If you want to travel to Cambodia, its for you

We will always be patient with the depreciation of the Indian Rupee against the US Dollar. But we have a country with legendary places to visit, especially if our country's rupee is as awe-inspiring as the US dollar in terms of its currency?

"Cambodia" is such a country!! A country on the Asian continent, between Thailand and Vietnam.

Just as our money is worth sixty-eight rupees to one dollar of the United States, similarly their money called "Cambodian Riel" is worth sixty to one rupee of ours. Their official language is Khmer. However, due to the large number of tourists visiting, most of the small shop workers and drivers can converse in English very well.

“The rupee is undervalued, right. But what is there to see?” you mean?

First thing we have to see – Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat

This is something every Tamilian should be proud of – the king who built the largest temple complex in the world called Angkor Wat “Surya Varman II” is a descendant of our Tamil dynasty!! It was built in the 12th century. Covering an area of ​​nearly four hundred square kilometers, this sub-station stands majestically even after centuries.

It was built as a Vishnu temple and later converted into a Buddha temple. A must visit whether you believe in God or not.

The famous thing here is the sunrise. If you get up at four o'clock in the morning (buying the entrance ticket the previous day) and take a 'tuk tuk' like an auto rickshaw and go at quarter to four, there will be a huge crowd waiting for the gate to open before you!!! If so take care of its importance. They will open the outer gate at five o'clock. From there it takes fifteen minutes to walk to the main gate. It is a pleasant experience to see its towers in the dark against the backdrop of sunrise.

Inside the temple

View From Angkor Wat

You can enter the temple complex after seeing the sunrise. There must be a lot of blunders going on here. There is a huge queue just to enter the main temple in the center, there is no queue anywhere else in the complex. Go to the top of the main temple to see if you can stand in line. The enormity of the view from there will amaze you!

Venture out of the central complex and explore the surrounding areas within the fort walls. Only then can you fully realize its grandeur. It's hard to fit them all into one photo.

There are enough sights to spend a whole day in its complex, if we don't get tired. They will also take you in a big balloon or helicopter and show you Angkor Wat from above - if the money and weather conditions are favorable.

This article is not enough to tell only about Angkor Wat!!!

Next – Bayon Temple

Bayon Temple

"What! Are you afraid of ghosts?” Don't think that. Such a beautiful temple (no Agama). Everywhere you turn, you see faces – are there fellow passengers? If.. it is not. This temple is the “Temple of Faces”.

There are many towers, each with a faceted roof. Your photography passion is well fed. It is a beautifully constructed temple that photography enthusiasts can spend up to three hours, or at least two hours. Definitely a must see place.

Next – Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm

Its specialty is greenery and banyan trees. This is also a temple (without Agama). “Did the wind come when the flag waved? Did the flag move when the wind came?” Like, "When the banyan tree grew, did they build the temple? Or did the banyan tree grow when the temple was built?” As much as you doubt it, the temple is full of banyan trees. Intertwined is correct.

They protect it from decay as much as possible. The sight of the overgrown banyan tree roots clinging to the temple walls is wonderful.

Next – Banteay Srei Temple

Banteay Srei Temple

We have seen red soil in the villages. The temple premises, temple walls and roof are all red (colour). To make matters worse, the water in the pond in its premises is red in color.

Many scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharata are carved on the ceiling. A bit small temple but offers a nice and different feast for the eyes.

Next – Preah Khan!

Preah Khan

A ruined temple – however, will leave you speechless. Here too the banyan tree is entwined.

Heads of statues and sculptures are broken. But take a look around this way. This is one of the proofs of the great architecture of the ancestors.

The last thing you shouldn't miss is the dance of the Apsaras

Apsaras Dance

Visiting the respective countries to discover their traditional arts is an opportunity to learn about their arts. This is an opportunity to see/hear traditional Cambodian dance and music. Many hotels have large canteens for this purpose. Enjoy these dances while having dinner. Their costumes, dance, musical instruments, the unique music they make, and the lyrics in their language are all a treat.

After the dances we are invited on stage to satisfy the selfie lovers – Tami can take pictures with all the dancers.

Finally - "If you don't say anything about the night life, the curse of virgins like us will not leave you alone" for the youth.

If you are a family member, close your eyes smartly and go to the next bar. If you're a party-goer, you'll love this nightlife – it's a lot of fun. As the night wears on, foreign tourists will come down the street and start dancing western dances. If you don't have a drinking habit, don't have a partying habit, and don't have any other habits... you can just watch without attending anything, or sleep in a hotel room.

"You left us who were idle! After all is said and done and not just how much it will cost, if you finish this article, you will not be able to travel anywhere in your next life” before you panic….

Siem Reap is the city you should visit in Cambodia. All the places I mentioned so far are close to it.

Airfare from Chennai to Siam Reap is around INR 20,000 to 30,000 per person (in Indian currency). If you book three or four months in advance, you can save twenty thousand.

There are many hotels of different standards. As Siem Reap is a major tourist destination, there is no shortage of hotels. The cost of a double occupancy room ranges from five hundred to two thousand rupees per night. There are even more expensive hotels.

A stay of three or four days is enough to see all that I have said. You can learn about various types of history if you hire a guide. They will also guide you in which temples and where you can take photos from different angles.

Vegetarian food is a bit difficult to find (good idea to take ready-made food from here). Quality hotels will offer western food such as corn flakes, bread/jam, fruits, juice. Vegetarian food is rarely available in Angkor Wat and other temple complexes – carry it with you. Non-vegetarians have good food.

You can see everything around in an auto rickshaw called 'tuk tuk'. They are more reasonable than Namur autos.

What, when is the next holiday? How to get to Siam Reap? Have you started planning that?

Have a nice trip!!