will be waking up very early if everything goes according to plan as we intend to go see the sunrise at Sram Srei. So goodnight for now ;).
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Another day in Siem Reap
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.
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.
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.
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