Dec 24-30 |
Though I could have easily stayed more than 2 nights in Battambang, I hit the road to Siem Reap, for my third visit since 1999. A good road and ride, the only nit being many tourist minivans, driving in their usual maniacal manner.
A friend had referred to Siem Reap as "the Tijuana of Cambodia". But I didn't come to the same conclusion. Overall, my 6-night stay was great. Perhaps driven by competition, it's great value, with $13-a-night decent hotel, 75-cent beers, $2 breakfast.
Of course, the main reason to go to Siem Reap is to visit Angkor, which is truly one of the world's most epic historical sites. I bought a 3-day pass that came with a 2 extra day promotion for $62. I had always wanted to explore beyond the main sites of Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm. Having my own moto and 5-day entry was awesome, allowed me to visit some amazing sites off the beaten track, such as Ta Keo and the Western Baray (a man-made reservoir 7km x 2km), at my own pace (rather than trying to cram as much as possible into 1 or 2 days).
One highlight of trip was visiting Smateria, a non-profit that makes bags and whatnot from re-used plastic. In 2012 I bought a bag there that has been my main cable/cable travel bag, and is still in perfect shape. Smateria is now in a new location, now looking like a luxury brand - but still selling awesome products at low prices.
Ride: 163 km | 2.5 hrs
Stay: Smart Angkor Boutique | $13 | 4/5
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