Narrations: sh|ru visits Siem Reap, Day 1

sh|ru visits Siem Reap, Day 1

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Actually I was there during the semester break with my family. This took so long because I had a ton of pics to upload and was pretty lazy haha. I was there for three days so I'll make my posts short and divide the trip in three posts. And if you didn't know, Siem Reap is in Cambodia, home of Angkor Wat.

Got up at 5.15 am to get ready to drive to LCCT where we'll be flying AirAsia. So off we went with me driving on a dark, spacy, empty highway. Checked in and napped for the next 2 hours waiting for the flight.

Keo's future ride

The plane ride was two hours. I always liked taking off, much like a amusement ride.

My first view of Cambodia

We landed on a strip which for me is like in the middle of paddy fields. The guide from the hotel was already waiting and we bundled up for a 15 minute ride into Siem Reap.

David, our guide/driver for the next 3 days

Then we had to plan our itinerary because we weren't on a package. That done, it was time for lunch. My father has a friend who went to Cambodia the year before. His story is the food here are dirt cheap, somewhere along 0.50-2 USD a meal per person. So eagerly we set out....

First meal in Siem Reap

The guide ended up bringing us to some posh tourist eatery where the price is...electrifying. Imagine the omelet priced at 4USD and the vegetables 3USD a plate. Those two and another 2 dishes was what we ordered.Yay. We told David next time we want local fare, what the locals eat.

Next on the list was to the floating village of Lake Tonle Sap. It's a whole village on boats and houses on stilts. It's a half hour ride out of town and then you take a boat to the lake.

That's me bro's gf infront of me

It was dry season so the rivers are shallow and muddy. Along the river you could see houses on boats and it's residents lounging by the river.

Floating school

Then at the mouth of the river was a church. A floating church at that.

Remember when they say God is everywhere...?

And then we were in the huge lake, stretching as far as the eye can see. A couple of floating restaurants and many locals peddling drinks and beer in boats will approach your boat.

Children of the lake, quite amphibious..

We were taken to the to a boat that sells souvenirs and stuff. Nothing exciting right? Here's something to bat your eyelids at..

They keep their croc pets on the boat itself..on the lower level

If you're feeling touristy, buy some bananas on sale and hurl it at them. The objective is to hit them in the mouth. That's the only thing that will make them move.
The whole thing takes about an hour and a half. As we made our way back to the van, we got mobbed by poor children. Can't help but be moved but we gave them sweets instead, another advice from dad's friend. Another half hour ride back to town and shopping was next.
We were driven to Siem Reap's central market. Lot's of local produce and souvenirs. I was left walking aimlessly around while the others were souvenir hunting. Another 2 hours gone and it's dinner time.

For dinner we went to the Cultural Village. 12USD inclusive of buffet dinner and cultural show. Yay. The food was ok, got some local stuff but nothing outstanding really. The show was...

Cambodians love their mermaids