My New Header and New Blog Name

 Hello! After reading a lot of travel blogs I finally decided to have my own blog header too! Hehehe. Knowing myself, I'm so not creative, terrible at editing, sucks at taking picture and many more. Hmm. But I got myself a friend who's kind enough to cartoon-ize my photo. Well I forced him to! And I requested for a cartoon hehe. 

Edited using Photoshop. We had a hard time sketching for the lips ya know. We almost gave up that I said to him, "kalau dah buruk tu buruk jugak" (the ugly remains ugly) hahahah.

And then I used the image and created my own blog header using Photoscape. 

I told you I have limited creativity and terrible at designs and stuff. If you think this is ugly, please donate me a new design. Haha! But this would do for now. I'm just an amateur anyway. Will keep improving from time to time insyaAllah.

And as you noticed, I also changed my blog name from 'Arasukun Strolling' to 'Strolling With Siti'. Well my friend did not agree with this name but, I don't agree with him! XD

Why Siti? My name is Siti! It's about time to acknowledge my own real name lol. 

Till then, keep reading my travelogues! 

Siem Reap, Cambodia 2016: Day 4 (Siem Reap Town - Last Day)

It was a short trip and we already had to pack our bags on the 4h day. Our flight was at 2.55pm so we got an ample time to visit the town in the morning. Since we have quite covered the nearby area, we took a tuk-tuk this time to go further around.

Tuk-tuk sponsored by Sarah. I love you so much babe hahaha!

It was USD6 if I'm not mistaken.

We stopped at a fresh market selling variety of local stuff from fruits, meats, clothes and many moreee. They even sold gold jewelleries here. The market was huge. Like 'pasar borong' in my country.

Since Day 1 my eyes have captured this thing being sold by the street. But I couldn't find it at the night market. I explained to the tuk-tuk drive that I want the grilled bananas and he said, "oh banana-stick!" Yeah so that's the name. They put the bananas on a stick and grilled them. 

The driver brought me to a local street food area - I bet it was the beaten path because no tourist was seen, the sellers did not know English at all that the driver had to become our translator, and all of the people there were staring at us. Ah whatever, as I long as I get my bananas.

It was yummy! Only 2000riel.

The gate into Killing Field, Siem Reap.

And then we headed back to the hostel, took our bags and off to the airport. 

I spent RM278 for flight ticket KUL-REP.

I carried USD125 dollar with me and went home with only USD1. Haha. Oh this includes accommodation too alright! No upfront payment was required to book Oasis Capsule. We paid there.

So total damage for my 4d3n trip to Siem Reap was approximately RM778.

Hope my writings help. Thank you!

Siem Reap, Cambodia 2016: Day 3 (Phnom Kulen Waterfall)

As we've already planned to visit Phnom Kulen Waterfall on the third day, the trip has been booked since the Day 1. Just asked the hotel receptionist and they will provide you with a list of tour agencies. Phnom Kulen is about 2 hours from Siem Reap. Our trip cost USD35/pax - that's the cheapest we could find. 

If you wanted to get there by yourself without a tour agent, you can opt for car rental. But I'm not sure about the price.

A van came to pick us up at the hostel at 9am. It was a small group of 6 people only, and the tour guide spoke a decent English. They brought us  to 1000 Linga, Pagoda, Big Buddha, and finally to the huge waterfall.

At the pagoda.

You could find a few local food being sold up there. This one is pretty much like Cendol, a Malaysian's favourite dessert. Here it is known as "Lod" (not sure how to spell).

Needed to walk past a village in order to reach here. Welcome to the first waterfall! 

And welcome to the second which is also the huge and popular one!

I love getting wet and I love the coldness of the water! Ahh so relieving. It was like some sort of meditation to stand under the huge and massive waterfall.

Meal was not provided in the package however the driver will bring you to a nearby restaurant. We didn't eat there because it was a non-halal (saw porks in the menu). Luckily we had some junk foods with us.

The journey ended at around 4pm. 

Tips:

1) There was an admission fee (like road-toll) to get into the Phnom Kulen. But our fee was already included in the package price. Make sure when you book, the fee is included as well. Because I saw a few tour agencies excluded this.

2) Lockers are provided at the waterfall area for you to keep your stuff. It was just USD1/box and the box was huge. We even shared it with the other people in our group so we paid 50cent only.

3) Float was also provided, in case you needed. USD1 each.

4) Changing room also provided at USD1 per entry.

5) No toilets. I guess you can pee and poo secretly in the water lol.

6) For Muslims - You'll be able to reach the hotel before Asar time ended. So no worries bout that.

Siem Reap, Cambodia 2016: Day 2 (Temple Tour)

It was a very, very early day for us. They say you don't experience Angkor enough if you don't catch sunrise at Angkor Wat! So we started CYCLING around 5am (sunrise was around 6am). Actually I've been reading online where they advised that it's a long cycling journey from Siem Reap town to Angkor. But the girls would like to have a little adventurous experience this time so we decided to cycle! Bicycle rental was USD3 per day.

There will be a ticket-checking stop upon entering Angkor province. Please make sure you purchased ticket beforehand, and please be aware that the ticket counter is not even located near the Angkor Wat. It was on another freaking route. You might get a tuk-tuk to get there. Ticket fee was USD20, valid for the whole day.

I had a bad experience for having to go back and forth because we thought the ticket counter is somewhere near the Angkor. We was banned from entering Angkor, needed to park our bicycle at the 'immigration', took a tuk-tuk from there to the ticket counter, and go back and get our bicycle at the 'immigration' before we can go to Angkor Wat. So please follow my advice - purchase your ticket earlier. I'm saving you from the hassle.

We arrived Angkor Wat just in time. 

It's quite breathtaking actually. Worth the 10km morning cycling!

Angkor Wat is a very huge complex. But history and architecture isn't really my thing to be honest hehe so I just took a few photos there.

This is still in Angkor Wat complex, but outside the main temple. 

We spent less than 2 hours in the complex and got temple-overdose already haha. 

With the same ticket (make sure you keep it!), you can visit another temples located outside Angkor Wat such as Ta Prohm, Bayon Temple and many more. We didn't cycle there hahaha it was hot so we just took a tuk-tuk to get to nearby temples. It was USD10 (based on how you haggle) from and back to Angkor Wat.

Riding tuk-tuk.

Ta Prohm with the girls. 

This temple is also known as Tomb Raider Temple because it used to be the shooting location for the film.

By noon we got back to Angkor, cycled back to Siem Reap town (30 minutes), had our lunch at KFC (it's certified halal) and back to the hostel. KFC Snack Plate meal cost USD4.60.

That evening we just enjoyed a leisure walk around the town - visited the malls, shops, markets. 

And had a massage! Ahh so relieving. A 30-minutes foot massage cost USD2 only!! Got a free neck massage somemore. 

That's all for Day 2.

Tips: 

1) Wear light and airy clothes, and always put on sunscreen to protect your skin. It's very hot in Siem Reap.

2) I was good with the cycling, however one of us got too exhausted and had a light fever when got back. So my advice is, do not cycle if you're not fit (it was a 20km route). And please drink a lot of plain water.

3) Always haggle for best price! But don't over-haggling hehe. We wanted to help them too but sometimes those tuk-tuk drivers put ridiculous price for a very short-distance journey. 

4) If the tuk-tuk driver gave you a good service - like explaining to you while touring, entertained you nicely, tip them! Always keep in mind that this is a difficult country. A little giving practice while enjoying yourselves would be much helpful to the nation.

Siem Reap, Cambodia 2016: Day 1 (Arrival - Siem Reap Town)

As promised, here I am again. All ready for my Cambodia journal :p

We shall start from KL. Okay due to the high increase of ERL and also road-toll fare, I took a cheaper alternative to KLIA2 this time. Took an LRT (Kelana Jaya Line) from Gombak to KL Sentral (RM2.40, 30 mins) and by bus from KL Sentral - KLIA2 (RM11, 50 mins). 

Our flight departed at 1.10pm (KL time) and we arrived Siem Reap at 2.10pm (Siem Reap time). It was a 2-hour journey and Siem Reap is 1 hour behind Malaysia time.

Sarah got a tuk-tuk arranged earlier so the driver already waited for us as we arrived at Siem Reap Airport. Fare was USD4 (per ride, not pax) from airport to Siem Reap town.

Cambodia I'm here! 

When I said I stayed in a box, I really meant it...

Welcome to my box! 

It's like a big box divided into 4 small boxes to fit 4 beds. Hotel name is Oasis Capsule, located just in walking distance from Angkor Night Market. It's really in the middle of the town. Price was RM76/pax for 3 nights! Talking bout super-saver guysss. 

By the time we arrived Tira and her sister had already waited for us at the hotel. So we freshened up ourselves, solat and then started invading the town.

Look what we found for tea-time. A lot of locals ate here and some even 'tapau'. Hmm it must be damn good. You can choose whichever you want from the above selection (there are a lot more that couldn't fit into this photo), and then they will mix it with sweetened milk and ice. Just like cendol in Malaysia, only without the palm sugar (gula melaka) and a lot more selection other than the green cendol hehe.

Not bad! Only 2000 Riel (1000 Riel is RM1).

There are 2 currencies used in Cambodia - US Dollar & Riel. Both currencies are accepted throughout the country. Riel is normally used for smaller transaction. For example if your balance is USD5.10, they will hand you one USD5 note, and two 200 Riel notes (I hope you get it).

We continued walking until it's dinner time and stopped at Muslim Family Kitchen Restaurant.

The infamous "Lembu Naik Bukit" (that one in the big pot), Vietnamese soup and mango salad. I ordered the Lembu Naik Bukit because of the hype, but I regret to say that it doesn't deserve the hype at all. It tasted plain - well maybe not my taste. The Vietnamese soup, I can't continue after a few sips. The mango salad is good, but just that. We all were disappointed with the meals to be honest. 

Total up the meals with 4 drinks, USD20.

After dinner we continued walking from Angkor Night Market to Pubstreet and to the Art Market. All these markets are located next to each other so you can just walk from one to another. No need tuk-tuk, save your money!

The most happening street ever.

Siem Reap is so lively and happening at night. They got plenty of cheap stuff, cheap foods and cheap everythangg.

Fruit juice stalls everywhere. Only USD1 per cup. Just pick any fruits that you like! 

Cobra Wine! What a scary drink! Haha. It is claimed to have good effect for men in terms of sexual health. 

More shopping.

After that we got back to our hotel and get prepared for an early morning tomorrow.