TravelTuesday Picture of the Week – Boating on Tonle Sap (Siem Reap, Cambodia)
The Tonle Sap is a large combined river and lake system in Cambodia. It is also the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. On my last day in Siem Reap, I made a trip to the Tonle Sap to see the community living on it. There was everything from floating homes to floating schools and...
TravelTuesday Picture of the Week: Hot Air Balloon over Angkor Wat (Cambodia)
There are many ways to explore Angkor Wat. Most do it on foot, getting there by tuk-tuk, bicycle, motorcycle, or even elephant (or maybe that’s just Bayon). But for the more adventurous (and moneyed) tourist, nothing beats an aerial view. You can take a helicopter ride (I met a helicopter pilot during a CouchSurfing meet-up...
A Tale of Three Airports (Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, and Kuala Lumpur: Day 10, 09-Apr-09)
After three full days in Siem Reap, it was time to head to my next destination: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. After breakfast and some last-minute browsing at the markets, my tuk-tuk driver, Mr. Bill, picked me up from the hostel and brought me to Siem Reap Airport. He gave me his contact information, asking me to...
Before Sunset (Tonle Sap: Day 9, 08-Apr-09)
I had spent a good morning at Angkor Wat on my last full day in Siem Reap. After a cloudy sunrise and a wet excursion at the temple itself, I went to Angkor National Museum for a bit of historical and cultural background which, in hindsight, I probably should have done before exploring the temples...
Angkor Wet (Angkor Wat: Day 9, 08-Apr-09)
After a cloudly sunrise at Angkor Wat (which I blogged about), it was time for a quick breakfast before exploring the grounds. I joined the throngs of people leaving the premises and riding their tuk-tuks to one of the many restaurants in the area. As I was wrapping up breakfast, the rain started to fall....
The Sun Will Come Out… (Sunrise at Angkor Wat: Day 9, 08-Apr-09)
Sunrise at Angkor Wat is one of those so-called must-sees that would change your life forever. The sight of the sun rising and slowly revealing the glory of Angkor Wat is supposed to be awe-inspiring and absolutely beautiful. So, despite the fact that it meant waking up early and skipping breakfast, I told my tuk-tuk...
TravelTuesday Picture of the Week: Cambodian Kid Climbing Phimeanakas
This week's TravelTuesday Picture of the Week is taken at one of the many structures in Angkor Thom (which I recently wrote about). Phimeanakas is a tall temple within Angkor Thom, with steep, crumbling steps leading to the top. I hesitated and wondered if it was safe, and if I could handle the tricky climb....
Day 8 (07-Apr-09): Temple Raider (Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm, and Temples of Angkor)
My second day in Siem Reap and Angkor was spent exploring the so-called "heavy hitters" of Angkor, which included the magnificent complex of Angkor Thom, as well as the nature-ravaged ruins of Ta Prohm. These were places featured prominently in travelogues, as well as in pop culture, including shows such as The Amazing Race and...
Day Seven (06-Apr-09): Climb Ev’ry Temple (Temples of Angkor)
I woke up on Monday morning ready to start exploring the magnificent temples of Angkor. My Lonely Planet guidebook told me that it was possible to explore the heavy-hitters in one day, but I wanted to take my time and explore some of the lesser-known (and presumably less touristy) temples. After breakfast, Mr. Bill picked...
