Cambodia: Tuk Tuks, Temples, and Elephants

So, the borders are finally opening and my first trip from my home base in Singapore was to the beautiful country of Cambodia. My colleagues and I spent the first five days (May 9th-13th) working with the very congenial and welcoming Phnom Penh Airport personnel, and then we decided to extend our stay so we could see some of the country. We spent the first part of the week at the incredible Rosewood Hotel in Phnom Penh, then hired an SUV and driver to take us to the historic area of Angkor in Siem Reap - a 5 1/2 hour drive through the countryside of Cambodia. Although our driver Vuthy was not a tour guide, he did a great job of showing us some sites along the way. Vuthy remained with us for the three days we were in Siem Reap, took us wherever we wanted to go, and then drove us back to Phnom Penh on Monday, May 16th, so we could catch our flight back to Singapore on Tuesday, May 17th. The best way to capture the beauty of the country is through pictures, so here's a recap of my lovely trip.

After we arrived in Phnom Penh on Monday, May 9th, we were met at the Airport by a driver in a Jaguar SUV who drove us to the amazing 5-star Rosewood Hotel - which, incredibly enough, honors the government per diem pricing! We decided to take a walk and explore the area around our hotel. Within a couple blocks, we found the Wat Phenom Buddhist Temple and were able to explore the ground and then enter the temple. It was hot out. As a matter of fact, even hotter than Singapore. So, we ventured towards the river and were approached by a kid offering to take us out on a riverboat ride for $30 for one hour, for all three of us. They even had beer on board, which they sold us for a buck a piece. We were the only three people on a 50 foot double decker riverboat! Once we finished up our boat ride, I was at the point where the heat was getting to me, so my companions hailed a tuk tuk to take me back to the hotel. We negotiated a price of three dollars, which ended up being a real bargain because the driver had no idea where he was going and I ended up getting a tour of the city before we finally figured it out. Tired and hungry, I retired to my room and ordered a lovely dinner of mushroom bisque, roasted vegetables, and rice. Lights out!

The rest of the week was primarily work with a few ventures out at night. OK ... you may have guessed I'm rushing through the rest of Cambodia because I now have pics from Malaysia to post, and at this rate, I'll never actually get anything posted. Bear with me ... I'm figuring out what works best for me so I don't get so overwhelmed that I don't post a thing ;)

On Friday, May 13th, we hired a driver to take us on a 5 hour ride to Siem Reap. Monday was a Holiday, so we stayed in Cambodia for the weekend to see some of the countryside and the amazing temples at Angkor ... with the most famous being Angkor Wat. Along the way, our driver stopped at a rest area next to a gorgeous Lotus pond.

One of the highlights of my Cambodia experience was the day that I visited Kulen Elephant Forest. It was an incredible experience. Read more about this wonderful refuge at Home - Kulen Elephant Forest Sanctuary Siem Reap (kulenforest.asia).

Did I mention it was HOT in Cambodia? It was sweltering!

Here are a few pics of the lovely Villa Agati (Villa Agati, Siem Reap, Cambodia - Local Business Listing by Siemreap.net) where we stayed in Siem Reap. It had a beautiful pool, wonderful food, and they arranged for masseuses to come in whenever we wanted. I had a 75 minute massage for $14! It was supposed to be 90 minutes, but the guy had to pick up his little boy from school (how could I complain? lol). One day we were relaxing by the pool and I decided I wanted a cocktail. I asked one of the sweet girls for a Screwdriver (I saw the vodka sitting behind the counter). She had absolutely no idea how to make a mixed drink. I had to coach her through it ... starting with adding ice to the glass! I had to take a pic of her with the final product.

One evening we decided to take a hike to a temple at the top of a mountain to watch the sunset. We joined the crowd as we made the climb, and you could just tell it was going to be something special - you could feel the spiritual vibe. As I walked along, this little Cambodian woman walked up to me and took my hand. We smiled at each other and walked hand-in- hand until she decided to go on her way. It was on this journey that we learned the children had never seen Westerners. Many of them were too young to remember life before COVID, which was that last time any tourists were allowed in to the country. They would giggle and hide behind trees while keeping a close eye on us. Some of the adults asked if they could take pictures. What an incredible opportunity to be amongst the first visitors after the pandemic!

Well, we never did see the sunset because the clouds rolled in and it started to rain. Everyone was directed to leave the temple. The gravel path became slick and I slipped, landing on my bad knee (pick one, anyone lol), and my new phone. There were motorcycles speeding up the road to pick people up and give them rides down tot he bottom, so my peers thought it would be a good idea to throw me on the back of one. Thank goodness it was only about 50 yards to the bottom because I was convinced we were going to wipe out on the clay and gravel. My knee has healed, my phone has not.

Temple time! Angkor Wat is the largest religious complex in the world, with temples sprawling over 400 acres. It you'd like to read more, here's a link from History.com: Angkor Wat - HISTORY. It was a very moving experience walking through the temples and around the grounds, and I hope to return before my time in Asia is up. Side note: this site is where Raiders of the Lost Ark and Lara Croft Tomb Raider were filmed.

Just a couple last pics to share before my recap of Cambodia ends.

1) Me sitting on the King's sofa at the VIP terminal at Phnom Penh International Airport.

2) My traveling companions.

3) Sinks in restroom at restaurant. The plumbing was made of bamboo.

4) My peers riding in the back of a pick-up, drinking beer, in Phnom Penh.

5) Dried meat and fish at roadside stand ... the guys wouldn't let me eat any lol

6) Fishing boat in river across from the Royal Palace, where the King of Cambodia resides.

7) Monuments holding the remains of monks who have passed.

8) Monks' robes hanging on a clothes line. Our tuk-tuk driver asked us if we wanted to see where the monks lived. He dropped us off to walk around in their compound. I felt really uncomfortable, like I was invading their private space. I don't think it is a normal tourist stop.

9) Boy monks who allowed me to take their picture.

And finally ... seen in a roadside convenience store - everything that you could possibly need for a night of romance - including nail clippers and headache remedy! Hahahaha!