A Kiss For Luck

Let me start with a vow - I will definitely go back to Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Here are the highlights of the trip: 

* Golden Mango Inn - if you are visiting Siem Reap, stay here.  Aside from being clean, spacious and affordable, what sold me to this hotel is the warm & very personal accommodation of Sony and his staff. They truly mean what they said in their website -"People come here as guests and leave as friends." It was actually painful to leave.

* Kim Soryar & Miss Alan (a woman of the world) - the best guides! Providing us a comfy van, making sure that we have cold towels & water, and sharing anecdotes. I can't imagine the trip without them. Kim even booked us the best seats for an Apsara dance.

* Angkor Thom, particularly the Bayon Temple (my favorite) - simply magnificent. Only $20 for a whole day tour of the complex. I tell you though, one day is not enough.

* The photo ops - we cannot have enough! Good thing that we have our official photographer, Albert. 

* The cheap thrills - tuktuk ride, souvenirs at the Night Market, the good food, the young hawkers at the temples (with their haunting chants - "one dollar...")

Tidbits:

* I highly suggest going for the Mekong Express Limousine Bus ($23) than MaiLinh Express ($16) if you're crossing from HCMC to Siem Reap.  We had a very bad experience with MaiLinh. When we reached the Vietnamese Immigration at Mocbai, we waited for almost 2 hours for our passports to get through. The MaiLinh personnel who was suppose to assist us just stood there while the other people from the other bus/tour companies sort of "haggled" their way so their group can cross the border. They also speak very little English so it was extremely difficult to communicate with them and know what's going on.  I will gladly pay for the extra $7 for MELB - they serve good pastries, are on time, took care of us at the immigration, and they have a "stewardess" on board who goes chattering giving you updates on your location & trivia about the places you pass by.

- to be continued...