We have started our tour of Cambodia. We are now in the hands of a Pole - Pawel – a resident in this country. Together with his local lady partner he’s been running a travel agency aiming mainly at Poles.
We’ve joined a group composed of six Poles, one Frenchman and one Thai.
We’ve arrived in Siem Reap and we are spiritually preparing ourselves for the next day exploring of the Angkor Wat complex.
Siem Reap is located in north-western Cambodia, on the Cambodian Plain, by the river of the same name. Approx. 190 thousand people live here, and it is the fourth largest city of the country.
The biggest world’s attraction the Angkor - the remains of the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire. The name of the city means "the defeat of Siam," in honour of the victorious battle against the Thais.
The commercialization of the city and all the tourist infrastructure caused by the invasion of tourists from all over the world, increases in us a need of escaping from this unbelievable noise, crowds and overwhelming kitsch offered by the night markets and the notorious "Pub Street". We will stay on wanting to see this architectural wonder created by man, hardly accepting the crowds of young tourists "entertaining" themselves without restrictions, as everything is cheap here (depends for whom) and in large quantities. And the music "overflowing" from every pub, from every restaurant combines into one monstrous cacophony. The favourite entertainment - karaoke - can be a pain in the butt!
Oh well, you have to endure all that getting ready for the beauty of the monuments, just a few kilometres from the XXI - century civilization.
We are here for the second time and we know exactly what we want to admire.
