Continued from part 1 and part 2. From Phnom Penh, we traveled to Siem Reap to see the famous Angkor Wat temple. The Angkor Archaeological Park [which includes Angkor Wat] is a huge area with many beautiful, historical remains of temples, and you could spend several days exploring the area! These temples were built by the Khmer Empire from the 9th through 15th centuries for religious and political purposes. The detail and exquisite artisanship is quite impressive considering the time period in which it was built. Click here to read part 4.
Angkor Wat at sunrise
Day 7
We left Phnom Penh early in the morning and took an 8 hour bus ride to Siem Reap, Cambodia. When we arrived, we had absolutely no clue where we were going to stay, so we took a tuk-tuk (a motorcycle taxi) to various hostels. After visiting two different hostels unsuccessfully, we finally ended up at Bou Savy Guesthouse [www.bousavyguesthouse.com], which turned out to be an excellent place to stay! For around $14 USD per night, it includes free breakfast and internet. The owner, Mr. Bovuth, is so friendly and pleasant! I would absolutely recommend staying here if you’re in Siem Reap.
The entrance to Bou Savy. It's a hidden gem.
A typical room at Bou Savy
Siem Reap is the tourist town that everyone stays at when visiting Angkor Wat. It is only 15 minutes away from the main temples. I would recommend hiring a tuk-tuk for the entire day – sunrise to sunset – for around $12 USD, which is the standard price that you’ll get from most drivers. You might have to bargain for this price, but this is what you should pay, otherwise you may get ripped off. By hiring a tuk-tuk driver, he will drive you to the main Angkor Wat temple at sunrise, and then drive you to the other temples throughout the day.
That's me in a tuk-tuk!
We arrived to Siem Reap close to sunset, so my friends hired a tuk-tuk and headed out to see it. I felt sick that day, so unfortunately I did not get to go out that evening! Luckily, I felt much better the next morning. Otherwise, I may have missed out.
Day 8
We woke up at the crack of dawn, hired a tuk-tuk driver, and headed out to Angkor Wat at 5 am. The entrance price for one full day is $20 USD. Since the sun rises in the East, everyone was at the main temple, Angkor Wat. It was such a beautiful sight, and words do no justice to the natural, historical beauty of the temple. With that being said, I will let the photos speak for themselves.
The sunrise along the water outside Angkor Wat
Bright and early. Outside Angkor Wat, getting ready to enter the temple!
Angkor Wat at sunrise
Such exquisite detail
Courtyard of Angkor Wat
Friends hanging out.
Hanging out!
The back view of Angkor Wat.
Another view from the back of Ankor Wat
We saw these children in the field, and took a photo with them. Rene gave them some food, and they were so jubilant! They had such warm, loving smiles.
Bayon Temple, which consists of 216 stone faces:
Examples of the stone faces of Bayon.
Angkor Thom temple. This is the entrance where the movie “Laura Croft: Tomb Raider” (with Angelina Jolie) was filmed.
Inside Angkor Thom. Could you imagine Angelina Jolie making her way through here?
Almost everyone heads over Phnom Bakheng Temple to watch the sunset. It’s a 15-20 minute hike up the hill, and everyone climbs up the temple to view this spectacular sight.
Sitting on top of Phnom Bakheng Temple while waiting for the sunset.
We spent the entire day at Angkor Archeological Park, hopping from one temple to another. From sunrise at 5 am to sunset at 6 pm, I witnessed the beauty and tremendous detail of these historical temples. It is a true reflection of Cambodian culture: beautiful, exquisite and peaceful.
Twenty and Counting 