Driving Miss Karen

A blog about our travel

Cambodia and Angkor Wat: Better Than Expected

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Honestly, we were a bit worried about Cambodia but it was really pretty nice. We just focused on Angkor Wat and stayed in Siem Reap so maybe that’s why it was so nice but we enjoyed it and glad we visited. Angkor Wat was about what I expected. It was very cool but two full days is really overkill in my opinion unless you are really into Buddhism or Hindu religion. Cambodia was like Thailand light. Pretty clean but not as clean as Thailand. Pretty good food but not as good as Thailand. The people were very nice but there was less English spoken. Hopefully it will be the next Thailand.

Pretty lit up bridges at night in Siem Reap. The city was very nice with good infrastructure and lots of western tourists
Cambodian Tuk-Tuks were different. Like a motor-bike pulling a wagon. Cool!
Our driver took this photo and sent it to me on WhatsApp. Awesome!
We got off to a good start with a super nice ride from the airport to our hotel. The airport is pretty modern and comfortable. The visa on arrival process was pretty smooth but chaotic
All the bridges downtown are nicely decorated
It’s always a good time for a Quality Krud. Krudilicious!
This looks like a rooster that is ready for anything
Random nice things about Cambodia. The bridges are nicely lit. The beers have cool names, and the chickens are very pretty and quite fit
It is a pretty setting with the reflection but I think sunset might be better
Angkor Wat started as a Hindu complex and many of the temples have been used for both Hindu and Buddhist worship
Angkor Wat temple is the most famous and well preserved temple but it was not one of my favorites. The sunrise pictures were not worth getting up at 4 AM but the temples were very pretty
We are not Selfie people but this one was worth having
Looks like a Disney Ride but it’s real life
My favorite temple sites are like this one where the jungle hasn’t been completely cleared. The trees are just as amazing as anything we’ve built in my opinion
The Churning of the Ocean of Milk depicts the Hindu story of the tug-of-war between Demons and Gods for the Elixir-of-Immortality using the snake Vasukhi as their rope.
I don’t remember what this represents but it is just stunning
The carvings were just amazingly detailed and awe-inspiring. The skill to do this and the luck of having it preserved
One of the cool shrine areas. People still leave offerings like flowers, food, or even art. It was funny to see a juice left as an offering with a straw in it. Gods like sippy straws!
Bullet fragment from the civil war and the reign of the Khmer Rouge
It is hard to believe the same county that built these temples could commit the genocide that killed up to 2 million people during a four year period
The first Tomb Raider movie was shot here
Before that the temple was not very popular
I didn’t see the movie but I love this temple
Ta Phrom (aka Tomb Raider Temple) was my favorite. Just the combination of the trees and the old temples was so atmospheric.
Angkor Wat Temple is very well preserved, You can climb the upper levels and walk around the shrines
The temples were painted red and yellow
Cambodian bride-to-be getting photos taken at Bayon temple
The temples were very interesting and worth seeing but after a while temple fatigue can set in since there are repetitive elements in s lot of them
The Royal Gate leading to the temple complex
Interesting Ice-Cream. Luckily not fish flavored
President Biden was in the capital and his plane was at our airport the day we left. Unexpected to say the least
Both of us were glad we visited Cambodia, a place we knew very little about. It’s worth a s stop if you are in the area. I hope life continues to improve for the Cambodians

Jose

AKA Alfred

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