Cliff(y) Goes Travelling

Angkor Archaelogical Park, Siem Reap, Cambodia Daily: 5.00am - 6.00pm Angkor Wat (lit. Capital Temple) was constructed around the first half of 12th century by King Suryavarman II. Originally constructed as a Hindu temple of God Vishnu for the Khmer Empire, it gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the same century. It stands as the largest temple complex in the world, measuring 162.6 hectares.

Siem Reap, Cambodia Daily: 5.00am - 6.00pm I believe anyone on a vacation in Siem Reap, Cambodia won't leave without visiting the magnificent Angkor Archaeological Park, which stretches over 400 square kilometres. To avoid having one long blog post, I'm going to split it into parts, starting with this entry about the journey to the site.

Hospital Street, Siem Reap, Cambodia Opened in 2011, Siem Reap Art Centre Night Market is located across the Siem Reap River from Psar Chas, or the Old Market. There are numerous shops selling all sorts of handicrafts and souvenirs, as well as massage places and eateries over there.

Street 8 and Sivatha Boulevard, Siem Reap, Cambodia As the name suggests, Pub Street is teeming with not only bars and night clubs, but also restaurants serving various cuisines. If you're the kind of person who enjoys bar-hopping (or perhaps people-watching), I'm pretty sure you'll be delighted to be there.

National Road No. 6, Siem Reap, Cambodia A relatively new player in the hotel industry that's been around for about two years at the point of writing, Treasure Oasis Hotel (4*) attracts guests with its top-notch service. It's a 10-minute drive away from Siem Reap International Airport.

LPQ-REP (2h) ATR 72-600 ETD: 1.40pm (GMT + 7)  ETA:  3.40pm (GMT + 7) Last year saw me taking a propeller plane for the first time in my life when I was in Fiji. Not only that, it turned out that I'd eventually be taking a total of four propeller plane flights. Flying with Lao Airlines wasn't the cheapest option for such a rudimentary flight, but I'd certainly like to experience it at least once in my life.

Phetsarat Road, Luang Prabang, Laos Located approximately 4 km away from the town centre, Luang Prabang International Airport has only got one terminal building serving both domestic and international flights. It's a small, yet pretty much clean and peaceful airport as there aren't that many flights operating daily.

Luang Prabang, Laos As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Luang Prabang is certainly not to be missed when visiting Laos. In its recommendation in 1995, UNESCO cited that the town "reflects the exceptional fusion of Lao traditional architecture and 19th and 20th century European colonial style buildings".

10 Norrassan Road, Luang Prabang, Laos Daily: 12 noon - 3.00pm, 6.00pm - 10.30pm Prior to the trip, my BFF and I didn't do any research at all on Manda De Laos, a highly rated restaurant that houses three lotus ponds that have apparently been registered under the UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1995. My jaw dropped when I stepped into that cosy restaurant.

Sisavangvong Road, Luang Prabang, Laos Daily: 7.00am - 6.00pm Strategically situated at the heart of the old town of Luang Prabang, Laos, Mount Phou Si stands at 100 m. It goes without saying that the summit is a very popular destination to witness the panorama of the town and the surrounding countryside, especially at sunset.

Sisavangvong Road, Luang Prabang, Laos Daily: 8.00am - 11.30am, 1.30pm - 4.00pm A reflection of Lao and French beaux-arts architecture, the former Royal Palace built in 1904 was converted into a museum in 1975. Directly facing Mount Phou Si, the museum a glimpse of history of the region, housing many interesting artifacts.  

Khem Khong, Luang Prabang, Laos Daily: 8.00am - 5.00pm As one of the most significant Buddhist temples in the country, it's no surprise that Wat Xieng Thong (lit. Temple of the Golden City) is known as the icon and pride of Luang Prabang. Built in 1559 by King Setthathirath, the temple was where the Lao kings were crowned until 1975.