Introduction to Siem Reap, Cambodia

They awoke the next morning after sleeping right through the night (for the first time in days), with an immense feeling of contented accomplishment and joy, ready to face their first day in Siem Reap.

They couldn’t stop smiling while getting showered and dressed in their room, their own private little home for a few days.  Richard needing a pinch to ensure he wasn’t dreaming.  They had eventually arrived and were feeling on top of the world when they made their way down to breakfast.

After a very yummy breakfast, filled with a mixture of excitement and adventure, they took to the streets of Siem Riep and were delighted with their first view of this town, their first real home since leaving SA.

They ventured up 20th Street and made their way towards the river road, politely refusing numerous requests by Tuk Tuk drivers to take them around the town. They were pleasantly surprised to find the streets clean, the riverside lush green and the air fresh and free of the rancid smells they had slowly become accustomed to since arriving in Cambodia.

Walking down the road alongside the river and through the Old French Quarter, they were reminded of an afternoon stroll through Stellenbosch.

They made their way towards the Old Market but their morning venture was interrupted by a sudden downpour, very typical of the Monsoon season which starts towards the end of May in Cambodia.  They hopped onto a Tuk Tuk and returned to the Two Dragons, where they waited for the rain to subside before they ventured out again towards the Old Market and the famous Pub Street.

Along the way, they discovered that Siem Reap offers a large and varied choice of accommodations, from Boutique Hotels and 5 Star Resorts to dozens of mid-range places and budget digs.  Siem Reap is apparently known for its restaurants, shopping and vibrant nightlife. The main body of the town stretches about 3 – 4 km north/south along the river and roughly 5 – 6 meters east/west.  Popular areas include the Old Market, the Night Market and Pub Street (all on their route for today).  This area is the tourist epicenter of Siem Reap, tightly packed with pubs, cafes, coffee shops, restaurants, hotels and various boutiques and shops.  There are also the average priced places in  the Wat Bo, Taphul Village and the Sok San Road areas.

They made their way to the Old Market and ventured through the stalls towards Pub Street where they stopped to have a drink. As dusk fell and the sun set, they slowly strolled towards the Night Market, taking in the all the sights, sounds and vibes around them.  The market itself is typical of any market, stall upon stall of clothing, shoes, shawls, jewelry, souvenirs, bags, artwork and food stalls.  They stopped at a Cambodian (Khmer) food stall for a bite to eat.  Something South Africans should try is the mixture that accompanies Khmer meat dishes, a combination of white pepper and fine salt mixed together with a sprinkling of the juice from fresh limes.  This would be a perfect accompaniment to dip your meat in as it comes straight off the braai.

As it became darker, the market area transformed into a brightly lit and colourful world, which became busier and busier as the evening progressed.

As it had been a long day, they decided to leave the merriment of Pub Street for another night. As they made their way back towards the river, they meandered down Pub Street, which now after sun set was coming alive with music, merriment and rowdy tourists looking for a party.  Besides the street itself, the narrow connecting passages are also filled with cafe’s, bars and shops that offer a pedestrian only ambiance.  This entire area is the center of the nightlife with most pubs staying open until after midnight and into the early hours of the morning.

When they reached the river they had crossed earlier, they were greeted by a magnificent splendor of lights.  All the bridges that cross over the river were lit up in a variety of patterns and colours.  They made their way back over the Old Market Bridge to Kings Road following the sounds of a Rock Band, which they later discovered was coming from a band called “Rock Storm” who were playing at the Hardrock Cafe’. Another place now on their “to do in Siem Reap list” – The Hardrock Cafe.

It was thrilling to see how spectacular and magically lit the river side looked at night.

When they were lying together, before closing their eyes on their first beautiful day in Siem Reap, they both had to admit that they had fallen in love with this beautiful town and that they would love to settle here and make this their home for the next few years.