CAMBODIA | K Out & About

Guards at Bayone

Cambodia - the Khmer empire

I visited Cambodia end of 2015 for about a week. As usual I joined a group of people and this time I was lucky as it turned out they were a funny bunch and made the trip even more interesting.

Apart from obvious sightseeing sights one of the more amazing experiences was a Khmer massage in one of the parlours in Siem Riep. I did find it through a recommendation on TravelAdvisor. Guys do need to be weary though that although it’s officially illegal, they might get offered a little bit of an extra with their massage, as it happened to some of the male members of the group. I, luckily, wasn’t running that risk. And it was divine. I was welcomed with a drink and a foot massage and the following hour met all the expectations. I was walking on clouds back to the hotel.

As we took public transport in Cambodia quite few times I have observed something interesting. Nobody would sit next to the girls in the group, even Cambodian women would do it with a dose of hesitation. However, no one seemed to mind to sit next to the guys in our group. So they were the ones sustaining international communication.

Before you start clicking away to read about the sights, friendly warning. If you get offered to see some traditional dances in one of the touristy places. Skip it. There are crowds of probably more than 500 people trying to get as much as they can from the “All you can eat” buffet. The music drowns in the noise of conversations, cutlery clinging and general mastication. The dances are ok, if you actually can see the stage. However, there is a lot of “glitter and plastic”. You get a glimpse of the culture but it’s far from a real experience.

Siem Riem & Angkor Wat

December 22, 2015

Angkor Wat has been on my to-go list for quite some time. It does not disappoint. The ruins are full of history and they fill you with awe. A trip definitely worth doing at least once in your life.

Kampong Phluk

December 23, 2015

Kampong Phluk was not what I expected. I thought the Floating Village would be just that. Well it is a village that gets flooded every rain seasons and so it is built on high poles so that people can live there all year round.

Kampong Cham

December 25, 2015

The city is definitely worth a visit. Much less touristy and you get to see the real Cambodia. One of the attractions, apart from temple ruins, is the Bamboo Bridge. And the best way to experience the city is on a bicycle.

Phnom Penh and the Killing Fields

December 26, 2015

The Capital of Cambodia, full of beautiful places and history full of atrocities. It's very hard to imagine how a place can revive itself after what it has been through. But the history is not forgotten and people who have been through hell themselves are there to remind us.

Homestay and Sihanouk

December 29, 2015

One of the best ways to get to know a culture is to spend some time with the locals of course. Home-stay gives you one of those opportunities. We visited a small community in Chambok. And then of course the beach for New Year's Eve.