Today we set off to Siem Reap! This is a 5 hour journey by bus. The best way to go Cambodia and visit both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap is to take an open jaw flight from SG-PP, drive/boat to SR, then fly SR-SG. However it is rather tricky to get this open jaw flight, and the SR-SG leg alone could cost $60usd.. So in order to save, we got a SG-PP round trip and had to waste a bit of time and $ to do a round trip bus ride from PP-SR.
We were rather freaked out by the level of English our 'guide' or actually, driver knew, and we were worried about how he was gonna bring us around. The night before, we called up the company daraprumtaxi (wondering if Dara is even a real person or just the company name) and asked if we could change the driver. 'Dara' assured us that Sang, although he did not speak much english, knew the route very well. And he was just a driver, not a guide.
Well.. because a one way cab ride from PP-SR already costs $80usd, we decided to just go ahead with Sang cos it was cheaper (3d 2N for $250, including this 2 way PP-SR trip which has a value of 160usd) Kinda luxurious actually, to have a driver bring us anywhere at our whim. (what's that expression, ___ and whim. I can't recall)
Okay. Enough of boring details.
We were rather freaked out by the level of English our 'guide' or actually, driver knew, and we were worried about how he was gonna bring us around. The night before, we called up the company daraprumtaxi (wondering if Dara is even a real person or just the company name) and asked if we could change the driver. 'Dara' assured us that Sang, although he did not speak much english, knew the route very well. And he was just a driver, not a guide.
Well.. because a one way cab ride from PP-SR already costs $80usd, we decided to just go ahead with Sang cos it was cheaper (3d 2N for $250, including this 2 way PP-SR trip which has a value of 160usd) Kinda luxurious actually, to have a driver bring us anywhere at our whim. (what's that expression, ___ and whim. I can't recall)
Okay. Enough of boring details.
We had an expensive $3.50usd breakfast at Goldie Guesthouse cos we wanted to save time. On the right is a book that I bought from a guy outside the Golden Palace for ahem, 5usd, after negotiations. I knew that it wasn't that cheap but it's ok cos we kinda needed a book anyway. We later saw more people selling these books, and other full colored books for 2usd (even before bargaining)
Sang was there waiting for us while we had breakfast. His service throughout the days was perfect. He was polite and always ready for us outside the temples after we were toured them. He brought a cooler which was always stocked with cool softdrinks+water. What really impressed me was that the van was always kept spotlessly clean! We always brought lots of mud into the van.. and the next time we came back from the next temple, the mud would have disappeared. We never caught him sleeping in the van while waiting for us.. And each temple visit could take up to 2-3 hours. Impressive!
We had asked Sang to bring us to anywhere that sold spiders for breakfast! We had always wanted to try. This is the sort of thing you see on tv but don't actually get to try cos you don't know where they sell it or have no idea how to buy them or eat them.
And here we are.. We took a look and immediately regretted asking him to bring us here. These ladies sold piles of insects, and they weren't prettily fried or anything. They looked soggy and uncooked.. Looks like they just caught them and drowned them and piled them there to sell.
Sang was there waiting for us while we had breakfast. His service throughout the days was perfect. He was polite and always ready for us outside the temples after we were toured them. He brought a cooler which was always stocked with cool softdrinks+water. What really impressed me was that the van was always kept spotlessly clean! We always brought lots of mud into the van.. and the next time we came back from the next temple, the mud would have disappeared. We never caught him sleeping in the van while waiting for us.. And each temple visit could take up to 2-3 hours. Impressive!
We had asked Sang to bring us to anywhere that sold spiders for breakfast! We had always wanted to try. This is the sort of thing you see on tv but don't actually get to try cos you don't know where they sell it or have no idea how to buy them or eat them.
And here we are.. We took a look and immediately regretted asking him to bring us here. These ladies sold piles of insects, and they weren't prettily fried or anything. They looked soggy and uncooked.. Looks like they just caught them and drowned them and piled them there to sell.
EEW. Ok, eating insects? Not gonna happen.
This sweet little girl sold some pathetic bananas. She agreed to let me take a photo.. Later on I bought a pomelo from another little girl, and this girl started whining 'You take photo with me you buy fruit!' [Again, better english than Sang].. I felt really bad!
After taking photos of this little girl, I turned around and there was this frenzy.. The rest of them were swarmed! Not by insects but by a horde of little girls selling their fruits.. I walked towards them and suddenly this girl threw a huge ass spider onto my teeshirt!
After taking photos of this little girl, I turned around and there was this frenzy.. The rest of them were swarmed! Not by insects but by a horde of little girls selling their fruits.. I walked towards them and suddenly this girl threw a huge ass spider onto my teeshirt!
They claim that it isn't poisonous and I sure hope it isn't
haojie is way too nice.. everywhere he goes he can't reject those sweet little kids, and they can sense that so he always ends up with a whole swarm of them.
The kids here are really pretty! And good natured really.
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They followed us to our van and Sang quickly closed the door.. Notice that girl with the spider on her shirt, she's the one staring at me angrily and sayin 'You take photo of me and you buy fruit from her!' Oh man. I feel so guilty.
Unfortunately for us, Sang had bought a packet of crickets for us to eat! We would never have bought them on our own accord. OH well we asked for it so now we have no choice but to just try it and hope we don't fall sick on our 2nd day.
Unfortunately for us, Sang had bought a packet of crickets for us to eat! We would never have bought them on our own accord. OH well we asked for it so now we have no choice but to just try it and hope we don't fall sick on our 2nd day.
Sang teaches us to remove the wings and legs before popping it into your mouth. If we had bought it ourselves we would probably have eaten the whole damn thing, legs and all.
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some preparation and...
yum. It was okay really. Oily, crispy and slightly salted. I had a few servings!
We bought mango, pomelo, pineapple and jackfruit which we polished off right away.
Time for lunch! We tried to order as much 'Cambodian' sounding food as possible.
The route to SR was rather pleasant. And the weather was perfect.
Rolling plains.. Many were rather flooded because the typhoon Ketsana had just blasted the area merely a week ago, leaving 11 dead.
And here we are in Siem Reap! First we found our lovely guesthouse Jasmine Lodge to check in and put our things. We're gonna head to Phnom Bakheng today for sunset, and the receptionist tells us that we can leave at, 4.30pm I think, and definitely make it in time. With some time left, we drop off at the old market to do some souvenir shopping.
Looks like some sort of fermented fish paste.. But it looks different from prahoc. No idea what it is but chances are we probably ate it in some of the Khmer food we had.
We decided not to listen to the experts at Jasmine Lodge and go to Phnom Bakheng earlier (cos it's usually SUPER crowded, and if you go earlier you won't be blocked by the thousand of tourists there)We have to buy an Angkor ticket first. We're gonna get a 1day pass for the next day, and they allow us to go check out the sunset today with the ticket. Guess what.. the ticket booths only start opening at 5 pm! We were there an hour early. So much for not listening to the experts.
Come to think of it, our driver also damn blur lah. I guess cos he'sbased in Phnom Penh so he's not so clear about the rules here.
We waited for a while before lining up here to get the 1 day pass.
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There!
We drove towards Phnom Bakheng and here we are at the base. At many points in Angkor, there are these landmine survivors playing music. Look carefully and you'll see the left most guy, his instrument is a LEAF! he just leaves it in his mouth and kinda whistles and there is Music! Amazing.
Here we are!
We decide to do a wherethehellismatt or, better known as the Go Visa advert here.
Climbing up the steep stairs was fun
another wherethehellismatt
The sunset was okay but not spectacular. At least the weather was fine! And it was crowded, but really not that bad. I suppose it's low season. Sang asks us if we wanna watch Apsara dance and of course we do! We head to this Tonle Mekong restaurant which is a buffet for like, $10usd and provides the dance too. Sure!
peacock
I think we are supposed to tip them
After which, we headed to Lucky Supermarket (again. Loves it) to get some beer (erwin's treat because he is rich) and donuts for the next day's breakfast.
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