ABBEY: As our Cambodia trip is coming to an end and our Citibank Priority Pass is about to expire, we used it to access Plaza Premium Lounge and the USD35++(per pax) was waived. The lounge was quiet and I feel comfortable. My first drink was 7Up. I don’t know but the drink has more fizz and more refreshing. Haha. I indulged in chicken and fried rice, but they also have noodles, sandwiches and salad. You can also get wines and beer from the bar.
Plaza Premium Lounge Siem Reap
WILL: We are forever grateful for Citibank for giving us free membership of Priority Pass. For this year, we went for Plaza Premium Lounge at Siem Reap International Airport.
The overall design is modern but a hint of local traditions. It is quiet which gives a relaxing aura that is totally opposite inside the airport. Well lit not only by lighting fixtures but the rays of the sun.
Food is okay. Nothing extraordinary. The comfort room is clean and really do gives comfort.
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!
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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
