Siam Reap finally! and Tonle Sap lake!

After a night at the Eighty8 Backpackers, Phnom Penh.. it's time to continue my journey to Siam Reap. I walk to the bus office as the tut-tut is pretty expensive. It's not a long walk but with heavy backpacks in front and back of me, it's a little uncomfortable. I reach the bus station about 30 minutes prior to departure, and waited and waited for my bus. Guess what? It's LATE again.. by one hour! Damn.. Well, at least it's not that boring this time as there's few travelers to talk to, and a local which telling me what's going on and whereabout.

Wall of a temple at Kampung Phluk

As expected, we reach almost 1.5 hours late.. and my friends are waiting at Siam Reap already. Couldnt make or receive a call because hp is running out of credits. It's too expensive to call or receive in Cambodia using Malaysia number, and i don't want to get a local number because my trip is only 2 weeks. The bus stop us at the office, which is located quite far away from city. The only way to go is by tut-tut. Thankfully, a local shared with me, and he show's the direction to the gallery, called Colors of Cambodia, where i was suppose to meet my friends there. It cost USD2 to get to the city. Tips: Share with locals or other backpackers because it cost the same! By sharing, you can divide between you guys and save some money :)

The tut-tut driver is kinda lousy..couldnt find the gallery, so we go round the city, running along Pub Street and finally found it! And so coincidentally, my friends walk out of a cafe and i saw them! Relieved! They were on a schedule to go to Tonle Sap and i havent grab my breakfast or lunch yet! So i grab a bacon baguette and off we go to the lake! Wohoooo!

Our destination is Kampung Phluk, the famous floating village located 30 min from town. We have to take a boat to the village and lake (of course!)

Look at the level of the house? That's how high the water level will go up everytime wet season. And those hard sellers! it's annoying, but that's how they make a living.. 

 

Good view of the village from a temple located somewhere along the river

Adults, kids, all spend their lifetime by the river. Fishing is their main activity here at Kampung Phluk.

The lake is magnificent, you cant see the other side at all! It's like a sea, freshwater sea! Amazing and breathtaking! The sunset were pretty amazing too! Love the golden colors, reflected by the hazy and dusty air of Cambodia

It's a wonderful first day in Siam Reap! We went back to the hotel as the sky is getting darker.. We stayed in Reaksmey Chanreas Hotel, located on the main road of Siam Reap town. It's only USD15 per night for two! Very nice, comfy and clean hotel! And it's cheap! Highly recommended, especially for backpackers who have been saving money sleeping in a dorm (it cost about the same in the dorm actually..). So why not pamper yourself for a few days, and get a decent air-conditioned spacious room for a good night sleep.