Our first full day in Cambodia was spent hiking through the jungle, up a hill to Kbal Spean or the ‘River of a Thousand Lingas’.
This magnificent spot is home to a sacred river that gushes over a river bed into which thousands of Lord Shiva’s Lingas have been carved and other deities have been carved.
On our way back we stopped of for a much need break at a restaurant called a Srey Koulen, a typical tourist trap type spot which served decent enough Khmer cuisine.
My favorite temple in Siem Reap was the Bayon Temple which is within the Ankor Thom set of temples. To look at those gigantic, majestic faces that were carved atop the stone temples is quite breathtaking.
Just as spectacular was where we ate dinner that night in Siem Reap which just bettered our already perfect day.
The Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort is a gorgeous property in Siem Reap, which is a well located between the monuments and the center of town.
Ta Prohm in Siem Reap is probably the most well known of all the temples because of Angelina Jolie swinging through its ruins as Lara Croft in Tomb Raider.
This temple is truly spectacular with magnificent tree roots growing and twisting within and through the walls of the ancient stone temple.
Pub Street in Siem Reap is where the party is happening every night until the wee hours of the morning.
Our first evening in Siem Reap was spent on a boat tour of the amazing floating villages of Tonle Sap Lake.
Lake Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia. What is unique about this lake is that this body of water is constantly affected in size throughout the year by the rains and as it gets flooded with water from the Mekong River.
The floating villages basically follow the water for sustainability as they are all primarily fisherman who depend on their catch for their livelihood.
Cambodia is a country with such rich heritage, amazing beauty and the most delicious food.
One can get lost amongst the grandeur of the vast temple complexes of Angkor Wat and of Angkor Thom and so much more that dots this landscape.
