attractions
A visit to Siem Reap is never complete if you don’t visit the world renowned Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple consists of five main towers and is specially designed to symbolize Mount Meru – home of the Gods in Hindu Mythology. Here, you can find the remains from the Khmer civilizations and the temple is the epitome of Khmer architecture.


Do also drop by Angkor Thom which is located just one kilometer from Angkor Wat. Angkor Thom is actually made up of numerous temples with the Bayon temple as the main temple. There is also a palace area located just to the north of Bayon temple and it was previously used during King Suryavarman I’s reign.


Head on to Banteay Srei temple and see for yourself the amazing Khmer architecture. Explore the grounds of the temple and be startled by the 1000-year old carvings on the three towers.


The Tonle Sap Lake, the largest fresh water lake in South East Asia, flows right through the middle of the town. At this lake, you can see ordinary Cambodians going about their daily routine of life.

climate
Siem Reap enjoys two seasons a year – the cool, dry season and the wet rainy one. The dry season is usually from November to April, while the wet season runs from May to October.




getting around
At Siem Reap, motorcycle taxis are the most common form of transport. There are two types; the motodups or the tuk-tuks. Motodups is a typical motorcycle taxi while tuk-tuks are “two-person motorcycle trailers”. Motodups are more commonly seen in the heart of town while tuk-tuks are available everywhere. You can hire tuk-tuks by the hour or for the whole day.
Cars are available for hire but rental is usually charged per day. You can rent a car and drive yourself or you can hire one that comes with a driver.
If you prefer to wonder around at a slower pace, then rent a bicycle and move at your own speed. Take your time to explore every nook and corner of this ancient town.
Siem Reap is small enough for you to wonder around on foot. It is a great way to get to explore this town and you have the luxury of moving at your own speed. You can also always stop to chat to a local to learn more about this mesmerizing town.

Siem Reap is located in Cambodia just to the north of Asia’s largest lake, the Tonle Sap. This former Khmer capital of Angkor boasts the world renowned Angkor Wat and has a river flowing through the center of the town. Wonder around this beautiful, charming town and enjoy the amazing culture and fascinating sights this colonial town has to offer.

climate
As with most Asian cities, Phnom Penh undergoes two major seasons a year, the cold season and the hot season. The cold season is from November to January while the hot season runs from February to May gone.

getting around
Getting around in Phnom Penh is easy. You have the option of hiring a taxi or renting a car. For the budget conscious traveller, there is always the option of the Motorcycle taxis, commonly known as the “Motodup” and the Cyclos. Cyclos are slower in speed compared to the Motodup, but it is certainly safer.

dining
Food in Phnom Penh is almost similar to those found in Thailand minus all the extravagant spices. The staple food of Cambodia is rice, thus it is not surprising that most of their food comes with rice. Typically you can find rice-based chicken, pork and fish dishes with some local fruits and vegetables. This is the most routine set for a meal. Do also try soon bok yue (elephant fish), chhnang dei, which is meat and vegetables cooked in a clay pot at your table and the hot fish soup.

attractions
the National Museum in Phnom Penh houses a wide display of Khmer sculptures, from pre-Angkor period to post Angkor period. The building itself is built with red bricks and has a huge courtyard

the Royal Palace is a must see attraction. It was built in 1813 and it contains several buildings within its grounds. The Throne Room of Prasat Tevea Vinichhay is used for coronation of Kings, official receptions and traditional ceremonies. The Chan Chhaya Pavilion is used as a venue for dance performances. The other buildings within the palace grounds are The King’s residence, otherwise known as the Khemarin, The Napolean Pavilion and the Silver Pagoda. The Silver Pagoda is an attraction of its own. This famed pagoda houses an emerald Buddha, which is the pagoda’s main attraction and the floor of the pagoda is covered with 5000 silver tiles, hence the name “The Silver Pagoda.” The walls of the pagoda are filled with murals from the Ramayana era

Wat Phnom is located on a hill 30 metres high. It is the first pagoda to be built in Phnom Penh. It originally houses four statues of Buddha which was found by a woman named Penh by the Mekong River

Wat Ounalom is the center of Cambodian Buddhism. It was originally built in 1443 to store a stand of hair from Buddha’s eyebrow. It also serves as the library of the Buddhist Institute but unfortunately it was destroyed by the Khmer Rouge. Luckily, the institute has been revived and recently moved to a bigger building

Tuol Sleng Museum , also known as the Museum of Genocide, was set up in 1979. It was once a high school but served as Security Jail 21 when Khmer Rouge took over the city. It was here that many people were tortured. The walls are filled with photographs of murdered prisoners. The instruments that were used to torture the prisoners can also be seen here

Choeung Ek, more commonly known as the Killing Fields, was the extermination camp where prisoners from Jail 21 were murdered. Here, you can find numerous mass graves where the murdered victims are buried. There is a memorial stupa which was built to remember these victims. 8000 skulls and remains of 10000 victims were preserved and displayed behind a glass panel

festivals and events
Cambodians are rich in tradition and they celebrate many festivals. Among those worth noting is the Chaul Charm which is the traditional Cambodian New Year and the Prachum ben. Celebrations for Chaul Charm usually last up to three days while the Prachum Ben is to commemorate the dead and the ancestors.

the other most celebrated festival in Phnom Penh is the Cambodian Water Festival. During this time, the people of Phnom Penh gather on the river banks of the Mekong River and the Tonle Sap River to watch traditional boat races during the day and beautiful floats in the evening. This festival marks the changing of flow of the Tonle Sap River and is also a symbol of thanksgiving to the Mekong River for blessing the people of Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia. It is located at the confluence of three rivers; the Mekong river, the Bassac river and the Tonle Sap River. Phnom Penh has changed a lot in the last few years and is now enjoying a boom in tourism.