My first trip abroad in Cambodia

Hooray!!!

Finally I had a chance to travel out of my country. My first country which I visited is Cambodia. This was really a good news, coming to me from my boss last week. He wanted to visit our office in PhnomPenh and he wanted me to go with him. Needless to say, how excited and happy I am. Although it seemed just a business trip but I got this chance to go to SiemReap for traveling over that weekend. And the most important thing was, this trip cost me personally very little money, just about $10 for lunch, dinner and taxi expense. Isn't it wonderful?

In SiemReap, I stayed at a really lovely hotel whose name is "Ancient Angkor" for FREE, good support from my boss. (hahaha. I even think that the person who works in travel industry no need to pay money for traveling).

My lovely corner in the room

I just had one full day in SiemReap and then had to get on the bus back to HCMC for working on the next Monday. It was really a pity to stay in Siem Reap for such a short time. But anyway it was a good start. I spent all my full day on visiting Angkor archaeological park, with my Cambodian friend and Mr Tuktuk (the way I call our Tuk-tuk driver b/c his name is so complicated to me ^^).

 Chenda, my first Cambodian friend, and me

This park is very large, if you wanna go to all the attractions in this park, you maybe have to spend one-week time. I just had one day, so I just could visit the most famous ones. They are Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm.

Angkor Wat is the world's largest religious monument. It was built during the reign of Suryavarman II, in the first half of the 12th century, both as the capital and the State Temple dedicated to Vishnu.

 The causeway to Angkor Wat

The model of Angkor Wat (taken from the internet)

Angkor Wat is an religious architectural masterpiece. It exists over the time and up to now still keeps nearly original status. Too many bas-reliefs made me really get stunned.

Apsara dancers. One interesting point is their breasts are almost shinier than other organs b/c there are so many people who wants to touch them, even me also. ^^.

The way to the uppermost level of the temple, a challenge to the ones who are afraid of height

 Modern Apsara dancer on the top level of the temple

Our next destinations are Angkor Thom with famous Bayon, the complex of face-towers and Ta Prohm with the strangler figs and silk-cotton trees entwined among ruins (kingdom of huge old trees).

I didn't know the reason why but I really prefered these two areas than Angkor Wat. It was pretty much ruined but the ruins itself attract more tourists to visit there.

 Bayon face

I'm so tiny but surely I'm very outstanding ^^

 As Mr. Tuk Tuk says, I pretending to be a smart girl. Haha.

This trip though is quite short but it really inspires me more. The visit to one of the seven wonders of the world makes me so proud. I never thought that the chance came to me so early. I really hope there will be a chance for me to come back visiting these attractions. One day is just not enough for me. I want to spend much more time there to slowly understand and slowly feel the beauty of this wonder. Also, thanks god and thanks my boss with his great idea.

LANA LOVES TRAVELING!!!