Siem Reap to Bangkok

There are loads of stories about scam buses between Siem Reap and Bangkok, and although the worst of it is actually in the reverse direction, we were still keeping our eyes open. Continue Reading…

Once upon a time in Cambodia

Once upon a time, there were two backpackers, Ian and Peter, visiting the Temples of Angkor in Cambodia. Continue Reading…

The Temples of Angkor: Day 3

For our 3rd and last day at the Angkor Temples, we should have gone to the large waterfall of Phnom Kulen (a nice waterfall and lake that was another location for one of the Tomb Raider Films). However we went to Kbal Spean, the “valley of 1000 Lingas”.

While Kbal Spean is also in the Phnom Kulen National Park area, it is far, far less impressive, especially after the 30min walk you have to take from the drop off area. There are many lingas but most are tiny bumps carved into the river bed. Standing under the cold water was refreshing and felt great but only because we were hot from the walk! Photos of the real Phnom Kulen waterfalls look far more impressive!

On the way back we stopped at Bantey Srei, a red sandstone temple. We got over this one pretty quickly also and headed back into town, ending our tour of the Temples of Angkor!

The Temples of Angkor: Day 2, pt 2

Well its only 9am and we are onto Baphuon in Angkor Thom, our 3rd temple, after 2 of the best this morning! Baphuon Continue Reading…

The Temples of Angkor: Day 2, Angkor Wat & Bayon

Day 2 was our planned BIG day, starting with sunrise at Angkor Wat, and a full day tour of the central temples on the Big and Little Loop. We got up around 4.15am Continue Reading…

The Temples of Angkor: Day One

Ian and I were joined by a Canadian girl from the hostel (totally forgotten her name!) and after buying our 3-day passes we headed out for our first Angkor Temple action! On the way, we got these Cambodian snacks called Krolan – sticky rice with coconut and red bean, fire roasted inside bamboo! I thought they were great. Very cheap, filling and tasty! You peel the bamboo strips down like a banana to eat it. Continue Reading…

Siem Reap and the Temples of Angkor Plan

Basically the only reason people come to Siem Reap (and for some Cambodia in general) is to visit Angkor Wat – the World’s Largest Single Religious Monument – and the surrounding temples, over 1,000 of them! And wat a sight they are Continue Reading…

Much Ado about Malaria

I hate tablets. Pills. Vaccines. Drugs. They are expensive, have bad side effects, are full of crap I really don’t want in my body (both chemical and animal derived), almost certainly tested on animals, treat symptoms rather than the cause, and in many cases are simply ineffective! Continue Reading…