Colourful Siem Reap
Unique: Enjoy traditional cultural performances at the Cambodian Cultural Village.
While Siem Reap is known for its temples, you can discover another side of
the city if you travel off the beaten path.
HONESTLY, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I bought
my flight tickets to Cambodia. I went there without any expectations,
and with last-minute planning and minimal research. Only equipped with
wanderlust, I ventured into a country brimming with stories to tell.
Cambodia isn’t just about historical landmarks and architectural
wonders; there’s more. It’s about children growing up with a thirst for
adventure. Instead of being bothered about the existence of gadgets,
they spend their time pretending to drive cars under coffee tables while
their parents look after food stalls.
It’s about teenagers on the streets turning to the performing arts
as a form of healing and now making a name for themselves by being stars
of Phare, the Cambodian Circus.
“One day, I wish Cambodian riel will be used all over this country instead of US dollars,” he says.
Although the US dollar is used because people find it hard to
calculate prices in riel – US$1 is equivalent to 4,000 riel – he hopes
that one day others will acknowledge the existence of the riel when they
travel in Cambodia.
Watch youngsters dance, sing and contort their bodies at Phare, The Cambodian Circus.
The first thing that really struck me upon arrival was how safe it
was. I was not constantly looking around, clutching my bag a little bit
tighter or fidgety when things seemed dangerous. Even if the country is
still developing and the people use all the tricks in the book to get
you to purchase souvenirs, including begging, but never harming you.
If that isn’t convincing enough, the tuk-tuks are the best
form of public transportation here. Granted, some of these drivers think
that they are in a Formula One race, swerving in and out of junctions,
so you have to hang on tight. Riding in a tuk-tuk also allows you to
interact with the locals; if you’re lucky, you’ll witness 20 guys trying
to squeeze on top of a pick-up truck as though they were trying to
break a world record!
My first time riding a tuk-tuk was to our first destination, Phas
Chas (old market). It is the place to go to if you’re looking for local
goods, souvenirs and affordable dishes. You’ll see vendors sitting on
counter tops in the middle of the market selling fresh poultry and
vegetables.
One of the bars situated at Pub Street with graffiti on its walls, inviting you to sit down for a drink.
When night falls, you can just walk over to Angkor Night Market.
Just step into this place and you’ll fall for its rustic charm. It’s
similar to the Old Market, just that you can get a massage at a mere
US$1 (RM3.20)! Sit back and relax while the masseuse – some of whom I
suspect are still in primary school – twist your limbs and relieve the
tension from your body. It’s also the best way to unwind after a long
and tiring day.
If you’re rejoicing because you can get a glass of beer for less
than a glass of water in Cambodia, Pub Street is the way to end your
night!
True to its name, this street is filled with pubs packed with people
enjoying a few glasses of beer while swaying to the music. It wasn’t my
scene, but I had the most bizarre meal throughout my entire trip there.
My travel buddy (aka boyfriend) and I dined at Easy Speaking Café
Pub & Restaurant. Since we felt like splurging a little, we ordered
the couple degustation set – which includes beef, crocodile, shrimp,
snake, frog and side dishes. We added on ostrich meat just for the extra
kick!
I was expecting a grand explosion of tastes in my mouth, but most of
the time, I was just munching on tough meat, and trying to figure out
if it was crocodile or snake. Nevertheless, it’s an experience to
remember! The food in Cambodia is similar to that of its neighbours and
it doesn’t disappoint.
While we were there, we did plenty of exploring on our own – and I
highly recommend that. A simple Google search (preferably done weeks in
advance) and being buddies with the hotel staff can get you anywhere.
Try exploring on your own. It’s just something else altogether.
Because we did that, we found the Old Market, Angkor Night Market and
Pub Street. That’s where we discovered the existence of Phare, The
Cambodian Circus.
It’s my dream to see the Cirque Du Soleil live one day, and although
Phare is just a small show in comparison, I was really awestruck! These
teenagers had a knack for bending their bodies, swaying dangerously on a
trapeze and captivating the audience with their energy. It was worth
the US$15 (RM48.15) fee!
You could get the front-row VIP seats for US$30 (RM96.30), which
guarantee interaction with the cast members and a goody bag given as a
token of appreciation. However, since it was a small confined area,
sitting in the cheaper seats was good enough. Everything is spoken and
sung in Khmer, but there’s a TV screen showing the English translation.
You’re bound to bob your head to the music even if you are completely
clueless.
The highlight of this had to be the background of the circus. About
20 years ago, eight young men whose lives have been changed, thanks to
art therapy, founded Phare Ponleu Selpak. What first started off as an
art school has now developed into a music and theatre school. These
youngsters, who could have ended up on the streets, found their way out
through the performing arts instead. Now these individuals have a chance
to shine on stage while also earning decent wages to get them through
life.
Still, I did the touristy things. In addition to travelling around
on our own in tuk-tuks, we paid US$110 (RM353.15) per person for a
two-day tour to experience Cambodia’s culture with live commentary. Our
tour guide, Sam, who is fond of Khmer songs, was ever ready to endure
the blistering heat to show us what Siem Reap has to offer.
With day one of our tour spent mainly visiting temples, Sam took us
to the floating village the following day. I expected to see a busy
village, with people going about their daily routine, selling their
produce on the water. However, it was pretty disappointing. We had to
endure the stench coming from the lake, although it was an exciting 10
to 15 minutes on the boat to the village. Upon arrival, I could only
visit a souvenir spot for photo opportunities and a Catholic church. The
journey to and from the floating village lasted way longer than the
time spent at the floating village.
Another tourist attraction we checked out was the Cambodian Cultural
Village, the one-stop destination for learning about the history of
Cambodia and its different cultures, and watching short cultural shows.
If you’re hankering for more history, the Angkor National Museum
provides just that. You will be transported back in time. And a walk
around the museum is enjoyable. You start off at a briefing hall, then
you get to explore the various sections – for instance, The Gallery of
One Thousand Buddhas, Khmer Civilisation and Angkor Wat, just to name a
few. Some sculptures are slowly wearing out, but still well preserved.
Not only that, you get to sit at different galleries while enjoying a
short video presentation, which is available in different languages for
everyone to enjoy.
I would definitely travel there again, maybe even take the bus to
Phnom Penh and explore what it has to offer. There’s just so much more
to discover. Right now, I’m wishing for more US$1 massages to soothe
away my backaches!
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