This trip was prompted by the upcoming price increase for Angkor Pass in February. The price will increase from $40 to $70 for a 3-day pass, so we decided to visit before the change. The flight was only an hour long, so we booked our tickets with AirAsia. The members of this trip were my father, mother, and myself.

The city we will visit is Siem Reap, also known as Siemrat. Some people may be confused, but they are actually the same place.

There are many ways to travel.

1. The bus crossed the border at Aranyaprathet's Rong Kluea Market, passing through the Poipet checkpoint and on to Siem Reap. The fare was approximately 700 baht.

2. Vans from Bangkok park at Rong Kluea Market, which takes about 3 hours. After that, you need to take another car to the border.

3. The train from Bangkok to Aranyaprathet is relatively inexpensive, but the journey may take some time. If you're looking for a leisurely trip, this could be a good option.

4. Air travel is the most convenient and time-saving option. Direct flights from Bangkok are available daily, with a variety of airlines to choose from. For this trip, we opted for AirAsia due to its affordability.

Thai citizens can stay in Cambodia for 14 days without a visa.

What to Prepare Before Flying

Sun Protection is Crucial

A sun hat is essential, as the sun's rays are very strong. Wearing one can help prevent heatstroke, especially since you'll be walking in the sun for several days. Most of the locations on your trip involve walking in direct sunlight.

2. For those who are bringing elderly people with them, it is recommended to bring a UV protection umbrella.

3. Sunscreen is a must-have, as the sun is really strong.

4. Long-sleeved shirts: Even in hot weather, your skin can still get sunburned. We recommend Uniqlo shirts, which have a variety of UV protection options.

5. Drinking water, as the hot weather may cause dehydration.

6. Warm clothes for evening outings during the cold season, when the temperature can be a bit chilly.

7. Sneakers: It is highly recommended to wear sneakers as we will be doing a lot of walking. Choose a pair that you find comfortable and easy to walk in.

SIM card

It is recommended to purchase a SIM card at your destination airport for convenience. This option is more advantageous than using your existing SIM card or activating international roaming, and the prices are reasonable, starting at $4.

Angkor Pass Ticket

This single ticket grants access to all the temples in Siem Reap. There are three types of tickets available.

1. One-day pass $20

2. 3-day pass for $40 (pass is valid for 7 days). If you don't enter on a particular day, it's fine.

3. 5-day ticket for $60

Excluding Koh Ker, an additional $10 is required. Phnom Kulen requires an additional $20, and Beng Mealea requires an additional $5.

For those who might go for 4 days and 3 nights as a "little girl", if you go after 5:00 PM, they will not count you as a visitor. In other words, it's free entry.

Transportation in Siem Reap

1. Most foreign tourists prefer to explore by bicycle, but it is quite a distance and requires considerable effort.

2. Renting a tuk-tuk is convenient and affordable. However, if you choose to rent a tuk-tuk, it is recommended to bring a face mask due to the high levels of dust.

3. Van rentals, like the one we rented, cost only $30-$40 per day, including fuel, which is incredibly affordable.

DAY 1

It's time to travel!

Before boarding the plane, I had another mishap. After checking in and loading my luggage, I realized I had forgotten my phone. I only remembered when I was about to board the plane. Luckily, the staff found my phone and rushed it to me at the gate. I would have been in trouble otherwise. Thank you so much to all the ground staff of AirAsia!

It's time to board the plane. This flight is packed with international passengers.

The flight from Bangkok to Siem Reap takes only 1 hour. The air stewardess will distribute immigration forms. It is recommended to complete them on the plane.

The plane gradually descended towards the airport, bathed in bright sunshine.

Upon arrival, proceed directly to the immigration queue without visiting the visa counter. Thai nationals are granted visa-free entry to Cambodia for a maximum stay of 14 days.

After collecting your luggage, you will find a currency exchange counter on the left-hand side. You can exchange your Thai baht there. Car rental services are located next to the counter.

Upon exiting the door, you will see a crowd of people buying SIM cards from two different vendors. You can choose either one, but I recommend the one with the larger crowd as they tend to offer better deals. They offer SIM cards with unlimited internet data only, or packages that include calls as well.

Our Cambodian driver, Mr. Savang, was already waiting with a sign.

Feeling hungry, let's go find lunch to eat together. This restaurant is very crowded, mostly with tour groups. There are both outdoor and air-conditioned seating. In this kind of weather, I'd choose to sit in the air-conditioned room. The food is very basic, with omelets, tom yum soup, and stir-fried vegetables. I'm not that hungry yet, but I need to refuel before continuing.

Let's check in to the hotel. The hotel where we will be staying for three nights is the Empress Angkor Hotel, a 5-star hotel.

The promotional price is currently available. I booked a family room and the staff asked me to sit and wait for a drink. When they served the water, I was surprised to see that there was only a small amount left. I thought someone had already taken a sip, but it turned out that was all they served. The cold water was refreshing.

Let's take a look at the family room.

The sun is very strong, I'm going to take a nap for a while. In the evening, we will go buy tickets together.

The original plan was to buy Angkor Pass tickets and then rush to Bakong. However, the ticket booth for the 3-day pass, which is valid for the next day, only opens at 4:45 p.m. So we had to wait a long time.

Having secured tickets, I opted to visit Angkor Wat instead. The crowds were substantial.

As our visit coincided with the Water Festival, the area was bustling with tourists from other cities. This particular spot offers the most stunning sunrise views, but we were unable to wake up in time. Instead, we opted for the sunset, which was visible on the opposite side. We decided to capture the light from this angle instead. Is this acceptable? Of course, it is. We're crazy.

The director of the little gibbon is the father himself, standing beside his daughter, giving her instructions.

Lower angle please.

The sunlight from the other side of the river shines over to this side, where there are a lot of people.

As the sun sets and darkness falls, tourists are notified to leave as the gates are about to close. After dark, the atmosphere becomes eerie due to the absence of lighting within Angkor Wat.

Sawan, our driver, dropped us off at the hotel. The girls went up to put their things away, and then we decided to take a tuk-tuk to Pub Street. The fare was $4 per tuk-tuk, which could hold three people. The traffic was very bad, but we had already decided to take a tuk-tuk for convenience. There were a lot of people heading to the event.

We have arrived at Pub Street, which is similar to Khao San Road in Thailand, but with a much larger crowd. Most of the people here are foreigners. However, due to the holiday season, the crowd is much larger than usual.

The bustling Pub Street was packed with people enjoying stir-fried ice cream.

Hundreds of smoothie vendors are available.

Wherever I go, I never miss roti. It's only $1 a piece. From what I've observed, everything starts at $1.

As the pub street was packed, we decided to grab a bite on the side street. We opted for simple dishes like duck and crispy pork.

I stopped by the supermarket to pick up some milk. Most of the products are imported from Thailand.

Full, let's go back to the hotel. The fare is still $4.

I have arrived at the hotel. The driver was very kind.

I didn't get much sleep last night. Today, I'm going to take a warm bath and go to bed early so I can be ready for tomorrow.

DAY 2

The entrance to Angkor Thom, the gate of the castle wall, may be a bit congested at this point because the gate is narrow and only one lane is available.

1. Bayon Temple

An officer will be present to check your ticket.

This castle has many faces on its top, which looks a bit scary. It looks magical in front of the castle.

Bas-relief carving

The side of the castle

2. Baphoun Temple

The temple was once home to a golden lingam, but it was not built during the Angkor Thom period. It was constructed by the same individual who built Kbal Spean during the reign of King Udayadityavarman II. It served as the royal temple of the era. Due to the extreme heat, visitors are only permitted to explore the exterior.

3. Elephant Terrace

A venue for various ceremonies, military parades, military exercises, or celebrations of important events.

Lunch at Khmer Restaurant, which is right next to the pond. The restaurant was packed with tourists.

The shop is located right next to the pond.

The exterior of the castle was photographed without entering the interior. This castle is notable for its lack of elaborate carvings due to the hardness of the local stone, which made it difficult to sculpt.

6. Ta Prohm Temple: A must-visit for tourists to witness the giant kapok trees and Ta Prohm temple, the filming location for the Tomb Raider movie starring Angelina Jolie.

7. Prasat Preah Khan: A Monument to Victory

This sentence describes Prasat Preah Khan as a "monument to victory." This suggests that the temple was built to commemorate a significant military victory. However, the sentence does not provide any further information about the specific victory or the historical context in which it occurred.

To improve the sentence, we could add more details about the victory and its significance. For example, we could mention the name of the battle, the date it took place, and the opposing forces involved. We could also discuss the impact of the victory on the Khmer Empire and its regional rivals.

Here is an example of a revised sentence that provides more context:

7. Prasat Preah Khan, a monument to victory, was built by King Jayavarman VII to commemorate his defeat of the Chams in the 12th century. The temple's intricate carvings and imposing architecture reflect the power and prestige of the Khmer Empire at its zenith.

This revised sentence provides more information about the victory and its significance, making it more informative and engaging for the reader.

8. We missed the sunset at Phnom Bakheng yesterday, but we weren't going to miss it again today. We arrived at the foot of the hill at 4 pm, thinking we were early. However, the climb to the top was steep, and our camera bags were heavy. We weren't alone, though, as many other people were also making the ascent. It took us about 20 minutes to reach the top, where we had to queue to enter the temple. By then, it was 4:30 pm, and the sun was due to set at 5:30 pm. We figured we had plenty of time. The place was crowded and chaotic. People couldn't go up to the temple unless others came down, as there was a limit on the number of people allowed inside. It was frustrating. In the end, we made it up just as the sun was setting. It had already been down for a long time. It was a tiring climb, and the wait in line was excruciatingly long. It was partly because we were visiting during a festival. We walked back to our car with our heads held high. On the way down, we chatted with a male photographer from Phnom Penh. He suggested some places to visit, and we planned to explore outside the city the next day. It was a Super Moon night, and the moon was huge and bright. Our zoom lens couldn't capture its full glory, but it was truly spectacular to see with our own eyes.

This year, I couldn't float a krathong, so I'll just pray in front of the hotel instead.

Day 3

Today, we will embark on a journey outside the city to explore nature and civilization. Kbal Spean is recommended only for those who are physically fit and resilient, as we will be trekking uphill through the forest for 1500 meters, a round trip of 3 kilometers. While the distance is not far, the path is challenging and not recommended for the elderly. Don't forget to bring a hat and water. Halfway through the trek, I felt discouraged due to the hot weather and fatigue. However, my mother encouraged me to persevere, reminding me that we had already come this far. I must admit that I have been feeling unwell since the first day, and my body is exhausted.

Keep walking.

The abundance of butterflies in this forest indicates its ecological integrity.

Some sections are easier to walk because there are stairs, but they are also very steep. Please be careful when walking.

The sound of the waterfall indicates that we are nearing our destination.

The upper left corner depicts a sculpture of Vishnu Anantasayana, while the right corner features Shiva and Uma riding Nandi.

An engraving of Vishnu Anantasayana

Phra Phrom

Walk down the side of the waterfall to the eight-armed Vishnu.

The image of the lingam is very long.

A sculpture of Shiva and Uma riding Nandi

The guide said it was a giant frog, while some said it was a turtle, so I'm not sure what it really is. However, they believe it is the guardian of this sacred well.

Crocodile

Ganesha

The sacred yantra is thousands of years old.

The final point is the waterfall. Most people who are tired from walking will come here to have a picnic and play in the water.

Banteay Srei temple is a low-lying structure built by Brahmins. It is intricately decorated with exquisite carvings on pink sandstone.

Neak Peam Temple

To reach this water palace, one must traverse a long bridge over the water, exposing oneself to the sun's rays for the entire journey. As usual, the area is crowded with people.

For dinner tonight, let's go to the Old Market.

Drawn by a crowd, I tried stir-fried noodles and a mango smoothie from a street vendor.

After finishing my meal, I decided to take a walk while waiting for my ride. To my surprise, I discovered a fantastic restaurant right next door that I had been overlooking all this time. The prices were incredibly reasonable, and I can't believe I missed it before. What a shame!

The food stalls are located at the entrance of this alley. Look for the bank at the entrance.

Roti again.

Round-trip fare today is only $6, and the longer you stay, the cheaper it gets.

DAY 4

1. East Mebon Temple

2. Prasat Pre Rup

It is worth noting that the stairs on the side are much more convenient than the front entrance, although most people are unaware of this.

Front of the castle

3. Angkor Wat

Today, we will explore Angkor Wat in depth and detail. It is understandable why it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as the bas-reliefs within Angkor Wat are extensive and diverse. Each image has its own meaning and conveys different messages.

Eight-armed Vishnu

Apsorn smiled, revealing her teeth.

There are monkeys beside Angkor Wat.

Let's explore the inside now.

The entrance to Angkor Wat is very long.

Let's explore the side first.

Led by Mom, who also acted as a guide, explaining the meaning of the carvings. All credit goes to Mom, she's lovely.

There are many doors. A lot of doors.

The area behind the castle is packed with people queuing up.

The apsaras have arrived in a large group.

The sky is very clear today.

Another popular angle

This place also has hot air balloons, and they're not expensive.

This trip has given me sore muscles from carrying the camera.

It's time to go back now, as the officers have started to announce the departure.

It's time to head back for real, the final leg of this trip.

Front view of Angkor Wat

The trip is over and I'm at the airport. If anyone wants to rent a car to explore Siem Reap, you can contact Mr. Savang. The price is around $30-$40 per day.

"Arriving early may mean having to endure some hunger, as all the restaurants are located inside. We will be able to enter after stamping our legs at the exit."

For my last meal, I'll leave my stomach in the care of Yoshinoya.

It's time to go home now.

Free drink worth 60 baht for all Bangkok Bank credit card holders. Enjoy!

The trip has come to an end… Thank you to everyone who followed along until the very end. This trip may not have been the most comfortable, but I put the same effort into it as always. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask.

Feel free to message me. Thank you to everyone who has followed me on every post.