Journey through ASEAN: Crossing borders by car to visit the land of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom.

No text provided for translation.

Hello.

For this trip, we started by taking a van from Victory Monument to Rong Kluea Market in Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province.

The fare is 250 baht per person, and the journey takes about three hours. We started our journey around 9 am and arrived at Rong Kluea Market around noon. From Rong Kluea Market, we took a tuk-tuk to our hotel in the city center (I apologize, I don't remember the name of the hotel). We were kindly sponsored by a generous person who provided us with three free rooms. However, there were eight of us, and judging from the condition of the beds, it would not be possible for three people to sleep in each room. Therefore, we opened an additional room. Out of respect for the fact that we were staying for free, we had lunch at the hotel before going shopping at Rong Kluea Market and the market in Aranyaprathet town. The next day, we will travel to Siem Reap.

For this trip, we used the tour services of Aran-Sri Sophon Travel Co., Ltd. Pick up at Rong Kluea Market, tour price for 2 days 1 night is 3,500 baht per person.

Itinerary

Day 1: Aranyaprathet Border / Siem Reap / Lunch / Angkor Wat / Ta Prohm Temple / Angkor Thom / South Gate / Phnom Bakheng or Phnom Kandal / Dinner at Tonle Mekong Restaurant / Pub Street Shopping

Note: This translation is intended to be simple and short, while still conveying the essential information from the original text. It does not include any additional details or commentary.

Day Two:

• Visit Wat THMEY
• Boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake
• Explore the Tonle Sap Market
• Visit the temples of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom
• Cross the border to Poipet
• Return to Bangkok by van

The program is complete, let's go on a trip!

The first day, after having breakfast at the hotel, the hotel van took us to the border. Upon arrival at the border, staff from the Aran-Srisophon company were waiting to receive us to complete the immigration formalities.

Crossing the border, we were greeted by a dazzling casino. We sat down to wait for our guide and exchanged some money for riel at a nearby shop. When we first met our guide, he shouted "Sua sday" from afar, which is similar to the Thai-Cambodian greeting "Sua sday." He repeated "Sua sday" several times. However, we had just passed through a large crowd and were not in the mood to be playful. We thought to ourselves that the guide was rude to greet us by mimicking our words.

After meeting the local guide, the tour company staff took their leave, leaving us in the care of the Cambodian guide. The guide then took us on a public bus to the bus station in the city to board a van.

After exchanging vehicles, we embarked on a lengthy journey of nearly three hours to Siem Reap. During the ride, the tour guide distributed a travel guide for Siem Reap. I flipped to the page with basic Khmer vocabulary. "Suosdey" means "hello." I knew that they didn't actually copy the greeting from the Cambodian language. "Suosdey" is the real word. I apologize, tour guide, but I didn't know. Fortunately, I didn't lash out beforehand.

The bus took us to a buffet lunch at noon. Cambodian food is similar to Thai food, so it didn't feel strange.

The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.

No text provided for translation.

Following our arrival, we were transported by vehicle to purchase tickets for entry to the castle. During the ticket purchase process, photographs were taken for identification cards, which were then worn around our necks.

And then we traveled to Angkor Wat, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Built by King Suryavarman II as a dedication to Buddha, Angkor Wat is a magnificent temple complex. Before entering the temple, visitors often take photos of its impressive facade.

During that time, there was a photographer in front of the castle who took pictures for tourists. At first, we were not interested because everyone had their own cameras. The guide encouraged us to take pictures, saying that they were only 20 baht each and that we could pick them up on the way back. He was very insistent, so we decided to take one picture each, thinking that 20 baht was a small price to pay to avoid the hassle. However, it didn't end there.

The guide led us to admire the beauty of the castle, which features a variety of sculptures.

Upon entering, visitors are greeted by a breathtaking view of the castle's silhouette reflected in the water. However, during my visit, the castle was undergoing renovations, and the view was partially obscured by green tarpaulins.

The provided text is empty. There is nothing to translate.

Please provide the text you want me to translate.

Upon reaching the castle, it was time to enter and admire the intricate carvings. To access the interior, visitors must ascend the steep stairs depicted in the image.

The guide explained the various carvings within the castle, stopping at one depicting the army of King Jayavarman VII. Pointing to the depiction of the Khmer army (referred to as the "Syam Kuk" army in ancient times), the guide remarked, "See, even in ancient times, the Thai people lacked discipline. Look how the other armies are neatly lined up, while the Syam Kuk soldiers are chatting, turning their heads, and even playfully pushing each other. But I have to admit, there's some truth to the saying, 'Do as you please, that's the true Thai way.'"

Exiting the castle before continuing the journey to other destinations, I looked back at the magnificent sight of Angkor Wat, which was truly awe-inspiring and unforgettable.

According to historical records, Angkor Wat was abandoned and left to be consumed by the jungle for 500 years until it was rediscovered by the botanist Henri Mouhot. The temple was then restored to its former glory.

The provided text is empty. There is nothing to translate.

Please provide the text you want me to translate.

The next stop, the van took us to Ta Prohm Temple. Upon arrival, the same photographer rode a motorcycle to wait for us to take pictures again. We told him that we would not take pictures anymore, and if he took pictures again, we would not pay him. However, he still insisted on taking pictures of us. He kept taking pictures while we were taking pictures, which annoyed us. We tried to stay away from this photographer.

Ta Prohm is a grand Buddhist temple, nestled amidst the jungle, its structures embraced by the verdant foliage.

In some places, massive tree roots encircle the temple in an awe-inspiring manner.

This castle was also used as a filming location for the movie Tomb Raider.

Next, we will visit the magnificent Angkor Thom temple, where the same photographer continues to annoy us.

The photograph depicting a kiss with the idol was the photographer's idea.

Before visiting, I always thought Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom were the same place.

This trip revealed that the actual location is different from what the guide led us to believe. We visited the Bayon Temple, the heart of Angkor Thom. The colossal towers of the temple are adorned with four faces of gods, gazing out in all directions, observing the lives and struggles of the people.

As the car passed the Naga Bridge, we were struck by its beauty and asked the driver to stop so we could take some pictures. The Naga Bridge is a unique landmark, featuring intricate carvings of angels pulling a naga, among other distinctive details.

The provided text is empty. There is nothing to translate.

Afterward, we went to Phnom Bakheng or Phnom Bantaey Srei to watch the sunset. To reach the viewpoint, we had to climb the hill. The guide informed us to ascend on our own, while they would wait below. Seeing that the guide wasn't accompanying us, we assumed the climb must be tiring and likely offered nothing interesting. Therefore, we decided not to join the ascent and sent a friend to take pictures instead. We then sat down, enjoying snacks and coconut water amidst the swirling dust, waiting for the group who went to watch the sunset.

Below, there are shops selling snacks and food, and Cambodian children selling souvenirs to tourists. The children only communicate in the English they have been taught, and when asked too many questions, they are unable to answer. We sat down to teach the children to speak Thai while waiting for our friends to descend from the mountain.

All photos were taken by a friend, and we cannot provide any further details as we were not present at the time.

After everyone had descended from the mountain, the car took us to the Ton Le Mekong Restaurant for dinner.

The buffet-style food was similar in taste to Thai cuisine. During the meal, there was a performance on stage that also resembled Thai performances.

While we were having lunch, a photographer appeared and started selling us photos. He initially said each photo would cost 20 baht, and we thought he would take one photo of each of us at Angkor Thom and that would be it. However, he ended up following us around and taking at least 10 photos of each of us. The good thing was that he burned all the photos onto a small CD and gave it to each of us. There was a bit of an argument during this process, as the photographer spoke broken Thai and the tour guide wasn't there to help. It ended with everyone feeling upset, including us being angry with the tour guide for not being more helpful. In conclusion, if you don't want any trouble, it's best to avoid these photographers from the start.

After lunch and resolving an issue with the photographer, the car took us to check in at the hotel. After settling in and taking care of personal matters, we went shopping at Pub Street. This street is similar to Khao San Road in Thailand, with pubs and souvenir shops. Payment can be made in US dollars. After shopping, we returned to the hotel to rest after a tiring day.

On the third day, our tour began at Wat Thmey (Wat Teppothivong), a temple that served as a killing field during the war. The site features exhibits detailing the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge, including displays of victims' skulls. Our guide recounted the horrific events of the genocide, leaving us deeply moved. Afterwards, we visited the temple's main hall to pay our respects.

After a long car ride, we boarded a boat to cruise the Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. We observed the way of life of the boat people who live along the water's edge. The Tonle Sap Lake covers an area of five provinces in Cambodia.

Some villagers use boats as their homes. In the floating community, there are hospitals, schools, karaoke bars, and floating grocery stores. Personally, I don't enjoy boat trips. I always complain about boat trips in my reviews, and the view of Tonle Sap Lake still doesn't make me like boat trips.

After that, we took a car back to Siem Reap city to go shopping at the Old Market (Psar Chaa).

Souvenirs, wood carvings, clothing, etc. are among the items available for purchase.

After shopping, we took a car to pay respects to Preah Ang Chek and Preah Ang Chom, the sacred symbols of Siem Reap province.

According to historical records, the sisters Ong Jek and Ong Chom were devout Buddhists. One day, after returning from a religious ceremony, they fell asleep and never woke up. Their heartbroken parents commissioned two Buddha statues in their memory: the larger one named Ong Jek and the smaller one named Ong Chom. These statues became revered symbols of Siem Reap, embodying the deep respect and devotion of the local people.

The provided text is empty. There is nothing to translate.

Please provide the text you want me to translate.

Not far from the Sala of Ong Jek and Ong Jom, there is another sala and garden. Although I don't know the name, it's another beautiful and peaceful place.

On this trip, the car took us to see the stone carving village in Preah Netr district, Banteay Meanchey province, to choose stone carvings, but we didn't get anything. We just went to see it.

After a continuous journey, we arrived at the Poipet border. Following the completion of immigration procedures, we boarded a van and returned to Bangkok.

The trip to Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom is complete. Traveling abroad without relying on airplanes. But now AirAsia has opened a flight from Bangkok to Siem Reap.