Sunday, July 29, 2012

Two Faces of Siem Reap

Location: Siem Reap, Cambodia
NP: The XX - Intro
Mood: Pleased

A river separates the two sides of Siem Reap. The other a flamboyant, loud, tourist-infested and filled with bars and restaurants, and the other a quiet, dark and relatively serene (apart from the barking of dogs) place in the middle of locals.


You can guess which side appealed to us more.


The difference between them is almost like night and day. The separation is a boon, for one can enjoy the benefits of mass tourism (the services) when needed without the need to absorb all the bad side effects of it. The river ends the ruckus of the city center like a brick wall.

Riding bicycles along both banks of the river offered a nice glance of the city. Step away from the center and there's really very little else than residental areas, with a hotel and a temple thrown in here and there.


Our Siem Reap was a nice, quiet place made for resting and relaxation... had it not been for the noisy family (probably British) staying at Tropical Breeze Guesthouse, just like us, and the Finnish couple (Tero and Nina) who would again lure us down dark pathways for cheap beer and drinks...


On a different note, Peter the receptionist at Tropical Breeze Guesthouse seemed to me like the Cambodian version of Stephen Bonnell II (aka Destiny), for those few who might know the name.


I will miss Siem Reap.

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