【Fever Travelogue】My Favorite Cambodia

My Favorite Cambodia – The Basics 

A

Cambodia, in recent years, has been visited by many, and most who go speak highly of it. Since National Geographic listed Cambodia as one of the top ten must-visit places, more and more people have been going there. In recent years, the annual number of visitors has exceeded 2 million, bringing over 200 million USD in revenue to the country. As a result, the area has gradually become more commercialized, and the government has also started to regulate Angkor Wat through companies. If you still want to see the raw, unspoiled Angkor Wat, think about whether you should go sooner rather than later. Those who haven’t been there usually have similar questions: Is it chaotic there? Is it safe? Where was Tomb Raider filmed? Also, booking hotels, transportation, communication, daily necessities... Don’t worry, I’ll share everything I know with you all.

My Favorite Cambodia will be divided into: Basics | Monks | Daily Life | Precautions and Comparison Charts

• Basics: This covers geographical location and a brief introduction to some attractions
• Monks: Some stories related to local monks and beliefs
• Daily Life: The lives of locals in various places
• Precautions and Comparison Charts: All the special things I noticed, with an English-Chinese comparison chart for easier communication with drivers

Geography and Location

When traveling, it’s essential to first have a basic understanding of the geography, so I referred to other maps and created an easy-to-understand "big" map, which looks roughly like this:

Is the image too small? I’ve prepared a PDF that you can easily print on A4 paper to see all the locations at a glance. Download PDF

Now you can clearly see the large, medium, and small circles. Most people follow a similar itinerary, and I’ve marked the absolutely must-visit spots in yellow, so you’ll get the idea at a glance...
*Because this isn’t really a travel guide,If you’re looking for information to prepare for a trip to Cambodia, I’ve put the essential things to note in “My Favorite Cambodia – Precautions and Comparison Chart.” After that, you can do a bit more Googling. I did a lot of online research before my trip because there was so much information available, so I don’t plan to repeat too much here.

*If you only have 7 days or less, I suggest doing what I did and just visiting "Siem Reap," because the main attraction for most people is "Angkor Wat." Although theoretically three days are enough for Angkor Wat, in reality, you’d just be taking photos of a bunch of stones and then going home to tell your friends, "I’ve been to Angkor Wat." But if you know nothing about the local culture or the lives of the people, is that really okay? So I strongly recommend: first, don’t join a tour group, and second, spend at least 6–7 days.

This time, the flight was directly from Hong Kong to Siem Reap. Although the ticket was a bit more expensive, in the 7 days, after deducting the round trip, there were only 6 days left, and Angkor Wat requires 3.5 days. Would you really spend another half day traveling from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap by car? (5 hours one way) Next time, if you have less time, you can just go directly to Phnom Penh and check it out.

City Center and Angkor Wat:

! Isn’t it convenient that you don’t have to transfer multiple times to get to the airport from the city center? Most flights are direct.

? When I arrived, I called the hotel, and actually, it wasn’t far. The TukTuk driver was already waiting for me.

? The city center has its own charm. Most of the areas are quite central, with some sports venues and cafes.

? The first time I rode in a TukTuk was fun, and I was excited at first, but then I felt an unusual heat. Soon after, my eyes couldn’t stay open—it was too bright. I asked the driver, and he said the temperature was only 35 degrees, “not too hot.” Luckily, I went in March... He said the highest temperature can exceed 40 degrees? Really?

This time, I stayed at three hotels in total—two small ones I booked myself, and one large one that came with my flight package.

1. The Cyclo d’Angkor Boutique Hotel 

The hotel environments were okay ★★★'0'0

The interior decor had a subtle temple vibe

The rooms were nice

! The other hotels weren’t bad either. They weren’t ordinary, because one of them surprised me with extremely attentive service. But apart from that, I’m not sure how the others were... the water...(Laundry $3 for 1kg)

2. Chronicle Angkor Hotel

New hotel ★★★★★

There are two buildings by the pool, not many rooms

The rooms are modern and very comfortable

!I think this hotel is a local gem, the staff are also very friendly, and there’s even a bar that’s not bad. The place has just been renovated, so it feels fresh. I feel like the design here was definitely tailored for tourists. The location is great too — in the middle of everything. The staff and environment here are also really nice. They even make the best Lemon Juice and recommend what to eat at night. This Lemon Juice has a unique taste, you definitely have to try it, you won’t find this flavor anywhere else. (Laundry $2 for 1kg)

3. Angkor Mirace Resort and Spa / Siem Reap

Opened a few years ago ★★★★'0

This one is designed in “Angkor style”

It’s a large place with lots of facilities

!This is a five-star hotel, not bad, the facilities are many, but what’s the use? The food isn’t great, the service has everything you could ask for, but the rooms are all the same as the regular ones... you get the idea. (Laundry $28 per wash))

!I often come here early in the morning and sometimes encounter some modern equipment, which is all used by locals. You can check it out, no need to spend much time.

!This is my favorite tuk-tuk driver, "ROM", who is friendly and honest. He knows the area well and is learning Mandarin. I also explained the difference between Traditional and Simplified Chinese characters to him. He doesn’t talk much, but once you chat with him, he becomes quite talkative. His contact is tuktukdrivers@gmail.com — usually speaking English is fine. Also, his younger brother is also a TukTuk Driver, but doesn’t have a car. When ROM is not available, you can find him for about $15 (8-9 hours) a day.

!This is an employee who works at Artisans Angkor — their craft techniques are diverse and involve many different roles.

!Although some of the workshops may look a bit shabby from the outside, they actually have many skilled artisans, and the craftsmanship is outstanding.

!The items made here are all produced by hand, using traditional methods and techniques.

!Some of the employees at Artisans Angkor are people with disabilities, but they are very skilled — it's a pretty good job for them.

!When you buy a ticket to Angkor Wat, your photo will be printed on it, so you’ll need to have your photo taken on-site.

• One-day pass $20
• Three-day pass $40, choose any three days within a week
• Seven-day pass $60, choose any seven days within a month

!The first time you approach Angkor Wat, as you cross the moat, you’ll already sense its grandeur. But photos can only capture so much — its magnificence simply can’t be fully appreciated through any photo. You have to experience it in person.

!When you enter the temple in the early morning, or even a bit later, the crowds by the moat have mostly gone, and it’s much quieter. There are many steps, so be careful when climbing. I’m already 60

!Pub Street, here you'll find nothing but bars and restaurants laid out in a block shape, surrounded by many small shops and a Night Market.

!Pub Street also has options for Local Tours or ticket purchasing, but actually, if you want to buy tickets, a TukTuk driver will take you to the official ones — that’s better because it saves time and offers much more flexibility!

!There are many restaurants around Pub Street offering various types of cuisine, so there's definitely something for everyone. Many have nice atmospheres, but finding air-conditioned ones is a bit harder...

!This is where you can try BBQ — don't listen to what others say about whether it's good or not, you’ve got to try the local dishes at least once. Also, the hotel manager recommended some Cambodian fish and stir-fried dishes, believe it or not, I did!

!At Pub Street, just find a spot in the evening, sip a drink or have a snack, and it feels great.

!One of the top-rated spots is The Red Piano, famous because the “Tomb Raider” star Angelina Jolie often visited it during the film shoot.AnAngelina Jolie, who frequently visited this shop during her filming period. This shop also created a special drink called the "Tomb Raider" forAnZulena. This place has a unique feature — if you order a "Tomb Raider," every ten drinks gets you one free. And when your free drink comes, the server will ring a little bell to let everyone know someone just won won!

!A driver waiting for customers on Pub Street one night.

!There are some drivers who, like taxis, can be flagged down anytime on the street — just agree on a price and you’re off.

!There are plenty of these around, even inside places like Angkor Wat.

!If you see this guy on Pub Street, you must try his Pan Cake & Banana — not only is it delicious, but watching his technique is a treat in itself!

!Near Pub Street there are quite a few such markets that look like they sell only clothes and accessories, but once you go in, you’ll find they’re actually huge and packed with all kinds of goods.

!Many places have this kind of buffet-style setup — hotels have them too — prices aren’t high, but the portions aren’t very big either.

!Psar Chaa, also known as the Old Market in Siem Reap, is where locals shop. It’s huge, cheap, but watch out for the flies.

!The weather wasn’t great that day. Actually, the best time to see the sunrise at Angkor Wat is around March 29 and September 20, give or take a few days — that’s when the sun rises in the perfect spot. Other times it’ll appear too far to the left or right. And if the weather’s bad, don’t just wait around like everyone else. Though starting to queue up here at 4:30am makes it hard to leave... you might as well give up early and come back in two days.

!Many of the more senior monks weren’t in good health, some had already passed away, others were just young monks with their smartphones.

!All the staff at Angkor Wat have ID badges — but who’s this guy? He works at the temple, you can think of him as a guard.

!If someone at Angkor Wat offers you incense to pray with and then leads you down a dark alley, beware — afterward they’ll ask you for money. Best to just ignore them and walk away. But there aren’t many scammers like this, and I’ve only seen them at Angkor Wat.

!In this place, every pillar has something different carved into it — some are clear, some aren’t. Some patterns are really intricate, and you can even see the fine lines of the fabric designs!

!Every corner you turn here has another one of these not-so-small corners, along with long, detailed bas-reliefs.

!Motorbike drivers often pick up solo female travelers. Some seem to want to chat you up, but if you’re not interested, just say no thank you and move on.

!When you enter the complex, you’ll first pass through a Gate with many stone statues on either side pulling a long fish-like creature — one side angels, the other demons — it’s related to a mythological story. Most of the heads are missing, but if you see some slightly whitish patches, those are freshly restored parts.

!There’s also a very large tree here — no idea what species — it’s massive, covering a lot of the structure.

!This is part of the set where Tomb Raider was filmed — "Ta Prohm Temple." How big are the tree roots? This woman is about 6 foot 7 inches tall, and I’m 5 foot 11 and only reach her shoulders — pretty much. I went in 2015 — if I’d gone two years earlier, there wouldn’t have been these floor restrictions. Nowadays, many temples are undergoing partial restorations, so if you love photography, you’d better hurry and visit soon!

!The photo behind me was originally not meant to be shared...)

!You need to plan ahead if you want to find a time when no one’s around for photos — it takes patience, and it’s not something you get to do on a tour group.

!Many of the carvings have been eroded quite a bit already — most are quite blurred.

!Some of the inscriptions are quite faded.

!The colors here during the day and at dusk can feel like two different worlds — many places look completely different in the early morning or late evening.

!This is the famous Smile of Angkor, and of course, it’s also one of my favorites. The dusk atmosphere makes it hard to leave — it’s just too beautiful.

!You’ll see many Buddha statues here — everyone, please do not touch them. Even people of any faith should respect others’ religious objects. (I saw people from neighboring countries touching them disrespectfully — that’s really not okay.)

!If you see monks alone near Angkor Wat, as long as you’re polite, many are willing to let you take their photo, but it’s best not to talk to them as they’re likely in meditation.

!Mile of Angkor

!You’ll see lots of these in many places — locals using these makeshift stands to sell things.

!There are also many Buddha statues that have lost their heads.

The staff uniforms in Angkor Wat look like this. If you see someone who looks like staff but wearing different uniforms, they might be from another company managing a different temple. But if they say they can take you through another route, be careful!

I can't upload the photo now.

My personal favorite is the small pink one. It might be a bit hard to find in person.

Along the way, you’ll also see some small-scale tree planting projects. A person digs a hole, then another person plants a sapling—it’s quite organized. The types of trees planted are also explained. I didn’t finish reading the info, but some saplings require several people and several years to fully grow, costing up to nearly $1,000.

There are also other planting activities where you can watch the tree planting process. The saplings look very healthy, not too big.

Go to Pub Street for breakfast—it's really relaxing.

Then go to a coffee shop. I went to Front Street Coffee. It wasn’t crowded at all, and watching the locals slowly sip their coffee was really chill—so much vibe!

By 10 a.m., it’s already getting crowded!

Near the Old Market , there are street food vendors from morning till night. Many are pretty good, but I didn’t dare to try this one—the shellfish thing looked like it wasn’t cooked.

This is the famous local dessert. It’s sweet and smooth. Some of the ones being sold look a bit too pale yellow, though. I didn’t buy them.

This is a place that wasn’t introduced much in the guidebook. Some locals and tourists were eating together, looked pretty good, and it was cheap. After this meal, you guys can consider coming here.

They introduced a lot of amok dishes, super delicious, even better than what I’ve had in Hong Kong!

I also didn’t choose to buy the “Smile of Angkor” because it was just too beautiful—the Buddha’s expression is so serene, almost like it’s smiling at you, not scary at all.

This place is the ticket office. Compared to the more touristy areas, I actually prefer this spot. It’s quieter, but I’d also be happy to tell you how to get here.

As for Beng Mealea , many areas are no longer accessible, and erosion has been quite severe. But it’s still worth seeing. Some parts let you look down from above, and you can still appreciate its majestic beauty. Also, Beng Mealea and Banteay Srei are now managed by another company, and the ticket is $5.

Many areas look quite dangerous, and some people say these areas are off-limits—see the sign in the photo.

My mom also thought the same.

The last spot is “Banteay Srei” . Seeing is believing—it’s small in size, but truly extraordinary. It’s dedicated to Shiva, one of the three main deities of Hinduism.

Because a lot of red sandstone is used as the building material here, after so many years, many beautiful carvings have become blurry. But every corner, every wall, every relief is still exquisitely carved.

Some visitors also come here with guides.

That’s why it’s called the “Gem of Khmer Art.”

In the inner areas of the temples, there are always signs prohibiting touching.

 

My love for Cambodia is divided into: Basics | Monks | Daily Life | Tips & Comparison Table

 My Flickr : https://www.flickr.com/photos/94771094@N04/

More Cambodia travel photography info