Cambodia: Swim, Eat, Sleep, Party, Repeat
My partner decided to surprise me for my birthday last year and booked a deal for Siam Reap, Cambodia. His reasons were to the point, we needed a break, some rest, an affordable holiday, and what better than visiting one of the neighboring countries of Hong Kong.
Being a research alcoholic and a google disciple, I decided to find all the good places in Siam Reap. And to my surprise, my research ended quite early as every blog talked about The World Famous Heritage site “Angkor Wat”. However, if you google about any other activity in Siam reap; they all point to the same address, “Pub Street”. My husband is not historically inclined so I was amused by his choice but decided to enjoy the surprise instead of shooting him with a rapid-fire.
And ladies and gentlemen, it turned out to be a great holiday. The first thing I noticed at the airport was our pick up transport. We were told that the hotel would provide it and we were looking for SUVs all around when one man came and asked for our names and then showed us our ride. A TUK-TUK, I couldn’t help but smile. A tuk-tuk is a 3-tire rickshaw pulled by a machine thus reducing the human effort. Our driver arranged our luggage in that mini-vehicle and off we went to our resort.
The properties in Siam reap are mostly luxurious so you won’t be disappointed by whatever you book. We got this resort with 3 swimming pools and a huge bedroom with balconies and it felt heavenly. However, if this isn’t luxury enough, try buying something at a local shop or and the currency conversion will pump up your wallet as you would happily be distributing tips for the rest of your trip.
I can’t resist water, so I decided to take a dip in the pool and then doze off. When I woke up, we decided to visit the famous pub street. Situated near the lake, this street has everything, from shopping to massages to hair spas to pubs and discos. Even the crowd was different, there was a lot of energy around this place and we wanted to stay. So we ate, hopped between clubs,
danced, tried the street food, and came back to the hotel around 5 am. I enjoyed the street tacos and the desserts and if you are not full, there’s always Italian food to bank upon. The music wouldn’t let me leave the place and the energy just keeps you there like there’s no tomorrow.
The next day, we decided to visit the famous Angkor Wat and we booked ourselves a Tuk Tuk ride because it wasn’t possible to cover it on foot in one day. The decision was helpful, we saw most of the historical sites, clicked a lot of pictures, upgraded our history attendance, and enjoyed serene,
peaceful weather. In the evening, we decided to try the Cambodian cuisine and I must tell you, it's not disappointing even for vegetarians.
The day ended with the same routine, a dip in the pool, food, sleep, and Pub Street. The only difference, this night was a Saturday, so there were live music, rock bands, and party hoppers. We met a lot of people, a mix of Chinese and Korean, some Indians, and a few Americans and Europeans. The crowd was dominated by the Asians and it felt familiar after living so many years in Hong Kong and India.
We got tired, we went for a foot massage, then we partied again and I don’t remember by when we came back to the resort. The next day was free, so we opted for a Body massage and then we did some shopping in the morning and then we came back to the resort to relax. Our 3 day trip was coming to an end but not before our last tuk-tuk ride to the pub street. In 3 days, it had become a routine to me, as my title broadcasts it and I loved it. It was one of the most relaxing breaks ever taken by me. And that’s why I decided to write this article about Cambodia.
I truly think the country is worth a visit if you want to Eat, Sleep, Party, Repeat, or if you are a fan of historical preservation. Either way, do have fun and enjoy the city as much as you can. We missed the sunrise in Angkor Wat, do that if you get a chance, I have heard its magical.
Originally published at http://pj-fundas.blogspot.com on May 24, 2019.