Facts (Siem Reap)
MY Favourite Places to Visit
Artisan's Centre
May 2011
Poor and disabled people are trained for 3 years in the traditional skills of textile manufacture, stone and wood carving, after which they are able to make and sell high quality pieces for the international market and must return to their own villages to practice their art. Interesting palce to visit for some beautiful handicrafts.
Tonle Sap & Floating Village
May 2011
From the Tonle sap lake, you are able to board the ships on the lake and view the sunset if weather is nice and clear. In addition, visitors are able to take a Tonle sap boat trip to visit the floating village and see the surprising cultures of the people living there. It can be very photogenic at the lake. Take a boat out around the water villages where all of life happens afloat; homes, work, schools, pig farms; even the catholic church is built on a raft . These are mainly refugees from Vietnamwho are only able to live on the waters of Cambodia.
Angkor Wat
May 2011
Angkor Wat (Wat temple) is the central feature of the AngkorUNESCO World Heritage Site containing the magnificent remains of the Khmer civilization. Angkor Wat's rising series of five towers culminates in an impressive central tower that symbolizes mythicalMount Meru. Thousands of feet of wall space are covered with intricate carving depicting scenes from Hindu mythology. The most important are the Carved Bas reliefs of the Hindu narratives. They tell a story about gods fighting demons in order to reclaim order which can only be achieved by recovering the elixir of life known as amrita. The gods and demons must work together to release it and then battle to attain it.
Angkor Thom City
May 2011
This magnificent inner royal city was built by the end of the 12th century, the political capital of King Jayavarman VII , and is renowned for its temples, in particular the Bayon.. The city can be accessed through 5 city gates, one on each cardinal point and the Victory Gate on the eastern wall. The first stop is normally at the Death gate and make some working along the embankment to the Victory gate and then through to Vichar Bram Pei Lvang , including Preah Palily ,Terraces of Elephants and Leper King , Bapuon the massive 11 century temple , the 'golden' Palace, Phimeanakas with its beautiful Royal baths , Last hope will be the Bayon Temple, the biggest temple inside the Angkor Thom city decorated with 100 and 100 of Smiling faces then South gate . You are able to also walk to the top of the temple, sitting on the roof steps to have a magnificant view of the sunset if weather permits.
Banteay Srei
May 2011
Built in 967AD , the pink sandstone temple ( mean citadel of woman ) the temple is rather small in size but stunningly decorated and in pristine condition.
Markets in Cambodia
May 2011
If you are in Siem Reap, besides all the historical attractions that you go to, another place which visitors must go to is the local markets in Siem Reap, which most people leave it to the night visit. There, you will be able to experience souveniors, local food and street music. You are also able to enjoy maybe a 15-30 minute shoulder and head massage after some tiring walks around the markets.
The Old Market or Psah Chas is located between Pub Street and the Siem Reap River, and offers a mixture of souvenirs for tourist and a variety of food produce and other items meant for the locals. Other markets in Siem Reap include the Angkor Night Market which is located off Sivutha Street, Phsar Kandal (The Central Market) located at Sivutha Street which mainly caters to tourists, and Phsar Leu (The Upper Market) which is located further away along National Road 6 but is the biggest market of Siem Reap used by the locals.