Asia Hotel, Phnom Penh

From Siem Reap, we dropped by Phnom Penh for a day before going to Ho Chi Minh City. It was the second week of November 2012 when we stayed in this hotel with only about Php500 budget per person a night. 

Here are some of the snapshots of the hotel:

view from the door entrance

single bed

TV, refrigerator and balcony door

comfort room

early morning view from the balcony

buffet breakfast

the reception and elevator

Some insights...

• Hotel location is great since it is near the Central Market and it is only along one of the main boulevard of the city
• Their alleys and corridors were clean and neat. (not to mention that it is also bare and simple)
• There is a KFC just down stairs.
• Buffet breakfast are also good and sumptuous enough.
• You may also purchase bus tickets or tours going nearby provinces and to Ho Chi Minh.
• The room was big enough and the beds are fluffy and big.
• The room's comfort room is a bit old, you can see it from the tiles and the make up of the bathroom.
• I'm not impressed tough with the balcony as the balcony door is steel and gets really hot during daytime.
• The air-conditioner cools the room longer than the usual.
• They have tile flooring so if you like to have carpeted rooms then you might not like here.
• We got cheap rooms so I guess the service just compensates for the price or exceeds to that.

Full Indochina Backpacking Itinerary

Siem Reap's Grand Tour Circuit

On our second tour day with Siem Reap's temples, we chose to take the Grand Tour Circuit. Having a tuktuk for whole day worth USD25, our tour started at around 9am and back at the guesthouse by past 6pm. On this day we experienced riding a tuktuk for two straight hours as the temples on this tour are about almost 50km from the town proper.

Kbai Spean

First stop was the farthest and the most tiresome - Kbai Spean. This is different from the others as you would trek 1500m up to the mountain to see the sculptures under the river...

you must love rocks on this trekking

out in the forest!

Buddha carvings on the natural rocks

they say this part is for fertility worship

the falls that they claim to be sacred as you bathe there

Banteay Srei

About an hour travel from Kbai Spean we reached Banteay Srei. This, for me, has the most developed entrance and reception area with some bargain markets on the side for souvenirs and food. A three-tower temple with intricate carvings and miniature in size than the other temples.

the entrance to the main temple

fascinating designs and carvings

the three towers

East Mebon

Another table mountain temple, this one is quite near to the Angkor Thom temples and the rest of the temples from the Short Circuit Tour. As for its distinctive characteristic, it has elephants on its four corners. Not much tourists go here by the way so it is quite peaceful exploring the temple ruins.

the temple from its outside

Pre Rup

Only a few minutes away from East Mebon is this temple flocked by tourists during sunset. As per our tuktuk driver, this is the second most visited spot/temple for sunset viewing. We were there before 5pm and we haven't got the best spot anymore as a lot of tourists are already on the topmost are of the temple.

the front of the temple from atop

I'm sitting this high, waiting for the sunset

flocks of tourists going out of the temple

Full Backpacking Indochina Itinerary with Budget

Siem Reap's Small Tour Circuit

As suggested by our guesthouse's owner, we did this tour on our first day. It costs us USD15 for the whole day tuktuk rental. We also treated our driver for lunch as we are pleased with his service. Savour the picturesque temples of Siem Reap!

ANGKOR WAT

Be here before sunrise to catch the magnificent view of the temple against the sun. We left our guesthouse at around 5am and arrive the temple grounds around 530am. It was a bit late though since we cannot find more pleasing place to stay for the view since there are already a lot of tourists in the area. We spent about 4 hours touring Angkor Wat (though estimated time could be 3-4hrs).

temple entrance

the temple entrance, view from the inside

the long road to the Angkor Wat

magnificent reflection on the swamp

view from the main entrance of the Wat

the sides of the Wat

long alleys

amazing carvings, smoothly finished

they are restoring some parts of the Wat, notice the color

the main temple in the middle of the Wat

view from the top

Angkor Wat taken at the back entrance

ANGKOR THOM

This is the entrance of Angkor Thom which is comprised of series of temples inside..

THE BAYON

Spent an hour and a half exploring this temple which is well known for the stone faces built on its towers.

The Bayon temple

map of Angkor Thom temples

another view of the Bayon temple

BAPHUON

A temple-mountain a declared, so you need to climb steep straircases to appreciate the temple on the middle. 

another set of stairs to reach the topmost tier

I didn't climb anymore the final stair, whew!

PHIMEANAKAS

one temple you will pass by after Baphuon, just follow the map and the sign though

right outside Angkor Thom, haven't get the name of this temple

haven't got the name of this too

TA KEO

Another temple-mountain on its own right. More climbs for this one so better reserve your energy and endurance!

Ta Keo Temple Mountain

steep staircases plus the sun!

breath-taking view from the top

TA PROHM

A well-known temple for its appearance in Angelina Jolie's Tomb Raider movie. It is also distinct from others as it is well hidden amongst trees and some temples were built around tree roots.

entrance in a forest

the most famous spot of them all

We finished the tour at around 4pm in this temple and arrived at our guesthouse almost 5pm. It was a very tiring day yet fulfilling seeing all the remains from our ancient times.

Full Indochina Itinerary