Cambodia has always been in our list of contries to see. This country, which is also on the list of the least developed countries of the United Nations, has been attracting us with Angkor Wat Temples. We arrived at this country where there are no direct flights from Turkey by transfer flights from Abu Dhabi and Bangkok. Although we have been accustomed to longer journeys, the fact that the number of transfers is too many has tired us a little bit. Although our luggages were not transferred from Bangkok, the enthusiasm within us could not be suppressed. As Khalil Gibran said “fear of need is nothing but need?”
As soon as we arrive at Siem Reap Airport, we get our visa for a fee without problem. We encounter “tuktuk” here too that we have been familiar with our previous trip to Thailand. It’s called “motorized tuk tuk” also. We are reaching our hotel by this vehicle. We spend the afternoon sleeping as we were tired. Our first job is to go to “Pub Street”. It’s at walking distance to our hotel. We feel immediately that we have come to a different world in this place, which is really lively, brilliant, full of tourists from various parts of the world. We look for clothes enough to go on with until our luggages are transferred, because we go there winter clothes from Turkey. We buy our flowered garments reflecting the vitality of the place and return to our hotel.
We can’t find a chance to sleep because we are going to watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat temples in the morning. We make a long struggle with the guy in the reception to be able to take our breakfast as a package. The fact that breakfast being serviced as a package is actually a common occurrence here. We set off for the temples before dawn with the tuktuk driver we come to an agreement with in the evening. We pay $ 20 per person on entry. Then we sit and wait for the sunrise on the edge of the river in front of the temple. On the one hand, we are having breakfast and on the other, we are wondering what kind of scenery we will encounter during the day. At dawn, the imposing monumental image of Angkor Wat dazzles in front of our eyes. The reflection of the temple in the river is worthseeing. The gradually appearence of temple excites us more about the scenery we will encounter.
Angkor Wat: the Sunrise
We begin to see the temples built in a very large area, when the day light turns on. The Angkor Wat Temples built appropriate for urbanism intellection in time was the capital city of Kimmersand was able to protect itself against time covering in the wooded area. Being in the UNESCO World Heritage List, these temples attract millions of tourists each year. These temples which are the biggest religious structure of the world were built by the King II Suryavarman in the beginning of the 12th century for the Hindu god Vishnu and later converted into a Buddhist temple. Inspite of the fact that it is only the name of a temple, in time the name of the region was generally used as Angkor Wat.
Angkor Wat: Main Gate
Bayon Temple: one of 4 Gates
Our second stop in the temple is Bayon. With the help of young Cambodian man we met at the Bayon temple, using photo tricks we take unforgettable photographs near the head sculptors found here.
Bayon Temple: Budha – the head sculptor
Getting on our “tuk tuk” again we go back to the temple of Ta Phrom. This temple is also known by the name of Tomb Raider, famous movie Hollywood star Angelina Jolie acts in which. This place was rediscovered in 1858 by the French naturalist Henri Mouhot. Mouhot is rediscovering those places mentioning “Do not die without seeing”; because it is completely covered with gigantic tree roots.
Tomb Raider (Ta Phrom), completely covered with gigantic tree roots
Angkor Wat is so big that we want to watch this beauty from the top. Although not as fabuluous as our balloons in Cappadocia, we have the opportunity to watch the temple area from the top by a balloon.
As soon as we go down from the ball we determine our new route; our new route is Tonle Sap Lake. This is the biggest lake of Southeast Asia. Our boat is taking us to the in land of the lake area called Chong Khnear where the floating village is located. This is a place as it were a floating town. We look admirely at these structures including the church, the school, the houses located on the lake. We are taking a break at one of the floating stations in the middle of the lake. There’s a little crocodile farm where we stop. We take a glance at the farm for a short time and go out on the terrace. While watching scene on the terrace, we find ourselves imaging what life would be like in floating houses.
Tonle Sap Lake
Famous Apsara Dancers
When we wake up, it’s already evening. We go to the Art Market where the handicraft products are sold closely near Pub Street. After looking round the handicrafts that we can see all over the world, we are ending this pace of the tour. We are heading towards the stands selling dried fruits and spices. We’re going to Pub Street again for dinner and choosing the second floor of the restaurant located opposite Red Piano. Here we’re eating Beef Lok Lak. On this street where the mobile bars / discos are located, tourists can not stop playing. While we are on our way to our hotel, the entertainment does not stop until late.
Art Market
Pub Street
We want to spend the last day by going to a culture village very close to the center. Although this village specially built for tourists is artificial, it is beneficial in terms of symbolizing the Cambodian culture.
Culture Village
We are returning with beautiful memories from the southeast part of the World where we find peace and tranquility moving away from the intense agenda of Turkey and the world.