Cambodia Adventure in Siem Reap

We were ready for a Cambodia adventure after two months in Vietnam, so we hopped on a plane and headed to the land of ghosts and magic. Read on to see what we did and what we ate.

Located in northwestern Cambodia, Siem Reap is a busy yet laid-back town just four miles from Angkor Wat. Hoards of tourists, many in rumbling tour buses, come to Siem Reap and stay at multi-national hotels as a gateway to the nearby UNESCO site and one of the world’s true wonders.

Not many come for the city itself, except perhaps for the party scene on Pub Street. And that’s a shame. Traveling to Siem Reap has much to offer tourists with its unique blend of Cambodian culture and quirky tourism.

Our Cambodia Adventure in Siem Reap

We spent time exploring the temples in Angkor, eating great food and shopping. Plus, we passed on the big chain hotels and stayed at a Fancy Boutique Villa, a boutique hotel in the heart of Siem Reap.

Angkor Temples

When most people think of Angkor, they likely think of Angkor Wat, Bayon Temple or Ta Prohm, each iconic in its own way. In reality, though, Angkor has relics from over 100 temples, all in different states of repair and disrepair.

Dating back to the 9th century, Angor was a thriving city with a million inhabitants in its heyday until it all but disappeared after the fall of the Khmer empire in the 15th century.

French explorers and then tourists discovered the ruins in the early 1900s before the violent Khmer Rouge came to power. Fast forward to the 21st century and many of the temples have been rescued from abandonment and are open to the millions of tourists who visit each year.

Sunrise at Angkor Wat

We didn’t know whether to look up at the sky or down toward the reflective moat. Somehow, though, we drank it all in with our eyes, took plenty of photos like the one above and stored the special memory for later enjoyment.

Though the sunset at Angkor Wat lives up to its hype, it pales in comparison to the site itself. Built in the 12th century, Angkor Wat sits on 494 acres and is an epic piece of spiritual construction.

You could rush through in an hour or you could spend an entire day without getting bored. The choice is yours. As for us, we explored Angkor Wat for a few hours before moving on to our next Angkor destination.

Bayon Temple at Angkor Thom

If you watch the American TV show Survivor, then you’ve seen some of the 200 impressive stone faces carved into Bayon Temple. Also constructed in the 12th century, this three-story temple is a revelation for its size and huge smiling faces.

Pictures provide a glimpse of what this temple looks like, but there’s nothing like the experience of being surrounded by these faces at every twist and turn.

Jungle Temple at Ta Prohn

Advice on Visiting Angkor

Angkor Photography

Food

Drawing influences from the cuisines of France, China, Thailand and Vietnam, Cambodian food maintains its own character and flavor profiles. Fish and rice are common ingredients in many dishes including the popular Amok which is made with fish, coconut and curry paste and served with a side of rice.

Siem Reap has its fair share of tourist eateries including the pizza shop where we satisfied our pizza craving one evening; however, there are a slew of restaurants serving Cambodian food at every price point. We tried several during our visit and liked these the best.

Local Food

The rain started soon after we arrived in Siem Reap. We kept waiting for it to stop, but the velocity continued to increase. Finally, we abandoned the comfort of our hotel room to venture out for food.

We followed our noses a block or so from the hotel. Once seated, we communicated by pointing at the menu and smiling. Our smiles widened as we sipped on lemon smoothies and slurped down green curry with local flavors and morning glory.

There are numerous spots serving local food, and many don’t display English names. Be sure to try Fish Amok and Green Curry with Rice, two of our local favorites.

Cambodian food is available at shacks and stands throughout Siem Reap. Follow your nose and enjoy the meal. When you want something more, here are our favorite places to eat in Siem Reap:

Mie Cafe

Sister Srey Cafe

As a town that caters to tourists, Siem Reap has more than its fair share of coffee shops. We tried a few, and Sister Srey Café wins the award for being our favorite. In addition to serving tasty coffee, smoothies and food like potato hash, the cafe also serves a social enterprise that supports the local community and its students.

The Sugar Palm

The Sugar Palm is the place to go in Siem Reap for top notch Khmer food. The food may be traditional and homey, but the classy cocktails and stylish atmosphere elevate the dining experience to a higher level. We enjoyed our first meal so much that we returned again and filmed a video.

Shopping

The shopping scene is pretty insane in Siem Reap. The city caters to both the many tourists as well as the local residents. As full-time travelers, we didn’t buy much. However, we sure had fun checking out the goods.

Old Market

Siem Reap’s Old Market, or Psah Chas in Cambodian, is unique in that it caters equally to tourists and locals. Stall after stall sells souvenirs like t-shirts and decorative chopsticks, with many more hawking “genuine” silk scarves.

Local Shops

The streets of Siem Reap are filled with local shops selling a myriad of items from flip-flops to pickled vegetables. Whether you’re looking to buy or just window shop like us, the variety of Siem Reap stores offers a true feast for the eyes.

Hotel – Fancy Boutique Villa

We felt at home at Fancy Boutique Villa from the moment the hotel driver picked us up at the Siem Reap airport until the time the friendly staff waved goodbye to us four days later. Tucked away in a quiet alley within walking distance of all the action, the hotel’s location is ideal for travelers looking for a personal experience with comfort and style.

Original Publication Date: October 24, 2016