Floating Village @ Cambodia – Day 3

After a day of exciting temple walks, here we are at Cambodia’s Great Lake, the Boeung Tonel Sap (Tonle Sap Lake). The Tonel Sap Lake is one of the largest freshwater lake in Asia, which can swell up to an expansive 12,000 sq meter. The lake sits only about 15km south of Siem Reap town. 

Before we enter to the ferry area, tour guide needs to inform the lake ranger how many pax are boarding the river taxi.

The less fortunate group of Cambodia people, including viet and thai people are gathered in this area.

 

 

Volleyballl game

River Taxi, US$12 pp

 

Children at his age are exploited… paying them US$10 per month to help out at the ferry station!

 

If you take the river taxi, you will cross the lake and dock at the village of Chong Khneas, where 3-5m people stay. Chong Khneas is the floating village at the edge of the lake closest and most accessible to Siem Reap.

Floating school

Floating basketball court

 

Floating Police Station

Floating Church

Kids trying to earn some quick bucks by selling cold drinks to tourist

Childing posting for you for US$1

Next, we visited the Angkor Arts and Crafts Centre

 Guided tours were conducted to walk through their workshop to look at how artifacts are craved.

 

 

Learning through Apprenticeship

Young apprentices are selected in rural areas through skill and motivation tests.

Apprenticeship starts with a 6-8 months period. Apprentices are trained by groups of 10 – 15 persons for craftsmanship and groups of 15 – 25 persons for silk-related jobs. During this free vocational training, they receive a living allowance. Before joining his/her village workshop, the future Artisan refines his/her technique for an internship period of 3 – 6 months.

The learning methodology is based on self-awareness, promotion and development of the individual. This teaching tool enables young people to acquire the necessary competences to quickly master a craftsmanship.

 

 

 

 Some of the apprentices uses sign language to communicate as they have hearing impaired.

Before we say goodbye to Siem Reap… we had our lunch and went for some souvenirs shopping at Siem Reap Old Market and Central Market…

Highlight of the lunch was their desserts… Cambodia people are good in making coconut based desserts

 

 

Noodle soup

There are 2 major markets: a) Central and b) Old Market (Psar Chaa). Central Market does not attract as many tourists but it is much cleaner, as it does not have food market like the Old Market does where small business owners are selling their veggies, meats, and household items. Nothing much to buy unless you are interested in Thai silk pillow cases (US$1.50); average quality silk scarves (US$1.50); tourist shirts with Gap labels (US$1.00 USD – quality of shirt was very high, I think it is Gap); NorthFace backpacks (not sure if it’s real); and Cambodian Wedding Music CD ($3.00).

 The Central Market…

The Old Market…

 … storm approaching

 Street hawker selling bbq bananas

 Chinese pastry found in the market

 Deep fried crickets

 Heavy rain

 Drinks from convenient store. cost US$0.50

 Fruits store, selling durians, dragon fruits, bananas, lychee, longans, etc

More Interesting Facts:

• A presidential suite at Raffles Angkor Hotel cost US$1,900 per night
• A second hand bicycle cost US$20, motor bike cost US$1,400
• Cambodia people seldom eat outside. They prefer home cook meals to save money
• Private university fee 1 yr = US$400, master program 1 yr = US$200
• Student have a choice to learn English or French during their high school
• Whole of Siem Reap only 5 traffic lights
• No licence are required for motor bike drivers
• Avg pay a degree holder earns is approx US$200-500

Angkor Wat @ Cambodia – Day 2

Day 2 - Visit to Angkor – World Heritage Site 

Simple breakfast @ the hotel… before we set off to Angkor Park

   

There are about 60 temple ruins in Siem Reap and sad to say, only about 40 of them are still in good condition.

At the entrance of Angkor Park, 1 day pass cost US$20, 3 days pass cost US$40. A digital entrance pass were issued to us on the spot with our photo printed on it. Entrance fee is not applicable to local citizens.

 

One of the “must see” ruins is the giant faces of Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom. The Bayon forms a three-tiered pyramid with 54 towers, each dominated by over 200 huge, 4 meter high mysterious faces facing out to the north, south, east and west directions. Each mystically serene countenance, with closed eyelids and faint smile, represents a Bodhisattaya (fully enlightened being) who delays entry into Nirvana to aid the spiritual development of others.

 Giant faces

 Wooden structure supporting the falling ruins

The struture is rich in decoration, detailing scenes from battles, religious rituals, and everyday life.

Passageways joining the maze of galleries

Next, we moved on to the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King.

Another “must see” temple is the temple and monastery of Ta Promh. Unlike most of the other monuments, Ta Promh has been left the way it was originally found. The ancient structure is gripped by massive strangler fig and banyan tree roots (“spongs”) that are at least 100 years old (some are > 400 years old).  Ta Promh is also being called the “Tomb Raider” temple since the shooting of Tomb Raider II at the temple years back.

At the entrance to Ta Promh

 These are victims of the landmines

Fallen passageway

Giant Banyan tree roots strangling the ruins. According to our tour guide, removing the roots would cause the temple to collapse.

Can you see the holes on the wall… it was once filled with gems and diamonds!!!

Banteay Srei- one of my favourite temple. Approximately 25 kilometers from the main temple, is a relatively small 10th century monument in pink sandstone dedicated to Shiva. Its perfectly proportioned decorated and detailed with exquisite sculptures, lintels and friezes, makes it one of the oldest and most aesthetically beautiful temple. Almost every surface is a masterpiece by itself.

 1000 yrs old

Little gal with her pet – owl

Can you see the tiny doorways? They are built in such a way when you walk pass, you have to bend down (i.e. like bowing) to the king.

Time for Lunch! @ Joan Yen Lau

 

 

Pictures taken on the way back to the temple

 

 mama store

 Petrol for bikes. Apparently these petrol are much cheaper than those from the station

Angkor Wat – the mother of all temples, was built to honor the Hindu god Vishnu, is the world’s largest religious building which took some 50,000 artisans, workers and slaves and nearly 40 years to complete.

Bullets holes

Other than learning the history of the temples, the next most exciting moment was to climb this 70 degree flight of stairs to the top of the temple

View from the top

Virtually every surface in the maze of chambers and courtyards is richly decorated with low-relief scenes of legends, war and everyday life, enhanced by cravings nearly 2,000 apsaras, or celestial dances.

Outside the temple, street hawkers selling pineapple (2 for US$1) and lotus seeds. Must try their pineapple.. its very very sweet!

End our day with watching sunset at Pre Rub

Had our dinner @ Sampheat – Cambodian food

Mutton curry, not as spicy as S’pore’s curry

Steam fish in coconut. Taste abit like S’pore otah but not spicy at all

Siem Reap @ Cambodia – Day 1

Siem Reap is the gateway to Cambodia’s spiritual and cultural heartbeat, the temples of Angkor. You have to be there to tell how magnificent the temples are… its simply fascinating!!!

On arrival, we were greeted by a “bali”style airport. I was totally impressed by the newly built airport! Its clean, its beautiful, its equipped with some latest security facilities! I was also amused by how relax the people are… we can freely roam around to take pictures of the air planes, airport, air field… without anyone stopping us.

 

 Modern cafe at the entrance of the airport

  Charity for folks in Siem Reap. Happened to be on the same flight with a group of about 10 people, who seems to be delivering some necessity to the less fortunate.

Our 1st Stop: Cambodia Cultural Village

Cambodia Cultural Village – constructed to provide tourists both local and foreign a glance of the country’s famous and historical milestone as well as showcase of the rich natural and cultural heritage of the Khmer people. The cultural village is somewhat simple to Singapore’s Haw Par Villa, which feature houses of different architectural styles, traditional dance performances, wedding ceremony etc. Entrance fee is US$9.

 Local transport – Tu tu (similar to Thailand’s tu tu)

A millionairre’s house

 

 Wooden door fully hand craved

 

Wedding Ceremony

Street hawker selling bbq egg, skewed meat and bread

These egg roll taste abit like our love letters… cost US$1

 Miniatures

Wax Museum

 

Buffet dinner at Tonle Mekong – an open-air theatre restaurant

 

Rice Pudding – Crispy crest with creamy coconut fillings

 

Not too sure what these are… looks interesting to me…

 

Stew Pork Leg – Very Nice!

 

My favourite – fried taro stick

 

After dinner… we travel back to Monarch Angkor Hotel

 

Monach is a 3 star hotel… the whole place was abit run down… slightly disappointed with the interior of the hotel.

Some Interesting Facts:

• May to Oct: Monsoon Season
• Best time to visit Cambodia: Nov-Jan
• Current temperature – 35 degree
• From Siem Reap to Thai border – 156km away (using National Road, no. 6)
• From Siem Reap to capital Phnom Penh – 5hrs drive away (by flight, 35mins)
• Currently there are > 400 hotels in Siem Reap
• About 500 Cambodia Chinese family stayed in the city
• Body massage US$10-12 for 60mins, oil massage US$15-20 for 60mins

A morning @ East Coast Park

   

   

Beach Road Prawn Mee

Located at 370 East Coast Road, Beach Road Prawn Noodle House is famous for their jumbo prawn noodle, pork ribs and tail soup.

11am on a Sunay morning!

Long Q for placing orders

Staff “buzz-ing” around with our orders

The signature dish is their soupy prawn noodles (S$4, 5 or 8). Each prawn is cut opened in the centrewith the shell intack. By doing this, the flesh can be easily extracted without the need to shell the prawn. The essence of this dish was in the soup – extremely savoury liquid that is flavourful of the prawn extract. Add your own dosage of chilli flakes and you get a potent mixture of spice and shrimp. Simply Yummy!!!

While waiting for the prawn noodle, there is another stall within Beach Road Prawn Noodle House, selling Ngoh Hiang (below cost S$8.20, price varies). A dish of basically assorted fried items that you eat with either the chilli dip (comprising garlic and other secret blends) or the sickly pink sweet sauce. Ngoh Hiang refers to the five spices used in the seasoning and also refers to the main item in the dish. A wrap of minced meat and shrimp that is deep fried. Other items are fried egg roll, beancurd, prawn fritters, cucumber, and the century egg.