CAMBODIA
In February 2005 we went to Siem Reap in Cambodia. We wanted to see Angkor Wat and all the surrounding temples. After having consulted the web for a place to stay, we decided to book Mom's Guesthouse at Wat Bo Road in Siem Reap. This proved to be a good choice as this is more a small hotel than a guesthouse. The room we had was one with its own bathroom and it was very clean. Mom's is one of the best known guesthouses in Siem Reap and is run by several members of the same family.
They arranged
a 4x4 to pick us up at the border at Poipet. We travelled from Bangkok to
Aranyaprathet by bus early in the morning and arrived at Poipet by 9.30 a.m.
Despite all warnings we had read we did not have any problems to cross the
border, no pickpockets, the correct amount was asked for the vise and everything
went quick.
The road from Poipet to Siem Reap is a dirt track full of holes and big clouds
of red dust. We stopped at Sisophon for lunch and arrived in the beginning of
the afternoon in Siem Reap.
Siem Reap still has the atmosphere of a small provincial time with unpaved roads in the old center. However, many huge hotels are under construction along the road to the airport so one can expect that tourism will be booming within some years.
During our
stay we had the 4x4 with driver and guide at our disposal. Joe, our guide
had a great knowledge about the history and was of great value for the visits of
the temples. Although Angkor Wat is the best known and most impressive temple,
we visited many smaller ones which were very beautiful also. Further from
Siem Reap there are nearly no tourists around the temples.
We also made a tour on Tonlé Sap, a lake of 10.000 km² with many floating
villages. In the dry season the surface can become only 3.000 km².
After some days we went back to Thailand over the same horrible road but very
satisfied having made the journey. People in Cambodia are very friendly and the
country has a lot to offer.
See the
following pictures with
Mom's
Guesthouse
If you do not have Google Earth, dowload it here
