What You Can See And Reap From Visiting Siem Reap

By LEO O. LAPARAN II and DUANE ALLAN R. DIZON

Siem Reap is the most booming region of modern Cambodia—it is the gateway to country’s historically rich Angkor Archaeological Park and the Angkor Temple Region.

MANILA, Philippines — When Cambodia crops up in chit-chats among jet-setting and adventure-seeking peers, images of ancient temples easily come to mind, and little tales of first-hand encounters with them saturate the conversations.

Phnom Penh is easily associated, too, with Cambodia; after all, the former is the capital of this Southeast Asian country bordered by equally temple-rich Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. But aside from the historied Phnom Penh, Cambodia (officially called Preah Réachéanachâk Kâmpuchéa or the Kingdom of Cambodia) also boasts of Siem Reap.

Siem… what?

The “Flat Defeat of Siam” in literal terms (“Siam” refers to today’s Thailand), Siem Reap is the capital city of the Province of Siem Reap, located at the northwestern part of Cambodia. Its name came from the place’s baptism by King Ang Chan (1516-1566), who derived it from the centuries-old battle between the Khmer and Siamese people.

Taking pride in its colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter, and around the Old Market, Siem Reap used to be a bit more than a village. When French explorers acquired Angkor in 1907, Siem Reap arrived at a turning point—it began to develop, especially with the arrival of the first wave of tourists.

Today, Siem Reap is the most booming region of modern Cambodia—it is the gateway to country’s historically rich Angkor Archaeological Park and the Angkor Temple Region. This fact has made the city one of the world’s premier travel destinations.

Siem Reap is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Angkor Temple Complex, and the unique sweet water reserve Tonle Sap Lake. Siem Reap has benefited greatly from the government’s focus on tourism making it one of the barely recognizable, but fastest developing destinations in the Kingdom. Hotels of European taste have mushroomed to attract more curious visitors. It remains a safe and welcoming city.

Visitors can plunge in its culture by visiting Angkor handicraft, the Cambodia Cultural Village, and the freshly renovated National Museum.  Visitors of the museum are first presented with a brief film and then the galleries. For a religious experience, Angkor Wat and the Bakong Temple offer a grandiose sight of a grand temple. The city itself won’t run out of other important temples which include Baksei Champkrong, Banteay Srey, Beng Mealea, East Mebon, Phnom Bakheng, Phnom Krom and the Preah Khan Temple.

Nature lovers can indulge in the local wildlife at the Angkor Zoo. Located just past Charles De Gaulle Blvd. there are over 100 species to be seen here, mostly comprised of reptiles and birds. You can find your way to the Bird Sanctuary at Prek Toal by boat. The Prek Toal Environmental Research is host to a guided tour as well as day and overnight accommodations. The Srok Yeung Ecotourism Site is another interesting trip as the park is run by the local community and is in close proximity to the largest lake in Southeast Asia.

Come April 19, 2012, getting to this Temple Kingdom is made easy and affordable via Cebu Pacific’s direct flights from Manila to Siem Reap three times a week. The only airline that will be operating flights from the Philippines to Cambodia, Cebu Pacific’s one-way fares can be had for as low as R3499 (exclusive of taxes and fees).