A Weekend in Cambodia
When I lived in Thailand in 2018, we had 9 days off from teaching to travel. The other teachers and I decided to backpack throughout Thailand and Cambodia. Our first stop - Cambodia! We spent the weekend in Cambodia and here’s what we did.
We started out the trip by flying into Phnom Penh, Cambodia. There were 7 people in my group, so we decided to rent a van and pay a driver to take us around. This was a great option for us because it was very affordable and we had a local tour guide to show us the best places.
Our first stop was Choeung Ek (the largest killing fields in Cambodia) located on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. In the 1970s, almost a quarter of the Cambodian population were executed during a tragic genocide. Today, Choeung Ek serves as a monument for the lives lost and for the survivors of this horrific historical event.
We were given headphones and walked around the fields, listening to an audio tour of the tragedy that happened not that long ago. It was heartbreaking to see and hear about the history that these people went through. It was a very eye opening experience and a must do if in Cambodia to learn about the genocide and ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself.
*Above pictures taken from https://worldlynomads.com/
The next day, we drove 6 hours from Phnom Penh to Phnom Kulen Waterfall in Siem Reap. On our way to the Waterfall we stopped at a market on the side of the road and bought red bananas. These were so delicious and had such a creamy texture!
When we made it to the Waterfall, we were overwhelmed by its beauty! It was MASSIVE and so stunning. It was a great place to jump in the water and cool off, since summer in Cambodia is so hot (even our guide took a dip in the water with us).
After a few hours at the falls we made our way to our hostel (Hideout Hostel in Siem Reap). This hostel was so fun! It had a game room in the lobby with a pool table and an in ground pool outside. It was close to the Pub Street Night Market, so we walked over there to explore for the evening. Here, I got a $4 pedicure! While my friends and I were getting our pedicures, the owner of the nail salon came in with a tarantula on a stick and bit off the head! This is actually a really common thing to do in Cambodia. We saw lots of street vendors selling fried bugs to eat. I wasn’t brave enough to try one, but I think if I went back again, I’d give it a try!
The next day we drove to Angkor Wat, also known as the ‘city of temples’. Angkor Wat was built in the 12th century and is considered the 8th wonder of the world! We got there before sunrise to try and beat the crowds. While it was still crowded with tourists, the ruins were breathtaking and worth seeing.
Angkor Wat is the biggest religious structure in the world, so it is a common place for Cambodian Monks to worship.
Monkeys roam freely throughout the temple. While they were super cute to see (especially the babies) they can be aggressive and have been known to bite people, so be careful!
Ta Prohm is just a short drive from Angkor Wat and is worth the stop. It has not been touched since it’s been rediscovered in the 19th century and is covered by the jungle! The enormous tree roots have broken through the temple’s stone, causing it to crumble. It’s truly a site like no other!
After a few hours exploring the ruins, we piled back into the van to go eat at a traditional Cambodian restaurant for lunch before heading to the airport. At the restaurant we sat criss-cross applesauce, with our shoes off. It was a really unique dining experience and a great way to end our weekend in Cambodia. We then headed to the airport for the next leg of our backpacking journey - The Thai islands! Check out my post - Island Hopping in Thailand - to follow along on our adventure!
