Video Trip Report: Siem Reap Temples, Monkeys and Guns, Oh My
This is an installment in my March 2012 Asia Trip Series which includes: A Birthday Present To Myself: Business Class on the World's Longest Flight for $2.50, Help Me Plan My Asia Trip Starting With Singapore, Flight Review: Singapore Airlines All Business Class Flight From Newark To Singapore, Hotel Review: Intercontinental Singapore, Video Trip Report: Singapore, Hotel Review: Le Meridien Bangkok Avantec Suite, Video Trip Report: Bangkok, Hotel Review: Le Meridien Angkor, Video Trip Report: Siem Reap, Hotel Review: Intercontinental Phnom Penh, Video Trip Report: Phnom Penh and the Khmer Rouge Killing Fields, Hotel Review: W Hong Kong.
I originally was going to fly into Siem Reap from Bangkok (On Bangkok Airways, which was a great experience, by the way) on a Sunday night and leave Tuesday morning. However, TPG readers spoke loud and clear that one full day wasn't enough and I'm glad they did. I actually ended up staying Sunday night through Thursday morning and I had the chance not only to explore the temples, but also the town of Siem Reap itself, the Le Meridien resort and even some random things like trying out automatic weapons at a military shooting range.
Angkor Wat, Thom and Ta Promh
To explore the temples, I decided to start early on our first day and our tour guide met us in the lobby of Le Meridien at 5:00am, complete with our own tuk-tuk (motorcycle with carriage attached). Angkor Wat, the well-preserved 12th-century temple complex, is the main attraction in Siem Reap. Tourists flock, especially at sunrise, to see the sun illuminate its vastness on the reflective pond. To be honest, getting there at 5:20am was a bit of overkill because we ended up waiting around for quite a while for the sun to rise, and frankly once you walk through the temple, there's not a whole lot to do. The key thing is to go up to the third level which gives a birds-eye view of the temple grounds and holds a couple unique shrines. However, this part doesn't open until 7:45am, though we were able to pay off the guards roughly $5 to let us up (we had seen other tourists do this and our tour guide said it was normal). I'm glad we did, because we had the entire level to ourselves and we were able to take some great pictures (plus I absolutely loathe waiting, especially in tourist traps).
After the temple we had breakfast on the Ankgor Wat grounds and then continued on to Angkor Thom, which was the capital of the Khmer empire. There I got to explore the Bayon Temple, which was built as a Buddhist shrine, and if you see in the pictures, there are many faces of Buddha in the stone. This was photo-op central and much less crowded than Angkor Wat.
Finally we went to Ta Promh, which is mostly known for Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. It's known for the huge trees that are growing through the temples. Even though the trees are technically destroying the temples slowly, it's an amazing sight to see.
A day pass to all of the temple sites is $20, and you can buy a 3 day pass for $40. I did the three main temples in about 5.5 hours, though you could spend days if you wanted. I ended up going back again (and ended up being attacked by monkeys as you see in the video), so I wouldn't try packing your whole visit to Siem Reap into one day, unless you are really pressed for time.
Welcome to the Gun Show
One of the more unique tourist attractions is a military training camp where you can shoot a number of powerful guns that were once used by the Khmer Republic to fight against the Khmer Rouge. The hotel arranged for a driver to take us there and to the hot-air balloon at Angkor one afternoon. The gun experience wasn't cheap - it was basically $50 per gun you wanted to shoot and since I was there, I ended up doing the M18 automatic (which you see in the video and was crazy), M16 and AK47. Upon arrival at the shooting range, you realize it's just a couple people hanging out in an open-air glorified shed and there are basically no rules and no training. I wouldn't recommend this activity for those who have never shot a gun, because the lack of instruction was laughable - they would just load up the weapons and hand them to you with no tips. The M18 was a rush to shoot - especially since they bring you into a dark, underground long cement basement to shoot it in. I'm an adventurous person, but one round was enough and I couldn't help thinking that something could easily have gone wrong.
Come Fly With Me!
I decided to try out the tethered hot air balloon at Angkor around dusk. It's $15 for 20 minutes and it does provide pretty nice views of Angkor Wat. Being somewhat afraid of heights, I've never really wanted to do a hot air balloon, but this experience was controlled and enjoyable (though at one point everyone was on one side of the balloon and it was tilting dramatically, which freaked me out, somewhat).
Meals
TPG readers highly recommended Touich and I now understand why. The food was fresh and felt authentically Cambodian, but presented very nicely. The outdoor setting was quaint, though insects were somewhat bothersome. You can see pictures below, but I got a Beef Battambang starter and chicken with pineapple as my entree. Both dishes were perfectly spiced and looked beautiful on the plate. With cocktails and a bottle of wine, dessert and gratuity, the total meal was $49 for two.
I also ate at Hotel de la Paix, which is right in the center of Siem Reap (and will become a Park Hyatt in 2013). The food was good, but not nearly as good as Touich.
For the third night we did a low-key meal at Khmer Kitchen right in Siem Reap, which is mostly Cambodian barbeque and noodle dishes (each about $4 each). Great location and within walking distance of the fun bars Angkor Wat and Temple Bar.
Overall, Siem Reap is charming and super cheap. It's a top destination to put on your list because its got a great mix of culture, history, nice people, great food and overall value. I may just have to return when they Park Hyatt opens next year!
[card card-name='The Platinum Card® from American Express' card-id='22504813' type='javascript' bullet-id='1']
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.