Sights and Activities
Below are the places we saw and activities completed while visiting the Cambodia:
Siem Reap
Angkor Wat Temples: be sure to read our article about our great experience with the temples. We spent two days exploring all the magical temples in the area. The first day we traveled by bicycle visiting several temples including: Prasat Kravan, Banteay Kdei, Sras Srang, Pre Rup, East Mebon, Ta Som, Neak Pean, and Preah Khan. The following day we beat the sun by hiring a tuk-tuk to visit Angkor Wat at sunrise, Bayon, Ta Keo, and Ta Prohm.
Angkor National Museum: we learned about the Khmer empire including their religious beliefs, the Angkor temples’ history, and viewed several stone carvings and artifacts.
Phnom Penh
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (Former Office S21): a former high school, Tuol Svay Prey High School, was turned into a prison and torture chamber in 1975 by Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge regime. We were able to learn more about the Khmer Rouge victims and this heartless regime.
Choeung Ek Genocidal Center (Killing Fields): most of the S-21 detainees were executed here. The audio tour of the grounds is a very strong and impacting view of what it was like during the time of the regime. A memorial stupa displays more than 8000 skulls of victims and their ragged clothes. Be sure to read our article to learn more about this terrifying genocide.
Independence Monument: we walked by this monument that was built in 1958 to commemorate Cambodia’s 1953 independence from France and now also a memorial to Cambodia’s war dead.
Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda
Cambodian Cooking Class: we learned to make fried spring rolls, Amok fish curry, banana flower salad, and sticky rice with mango.
