Senses of Malaysia – July 18, 2019

beyond malaysia

FAR MORE THAN A MERE GATEWAY TO THE FAMED TEMPLES OF ANGKOR, THE ECLECTIC TOWN

OF SIEM REAP TODAY OFFERS VISITORS MORE THAN EVER BEFORE. JOIN WRITERPAULA TAN

AS SHE VISITS THIS CAMBODIAN GEM THAT’S JUST A SHORT FLIGHT FROM KL.

Cambodian Discoveries

W

e flew
into Siem
Reap at
the crack
of dawn,
and were
waiting
in anticipation for the hotel pickup.
When our ride failed to show up half
an hour after the appointed time, a call
to the hotel revealed it was on its way.
And it certainly proved the ride of the
year when atuk-tukcame chugging up,
swathed in pink satin ruffles in all its
diesel-powered glory. Yet, despite our
initial misgivings, the driver smoothly
transported us to our hotel, where we
were welcomed like homecoming family

by the staff who came out onto the street

to greet us.

Less than a decade ago, Siem Reap was

little more than a stopover town where

tourists tossed down a few Angkor

beers, then waited for sunrise to dawn

on the iconic temple complex to which

Cambodia’s best-loved brew owes its

name. Now, in the city of its birth, this

very 12th-century temple complex has

been listed by Trip Advisor the world’s #1

landmark to visit. The keys to its forgotten

realm are yours at the price of US$37 for

a one-day archaeological park pass and

a photo ID, a minor inconvenience (and

not-so-minor price tag) that swiftly fades

from memory as you meander along

small roads swathed in green. Rediscover

ancient monuments to the gods, from

the great Angkor itself to the delicate

10th century Banteay Srei, “citadel of

women” and the famed Ta Prohm, a

temple partially subsumed by giant trees,

immortalized in Hollywood’sTomb Raider.

Having grown into its own, Siem Reap

pulls the crowds with its exotic cuisine,

stylish escapes, friendly faces, and

laidback vibe perhaps inherent to small

river towns. Whether or not temples are

your thing, here is a city that offers a little

something for everyone. On arrival, your

hotel manager will bustle up with a list of

attractions you may want to visit. Making

reservations through your hotel is a good