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Cycling Around Angkor Wat, The Sacred Temples Of Cambodia
This is a city run by tuk-tuks, you will have a hard time finding other transport, but it is possible..
Cycling Around Angkor Wat, The Sacred Temples Of Cambodia
Arriving in Siem Reap you will be greeting by a city that is run by tuk-tuks, they are everywhere and they will do anything to get your business, which is fair enough in a poor country and in the grand scale of things they are very affordable. But when you have just forked out $60 for a 3 day pass to visit the Angkor Wat temples, a $15 tuk-tuk for the day can be a bit heavy (especially if your a backpacker on a budget).
This is your typical tuk-tuk in Siem Reap. One of the things I love about SEAsia is the variety of tuk-tuks from town to town, they all have their own styles.
By choosing to cycle yourself around the temples you will not only save a lot of money, but you will also have free reign of what you want to see and how long you want to stay places. I spent $1 a day on my bike!
An elder monk sat with a young apprentice, they were both talking when I spotted them and saw the epic framing that was just asking to be photographed! Its always polite to ask for a photo as some monks do not want to be photographed.
The sun rising behind the temples, this is one of the most popular spots to watch sunrise and if you hate crowds you will hate this. It is an incredibly beautiful spot though with the crystal clear reflection pool.
I arrived at the temple that everyone visits during sunrise at about midday and found the place empty, I almost had the temple to myself apart from 3/4 people!! Considering the 1000's of people visiting daily this was the thing that convinced me that taking a bike was truly the best option.
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The sunset at Phnom Bakheng temple, this place sits on top of a large hill that will take you about 10/15 minutes to walk up, but the views from the top a definitely worth it! It is a very popular spot and they only allow 300 people up onto the temple at a time so make sure you get there in advance!
On the road towards Angkor Thom you will be surrounded by jungle, if you're lucky you might spot a group of monkeys hanging out on one of the grass banks. Keep an eye out for people stopped on the side of the road, this usually means their feeding the monkeys.
If you do head to Angkor Wat for sunrise then you may be in for a treat, a parade of monks walking in a long line around the temple in their bright orange robes. Truly a once in a lifetime experience!
This is the big reservoir called Jayatataka that surrounds Neak Pean , this is one of the furthest temple you can go to and will definitely test you if your on a bicycle! I turned up just before sunset and had some really nice views, but then I had to cycle the 2 hour trip back as it got darker and darker..
Make sure to take a big ol' bottle of water with you, but don't worry about running out as there are plenty of stalls on the sides of the roads offering ice cooled drinks for $1 or less (depending on your bartering skills).
This is the sunset at Prae Roup Temple, another top spot to watch from as it has a high platform at the top with nice views. Beware though that the guards close this temple as soon as the sun hits the horizon, so the most beautiful sunsets will have to be watched from down at the entrance (that's where this photo was taken).
This is a truly must see collection of temples and although the entrance price can be steep there are ways of making the whole experience a lot cheaper.
Quick Facts:
Angkor Wat entrance fee: 1/3/7 day pass - $37/$62/$72 USD.
Bike hire: $1 to $2 a day.
Tuk-tuk hire: $15 to $25 a day.
Accommodation: $2 to $5 for a bunk in a hostel dorm room.
Thanks for reading!
Taran here, owner of Nomad'er How Far. I'm fond of psychedelic rock, photography & videography, anything to do with space and I'm also partial to the odd gaming session. Oh and I love to travel :P Get to know me here!
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What To See And Do In Otres Beach, Cambodia
Arriving at this laid back, sun soaked stretch of beach you will be greeted by the kind of visuals you only see in those photo-shopped Instagram's..
What To See And Do In Otres Beach, Cambodia
You made it to Otres beach, or you'r just about to get there? Either way you've made a great choice! Arriving at this laid back, sun soaked stretch of beach you will be greeted by the kind of visuals you only see in those photo-shopped Instagram's.
This area is a favourite with the locals and the beach is a really nice mix of foreigners and local family's, all enjoying the clear warm water, great food and a cheeky cocktail from the line of beach bars.
The Beach..
Otres beach is a long stretch of chilled out bliss, and I recommend taking a stroll up/down it and soaking in all the sights and vibes.
This is a very friendly place and you will be spoken to by almost every group of local kids wanting to try out their English, and you might even get the chance to join in on a game of football or volleyball.
I personally got stopped by a very friendly group of Cambodians who where celebrating their mates wedding; they handed me beer after beer and we proceeded to clang our cans together and cheer 'CHOL MUOY!!' for most of the afternoon.
The beach can sometimes get a bit of trash wash up from the ocean (that's just how it is in a lot of SE-Asia unfortunately), but the locals care about the beach and regularly clean it, even resorting to raking the sand! You have a good chance of spotting some sea life on the shore if you keep your eyes peeled, which you probably would want to, as to avoid stepping on a beautifully dangerous sea urchin, as pictured above..
Be sure to grab yourself a 'cambodia' while you chilling in Cambodia!
Finish your day soaking in the last of the sun while you watch it slowly recede beyond the horizon.
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Where To Stay..
The beach front is lined with a good variety of little resorts and hostels, each of them with their own vibe to suit everyone's need. I was personally drawn to a place that claimed to be a authentic Italian restaurant named 'Papa Pippo's' which has its own bungalows too! Being a pizza/pasta fanatic I had to take a look and test this claim..
Well, if your into your pizza's then I highly suggest you try this place out, the pizza is some of the best I've ever had (which is crazy considering its a small beach town in Cambodia). The prices range from around $16-$25 for a private bungalow located a few short steps from the sea front. Photos below:
Be sure to check out their website for more details: www.papapippo.com
I can also recommend visiting the small off-the-grid island Ko Ta Kiev. Its a truly different experience with no internet, and supplies arriving only once a day on the same small boat that takes you there.
You will be met by a very eclectic group of westerners and locals living on the island and 'working' in the beach bar. You will sleep in a open aired 'dorm' and you will find yourself connecting to others easily as there are no distractions here. Photos below:
The People.
The captain of one of the tiny motor boats that will take you out across the bay to the various islands.
The beach has its fair share of locals trying to sell you something, and whilst some of it is tat, some of the food on offer is amazing! You can get a full bag of pineapple, mango and banana for $1.50!
The supply boat getting ready to leave for Ko Ta Kiev, where the workers will carry your luggage to the boat if your scared of getting it wet!
Locals inviting me to drink with them. They were so generous, offering me countless beers and food while we sheltered from a storm!
I hope this article helps make your stay in Otres beach enjoyable. Now go relax, and soak it all in.
Thanks for reading!
Taran here, owner of Nomad'er How Far. I'm fond of psychedelic rock, photography & videography, anything to do with space and I'm also partial to the odd gaming session. Oh and I love to travel :P Get to know me here!
Be social and come follow me across the virtual world!
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Taran & Makoto here, together we form Nomader How Far photography.
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