Cambodia Trip I (Flying to Siem Reap)

The 11 of us were bursting with excitement when we left for Siem Reap on 13 May. Although Air Asia is throwing lower price fare, the plane was like half full. Among the passengers were Malaysians and some Europeans.


The long walk way to the plane, we were suppose to follow the zebra lined path


As the plane touched down, we can see the changes of the landscape. The land was enveloped by thick filthy dust, and the vast padi field appears dried. It is the sign of dry season here in Cambodia.


We bore the heat wave to the arrival counter in airport, which there hung a few ceiling fans struggling to cool down the heat.

Our first shelter was Golden Temple Villa, a mid range guest house.


We had our first meal, most of us tried Amok chicken/fish, a local dish, which recipe includes frying the meat with green spices, then simmering with curry powder, and added fresh coconut cream, yummy. We tried the Angkor beer too. The meal cost us $3 each, not so cheap though. The currency I mentioned in the articles are mostly $ or USD. Here in Cambodia, their own currency's value is so negligible, their notes were only used for things less than $1 (USD) = 4000Riel.


Amok Chicken with coconut cream and stew beef


The local beer - Angkor


Taken from our guesthouse's garden pond, water lily is quite common here, don't u think my photography skill worth a credit?

We had a short walk at Artisans d'Angkor, a wood and stone carving centre.

This lady was polishing the stone carving by stroking it with plain fingers for a month or so! Asked why not using chemical varnish, the answer was because it won't look that appealing


stone carving


It reminds me of those ugly carvings I did on wood as an assignment for subject "Kemahiran Hidup"


Was it trying to say "Thanks, but no photograph please"?

We bugged the hotel staffs to learn their language, not forgetting words like "How much", "Discount please", "expensive" and numbers. "Beautiful" in Cambodian is called "Sa-at na". Yeah, it's important for me to learn as I do not want to miss it when others are complimenting me, good grace!


An eye-opener: You probably have heard about how they stuff as many passengers to a vehicle, but seeing it is anothing experience