Siem Reap and Angkor Wat
Sunrise at Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia
Reasons For Visiting Siem Reap and Angkor Wat
The ancient temples of Angkor Wat kept coming up as we researched the region. Our guidebook, websites, and fellow travelers classified it as a must-see. My expectations are usually quite low when so many people flock to a specific site, but I must admit the whole experience was awe-inspiring.
Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
After spending a couple of exciting weeks in Vietnam and three nights in Phnom Penh, it was time to move on to Siem Reap, Cambodia. The bus ride was about 6.5 hours and uneventful.
Ticket prices were reasonable compared to flying and included admission to a kung fu movie. It was hard to follow the film in a foreign language without subtitles, but the good guys would surely win in the end, and they did.
Angkor Wat ruins, Cambodia
Tuk Tuk in Siem Reap
Our tuk-tuk driver, Terry, was charming and easily persuaded us to use his services while in Siem Reap. He was one of many drivers at the bus station, and for $3.00, he provided a ride to our hotel. We booked a sunset tour on the first evening and a sunrise tour for the following morning around the Angkor Wat area.
Mudra Angkor Boutique Hotel
We stayed three nights at the Mudra Angkor Boutique Hotel at $42.00 per night. This was a good value for the money. The room was well-appointed, on the main level, and with easy access to the pool, which we used more than we had anticipated.
Adding another Beer to the list of “Beers From Around the World”. Enjoying a cold Angkor poolside at the Mudra Angkor Boutique Hotel.
Sunset Tuk-Tuk Ride to Angkor Wat
As planned, Terry picked us up and drove us straight to the gates of Angkor Wat just in time for the sunset. It didn't take us long to realize that we were in for a special treat the following morning.
While I was capturing the sunset, Di struck up a more extended conversation. Terry (30) had studied English for six years at a Pagoda. Born and raised in Siem Reap, he worked as a waiter for eight years, earning about $ 80 a month.
Diana, at the bridge leading to one of the gates to Angkor Wat, Cambodia
After marriage and having children, he realized he could not support his family and decided to start his own tuk-tuk business.
He lives in a small house with his wife and two young children. They do not have electricity. The cost for a hookup is approximately $150.00, and then $6-8 per month for usage. They are saving up.
Terry was noticeably proud of his hometown and the ancient temples. He was very informative and protective, making a point of reminding people not to stand or touch the statues and walls.
Sunset by the gate to Angkor Wat in Cambodia
It was a good way to start our first day in Siem Reap. We got a good feel for the distances and logistics involved in ticket purchases for the following day. The sunset was magical, and Terry later dropped us off at a good dinner restaurant he suggested.
Angkor Wat Sunrise
The sunrise at Angkor Wat is what you will remember when you leave Siem Reap, so make sure you do not miss it. It should be on your travel bucket list. One of the keys to a successful visit to Angkor Wat is to outsmart the crowds.
We rose at 4:30 am and met our tuk-tuk driver, Terry at 5 am. Each morning, large crowds head to Angkor Wat for the sunrise. There's nothing quite like an intimate photography experience alongside hundreds of other visitors and photographers.
The intimate Angkor Wat Sunrise moment in Cambodia
I'm glad we were forewarned about the crowds, and I decided not to worry about the photography. Instead, I enjoyed the views, and I helped a young German who was having a hard time getting the exposure right for a tricky sunrise. We put the camera on manual exposure and went from there. She was thrilled, and I was glad I could help.
We left the sunrise scene fairly quickly and beat the crowds. We explored most of the grounds and had several 'wow' and 'awestruck' moments, with almost no one else around in the early morning hours.
This was truly spectacular. The guidebook challenged visitors to take a photo at Angkor Wat without people in it, and I eagerly complied.
Angkor Wat in the early morning hours. We had the temple almost to ourselves.
Angkor Wat Tour Guide
Terry took us to as many temples as our legs and patience could handle in the 35-degree heat. We saw Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon, and Ta Prohm, the location site for the movie Tomb Raider. See more photos below.
Angkor Silk Farm, Siem Reap
On our second day in Siem Reap, we tested the pool in the morning and spent the afternoon at a not-for-profit artisan center, where we met woodcarvers, stone carvers, and other artists. The visit included a bus trip to a traditional silk farm.
Angkor Silk Farm, Siem Reap
We were slightly disappointed Terry did not show up at 6:15 am to take us to the airport as we agreed. Naively or not, we decided something had probably come up with his family, or he had gotten a better deal booking a sunrise trip to Angkor Wat.
We walked towards town and hailed another tuk-tuk, no problem, and were soon on our flight to Phuket in Thailand.
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The photos in this article are made using a Fujifilm X-Pro2. Lenses: XF 14mm f/2.8 R - XF 35mm f/1.4 R (links to my camera and lens reviews). Editing was done in Lightroom. I have used of Fujifilm film simulations for some of the photos.
