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Cambodia

Siem Reap to Bangkok by bus… my experience at the Thailand border

Date: 16 May 2018

Today saw our tour of Cambodia come to an end. This journey began when I met up with my girlfriend in Chiang Mai, Thailand, then flew to Phnom Penh (Cambodia’s capital), then took the bus to Siem Reap, spent a day exploring Angkor Park and today, we depart for Bangkok. But instead of taking a flight, I figured we would cross international borders by road instead.

Giant Ibis bus to Bangkok
We booked the 7:45am bus via Giant Ibis. Tickets costs $32 per person. The bus was hardly full.
Green fields Cambodia
It’s not that flights from Siem Reap to Bangkok are much more expensive. I just never crossed international borders by road before so I thought I’d get to experience something new.
Cambodia public school
I also wanted to see more of Cambodia’s countryside and the way of life out here (pictured is a public school)
Hill Cambodia countryside
But much of what I saw were farmlands
Giant Ibis bus rest stop Cambodia
We would stop once along the highway for a rest stop break
Poipet road Cambodia
Closer to noon, we had reached the border town of Poipet
Happy Mart Cambodia highway
Poipet isn’t big but it is the most developed town I had seen along the way since leaving Siem Reap
Cambodia Thailand border crossing
The bus would drop us here and then pick us up again from the Thailand side. We were all given badges and asked to follow our guide.

Our bus came with a guide who had a look at our passports before getting down from the bus and when I told him I was from India, he was like “oh”. He told me Indians and Chinese often face hurdles with immigration at this border. We were also told we would have to pay 100 baht to Cambodia immigration upon exit.

Poipet departure Cambodia border
That green structure is the Cambodia immigration for departures

It was crowded inside but lines moved fast. The Cambodian immigration officer asked for the 100 baht but did not give a receipt or anything. I still wonder why we had to pay money upon leaving Cambodia… and that too in Thai baht.

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Banteay kdei temple Siem Reap Cambodia

Cambodia: Banteay Kdei – A Citadel of Chambers

Date: 13 May 2018

We were on our home stretch. After starting the day at Angkor Wat, followed by visits to Bayon, Ta Keo and Ta Prohm temples, we were now at the final stop on our tour of Angkor Archeological Park.

Banteay Kdei entrance Siem Reap
With our one day ticket, we visited 5 temple structures… but mind you, there are many more places you can visit if you have the time or you buy the multi-day ticket. See this post for details about the various tickets.
Traditional art Siem Reap Cambodia
We saw some artisans handcrafting some stencil-like art pieces. Quite impressive!
Banteay Kdei shops Siem Reap
You need to walk past these shops and stalls before you get to Banteay Kdei

Banteay Kdei was built in the mid-12th to early 13th century AD during the reign of Jayavarman VII. Lore says Jayavarman VII was accused of wasting money on extravagant temple building projects while ignoring society and other duties… but that shouldn’t be a shocker by now. It’s not like you walk past remains of universities or villages in Angkor park.

Banteay Kdei ruins Siem Reap
Banteay Kdei translates to “A Citadel of Chambers”
Banteay kdei citadel Siem Reap
Banteay Kdei is one long temple
Banteay kdei chambers Siem Reap
You keep walking straight down
Banteay kdei pillar held up Siem Reap
Some pillars are merely held up using wooden logs
Banteay kdei window Siem Reap
Honestly, by now me and my girlfriend were pretty bored and not very keen to spend much time at Banteay Kdei
Banteay Kdei corridor Siem Reap
So we just kept walking through the central corridor until we reached the end
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Cambodia: Ta Prohm temple – the one famous for the tree roots

Date: 13 May 2018

After Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Keo temples, we were now at our fourth stop on our trike tour around the Angkor archeological park.

Ta Prohm tree Siem Reap
Seeing such tall trees as you walk toward Ta Prohm should give you a hint to the role trees play here
Ta Prohm India funding restoration
After seeing so many of the temples being renovated with the financial support of Germany, Japan, China and France, finally I came across one that is being funded by India (since 2010)!
Ta Prohm entrance Siem Reap
We entered Ta Prohm through here
Ta Prohm wedding shoot Siem Reap
Cambodians make use of these heritage ruins as backdrops for wedding photoshoots
Ta Prohm temple Siem Reap
Ta Prohm is yet another temple made on the orders of one of the Jayavarman kings but what really sets it apart from the other structures…
Ta Prohm tree roots
… is seeing these gigantic tree roots that have grown over the stones over the decades

Ta Prohm (or “Old Brahma”) was initially called Rajavihara. Whatever it was called then or now, Ta Prohm is more famous for being the temple in Angkor archeological park which has many trees whose roots have extended themselves around and through the gaps of the structures.

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