"Angkor Wat" a Khett Siem Reab Travel Page by jmmorgan

Great News!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We will be back in July 2004 for 5 days. I can't wait.

We spent 3 days at Angkor during July 2002 and how I wish it had been longer!
We arrived at Siem Reap airport from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. It was a short, uneventful flight. My husband is one of those polite people you meet. He lets everyone get off the plane in front of him. Big mistake! We were last in the line for a visa and had to stand outside in very hot sun for nearly an hour before we got inside the terminal building. Eventually our visa was processed and we left the terminal to find our guide. We had booked a tour and were expecting to be met at the airport. The guide had disappeared (more of this later) but soon returned and we were speeding on our way to the hotel. We were booked to stay at the Sofitel Royal Angkor Hotel. As we drove into Siem Reap we were amazed by the amount of building work taking place. There is a lot of investment being made in this place and I fear that in future it will become a mass market destination particularly for large tour groups.
The hotel was stunning. A huge reception area decorated in Cambodian style. We soon had a welcome drink to ease our check in and were whisked away to the room that was to be home for 3 nights. Rooms are in low level buildings reached by walkways and bridges over pools and streams. The grounds here are very beautiful. Our room was very near the swimming pool and had everything we could want. Our terrace led across a lawn to the pool.
We were to meet our guide at 2.00PM to visit the temples. He was very knowledgeable and his English was excellent. His aim was to tell us what we wanted to know and to take us wherever we wanted.

We drove out to Roluos and viewed the temples there. It was so peaceful, we were the only visitors although some others arrived as we were leaving.
After Roluos we headed for Angkor Wat. My first view of this magnificent place took my breath away. We spent about 3 hours wandering around, some of it searching for our guide, before going back to the hotel.
Next morning we set out early to visit Angkor Thom and the Bayon. After lunch we went to Ta Prom. This was for me the highlight of our trip. I will never forget sheltering in the temple from the thunderstorm which raged above.

Angkor Wat has to be a must see site for all travellers.
See my travelogues for more pictures. I shot 4 rolls of film!You may also be interested in my Cambodia and Phnom Penh pages where there is a lot more information about this fascinating country and many more photographs.