We’re in Siem Reap, Cambodia – Tourist Central for those coming to see Angkor Wat and the other Khmer temples. Tomorrow, we can either take a temple tour or spend more time in town. I know which way I’m leaning…
Today we had lunch at a restaurant on Pub Street – Siem Reap’s answer to Sunset Boulevard. As far as the tourist scene in downtown Siem Reap goes, it’s all about Pub Street.
When dinnertime rolled around, we were tempted to have dinner at the hotel, especially after getting warmed up in the hotel’s beautiful bar. But it’s just not right to be in an exotic place like this and eat at the hotel. We opted to go out and experience more of the local culture.
Dinnertime
The hotel concierge recommended a restaurant and set us up with a dinner reservation. When we were ready to go, three tuk tuks instantly showed up to take us to our destination. The drivers would wait while we had dinner, then take us back to the hotel. Or into town maybe? Hmmm…
Our lunch had been good, but dinner was REALLY good. It was as much about the service as the food. They have the most amazing way of taking care of you. You feel like you’re family and honored guests at the same time.
They explain the dishes and their preparation in as much detail as you want. (In my case, that’s quite a bit). Samples might be brought out. “Let’s see if you like this…”
It was a memorable dinner, full of unfamiliar flavors. When it was time to say good-bye, there were hugs all around. Not exactly like eating dinner out at home!
Decisions, Decisions…
Meanwhile, we have a decision to make. Our friends are touring temples tomorrow, but we’re going to pass. We’ve done it once before, and for us, as awesome as they are, once was probably enough. If you’ve been to the pyramids of Giza, would you want to go back and see them again? Well, OK. Maybe.
When we toured Angkor Wat and the other Khmer sites, it wasn’t summer, but it was hot. Seeing Angkor Wat up close was really something. Our guide, who was great, explained walls full of intricate carvings.
At first sight, the carvings looked too complex to understand. Then, as the guide explained them, they came to life. They depict everything from epic battles to scenes of day-to-day life at home. We’d have missed a lot without our guide.
We toured several temple sites that day. The last one was Banteay Srei. It’s different from the others. The builders used red sandstone, giving it a pinkish color. The artwork there is amazing. Our guide told us what the place was all about, then suggested that we roam around inside at our leisure, taking it all in at our own pace.
Temple Touring – It’s Not for Wimps!
It was mid-afternoon. We’d been been tromping around temples all day. Some of us, i.e., moi, had made the occasional optional “climb to the top to see the view.”
Everyone in our small group looked around at each other. No way. We told our guide, “No thanks. We’re done.” Our guide was (apparently) shocked.
We were exhausted. We were hot, tired, and drenched in sweat. That’s when we noticed that our trusty guide had not a single drop of sweat on his neatly pressed shirt. He looked fresh as a daisy. We were wrecks. The difference in appearance was hilarious.
That was then…
That was then. This is now. No temple tour for us this time, although I was tempted to go on a “Sunrise Temple Tour.” They pick you up before sun-up and take you to a place where you watch the sun come up behind Angkor Wat. On a perfect morning, I imagine it’s pretty neat.
Fortunately for me, I overheard someone at the hotel say she had done it that morning. She told her friend it was foggy, they couldn’t see much of anything, and that the bugs were out in force. OK. Not tempted anymore.
To be continued…
Awesome photo of two guardians at the entrance of Banteay Srei temple. Credit: istockphoto/Marco-Brivio
