TRAVEL ADVENTURES IN 2013

My 2013 travel adventure was another great year. I have been to 12 cities in a year, it's like 1 travel escapade every month (no wonder I don't have savings last year) LOL! So I decided to have a recap of my travel adventure in 2013.

SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE

Singapore will always offer stunning to all the tourists whether day or night.

CAMBODIA VS. THAILAND VIDEO BLOG 2013

Travelling in two countries in one itinerary will always be an awesome journey to experience. I went to Cambodia last October and booked my flight a night before my flight. I got a big check off my bucket list when I finally visited the majestic Angkor Wat. After all the great food & temple hopping experience in Cambodia, one unexpected surprise changed my route going to Bangkok, Thailand instead of coming back to Singapore. A long land travel from Cambodian boundary on a flooded highway to reach the Kingdom of Thailand & spent an afternoon loitering around Siam Centre in Bangkok before heading home was one big memorable experience I will cherish forever.

My next travel itinerary will be Hongkong & Macau so watch out for more video blogs soon as I'm planning to document nightlife in Lang Kwai Fong & bungee jump one of a kind experience in Macau Tower.

TOP 10 MUST-KNOW IN CAMBODIA

Explore CAMBODIA with me!

Cambodia known as the Kingdom of Cambodia is popular for the monumental temple of Angkor Wat.
Nestled between rice paddies and stretched along the Siem Reap River, the provincial capital of SIam Reap City serves as the gateway to the millennium-old ruins of the Angkorian-era Khmer Empire.

Designated a World heritage Site by UNESCO, the Angkor Archaeological Park, encompasses dozens of temple ruins including Bayon, Ta Prohm and the legendary Angkor Wat whose artistic and archaeological significance and visual impact put it in a class with the Pyramids, Machu Pichu and the Taj Mahal.

Siem Reap town is where you will probably stay during your visit. The area has been receiving foreign visitors to the temples for more than 120 years. The town is actually a cluster of old villages, which originally developed around individual pagodas, and was later overlain with a French colonial-era centre. Siem Reap offers a wide range of hotels, including several 4 and 5- star hotels, dozens of mid- range places and plenty of budget guesthouses, as well as an amazing variety of restaurants, lots of shopping opportunities and a vibrant nightlife.

Often missed are the many opportunities to experience traditional Cambodia: boat trips on the great Tonle Sap Lake to villages and the bird sanctuary, craft shops and silk farms, road tours through rice-paddy countryside to distant temples and beyond...

ANGKOR WAT

There are dozens of temple ruins in the Siem Reap area, many if the most significant within the Angkor Archaeological Park just north of the city, others further afield. The temples vary in importance, interest

and condition and are spread over a large area, often kilometres  apart. In order to get the most of your temple visit, it is best to prepare at least a preliminary itinerary.

Any itinerary should include the legendary Angkor Wat & Bayon. These two temple ruins offer the most spectacular and unique examples of Angkorian art and as architecture. On the road trip to Bayon, you will also see the South Gate of Angkor Thom and other minor ruins. As it is within walking distance of Bayon, even the briefest visit can usually include central Angkor Thom with its artistically interesting terraces and massive "temple-mountains," Baphuon and Phimeanakas.

Baphuon Temple Cambodia

Cambodia has a special place in my heart. I went here due to some personal dilemmas that I needed to escape out of Singapore. For travelling never fails to refresh my mind & give me new ideas in liffe. Anyhow, here's the third part of my Cambodia trip last month. This blog post is all about my half day tour to what I call "Temple Run" popularly known as the Baphuon Temple. 

Angkor Thom: Large temple- mountain in Angkor Thom. Recently re-opened after an extensive and troubled restoration. The project began in the early 1970s with archaeologist dismantling much it, but abandoned in 1975 due ti war. The records were lost during the war years, leaving an enormous rock jigsaw puzzle. The restoration was restarted in the 1990s and the temple finally reopened just last year. Note the unique animal carvings at the walkway entrance. Similar carvings are visible on West Mebon. Also note the impressively large reclining Buddha on the west side, which was added to the temple in the 16th century.

The Temple Run.

Ta Prohm Angkor Cambodia

Ta Prohm is a sprawling monasteric complex that is only partially cleared of jungle over-growth. Intentionally left partially unrestored, massive fig & silk- cotton tress grow from the towers and corridors offering a "jungle atmosphere" and some of the best "tree-in-temple" photo opportunities at Angkor. Unfortunately, massive numbers of visitors and the recent installation of wooden walkways are detracting some from the "jungle atmosphere."

Ta Phrom is still well worth an extended exploration of its dark corridors and open plazas. This temple was one of Jayavarman VII's first major temple projects. Ta Prohm was dedicated to his mother. (Preah Khan, built shortly after Ta Prohm in the same general style, was dedicated to Jayavarman VII's father.) Ta Prohm was originally constructed as a Buddhist monastery and was enormously wealthy in its time, boasting of control over 3000 villages, thousnads of support staff and vast stores of jewels and gold. Of the monastic complex style temples, Ta Prohm is a superior exmaple and should e included in almost any temple itinerary.

The entrance gate to the temple of Ta Prohm.

Angkor Wat Cambodia

This is one big check for the things I need to do before I die. To be in Cambodia & witness Angkor Wat right with your naked eyes is such a fulfilling dream anyone can experience. Considered to be world's largest religious monument, Angkor Wat is a must see place & definitely worth visiting for. In this blog post, I will share more details of my travel experience, preparation, budget & itineraries to help everyone make the best of your Cambodia's infamous Angkor Wat one of a kind experience. Here we go.

Angkor literally means "Capital City" or "Holy City". In its modern usage, "Angkor" has come to refer to the capital city of the Khmer Empire that existed in the area of Cambodia. It represents the pinnacle of the ancient Khmer architecture, art and civilisation.

There are dozens of temple ruins in the Siam Reap area, many of the most significant within the Angkor Archaeological Park just north of the city, others further afield. The temples vary in importance, interest & condition and are spread over a large area, often kilometres apart. Your itinerary should depend largely on the length of your visit and your level of interest, though some ruins are must-sees. Any itinerary should definitely include the legendary Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat is visually, architecturally and artistically breathtaking. It is a massive three tiered pyramid crowned by five lotus-like towers rising 65 metres from ground level. Angkor Wat is the centerpiece of any visit to the temples of Angkor. 

FOOD: XI SHUA SHUA RESTAURANT

Dreams really do come true if you will only continue to strive & never give up on it. One of my dream destination is the country of Cambodia. Finally, I conquered this country & can't wait to witness the infamous Angkor Wat. We arrived at Phnom Penh International Airport & went straight to the bus terminal going to Siem Reap. Since we arrived early, we had some early food hunting and came by

this restaurant to have a taste of Cambodian food offering.

Xi Shua Shua Restaurant offers modern Cambodian food cuisine that includes traditional Asian rice & noodles food selection. We had a taste of their grilled chicken rice & Phnom Penh Noodle Soup. They also offer Dimsam, sticky rice, chicken porridge & American breakfast menu.

The service was excellent & they offer quality & great tasting food items. If you ever visit Cambodia, have a try of this food haven to experience the best of life through good food.

Cambodian Dining Set-up.