Although the true origin of the name of Cambodia’s second largest city, Siem Reap, which was rediscovered in the last century due to the presence of the historic architecture of the Angkor temples, is currently unknown, a legend says that it was the Khmer monarch Ang Chan, who named the city Siem Reap (translated as: “the defeat of Siam”) after obtaining the victory over the Thai king Maha Chakkraphat.
Siem Reap, in addition to offering visitors a trip to the past through its wonderful temples, also surprises us with its magnificent civil architecture with French and Chinese influences from the colonial era (I had already told you that the same situation occurs in Luang Prabang, the capital of Laos). Also, the surroundings of the city fascinate by the presence of exuberant nature that without a doubt you should explore.
Tuk-Tuk 
ANGKOR
Next to the city of Siem Reap there is one of the largest religious areas in the world, Angkor, which occupies about 400km2 also including the jungle area. It is the most outstanding architectural construction of the ancient Khmer Empire, developed between the 9th and 15th century.
The area is made up of innumerable temples, among which the main ones stand out: Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom & the Bayon Temple. Although the list is much longer and it is likely that you will spend several days going up and down the steep stairs in order to visit some of them.
HOW TO VISIST ANGKOR
I recommend you spending several days to explore the place or at least two days, one for a short tour, and another for a long tour. There are different ways of doing the tours, you have the possibility of renting a taxi or tuk-tuk with the driver or a bike to make the journey by yourself. The first two options will be more comfortable, since in some temples you will almost have to “climb”, you will sweat and get tired, so it will be nice to rest your legs between the temples. However, if you are more adventurous and like to explore by yourself, the bike is the perfect option, especially for the short route.
FEATURED TEMPLES
ANGKOR WAT
Angkor Wat without a doubt it is the most recognized temple among hundreds that are in the area. I remember that to see it I got up very early, since one of the activities related to the temple consisted of watching the sunrise. It was around 5 AM when I arrived and there were already quite a few people, all with cameras ready. So if you look at the sunrise photos of this area without anyone, they are likely to be retouched. It was also cloudy and there was not a spectacular sunrise, so lucky me! A few years later something similar happened to me in the Sahara desert. Maybe I should just watch the sunset instead.
It is a 12th century temple originally dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, later converted to a Buddhist temple, which according to a Chinese legend was built in just one night. The temple is a representation of Mount Meru, the abode of the gods of Hinduism. Being oriented to the west instead of the east, like most of the temples of the Khmer dynasty, historians believe that it could be a funerary building created for the monarch Suryavarman II. Although others consider that it is due to his initial relationship with the god Vishnu, associated with the direction of the west. The temple was made with sandstone of sedimentary origin, and 1000m2 of its surface is richly decorated by the magnificent reliefs that tell some stories of Hinduism.
BANTEAY SREI
One of the temples that has caught my attention due to its admirable beauty, hidden behind the walls of red sandstone, was in Bantey Seri, surrounded by a beautiful pond. It is the temple dedicated to the god Shiva that was founded on April 22, 967 and soon became the citadel of women, “the citadel of beauty.” The temple stands out for the magnificent technique with which its innumerable reliefs were made, some associated with the inspiration of the same devatas, gods.
TA PROHM
Ta Prohm is a temple located a little further from the others that is found in the middle of the jungle. I had dedicated another day to visit it apart from the days I spent in Angkor. Surely you have seen or at least you will hear the famous Angelina Jolie movie Tomb Rider. Some scenes from the movie were shot in this temple. The place is incredibly fascinating due to the presence of the trees, whose enormous roots protrude from all parts of the sacred construction and seem to merge with it. The temple was built at the end of the 12th century, however, it was left in ruins after the fall of the Khmer Empire and thanks to this nature has dominated the place, creating a real spectacle for the eyes. You should not miss it.
OTHER THINGS TO DO
KULEN WATERFALL
A great idea to rest from the visit in the Cambodian temples is to immerse yourself in the cool waters of the Kulen Waterfall. There are organized trips, although it is also possible to rent a car with the driver who will take you and bring you back home. One of the waterfalls is about 5 meters high and the other up to 20 meters. They are really precious and feeling the freshness of their waters produces a very pleasant sensation, especially during the hot summer days. On the other hand, from a historical point of view, the area is known by the monarch Jayavarman II, who in the 9th century founded around here the Khmer Empire.
PUB STREET & NIGHT MARKET
The city of Siem Reap has a street well known to visitors, called Pub Street, created after the opening of the country to the international tourism. It is the center of nightlife, full of bars and restaurants with good prices. Personally, I do not like this type of environment, since when traveling abroad I try to find more authentic and typical places that are not lacking in the city, they are simply a little further away from the central streets. However, it is a must-see place where you can buy an imitation T-shirt or eat Western food.
Making palm sugar 
On the other hand, I recommend visiting the city’s markets, especially the Night Market, where you can find many typical products. Among them liquors with snakes inside or some grilled larvae. Do you dare to try them?
TIPS:
- To visit the temples, wear “decent” clothing, but made of natural and comfortable fabrics, since you are going to sweat a lot. Girls! although you wear a scarf to cover your shoulders, if you are wearing a strap dress, they will not always allow you to enter Angkor Wat. It is better to wear short sleeves at least.
- In addition to Pub Street there are areas with typical Cambodian restaurants, I recommend you try typical products.
- Another typical excursion is the Tonle Sap Lake cruise during which you will have the opportunity to see the typical floating villages.
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