Battambang

A nice stop over between the big cities of Siem Reap and Phnom Penh is a little town called Battambang. Although there isn't that much to do in the little town, the food is amazing and there are alot of great things surrounding the city.
    When we arrived we went to the night market for food and it's just a bunch of stalls along the river serving noodle and rice dishes. We chose to eat at one that had a chef no older than 14. He was adorable and so hard working and the finished fried rice with veg was one of the best I have eaten. We were so impressed we came back the following night! After a very long day..!
     In the morning we were picked up by our tuk tuk driver for the day named Tony. He was born and raised of Battambang and was able to give us the full tour! He first took us to the bamboo train, quite sketchy but very fun! There is only one track so if two trains are going towards each other, one has to be taken apart and put off the track!

     Back in our tuk tuk he took us to a garden where he told us about the food they were growing and let us try peanuts, lemongrass, cucumbers, etc.

   
















      He took us to a few temples that we had to climb up to.

We stopped at a little stand where my friend bought a jungle rat that had been grilling on a barbeque. I had to try a bite! And I was very pleasantly surprised. It was one of the best meats I've eaten and my friend is a chef and he agreed. The flavor was delicious and it was quite tender.

A winery, where the French had taught the Cambodians how to make wine.

 Stopped at a killing cave, climbing down into the cave was a little frightening, and rightfully so considering how many people were killed there. Many taken to the top and just pushed over the side.. There is a tribute set up full of bones and the cave definitely has a negative energy, but we paid our respects and moved along to the next bit of our adventure.

    The last stop was a cave that we sat and waited outside of for nearly an hour but it was worth it when 7 million bats came flying out! You could see the way they shifted with the wind as they flew. It was an incredible sight!

Angkor Whaaaat?

    On our first full day in Siem Reap we hired a tuk tuk for the next three days and thus spent those days in the Angkor Wat park. They have a pretty good set up depending on the number of days you choose. One day entry is $20, and 3 day is $40. The tuk tuk drivers know what routes are good to take so one day, our first day, yo do the big loop. With lots of smaller temples on it, each one interesting in its own right.

First Gate

Powerful Tree

The holes in the stone were for a stick to be inserted so they could be carried easier.

     The second day we were on our tuk tuk by 5am for the sunrise at Angkor Wat. We were so tired on the drive and it was pitch black, upon reaching the park you could see a huge line of tuk tuk lights which was quite funny! Plenty of people coming to witness the sunrise over an ancient temple. We went inside the main entrance and walked a little till we saw the pond on the left hand side which is quite a popular spot and if you're at all interested in reflections (like me!) you gotta be there pretty early. The sunrise was beautiful, around 6:45am the glowing orange ball of sun started to creep up from behind the temple and offer a glorious view and a lovely reflection. After the sun is up there are plenty of little stands you can get breakfast at before exploring the temple itself. Which is actually floating! I had no idea but we learned from a documentary that the temple is actually afloat. There's a little fun fact for you.
      The next temple, my favorite, was Angkor Thom. This is the temple where you can see all the faces etched into the stone high up on the temple. They were mesmerizing to look at; some with their smiling face, others partly crumbled beyond recognition of their emotion. The area of this temple is large and after you exit you can walk through some grassy areas and see many statues of elephant heads as well. Later on we went to the temple that is well known because of the film the Tomb Raider. The previous evening we had gone to this cool cinema that has a handful of small theaters where you choose your own movie and it's really neat! So we chose Tomb Raider. And shortly thereafter realized how crappy of a movie it really is. Oh well, because the temple itself was majestic in that in many parts, gargantuan trees had reclaimed their place and grown up and over and through pieces of this stone temple. Score one for nature!

Sunrise at Angkor Wat

Inside Angkor Wat

Angkor Thom

Elephant Heads

Another cool temple

Tomb Raider temple. Go mother earth!

       The third day we went out farther to all the temples away from the mainstream. Spent alot of time riding in the tuk tuk but these temples were nice as well. I really enjoyed seeing each one and their similarities and differences and how much they've gone through. Another thing I thought was incredible was not only the massive size of these structures but the intricate details and carvings of people or stories or writing that ornately covered most the temples. It must have been such hard work and I was tired just from walking around them in the heat all day! I do really recommend getting the three day pass. It's far too much to see in just one day, they aren't something to rush through.

 

     Besides the little cinema which is located in a small mall with a Swensen's Ice Cream where we also spent some time, there are a few markets where touristy goods can be bought. One is a night market just across the river, and the other is main and central and can't be missed. It sells everything you could possibly want souvenir-wise. Pub Street is quite good and definitely a popular place to go for food of any kind and drinks. We liked a place that served good Mexican food and had a wood fire oven for great pizza so there were many options! If you're a bit more adventurous there are street vendors selling snake, tarantulas and other insects.

Gourmet BUGS

Pub  Street

At the movie!

Swensen's yummy ice cream

     We stayed at a hostel called Siem Reap Central Hostel and although it is cheap, I do not recommend it. The first night we stayed there I woke up with my skin almost completely covered in itchy red bed bug bites. Not what I call a good time being constantly itchy over the next couple days! But I now check every bed for those gross little things.

     Anyways, Siem Reap is a pretty great city to spend a few days, taking your time at the temples and coming back into town for some good food and a fun or relaxing night. The Angkor Wat temples though, should not be missed! They're incredible.

First town in Cambodia

     After spending quite a few nights in a little town in Cambodia called Kratie, I moved on to Siem Reap. But before I get into the sunrises and the temples, I'll explain the allure of Kratie and why I stayed longer than I'd planned.

little something crazy I saw in Kratie

     Kratie is a wonderful little town and the first one I arrived in when getting to Cambodia. It has a great small town vibe and few tourists. The sunsets? Incredible. Kratie's major pull though is to see the Irrawaddy dolphins that are nearly extinct. For a few dollars you can get a ticket and get on a boat that takes you out on the river to be amongst these rare graceful fish. They look different from a typical dolphin; with a more rounded face and not as long of a nose making them look more like small whales. The experience was great and the best time to go is early in the morning or just around sunset.

Boat to see the dolphins

     There is also a great place just further on called the Kampi Rapids that I went to twice, once by bike(which was too far from town and I do not reccomend!) and once by motorbike which was much nicer. Anyways, once you've arrived you pay 500 riel (less than a quarter) for an entrance ticket and then you scope out the perfect hammock under the huts on the water to find your perfect spot. Once you've paid for your hammock you're free to take a dip in the fast paced current. If you don't hold on to the side of the hut though it's possible you'll drift away! It is a nice place to chill and there is food available when you start to feel peckish.

     From town, there are nearly constant ferries that cross to Koh Trong island and the cost is 1,000 riel, or a quarter, each way. The island is quite nice to walk or bike around. It's made up of small huts and plenty of greenery as well as a floating island on the other side. I spent an afternoon walking around and saying hello to all the little kids who greeted me with massive smiles.
     One things you have to try in town is their specialty of sticky rice that is sold inside a piece of bamboo, its mixed with coconut milk and a few beans. It doesn't have too much flavor but it is quite nice and it's something they eat alot. You peel down the sides little by little to continue eating the goodness inside.

Sticky rice in bamboo

      Besides a giant local market, that's about all there is to do in Kratie, and yet I loved it there. It has a slower pace, and many less westerners, and I found myself pulled to the sunset every evening and up to the roof of my hostel The Silver Dolphin to stargaze.