SOUTH ASIA BLOG October 11th, 2024 - SIEM REAP

 

10/11/24– Another good night’s sleep as I wake up feeling refreshed and not sick. It’s now 9:15am and we’re about to go to breakfast when there’s a knock on our door. I open it to find five housekeeping staff staring at me. I state we don’t need our room cleaned and they look at each other with grim faces like I just told them they couldn’t ride the pony at the fair.

Then, at breakfast, the staff are all waiting on us, complete with praying hands as we enter. Anything we go towards they immediately assist, and if we tell them we can do it ourselves they have a confused look on their face. Very strange servitude thing going on here. I’m actually quite disturbed wondering if they’re fattening us up for something. Maybe we’re the main course of their ritual later. Btw, the waffles and syrup here are amazing… just say’n.

Noon comes around and we enter the lobby ready for our driver to pick us up, which we arrange with the hotel. For $34 USD, we have a driver for the day that’ll take us to several temples while waiting for us to return. Knowing how hot it'll be we welcome the personal driver and a/c van.

First stop is to the ticket office, which looks like a palace itself. They take our picture and put it on the ticket (to avoid others of using them). The cost is $37 for a one day temple pass and $62 for a three day pass. This will be Sharece’s only day out as she plans to enjoy the hotel spa coming up, but I’m feeling more adventurous. I’m also able to get actual Cambodian cash from the ATM.

Not far down the road is the Angkor Wat Temple. Built in 1150, it’s considered one of the largest religious structures in the world. Our driver has to park a ways from the entrance, meaning we have to walk quite a bit to the entrance. At first the trees provide some shade as it feels like it may be manageable, but as soon as we enter through the temple gates we realize what we’re in for.

There are long sections of openness as we cross a lake and grassy area with the sun knocking at our shoulder. Before long that knock turns into a punch with each step in the direct sunlight we take. The temple walls are of little relief as the no wind effect creates an oven, practically cooking us from the inside. You think I’m exaggerating but this is exactly what it feels like.

Putting my mind back on the task at hand, I roam through the temple walls finding statues and relics along the way. Further up, we finally come to the pillars that gives Angkor Wat its awesome appearance and it doesn’t disappoint. Several pillars reaching high into the sky and not very many people around to get in my way.

The challenging part is going up the stairs to view inside those pillars as the steps are pretty steep, but I power through, bound and determined to see what I can find. By the time I make it out of the complex I’m literally pouring with sweat from head to toe. Others are staring as I trot down the path back to the van, unsure if it’s because I’m American, have long hair or look like I’m about to fall flat on my face. Perhaps a mixture of all three.

I barely make it back to the van, with a souvenir in tow (which I use all of my Cambodian cash for). Funny thing is when I ask if they take credit card for the souvenir and she says no, but she soon sees the Cambodian cash in my hand and practically takes it from me stating this is enough. Wearily, I calculate in my head and realize it is a better deal, but also feel a little bad as the cash is drenched in sweat.

Bayon Temple (next on the list) is pretty easy to maneuver as the driver is able to pull up close and park. Takes me twenty minutes to walk through and take photos, maneuvering through the corridors like I own the place. The faces etched into the rock towers are very awesome to see, but not much more to this place as half of the temple seems to be under restoration. 

      

This brings us to the last temple of Ta Prohm (aka Tomb Raider temple, aka Angelina Jolie temple). This was, if you can guess, featured as the backdrop in the 2001 Tomb Raider movie. Sharece stays back at the air conditioned van as she accepts her fate of defeat for the day. I, stupidly perhaps, charge through the temple on a mission.

Firstly, I almost miss the guy checking tickets at the gate as he flags me down. Then there’s a long tree lined clearing I have to walk just to get to the temple walls, but once inside it’s magical. Immediately, I’m greeted by a large tree with roots twisting around one of the temple doorways. As I go further, I see pockets of open courtyards and more maze-like corridors to explore. I’m leaping over stones off the beaten path, avoiding the tourist groups in the process.

Once I hit the other end of the temple, I take a final look to reflect before making my way back toward the van where cold water and a washcloth are waiting for me.

Back at the hotel, we peel off our clothes and throw them into a laundry bag before putting on our swimwear for the pool. We take the laundry to the front desk who states they charge by the kilo and it'll be $25 USD. Expensive but okay, but before I can nod she corrects herself to $35 USD. Nope, nope… this is feeling like a bad drug deal with kilos involved. We retreat to our room, take some clothes out and drop off only what is needed. 

The pool is excellent by the way. Perfect temperature, not too hot or cold, and so relaxing. You can tell they take good care of it as the water is crystal clear. Not a bad way to cool off.

We check the prices for happy hour but are not happy with the selection, so we look at our GRAB app and low-and-behold we find food delivery. Thank you again GRAB, we’ll never forget you.