Rest Stop at Kampong Thom from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
Wednesday 17 Aug 2011. Phnom Penh - Siem Reap
Today we get picked up at 8.am from Frangipani Villa 60's Phnom Penh to the Mekong Express office for our journey on coach to Siem Reap (pronounced by the Cambodians as Sim Reap). The journey takes 6 hours to cover some 310km. The bus is full with a mix of foreigners and locals. I think there are Australians, British, Chinese, Malaysians and other Europeans on board today. I sit next to Dan, a uni graduate from UK. He is going to do his civil engineering masters next year. He is staying in Cambodia with his cousin who works with World Vision.
Dan's view of the world is pretty idealistic but he is lucky he has the opportunity to travel abroad at his young age.
The fare to Siem Reap is only $11. To cut a long story short after tossing and turning in my seat many times we arrive at the Siem Reap Mekong Express bus station. We are met on arrival by Penya's friend Thom who is another tuk tuk driver.
Thom sends us to Frangipani Villa Siem Reap which is another beautiful property only about 1 year old. The building is expansive, well furnished in tropical Balinese style. It even has a nice pool at the back of the property. A truly 5-star hotel at a 3-star rate of $67.20 for 2 nights.
Raffles Hotel
Thom takes us for a city tour at 6pm tonight before dropping us at the Angkor Mondial Restaurant for a buffet dinner and traditional Khmer dance show at $12 per pax. The buffet spread is international + Khmer. It is well suited to our taste and hungry tummies.
I have Amok (wrapped in banana leaf), deep fried mushroom, and spring rolls
I love this Khmer soup with vermicelli and chicken; plus some Khmer salad
The traditional dances are performed by males and females. They are very much like Balinese dances because they are influenced by the Hindus. Cambodians embraced Hinduism first and foremost and later on are converted to Buddhism. No doubt the dances are also akin to Thai dances.
After dinner and show we go to the Night Market to sample what's on offer there.
Dan's view of the world is pretty idealistic but he is lucky he has the opportunity to travel abroad at his young age.
The fare to Siem Reap is only $11. To cut a long story short after tossing and turning in my seat many times we arrive at the Siem Reap Mekong Express bus station. We are met on arrival by Penya's friend Thom who is another tuk tuk driver.
Thom sends us to Frangipani Villa Siem Reap which is another beautiful property only about 1 year old. The building is expansive, well furnished in tropical Balinese style. It even has a nice pool at the back of the property. A truly 5-star hotel at a 3-star rate of $67.20 for 2 nights.
Raffles Hotel
I have Amok (wrapped in banana leaf), deep fried mushroom, and spring rolls 
I love this Khmer soup with vermicelli and chicken; plus some Khmer salad
The traditional dances are performed by males and females. They are very much like Balinese dances because they are influenced by the Hindus. Cambodians embraced Hinduism first and foremost and later on are converted to Buddhism. No doubt the dances are also akin to Thai dances.
After dinner and show we go to the Night Market to sample what's on offer there.
1 comment:
The Frangipani Hotel in both places looks new and modern. Good choice!! You are absolutely right, the traditional dances looked so much like those we see in Bali.
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