Michael & Cynthia

1^st day:

We flew with Jetstar at 6 a.m. from Changi airport to Siem Reap.

The hotel offered free pick-up service and brought us to Tara Angkor Hotel, a nice little boutique hotel which is located between Angkor and the city centre. We were treated each with a little piece of cold towel and a glass of iced lemongrass drink upon check-in at the lobby. Such lovely little gestures!

Hopped on a tuk-tuk and went downtown for some breakfast.

Bought some nice bread from Blue Pumpkin for lunch as we were told that not much variety of food is being offered around the Angkor area.

Another young and humble tuk-tuk driver offered to be our driver for the day and will drive us around the smaller circuit of Angkor for the cost of US$12.

(Small Circuit): Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom (including Bayon, Baphuon, Phimeanakas, Preah Palilay, Tep Pranam, Terrace of the Leper King, Terrace of the Elephants, the Kleangs and Prasat Suor Prat), Ta Prohm, Sra Srang.

Breakfast was fantastic at the hotel’s café.

(Big Circuit): Banteay Srei, Banteay Samre, Neak Pean, Preah Khan, Banteay Kdei, Sra Srang and Prasat Kravan.

We had dinner at Amok, which is located in the heart of the Alley. Tried their national dish – amok, which is basically baked fish curry in banana leaf, slightly bland to our taste, but still yummy.

Head to Dr Feet for foot and body massage, it was raining outside, but we felt like in 7^th heaven.

3^rd day:

The very kind and gentle hotel receptionist finally got us all hooked on a bus that would bring us to Phnom Penh after much struggle with the bus company. Arriving at the bus terminal (which was really just a big open air muddy piece of land) was quite a scene not to be forget, it was full of people who buzzed around with activity.

After 7 hours of long and rather slow ride, we finally made it to Phnom Penh. A tuk-tuk brought us to our nice little French villa hotel at The Pavilion. Right after settling in, we got ourselves another tuk-tuk that brought us to dinner.

After breakfast at the hotel poolside, we walked along the street until we came to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda.

National Museum, Psar Thmei, Sorya Shopping Centre, had ice cream at Swensen. Walk along St 178, but did not see many art shops. Caught a tuk-tuk who drove us to Malis for lunch. Passed by the Independence Monument on the way there. It was a good choice for Khmer lunch, nice environment and really good food.

Head to Tuol Sleng Museum after lunch.

It was depressing and not for the faint-hearted. Psar Tuol Tom Pong. Dinner at riverfront area on Sisowath Quay in an Italian restaurant.

5^th day:

Morning flight at 9 a.m. back to Singapore with Jetstar.

All photos can be found here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/michael.hakel