Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
So after spending 3 full days in Bangkok which I surprisingly liked, especially Chinatown, we jumped on a bus direction Siem Reap, or I should say Angkor Wat, since this name is more well-know than the name of the town that is the gateway for all the temples.
The travel between Bangkok and Siem Reap, the so-called scam bus, wasn't as bad as we had read about, we were prepared and didn't get scam, although they did try! An example, just before crossing Cambodia, they stop you 5mns before the immigration control in a restaurant for lunch and they also try to sell you a cambodian visa pretending that is where you have to do it. Obvioulsy it isn't and they just take you money, run to the border, get your visa for less money than they charge and get back to you. They got so crossed with us that we didn't buy their visa, that our punishment was to walk the last 500 meters carrying our big backpack under the hot asian sun.
So many scammers everywhere in South-East Asia that it will the only example that I will give, there are so many. You have to be careful all the time, very unpleasant, the worst was in Vietnam and apparently it is even worse in China!
But stunning landscapes, temples and beautiful people so those scammers won't spoil the amazing experience you get when you travel here.
In Siem Reap we spent a week, we had a 3 days ticket to visit the temples of Angkor Wat and you shouldn't do it less than that. We did not just one but two sunrises. Tried one sunset but the sun doesn't set behind the temples and there is only one location so way too busy!!! That is the only negative aspect of Angkor Wat, it is so f****** busy!!! And we were in the low season. But there are more than 1000 temples spread across more than 350 square miles so if you choose one that is not part of the main temples or if you choose the right time of the day, you can easily end up on your own :-)
So Angkor Wat is only one temple among many temples but it gave its name to the whole complex because it is the largest (and also the world's largest religious building) and it IS massive! Not the most beautiful, but that is probably just our opinion.
It is probably the hottest place we have been in South-East Asia, it is unbearable after 11am and probably why I got sick on the fist day... So one day I'll go back there strong and healthy :-)
If you want to know more about the temples just use wikipedia :-)
And for the french part, desolee de ne pas faire ca en francais mais ca me prendrait une eternite et aucun des etrangers que je connais ne parle francais (les incultes) alors que je sais que nombreux de mes lecteurs francais comprennent l'anglais. Mais il y a de tres bons traducteurs comme Babelfish ou google :-)
- comments
Cutedad Super ! Comme si on y était :) Merci Alex d'avoir pris le temps de nous compter tout ça (n'y laisse pas trop de nuits quand-même : faut refaire le plein d'énergie pour attaquer les longues journées). Ca donne en tout cas vachement envie d'y aller ... sauf la tourette et les touristes donc ;) Bizbiz O.
Rozenn Great to read about your wonderful travels!! Keep having an amazing trip and keep healthy x