Best Things to Do in Siem Reap Cambodia

ABBEY: Before you go to or do anything in Cambodia, please make sure to apply mosquito repellent else you’ll be a buffet to the buzzing mosquitoes.

Apsara Cultural Dance

As the name implies this is a dance entertainment about the culture of Cambodia. From their mythical goddesses, Apsara, to their wedding, fishing and harvesting celebration you will be indulged by their graceful choreography. Learn to differentiate the hand gesture of a lotus like bloom, bud and flower. I was amazed that they also have “maglalatik” type of dance.

Phare Circus

The circus showcased acrobatic acts as dance interpretation. The story was about the local and visitors of Cambodia; the everyday life, how the people are being influenced by non-Cambodian cultures and going back to their roots. Even power outage was also depicted on the performance.

The members of the dance troupe come from school that offers free education.

Angkor Wat Temple Tour

It is recommended to get a guided tour (charged USD 45 in our case) when you do a Big or Small circuit temple tours. Why? First they know the place and the history of the place. Second, they will be your personal tour guide for the whole day. Third, they will know the secret spots where you can take your snap to capture memories of the temples. Saram, our tour guide, really did an excellent job giving us history and tips on the tour like Angkor Wat, Bayon (Angkot Thom), and Ta Phrom. I was amazed on the architecture of the temples. They lasted the times.

Hot Air Balloon

This is a first for us. For USD 115 per pax, you can ride a 14-passenger hot-air balloon. Our original schedule of sunrise ride was cancelled due to a light drizzle. It was rescheduled on a sunset. And it was perfect. We arrived there without the sight of the of our ride up but a few moments later 3 majestic balloons can be seen across the field. The experience was superb. We got bird’s-eye-view of rice and corn fields as well as the irrgiation and Bakong temple. The kids below are waiting for us to drop some candies which requires a good notion of how to throw things from above. Hahaha. It was also a humbling experience as we are in the awe of the wind. Kudos to our pilot. We really enjoyed it.

Real Spa

Our body is aching from the temple tour so we checked out a local spa; Real Spa.

We requested for Hot Herbal Compress Full Body Massage for USD45. The spices will be wrapped in a cloth, dipped and remove in hot water, then will be applied to you. The feeling is hot upon contact but the moisture will be cooled down by the room temperature. As the masseur worked my back it sounded like a crunchy chicharon. Hahaha.

They really know their craft.

Best Things to Do in Siem Reap Cambodia 

Part 1

Best Things to Do in Siem Reap Cambodia 

Part 2

Best Things to Do in Siem Reap Cambodia 

Part 3

WILL: If you want to experience province-like vacation that will not break your pocket, go and experience Siem Reap Cambodia. 

Entertain yourself with the following activities: 

•Apsara Cultural Dance -  one reason that we booked at Angkor Village Resort is to watch the Apsara show without leaving the resort. However since it is weekday, the show is on the other Apsara resort so we were driven to and from at Angkor Theatre to witness the well-known show. For US$28/pax we were served a dinner set menu and 6 cultural dances. It is astonishing that you can understand a story without saying any script. 

•Phare, the Cambodian Circus’ energy and vibe is contagiuos. Love it! Same Same But Different act was performed showing the Siem Reap’s local life with foreign visitors. It is an eye-opening when they act how inch by inch the way of clothing for women were changed due to Western influence. It is indeed a different circus. Again! I love it! 

•What is Siem Reap vacation without the temple tour? Abbey opted to have a tour guide we payed US$45 for it. Of course, we learned a lot from Saram that the documentaries didn’t offer. They are lucky that their ancestors were wise and left a legacy of these massive structures. Every inch of the heavy stone was laboured in hope of achieving heaven in their after life. This shows how persuasive their leaders were. You do really need to see this for yourself. 

•Do you know that it is expensive to ride a hot air balloon even in Philippines? The rate you need to pay is without the transportation and the best and cheapest way I saw is in Siem Reap. Aside ticking off the Angkor Wat Temple on our list, in this vacation, we ticked off the hot air balloon ride too. 

Who doesn’t wish to fly on hot air balloon in their childhood? Right? In Angkor Hot Air Balloon Ride you only need to pay US$115 (hotel transfer included) and please mind your timing, they have limited slots on the flying season. 

•Many businesses are offering spa for a US$1 but of course you get what you pay for. In Real Spa, they charged US$45 for 90-minute Hot Herbal Compress Full Body Massage. 

I demanded for a hard massage and it indeed suits my preference. It is really indeed a deep tissue massage. The tension left my back and the hot compress relaxed my muscles. 

The spa is clean and the tea before and after the massage is soothing. 

Above are the activities we’ve done when we went to Siem Reap. Not totally packed with schedule but it gave us ample time to sleep and enjoy the each other’s company. This is indeed a vacation! 

***

Apsara Cultural Dance

(W)https://www.angkorvillageresort.asia

Phare, the Cambodian Circus’

(W)https://pharecircus.org

Angkor Wat Temple Tour and Angkor Hot Air Balloon Ride

was booked at Ring Boutique Hotel

(W) https://ringboutiquehotel.com

Real Spa Cambodia

(W)http://www.realspacambodia.com

Ring Boutique Hotel – A Boutique Hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia

ABBEY: After a night’s stay at Angkor Village Resort, Ring Botique Hotel picked us up to check in. The rooms walled the pool, the hammocks and the massage room. We were greeted by a huge manhole-like structure wherein our bed was placed. This makes up the name of the hotel :)

It gives the basic features of a boutique hotel; sizeable toilet and bath, mini fridge and safe, coffee and tea. The bed and sheets are clean. But I find the TV a little bit awkward as it was mounted on the right side of wall. How am I supposed to watch? Or maybe this will discourage the guest to just lie on the bed but to go out. 

The staffs are helpful specially on booking our tours; temple, circus and hot air balloon. They even packed our breakfast for our sunrise temple tour.

A set breakfast is given each day and we really liked their noodles. The flavor of coriander, lime and broth went together well.

Ring Boutique Hotel – A Boutique Hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia

WILL: We are always on a budget but we will not stress to compromise the quality on our own holiday. Yeah, because we are on budget, we moved to a cheaper hotel for the rest of our stay in Siem Reap. 

We want a serene place, no loud music at pool or bar area, not so crowded. Yeah! We are old already and have a short patience on noise. And of course, we like to experience a somewhat twist on a room. Presenting... Ring Boutique Hotel. 

We booked around July and they gave us US$30 per night breakfast included. Good deal isn’t? 

It is called “RING” because of the ring shaped sleeping area they are offering. It is indeed outstanding from others. The bed is comfortable but you can only watch your tv if you will be seating on the chairs. It is their subtle way to say “you shouldn’t eat in bed”. Haha. 

The pool gives a relaxing impression specially the lighting at night. Their breakfast menu varies from continental to local. Tip: Order their noodle soup! Can’t get enough of it. 

We also booked all our activities in Ring Boutique Hotel. They will do it for you without extra cost. 

Staffs are friendly and they treated us not just like a royalty but like a well-known friend. 🤗

***

Ring Boutique Hotel Siem Reap, Cambodia

(W) https://ringboutiquehotel.com  

(A) Funcky LN, Steung Thmey, Svaydangkum, Siem Reap, Cambodia

(T) +(855) 63 766 267

Angkor Village Resort and Spa at Siem Reap, Cambodia

ABBEY: Angkor Village Resort is our first hotel to stayed in at Cambodia. It is a stone’s throw away from the main road but once you’re in, you will only feel quietness and serenity. We were welcomed with drinks and cold towel. They are refreshing. Whoah, they use lemon grass as straws! The resort has lots of fountains, trees, a 250m-long pool (you can also paddle a boat), gazebos, and hectares of land mostly covered in grass.

Our Traveller's Room (SGD155.87) is spacious and our bed is very relaxing. The toiletries smells good as well.

We had a full lunch meal; soup, appetizer, main and dessert. They made me sleepy after as they are delicious and heavy. By the time I thought that is the last item, then the food keeps on coming.

And the breakfast the day after was all good. I really liked the fried rice and beef noodles. The buffet do have egg station, sausages, congee, cut fruits, and bread. The resort also offers spa treatments and free use of gym.

Angkor Village Resort and Spa at Siem Reap, Cambodia
Suites

WILL: How we can experience a bit of life in Cambodia if we will stay in a hotel? And hey! To tell you, hotels in Siem Reap is pricey as here in Singapore. For a total experience of a village life, we booked a 2D1N stay at Angkor Village Resort and Spa. Okay, before you get confused, there are two sites. We stayed at the RESORT. 😊

We requested an early check-in and it was granted. The room is spacious and you will never smell any hint of old furnishings or bad odour. The bed gave us a long and well-rested sleep. We formally asked to see one of their suites and we are astounded. It is huge that it can house not only a couple but a family of 3-4 members. Living room and dining table is separated from it’s bedroom and a jacuzzi inside the bathroom. Oh! They have their own pool too! 

Angkor Village Resort covers hectares of land. It is indeed a walk. They have a quarter kilometre long pool. You can not only swim but also paddle your way on a boat. 

Their food is extraordinary plated when we dined in their restaurant for a lunch set and filled our tummy on second serving. Haha. 

Their buffet breakfast menu varies from Western to local. Mango reminds me of Philippines. Pork Bacon!! Haha! Love it! I gained weight in no time! 

Before we stepped out totally from their resort, we hit the gym to pump-up our blood and sweat a little bit. 

During the whole stay, we are totally pampered and well-served. They are always ready to grant your wishes. One thing, they will not just smile but will strike a conversation with the guests which is more welcoming. 

Do you know that Angkor Village Resort and Spa is eco-friendly establishment? They are using lemongrass stalk to serve as a straw and they are recycling 100% of their rubbish. 

Enjoy your stay in an environment and people friendly resort in Siem Reap. 

***

Angkor Village Resort and Spa

(W) https://www.angkorvillageresort.asia

(A) Phum Traeng Siem Reap , Kingdom of Cambodia

(T)+855 (0)63 963 561

Aquaman Movie 2018

ABBEY: No plans to watch Aquaman in big screen but changed in the last minute. I never seen Aquaman showed in this type of action-hero movie. It was spectacular. For me Aquaman is just the blonde guy under the water and is of no help in land. But this movie showed who he really is and how much power he has. 

The story line is typical "Game of Thrones" but the characters are good. And I just realized that Agent Romanov was also there in the movie disguised as Poison Ivy. Seriously they have resemblance to Mera.

Aquaman Movie 2018

WILL: Comic book hereos are filling in our movie escapade for 2018. So why not line-up Aquaman? 

The actor got famous on his Game of Thrones series, Jason Momoa and now he is the half-man, half-god Aquaman! 

How’s the movie? This is the DC movie that I enjoyed so far. 🤣 The storyline is fine tuned, no boring scenes and the effects are quite good. 

Kudos to Aquaman Movie! Anddddd, it wraps up our movie this 2018! 

***

Shaw Theatre Waterway Point

(W) www.shaw.sg

(A) B2-11, Waterway Point, 83 Punggol Central, 828761

(T) 6738 0555

Butter and Salted Egg Yolk Pork Ribs Recipe

Ingredients:

4 salted egg yolks (cookedand mashed)

1/2 kilo of pork (cut into thin strips)

1/4 cup of curry leaves

1-2 chili padi (minced)

3 cloves garlic (minced)

Potato starch

Salt and pepper

2-3 tbsp butter

Cooking oil

Season the pork with salt and pepper. Coat them with potato starch and then deep fry them. Set aside.

Heat a pan and put 2-3tsp oil. 

Saute the garlic then the curry leaves and chili padis.

Mix in butter and let it melt. Once melted, put in the salted egg yolk. Mix well. 

Toss the pork into the pan and let the sauce cover the pork.

Serve with hot rice.

Butter and Salted Egg Yolk Pork Ribs

VERDICT:
WILL: Another viand under Abbey's wing! Naks!

Of course the taste is delightful. The spiciness is just right, the pork is tender and salted egg provides a creaminess effect in every bite. 

You cooked a lot? That is fine! Overnight leftovers is tastier! Haha! 

Folks Collective - The Grand Brasserie, Asia Square

ABBEY: After a hard day’s work we treated ourselves with a very late lunch at Folks Collective (The Grand Brassiere). It is a Thai-Western fusion type restaurant. 

I ordered Phad Thai. The noodles were firm, flavorful and zesty. The pork was tender and the meal really filled me up. 

It was cozy inside the restaurant and they have antique-like ambiance. Did I mention they also have a bar?

Folks Collective - The Grand Brasserie, Asia Square
with NEM Australia and NEM Indonesia

Folks Collective - The Grand Brasserie, Asia Square
Pork Green Curry

Folks Collective - The Grand Brasserie, Asia Square
Phad Thai

WILL: We split the team to attend separate meetings and all of us met at Folks Collective which is located at Asia Square. Three blocks away from 80RR Fintech Hub. 

Abbey ordered Pork Green Curry and white rice for me. The presentation is indeed on the next level. The taste? Green curry is quite watery but the taste was not affected by the soup texture. It satisfied and fulfilled my very late lunch (430pm). 

The ambiance of the restaurant is indeed GRAND! The beautiful chandelier hanging, the lighting, the table designs, the flowers! Splendid!

Don’t go anywhere at CBD! Go directly here at Folks Collective and book a lunch date. 

***

Folks Collective - The Grand Brasserie

(W) http://www.folkscollective.com

(H)MON-FRI 11am-11pm

(A)8 Marina View #01-01 Asia Square Tower 1 Singapore 018960

(T)6443 9820

PS.Cafe at Harding Road

ABBEY: After making more than 18 thousand steps roaming in Singapore Botanic Gardens, we decided to treat ourselves at PS.Cafe Harding Road. And yes we continued our walk there. 

The ambiance was cozy and we were greeted by cakes on their glorious pedestals. We shared a serving of roasted chicken. It was juicy and the sauce was very creamy. But that is not the star of the meal. Remember the cakes at the entrance of the restaurant? We got two of them. A slice of Ultimate Fudge Brownie and Double Chocolate Blackout Cake. 

All I can say is that they are loaded with creamy, smooth chocolate. I think whatever calories we burned on our walk were instantly replenished with those chocolate indulgence. Recommended for dinner dates. We’ll a make visit at their One Fullerton branch.

PS.Cafe at Harding Road
with Charito Alba and Shane Boongaling 

PS.Cafe at Harding Road
MENU 

PS.Cafe at Harding Road
MENU

WILL: After a serious but fun walk at Singapore Botanic Gardens, we rewarded ourselves with a sweet treat at PS.Cafe Dempsey Hill Branch. We accumulated 18k+ steps for that activity. Thanks Chat and Shane for joining us. 

So, what’s with PS.Cafe? Cake, a humongous slice which was poured an additional choco syrup on top. After an exercise we cheated with sugar rush. Haha. Ultimate Fudge Brownie and Double Chocolate Blackout Cake is absolutely a hit. Perfect partner for my tea. 

The ambiance... the lighting gives an extra plus for a romantic date night. The staffs are cheerful and knowledgeable about the menu, they gave a good recommendations. 

PS: Please visit one of their branches 🤗

***

PS.Cafe at Harding Road

(W) https://www.pscafe.com 

(H) Sunday - Thursday & PH : 8.00am - 11.00pm / Friday, Saturday & eve of PH : 8.00am - 12.00am

(A) 28b Harding Road, S 249549

(T) +65 9070 8782 

Hans im Glück | German Burger Bar Singapore

ABBEY: We dined at Hans Im Glück (Raffles Place) with fellow blockchain enthusiasts to continue with our stories. I had the Klassik burger. It was dubbed as mother of all burgers so I wanted to try it. 

The burger patty is big and packed as if it was pressed very tightly. But it is still juicy and moist. I added ketchup and mustard which brought more flavor to it. It also came with fries. 

The forest-like ambiance (birch tree everywhere) gives a relaxing feel as you enjoy your burger.

Hans im Glück | German Burger Bar Singapore
Kasebor 

Hans im Glück | German Burger Bar Singapore
Klassik Burger 

Hans im Glück | German Burger Bar Singapore
Original Sauces

Hans im Glück | German Burger Bar Singapore
Beef Burger Menu

Hans im Glück | German Burger Bar Singapore
Vegetarian Burgers

Hans im Glück | German Burger Bar Singapore
Poesy Liang and @gourmetartistry

WILL: After the third and last NEM Talk of 2018. We had happy dinner with Ms Poesy (http://poesyliang.com/), Brain (nemash.io) and Valerie (Instagram: @gourmetartistry). Abbey and I was starstrucked of this big and famous people. Omg! 

It is pretty late and we are not in the mood to walk around and on that we settled at Hans im Glück. They are offering western food but with a good vegetarian selection. I went for Kasebor- I am happy that the cheesy patty is not dry, fresh vegetables gives the good crunch on it and the sauce is complementing it all.

A good place to have a break and catch-up with your friends after work. Totally recommend their vegetarian burgers. 

***

Hans im Glück | German Burger Bar Singapore

(W) https://hansimglueck-burgergrill.sg

(H) 11AM - 12AM

(A) 9 Raffles Place. #01-01 Republic Plaza, Singapore 048619

HarriAnns Nonya Table at Suntec City

ABBEY: A restaurant popped up at ground floor of Suntec Tower 5: HarriAnns Nonya Table. We dined there and I ordered one of the all-day breakfast set; Chiffon cake and eggs. 

The cake is fluffy and not too sweet. Perfect for my kopi. I even tried to eat the cake with the eggs and surprisingly it taste good. Salty, sweet, hot and fluffy; what a breakfast.

HarriAnns Nonya Table at Suntec City
Chiffon and Egg & Yam Cake Set 

HarriAnns Nonya Table at Suntec City
MENU

WILL: There is still an aftershock of a peranakan meal that NEM boss and I ate at Orchard Hotel so I requested Abbey to dine at the newly opened eatery at Suntec, the HarriAnns Nonya Table. 

I went for yam cake and guess what? This is the best yam cake I ever had. First of all, it is not oily, not breaking into chunks and the chili is perfect! 

That is not a surprise that there is queue and all the tables are taken. Visit and try a Peranakan cuisine. 

***

HarisAnns Nonya Table

(W) http://www.harrianns.com

(H) 7AM - 930PM

(A)3 Temasek Boulevard Suntec City Mall Tower 5 #01-416A (S) 038983

(T) 6562641900

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

ABBEY: The second installation of Fantastic Beasts hit the cinemas. And for my natal day celebration, we got a pair of Imax 3D tickets. What I liked the most is how the “magic” people do everyday things compared to “non-magic” ones. Haha. They’re just interesting to watch. As it is a movie about fantastic beasts, another round of them were showcased; kelpie, bowtruckle, augurey and our beloved nifflers.

It seemed the story of finding who Credence really was is already a drag but watch till the end and you get your answer. And oh, the blue flame of loyalty-test also appeared.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

WILL: Abbey’s birthday month and being a Harry Potter Fan, who need to watch the Fantastic Beast sequel. Of course. Haha. 

Some people says it is just a ‘meh’ but watching it in iMax 3D gives an extraordinary thrill. I am not just a third party seating in front of silver screen, I am part of the movie. 

Looking forward to the next movie. 8/10. 

***

Shaw Theatre Waterway Point IMAX 3D

(W) www.shaw.sg

(A) B2-11, Waterway Point, 83 Punggol Central, 828761

(T) 6738 0555

Spicy Spinach Laing Recipe

There was a new item on our weekly menu; Spinach Laing. I wondered how to cook it. So I thought maybe Wilma already knew. Turns out I need to do it. Haha.

Ingredients:

3 bunch of spinach leaves

1 tbsp ginger (minced)

5 cloves garlic (minced)

1 pack of coconut milk

3 chili padi (sliced)

2 green chili

Sauté ginger then garlic.

Mix in the coconut milk and a cup of water.

Bring to a boil and add the spinach.

Lower the heat then put in the chili padi and green chili.

Have it boil until the coconut oil surfaces to the top.

Add water as necessary and salt to taste.

Spicy Spinach Laing Recipe 

VERDICT
WILL: I missed laing and knowing that dried cassava leaves are the primary ingredients of it made me hopeless. Not until I tasted the Kangkong Laing at one of Gear-Up’s training day. 

Abbey, without a choice, made one for me. Well, not using kangkong. He cooked a spinach laing. We all know that spinach make Popoye strong right? Haha. 

Taste is definitely graded 10! It is healthy, yummy and cheap. 🤗 Try the easy steps above