ASIA TRIP 2013
CAMBODIA PART I
SIEM REAP
CAMBODIA PART I
SIEM REAP
We
will be in Siem Reap for 3 nights. Our flight from Luang Prabang took
2 hours. Trails of Indochina had arranged for the VIP pass through
customs ... GREAT IDEA!!!
AngkorWat |
The weather here
is steamy hot!! Siem Reap has changed quite a bit since we were here 6
1/2 years ago. There are more travelers and therefore more hotels. We
visited La Residence D'Angkor and had dinner there which was very
nice. The hotel is a boutique hotel with 62 rooms. Part of the hotel
is protected under Unesco and cannot be changed. There is a new wing
with a few newer hotel rooms and a wonderful spa.
La Residence D'Angkor |
We are staying
at the Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra. They say this is a 5 star property
which technically, it is but to me, it's similar to the Maui Marriott. There are over 300 rooms and its more of a convention hotel
than a luxury hotel. Enough said ...
Ta Prohm |
Angkor Thom |
The two temples are fascinating and completely different from each other. Angkor Thom has the different faces in bas relief and Ta Prohm is the Wat with the tree growing around it.
I visited the Aman property, Amansara. It is stunning and quite zen. To approach the hotel, you need either an appointment or a reservation. The hotel does not have a sign in front of it. The spirit at the hotel is peaceful and the hotel is extremely service oriented.
Aman property, Amansara |
Raffles Hotel |
We went to Raffles Hotel for a site visit and dinner. This hotel has vastly improved itself since we were here last. I loved the two bedroom villa the most. It is spacious and would be perfect for two families and their children. The food at the hotel was the best that we have had in Siem Reap AND the hotel had the best shopping experience as well.
Before I end Cambodia Part I, I wanted to point out a few things.
Cambodia is hot! It is a third world country with limited resources for medical care. I'm saying this not to scare you but more to prepare you. When visiting Cambodia, it is so important to protect yourself against the sun ... hat, sunscreen etc. Also, good walking shoes are a must because the sidewalks, road and paths are not even. I love KEEN's for this. Everyone takes U.S. dollars. Bring small bills, 1's, 5's, 10's and 20's. Everywhere that we have visited, I have found the service to be excellent. The pace here is slow ... very slow.
Stay tuned for Cambodia Part II - our journey from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville.
The World is Our Playground!
Mari
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