You know what Siem Reap is famous for? Angkor Wat. It is situated 7 km north of town.
You know what I didn't do in Siem Reap this weekend? Go visit Angkor Wat.
Why? you ask. Well because $37 just to go on grounds is a terrible ripoff, and the price increases by almost that much each day you stay. Khmer people don't have to pay anything, but Whitey McCheeseburgerpants like us do. I work hard, I pay my taxes, why the hell should I pay just because I'm white?
So, despite the fact that I was a mere 7 km south of it, I didn't go to Angkor Wat. For the third time in a row.
My prior experiences with Angkor Wat/Siem Reap have not been good. The first time I could have gone, it was with a group of folks in South East Asia for the wrong reasons, if you catch my drift. I just made up some story about feeling sick and stayed home, then spent the last 7 years hating myself for it.
The second time I went to Siem Reap it was to see a friend for New Years. I was still sick with thyroid trouble at the time, and she left me no guidance whatsoever. I wound up getting locked outside the event, and she had no phone because she was hosting a performance. So I stumbled around feeling awful until I came to a tourist information center, where they found me a hotel for the night (not an easy thing to do in Siem Reap on New Years). I went back home at 7am the next morning. Bummer.
This time I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't go to see Angkor Wat, but instead chilled out around town for a day--mind you I hadn't slept more than a few seconds, max, on the night bus that took me there, and it was over 100 degrees Fahrenheit so it wasn't like I had ebullient energy or anything. Ice cream, a walk around town, and a massage were just about enough for me. You can see the pictures.
I woke up very early the next day to visit something even better than Angkor Wat--THE BUTTERFLY FARM.
You heard me--I woke up before dawn to ride my bike 25 kilometers along unknown roads just to see some damn butterflies.
Of course, this left me with the problem of getting back to the guesthouse when I was done--which I boldly turned my bike toward, so that I could make it back before a) check-out time, b) getting sunburnt, c) the heat of the day.
Come to think of it, I failed on all 3 counts.
The guesthouse was good enough to let me shower, eat, and promptly pass out under the table for several hours before the heat of the day broke and I carried all my stuff back into town.
Before I took the night bus back home (I assure you, I slept like a rock), I managed to watch some local kids put on an Apsara dance, visited a Wat with some grisly remains, and have a lot of fish eat the dead skin off my feet. They also gave me a free beer. I don't know what it is about traveling in South East Asia, everyone gives you a beer.
I really hate beer, but this is the kind of thing that makes me wish I didn't.
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| It looks just like this. |
You know what I didn't do in Siem Reap this weekend? Go visit Angkor Wat.
Why? you ask. Well because $37 just to go on grounds is a terrible ripoff, and the price increases by almost that much each day you stay. Khmer people don't have to pay anything, but Whitey McCheeseburgerpants like us do. I work hard, I pay my taxes, why the hell should I pay just because I'm white?
So, despite the fact that I was a mere 7 km south of it, I didn't go to Angkor Wat. For the third time in a row.
My prior experiences with Angkor Wat/Siem Reap have not been good. The first time I could have gone, it was with a group of folks in South East Asia for the wrong reasons, if you catch my drift. I just made up some story about feeling sick and stayed home, then spent the last 7 years hating myself for it.
The second time I went to Siem Reap it was to see a friend for New Years. I was still sick with thyroid trouble at the time, and she left me no guidance whatsoever. I wound up getting locked outside the event, and she had no phone because she was hosting a performance. So I stumbled around feeling awful until I came to a tourist information center, where they found me a hotel for the night (not an easy thing to do in Siem Reap on New Years). I went back home at 7am the next morning. Bummer.This time I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't go to see Angkor Wat, but instead chilled out around town for a day--mind you I hadn't slept more than a few seconds, max, on the night bus that took me there, and it was over 100 degrees Fahrenheit so it wasn't like I had ebullient energy or anything. Ice cream, a walk around town, and a massage were just about enough for me. You can see the pictures.
 |
| This is the sign from the road! |
You heard me--I woke up before dawn to ride my bike 25 kilometers along unknown roads just to see some damn butterflies.
Yes I did.
Of course, this left me with the problem of getting back to the guesthouse when I was done--which I boldly turned my bike toward, so that I could make it back before a) check-out time, b) getting sunburnt, c) the heat of the day.
Come to think of it, I failed on all 3 counts.
The guesthouse was good enough to let me shower, eat, and promptly pass out under the table for several hours before the heat of the day broke and I carried all my stuff back into town.
Before I took the night bus back home (I assure you, I slept like a rock), I managed to watch some local kids put on an Apsara dance, visited a Wat with some grisly remains, and have a lot of fish eat the dead skin off my feet. They also gave me a free beer. I don't know what it is about traveling in South East Asia, everyone gives you a beer. I really hate beer, but this is the kind of thing that makes me wish I didn't.
