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.
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