SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA: HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF A SHORT STAY (AND HOW DO IT IN STYLE AND CONSCIENCE, TOO!)


Reap it REAL GOOD. Siem Reap, Cambodia: How to Make the Most Out of a Short Stay (and do it in Style and Conscience, too!) 

Now, I’m all for slow-living and taking it nice and easy (as the glacial pace I take to respond to Whatsapp messages will attest to) but sometimes, time is a luxury that money just can’t buy. What’s a girl to do, eh? That’s no excuse to dive into a whirlwind tour of a city unprepared. Luckily, I live life in the fast lane and do the research beforehand so others don’t have to. If you’re planning a short (3 or so days) trip to Siem Reap and don’t want to scrimp on comfort or culture, keep reading my guide on Where to stay, What to eat, What to see, What to do and most importantly, What NOT to do.

January 29, 2018


Location meets Luxury at the Park Hyatt, the only luxury hotel in downtown Siem Reap


Location vs. Luxury: Why not both? Park Hyatt - one of the very few luxury hotels in downtown Siem Reap - proves to be unbeatable for both its prime position and its commitment to 5-star quality. 

As I stepped out of the scorching Cambodian heat and through the double doors into the Park Hyatt Siem Reap, my first impressions were: This place is so cool. LiterallyFirst, a chilly lemongrass-scented breeze brought immediate relief from the tropical heat. Then, my eyes were drawn to the gentle giant in the middle of the lobby - a vast, slim stone statue with the most serene expression, bearing a bouquet of cut flowers with sweet pink petals that matched the Christmas decor. Finally, my eye travelled upward to the skylight which infused the lobby with so much light, making the space bright yet airy. 


January 25, 2018

Seeing red at the Pink Temple of Siem Reap, Banteay Srei aka The Citadel of The Women.



Tickled Pink, or Seeing Red? There's more to BANTEAY SREI, aka the Pink Temple of Siem Reap, that meets the Eye...


It is a known fact that yours truly does not like to get out of bed for less than a $10,000 view in the morning. So imagine my consternation when, after an early wake up call and bumpy, dusty hour-long drive into the heartlands of Siem Reap, the famous pink temple that is Banteay Srei - also known as The Citadel of Women - was a lot less the ‘millenial pink’ I expected than it was ‘overcooked salmon’. B*tch, HUE better work. Was my pastel colour-motivated trek into the wildnerness all for naught? Happily, it was hardly a wasted journey, for I had serendipitously discovered a temple that was far unique to the others in Angkor for a myriad of reasons...


January 22, 2018

Feeling the Lara Croft fantasy at the "Tomb Raider temple": Ta Prohm in Siem Reap, Cambodia


The Root of it All: Feeling the Tomb Raider Fantasy at TA PROHM in SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA

It is indisputable that the centuries-old temples of the ancient city of Angkor in what is now called Siem Reap is what put Cambodia on the map of many a wanderluster. Two places immediately come to mind: the iconic Angkor Wat (itself on the flag of the Kingdom of Cambodia) and Ta Prohm, famous for its ruined walls intertwined with giant tree roots. In the second part of my Cambodia photo diaries, I walked among the remnants of history and learn what makes the “Tomb Raider temple” so unique.


January 19, 2018

Siem Reap, Cambodia: Why sunset is better than sunrise at Angkor Wat


Can I get an Angkor? So Nice, I Went There Twice: Angkor Wat in the Morning vs in the Evening (and why sunrise at Angkor Wat is Overrated) 

With peak season in Cambodia (November to January) coming to a close and savvy travellers such as yourself (you clever thing, you) looking into visiting Siem Reap in the less crowded, less expensive off-peak season that is May to October, it seemed timely that my first Asia travel story of the year should be of arguably the most famous of Cambodian monuments - the instantly recognisable and incomparable Angkor Wat. You know by now, of course, my 2018 mission to see all the South East Asian countries I've yet to visit. With Vietnam, Singapore, my native Malaysia, Thailand, and now Cambodia under my belt, that leaves just six countries to go. I can't think of a better destination to kick off this year's travel stories with, so here are the first of my photo diaries from Siem Reap, Cambodia, and my observations on why sunset trumps sunrise at Angkor Wat.


January 17, 2018



One last look: Before I turn the page to a New Year, here is a look at my show reel of 2017, followed by the upcoming attractions and my travel wishes of 2018. 


2017. 12 months. 14 Countries. 34 Cities. A carbon footprint the size of Bigfoot.

You just can't keep a wanderluster down. You can take away her passport while dragging your feet about whether to grant her Indefinite Leave to Remain, but she will pull some strings to get her application approved in neck-breaking record speed even in the wake of all the post-Brexit immigration scramble. Not even a tangle of Home Office red tape couldn't hold me back...soon after, my year of travel kicked off. Seeing friends in Australia...conquering Hong Kong in 24 hours...a Mother's Day weekend in Prague...the failed detox program in Chiang Mai that we shall never speak of again...my epic 3 week road trip across the Balkans...Autumn in Japan...Winter in South Korea and Cambodia, and finally; ushering in the New Year in Singapore.


BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE IRREPRESSIBLE (IF SHORT-LIVED) "CAN-DO" SPIRIT THAT SEEMS TO DO THE ROUNDS EVERY FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY AND INSPIRED BY THE FIRST #TRAVELLINKUP OF 2018

January 01, 2018

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