ASIA TRIP 2013: Cambodia Part I - Siem Reap

ASIA TRIP 2013
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

We saw Angkor Wat today and it was just as I remembered.  This is the highlight of the visit to Siem Reap.  The weather is in the high 90's with very high humidity so hats, suntan lotion and a battery fan are a must.  This is such a poor country!  (HELPFUL HINT:) When we arrive and as we leave, people and VERY young children are after you to buy their goods ... and they are VERY aggressive.  It's important to be prepared either to politely say no thank you or to bring very small bills for your purchases.

Angkor Thom

Later today, we will be returning to the temples to visit Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm.

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

We also visited and did a "hard hat tour" of the new Park Hyatt (formerly Hotel de la Paix).  We had stayed at Hotel de la Paix before and loved the location and the hotel.  When the hotel is finished, it will be stunning.  Perfect for those who want to be in the center of things here in Siem Reap.

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