Cambodia is one of the lesser-known destinations for adventurous travelers. Situated between Thailand and Vietnam, it is a popular stop-off point for backpackers on a trip through southeast Asia. The main motivation for the majority of visitors to Cambodia is to see the famous Angkor Wat temple, the largest religious site in the whole world. This complex is often referred to as Angkor Wat but Angkor Wat is just one of the many temples that you can see here. The Angkor temples are situated mostly in Siem Reap which has led to the town attracting tourists from around the world, and it has earned it the nickname of temple town. This is why I decided to come to visit on my travels.
Traveling has been a dream of mine since I was a small child. I wanted to move to a country in southern Europe like Italy or Spain but I wanted to see some of the words first. I devised a plan which would take to through Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Malaysia and more. This plan that I spent hours putting together was working great through Thailand which was my first country. My plan was then to visit Cambodia for 2 weeks with a few days to be spent in Siem Reap.
I arrived in Siem Real at a lively and delightful guesthouse after a long and draining bus journey from Bangkok. I felt a welcoming and warm atmosphere from both the city and the guesthouse when I arrived. I spent my first day in town enjoying the company of other travelers that were there for the same purpose, seeing Angkor Wat.
The next day I hired a tuk-tuk and went to see the temples. I spent about 10 hours walking through an array of temples seeing the beautiful architecture and artwork that has withstood multiple conflicts and raids over their centuries of existence. Angkor wat is breathtaking. It is hard to even comprehend the scale and beauty of the site. I also visited other temples such as Bayon and Ta Prohm, which is also known as the tomb raider temple as the film was made there.
Visiting the temples had made the entirety of my trip feel worthwhile. Yet I still wasn’t finished with Siem Reap. Siem Reap has more historical sites, although they are much more harrowing but still worth a visit. These sites are scars and reminders of the horrific times that this beautiful country has been through. There is a killing field museum. There are close to 400 found killing fields in Cambodia. The killing fields were the murder sites of over One Million Khmer people during the Khmer Rouge genocide. There is also a war museum that shows the machines of war left behind. These sites are both fascinating and traumatic. You are almost instantly overwhelmed by the cruelty that has been inflicted on this country.
After I finished visiting the harrowing museums I needed some time to get over it. This led to me extending my stay at the guest house that I was living in. I decided that I needed two weeks to see more of the city and to prepare myself for the next stages of my trip. I settled into the guesthouse which had many likeminded people from every corner of the globe. Days were spent talking about our lives and enjoying each others company over a cold beverage to escape the heat. I quickly became close to many backpackers who had come to town for the temples and have never left. At first I thought these people were crazy for staying so long but soon I would be one of them.
I fell in love with the town after a few short weeks. This led me to cancel the rest of my trip and find work here to stay. I love the life here. The people are so kind and caring. There is a large and thriving expat community that is full of interesting and unique characters. This community welcomed me with open arms and I’m very happy that they did. I have had any life change and mind blowing experiences that have changed who I am for the better.
I’m now still here two years later and my infatuation with this city has never been stronger. I highly recommend a visit if you ever get the chance but be warned, you may stay a lot longer than initially planned. There is a lively nightlife scene here as well as a mix of both cheap and luxurious accommodation and restaurants. This beautiful city is a must-visit for everyone and anyone. The day-to-day life in this paradise is relaxed and filled with joy. Siem Reap is a city that I will always struggle to leave and a city that I will never forget.