Siem Reap with Tuesday Report Day 5

Day 1 Click HERE

Day 2 Click HERE

Day 3 Click HERE

Day 4 Phrea Khan Temple Click HERE

Day 4 Ta Nei and Bayon Temple Click HERE

Day 4 Banteay Srei Temple Click HERE

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Destination: Siem Reap, Cambodia

Duration: 5D4N, 14 Feb to 18 Feb 2019

Mode of Travel: Self-organised.  We had 3 private vans for transport and local guide (www.facebook.com/Jeepxplr) who's now a very dear friend to us
Flight: Jetstar

Hotel: Khmer Mansion Boutique Hotel (Apsara Double Pool View Suite - $379) and one night at Khmer Mansion Residence

www.khmermansionresidence.com

Weather: Warm and dry around 30°C
Currency: USD most of the time though Cambodian Riel can be use

Time difference: 1 hour behind Singapore

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18.02.2019

Last few hours in Siem Reap le... slept early last night, so woke up early too.

Went out alone while my kid sis was still snoozing.  Tired of hotel's breakfast, also need to give New Leaf Eatery a last visit before leaving.  I am going to miss this little cafe so much....

Had to walk through Pub Street, it was asleep in the morning.  No neon lights, no crowds, no noise, how nice.

Passed by the wet market and kept looking if I need any old school household item.

I was looking for Jambolan Plum, but didn't find any.

Very scary looking fish.

Here I was again after 5mins walk from the hotel.

New Leaf Eatery

 Kratie Monk, Krong Siem Reap 17252, Cambodia

It's my first time trying breakfast here.

Avocado & Egg Toast.  Also Mango Sticky Rice again else the next trip here is not sure yet.  The crew probably remembered me, I was given a free "up size", heehee....

I liked the avocado spread, thick and buttery.  The breakfast hit my quota for lunch also lolxx...

On my way back, I bumped into my team mates.  I accompanied them to do some last minute shopping in the market.  I ended buying a pair of pants, a dress, some incense cones and cooking spices.

It was also my first time to know what's a singing bowl though didn't buy it.

Marinated cockles which looked too risky to try.

We finally had to head to the airport, only to realise that the electric mozzy bats weren't allowed to hand carry or check in.  So sad de... T___T

I decided that I might be hungry on board, so bought Burger King.  It was a painful wait with just one person (from that country) in front of me.  She took forever to decide what to order and then changed her mind, cancelled everything and re-order again.

Buy burger only leh, hello.  I buy abalone also faster than her.  If she is an elderly, I would had helped.  That irritating girl was in her early 20s, behaving as if the earth rotates for her only.  I don't understand why people love to hog at fast food counters so much, it's not the first time but I got a flight to catch my gawd......

It was bright and sunny around 3pm, I hate it but it would be dreadful if it's raining.

Anyway, thank god for the safe flight.

Back to Singapore, we were all very excited for our documentary to be screen on Tuesday Report.  It was 4 days of hard work for the filming crews and they presented the best of this voluntary work trip in 22mins on TV.

Inspiring Stars had received positive and encouraging comments, and some had expressed their interest in joining.  Time flies, after much planning, we will be meeting the public for the first time in a few days!

I started editing my Okinawa photos le, you guys will get to see them soon!  Thanks for the patience and thanks for returning to this blog ;)

Day 4 evening in Siem Reap

Day 1 Click HERE

Day 2 Click HERE

Day 3 Click HERE

Day 4 Phrea Khan Temple Click HERE

Day 4 Ta Nei and Bayon Temple Click HERE

Day 4 Banteay Srei Temple Click HERE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Destination: Siem Reap, Cambodia

Duration: 5D4N, 14 Feb to 18 Feb 2019

Mode of Travel: Self-organised.  We had 3 private vans for transport and local guide (www.facebook.com/Jeepxplr) who's now a very dear friend to us
Flight: Jetstar

Hotel: Khmer Mansion Boutique Hotel (Apsara Double Pool View Suite - $379) and one night at Khmer Mansion Residence

www.khmermansionresidence.com

Weather: Warm and dry around 30°C
Currency: USD most of the time though Cambodian Riel can be use

Time difference: 1 hour behind Singapore

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17.02.2019

My limited stamina was fully used up after 4 temple hops.  On the way back to Siem Reap City was 沙尘滚滚, what do you call a mini sand storm?

It was a 45mins drive back to the hotel.

Dropped my bag, took off my shoes, flipped flopped to this spa which was just a few units away from the hotel.

Real Spa Cambodia

For address and information click: www.realspacambodia.com

Even the entrance looked tranquil.

This was the reception area, the ladies spoke simple English.

Opposite the reception was a nice lounge area.

Warm tea and cool towel was given while I filled up a simple form on personal health.

They had facial, body wraps, scrubs and massages to chose from.

You may find the types of beauty services from their website: www.realspacambodia.com

I had a big room all to myself at the ground floor while my sis and friend went up the spiral staircase.

The shower area had no door or curtain, so when I had to shower after the body scrub, the therapist had to leave the room.

I chose a package including body scrub, oil massage and a head massage.

It started off with a foot soak and scrub.  My foot soak looked edible with lime, lemon grass and some other herbs which I couldn't identify.  I was wearing their sarong.  After which it's not possible for me to take any photos of naked me liao, heehee....

While I was having a body scrub, there was this uncivilized man talking very loudly outside at the reception.  There was probably some language barrier, even so I didn't see how barking like a dog would help.  I was at the verge of going out and slap the guy out of the place.

Peace resorted after he left.  I dozed off and woke up by my own snore a few times, so I couldn't comment on the massage skill.  But for sure I was very comfortable and relax throughout the session.

After the spa, we went back to the hotel to pack up while waiting for dinner.

Chhay drove us to Chef-Pan.

I do not have the address, only phone number which you can call if you are in Siem Reap.

It's quite a sight to see chefs in uniform cooking along the street.

Apparently, Chef Pan left his job in a hotel to start out on his own recently.

Our last night in Siem Reap on stools lolxx...

I am still very lousy with alcohol.  So just share a can with sis.

The following dishes all come lip smacking DELICIOUS!!   We passed the plates and tried a bit of everything, we ate like family!  We vowed to come back!

Veg Fried Noodles USD1.50

Power of  "wok hei" in the noodles.

 Carbonara USD2.00

Western or asian, no problem to Chef Pan.

Chicken Satay USD1.00 for 3

This was so good that we ordered quite a few more servings.  I also bought lemon grass powder hoping to make this dish at home.

Chicken Fried Rice USD1.50

Not oily, perfect flavorful puffy rice grains, why so delicious omg....

Beef satay USD1.00 for 3

Striploin Steak USD5.00

Value for money.

Mini Chicken Burger USD1.50

This juicy little burg left me a deep impression as the buns were warm, the onions were right (white onions were used).

We were sort of worry for Chef Pan during raining days.  Hope his hard work will earn him a place with roof the next time we come!

After dinner, the few of us spend time with Chhay over a huge glass at Pub Street.

Alcohol was like drug to me.  My head was heavy but feet were light.  I floated back to the hotel and crashed the bed.

And next day was time to fly back to Singapore.  The post should be done up very fast if I stay focus enough, heehee...

Banteay Srei Temple (Lady Temple)

Day 1 Click HERE

Day 2 Click HERE

Day 3 Click HERE

Day 4 Phrea Khan Temple Click HERE

Day 4 Ta Nei and Bayon Temple Click HERE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Destination: Siem Reap, Cambodia

Duration: 5D4N, 14 Feb to 18 Feb 2019

Mode of Travel: Self-organised.  We had 3 private vans for transport and local guide (www.facebook.com/Jeepxplr) who's now a very dear friend to us
Flight: Jetstar

Hotel: Khmer Mansion Boutique Hotel (Apsara Double Pool View Suite - $379) and one night at Khmer Mansion Residence

www.khmermansionresidence.com

Weather: Warm and dry around 30°C
Currency: USD most of the time though Cambodian Riel can be use

Time difference: 1 hour behind Singapore

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

17.02.2019

I told my guide and driver to find any place for lunch as long as it's convenient along the way to Banteay Srei Temple.  So they did and stopped by over here:

Rom Chang Angkor Restaurant is non-aircon, rusty ambiance which probably can house about a 100pax.

It's quite a pleasant place to dine and rest, I could see both locals and tourists here.

Serves mainly Khmer dishes, we ordered quite a bit for 3 of us.

 Amok In Coconut USD4.00

It's Khmer veg curry.

Pra Her Khmer Soup $6.75

Soup veg with ikan bilis and some fish slices.

Stir fried beef with long beans USD6.50

Beef slices a bit tough...

Omelette USD3.75

Egg dishes wouldn't go wrong.

Here's the "address", recommended if you are on the way to Banteay Srei Temple.

It was like about or less than 5mins drive from the restaurant to Banteay Srei Temple.  If you were to go from Angkor Wat, it's about 20km away.  Vehicles in Siem Reap weren't as fast, so probably takes about 40mins drive or so.

  This temple is the most precious temple to the Cambodians.  Could tell it's importance when I saw a Welcome Centre specially built at the entrance of the temple.

The actual photo was very dark as I was facing the sun, that's the best I could edit.  The little temple looked dark here, but it's actually in shades of pink.

Read information online, the original name of the temple was called Tribhuvanamahesvara, which I don't know how to pronounce.   Now known as Banteay Srei meaning “citadel of the women” or, “citadel of beauty”.

The name no doubt, derived from the pink colours of the limestones in this mini temple and the (extremely) elaborate decorative carvings of many devatas (minor female deities) on the walls and doors.

The reddish soil became redder against the sun and the temple probably seemed redder on the red ground.  It was burning warm in the mid noon, enduring was still worth it.

There were "Do Not Touch" sign boards around, but no fencing up.  I really hope visitors behaves themselves and do not take this as an advantage.

It would be our lost if we could only admire the carvings over fences.

The extremely detailed, tiny and intricate carvings made my jaw drop.  The carvings here were the most beautiful compared to other temples I had visited.

My guide said that this temple is their precious gem, it's the most wonderful gift their ancestors had left for them.  As he was saying these to me, his face was lit up with pride.

Not all areas were in pink, there were some in beige.

All the doors were made for my height while most adults had to bend down to walked through.

This little pink lady temple is really cute!

Close-up on one of the door frame.

Just how did they carve by hand?  How?  So beautiful so beautiful, why so beautiful!

 The carvings were amazing to me and I took many photos of the different towers.

I am still admiring Banteay Srei from my own photos now.  But for those who aren't interested (like my hubby), the following photos may look all the same to you.

The some kneeling statues were taken away and kept in National Museum of Phnom Penh.

Most kneeling status here were replicas.

There were some shops at near the car park.  Business were really bad here.

All the shops were selling more or less the same stuff, so it's less attractive.  But if you see something you like, you will find that the prices are actually quite reasonable.  They didn't mark up the prices even though it's a tourist area.

In summary, I had visited 4 temples: Phrea Khan, Ta Nei, Bayon and Banteay Srei from 8.30am to 3pm, including lunch.  Previously had done with Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm.

As mentioned before I will have to do Phrea Khan again.  Since the tix is so expensive, I might as well go for more along with Phrea Khan.  I found Beng Mealea:

Photo from: https://navutudreams.com/2014/07/11/beng-mealea-angkors-best-temple/

No concrete plans yet but this will be in the list.

Next post will be short.  When we drove back to the city, I had a spa for the first time in Siem Reap and had the best dinner along the road side!  Hope to get done with Siem Reap quickly, I am excited to get start with Okinawa.