Checkout Cambodia This Winter Season, A Pocket Friendly International Destination

With the travelling season coming up, if you are still hunting for the right place to explore in the month of November till March beginning, Cambodia is your must-visit destination. It is not just pocket-friendly (read super-cheap for Indians as well), it is the land of Angkor Wat Temples, fish spa, night markets and food galore!

There is a lot that you can do here and we assure you that you shall never be bored. I have summed up a list of some activities that will make your trip to Cambodia unforgetful.

Explore The Artist In You

Cambodia is known for its rich history linked to ceramics, with intricate pottery and carvings which date back to pre-Angkorian times. You can learn more about the history by visiting the Khmer Ceramics & Fine Arts Centre. Here, you can discover some of the beautiful pieces inspired by Khmer culture, visit the training centre and you can also make something yourself as a souvenir.

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Another option is to go explore the Siem Reap Art Night Market which is located on the east bank of the Siem Reap River, opposite the Old Market (Phsar Chas). It is connected via a traditional wooden bridge. This art market has an amazing range of handicrafts and souvenirs that can be carried back home for friends and family.

Try a Fish Spa

At a very cheap price, you can experience the famous fish spa concept in Cambodia. All you have to do is soak your feet in a tank of dead skin eating fish which results in beautiful (or rather clean) feet. As part of the deal, most places also give out a can o chilled beer while the fish are doing their job.

Angkor Wat

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This is a no-brainer as the famous temple complex in Cambodia is one of the largest religious monuments in the world. It was originally constructed as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire, which gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the 12th century. Also, do not forget that the temple is a UNESCO Heritage site. It was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in Yasodharapura (Angkor), the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum.

Breaking from the Shaiva tradition of previous kings, Angkor Wat was instead dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This temple has become a symbol of Cambodia, and even appears on its national flag. There are different passes for the entry to the temple. The maximum is the three-day pass where you can see almost all the temples in the vast area.

Caution: This place involves a lot of walking with the sun shining at its best so we recommend a good hat, oodles of sunscreen and good walking shoes.

Visit A Floating Village

Siem Reap is the location of Tonle Sap Lake, a huge expanse of water that rises and falls, depending on the season. A lot of Vietnamese and Cham communities live in this floating village which is surrounded bya swathe of endangered birds and marine life. Various boat trips will sail through these villages, where everything from the butchers to churches and schoolsfloatsgently on the lake’s surface.

Dirt Biking

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You can also explore the Cambodian countryside by either hiring a jeep to discover Beng Melea temple and to visit Kampong Kleang, the largest floating village of Cambodia, or to visit the ruins of the Bantey Srey temple complex, is a must try.

Read More: How Not To Feel Lonely As A Solo Traveller

Angkor National Park

As mentioned before, Angkor Wat is a must visit place in Siem Reap, but the Angkor National Park is so much more. There you will find famous temples, from Tomb Raider Ta Prohm (the temple slowly being overcome by majestic trees) and over 400 other temple ruins.

When you visit this UNESCO heritage site, you can buy tickets for 1,3 or 7 days. It’s a good idea to join a guided tour for at least one of the days to see the main sites or to hire a scooty, sit back and relax while your driver is taking care of the road. All you need to do is enjoy the ride to explore the World famous Angkor.

Food-venture

There is something for everybody here. From glass noodles to chicken, pork, crocodile, ants, snakes to scorpions and tarantulas you have it all. The ants and other insects are sold like we sell chhola-kulchas or puchkas here in India. They are steamed or fried and sold by weight. One good thing here is that everything is for just a dollar or two! The crocodile tastes like 70% fish and 30% chicken so do not worry about the tase! Do not forget to try the crabs here. They are fresh and delicious!

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For dessert, you have to try the fried ice cream here. The live counters are super impressive as they mix in fresh fruits. The tubs in which they are served are quite big as I remember making a dinner out of it with sprinkles and chocolate syrup. Do try the coconut ice cream. It is to die for.

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