Temple – Maldo Travels

Bali – A Full Day Tour Around Ubud

Jean Maldonado — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 23:07:49 +0000

A couple of my friends who had been to Bali said that Ubud was one of their favorite places to stay. Since we didn’t have time to stay there, we took a private transportation tour which went to some of the sites around Ubud which cost 700,000 IDR¹ each. We were picked up from our hotel in Kuta at around 8.30 AM. Our first stop was at Tari Barong Jambe for a traditional dance show and we got there just in time for the 9.30 AM show. It’s an outdoor stage and tickets cost 100,000 IDR. Upon entrance, they hand out a program with the stories of the scenes for you to follow. The show lasts about an hour and it was interesting but it was a little too long and I don’t think it was worth it. Next, we continue another 10 minutes to Celuk Swing & Luwak Coffee. At this site, they sell the famous Luwak coffee. The entrance is free and one of the attendants takes you around the site on a guided tour. She stopped at several photo spots and talks about the procurement process of Luwak coffee. She then leaves us at a bench with a tea and coffee menu for us to get free samples of. We get a choice of 13 but the Luwak Coffee sample costs 50,000 IDR. There is also a swing next to the benches over the terraces and she tells us it costs 300,000 IDR. After the samples, she takes us to the shop if we’d like to buy any of the samples we tried. Overall, this was site was an interesting experience and well worth the visit. The drinks were very good and we ended up buying some, but the swing was a little too pricy.

We then get back to the car and continue another 5 minutes to the traditional Balinese Batuan Temple. Our driver dropped us off near the entrance and told us we first need to pick up some Sarongs opposite the temple. This was to cover up our bare legs since we were wearing shorts. Entrance to the temple is free but there is a donation box when you pick up the Sarong. There are several shrines at the temple and the detailed carvings throughout are very impressive. We spent about 20 minutes here walking around and taking some pictures before continuing.

Our next stop is a 10-minute drive away to Tegenungan Waterfall and we got there at 12.30 PM. Our driver dropped us off near the entrance and tickets cost 40,000 IDR each. It’s about a 15-20 minute walk down to the waterfall and on the way, there are several photo spots at some viewpoints. Once at the stream, you can get in to go for a swim. The water is quite shallow but it gets deeper closer to the waterfall. There are some buoys and rope to cordon off access to the waterfall so you can’t get too close to it for safety. A short walk down the stream, there is a small spring water pool you can get into. There are also some benches and toilets just outside the pool. There’s also a bridge to cross to the other side of the stream. You can then climb up the other side to a restaurant where there is a swing over the waterfall. We didn’t have time to check it out since we had to be back up at the parking lot by 1.45 PM.

The final stop is at the Tegallalang Rice Terrace which was a 35-minute drive away. This spot is very busy with lots of traffic on its 2-lane road so the driver dropped us off a short walk away. There was a guard helping people cross the road and he asked for a donation. We thought this was for entering the rice fields but after going down some steps, there was another official asking for donations to the rice terrace. We gave the guard 20,000 IDR and the 30,000 to enter the rice terrace. The views of the terraces are amazing. There are several swings but they cost around 300,000 IDR which is quite pricy. There were also locals with their tools offering photo opportunities but we didn’t ask how much. You can walk down to the stream and then climb up to the other side of the terraces. On the way up to the other side, there is another official asking for donations. We gave 20,000 IDR and continued to the top. It’s a nice place to visit but there are lots of tourists and the locals charging ‘donations’ everywhere. We finished our visit at around 3 PM and met our driver in a nearby parking lot. We then headed back to Kuta which took almost 2 hours with horrendous traffic.

Beijing – Forbidden City Tour

Jean Maldonado — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 20:46:24 +0000

One of the Beijing highlights is the ancient palace complex famously known as the Forbidden City. I looked up tours online and decided to go with this one which included the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace as well. The tour agency reached out beforehand to get our contact details and then let us know we would be picked up from our hostel at 6.50 AM. After picking up other groups, we headed to the entrance of the Forbidden City arriving at 7.30 AM. At the entrance, there is a security checkpoint and they scan your passport so make sure you take it with you. After getting through security, everyone then gathers by the entrance, waiting until the doors open at 8 AM. Once the doors open, our guide begins to take us through the complex.

We began the tour in the area with the administrative buildings. The guide gives us info on what the purpose would have been of the buildings. He also gave us a history of the site and Imperial China. There are several artifacts throughout the maze-like site and an amazing experience to stand at a place with thousands of years of history. The tour finishes at the other end of the complex in the residential area where the concubines would have been. This is opposite Jingshan Park and we walked along the main road towards our tour bus.

The next stop is the Temple of Heaven, but we first make a stop at a center of Chinese Medicine. Everyone gets a free foot massage while they talk about pressure points and acupuncture. They give some more info on Chinese Medicine and how it’s used in conjunction with western medicine. You also have a chance for a Chinese Medicine doctor to take a look at you if you have any health concerns. It’s also an opportunity to buy any Chinese Medicine products. The visit takes about 45 minutes and we then head to the Temple of Heaven. The guide takes us around the site and the main building is at the center. The guide gives some history on what the site was used for. The site also has some gardens which would have been nice to walk around but 30 minutes into the tour it started raining for us, so we headed back to the tour bus. We then headed to a restaurant for lunch. It was a buffet-style meal and we were finished with lunch at around 12.30 PM.

Next, we head to a pearl store where a sales rep talks about how to identify real pearls. We’re here for about 30 minutes before continuing onto the Summer Palace which is about a 40-minute drive away. Once at the site, the guide gets our tickets and gives us some info on the site. We’re then given about 40 minutes to walk around the site. There’s an option to get another ticket for a boat ride but we chose to walk by the lakeside to the other end of the site. We had quite cloudy weather but we got great views of the garden. We were done at around 2.30 PM and were dropped off in the Qianmen area.

Beijing – Full Day City Tour

Jean Maldonado — Sun, 08 Sep 2019 21:43:02 +0000

One of the tours we booked online beforehand was a tour of several sites in the city. The travel agency contacts you a couple of days before the tour to arrange for the pick up from your accommodation. The guide had Whatsapp so we were able to communicate with him without issues. We were picked up at 7 AM from our hostel on the pedestrian Dashilan street. We had to walk to the main road where the tour bus was waiting for us. After picking up some other people, we arrived at Jingshan Park at around 7.40 AM. The tour bus left us at the park entrance and we walked up to the main viewpoint. From here, you get a great view of the Forbidden City. We then headed back down and left the park at around 8.20 AM. The next stop is a short 10-minute drive away to Houhai lake for a rickshaw ride around the Hutongs² in the area. Many were demolished when the city was modernizing but some survive and are now protected. There are several rickshaws lined up by the side of the roads waiting for tourists. The guide paired everyone up and gave the rickshaw driver instructions on where to take us. It was about a 30-minute ride and we went by the scenic lake and through the narrow roads of the residential area. The rickshaw had already been paid for but the guide said they expect a 10 RMB³ tip after.

The next stop was the Beijing Zoo which was a 15-minute drive away. We waited for about 5-minutes whilst our guide went to buy our tickets. The zoo is quite big and has lots of animals but our guide said we only had time to see the Pandas. So he took us straight to the area where the Pandas were. There was an indoor section where you could see some pandas behind a glass wall. Going past the indoor section, you get to the outdoor area where there are a couple of pandas lazing about in the shade. They don’t move much and just chill there. There was a young panda who was munching on some leaves and everyone flocked around him to take pictures. It was a quick 30-minute visit before heading back to the tour bus. We then headed to the Olympic Park arriving at around 10.15 AM. The tour bus leaves us at the entrance and we then walk with the guide throughout the complex. He gives us info on the complex and some of the buildings before giving us some time to wander around to take pictures. It was coming up to midday now and it was getting very hot. So we mainly stayed in the shade near the main stadium.

At around 11.15 AM, we left for lunch which was a home-cooked meal at a resident’s house in the Hutongs we visited earlier. The house was decorated with old traditional Chinese furniture and it was a great place for lunch. We were done with lunch at around 12.15 AM and then headed to the Lama Temple. The guide took us throughout the site telling us about its history and how it was originally a palace. We were given some time to roam around to take pictures and were back at the tour bus at 1.30 PM. This was the last tourist destination and we then continue to the shopping stops. First, we go to a textile store where they talk about the process of making their materials and products. The next and final stop is a silk store where we’re shown how the silk is sourced and how their products are made. At the end of the tour, we’re offered to be dropped off at Hongqiao Market or closer to the Qianmen area. We chose the market since the guide told us we could get some cheap souvenirs there.

Kuala Lumpur – A Modern City Break

Jean Maldonado — Sun, 09 Jun 2019 21:42:00 +0000

From Ao Nang, it’s a short 1-hour 30-minute flight to Kuala Lumpur. The airport is huge and it took us about 30 minutes to get through the customs control point. Our bags then took another 20 minutes to come out. When we exited the baggage claim area, it was like walking into a shopping center. There are lots of retail shops everywhere and we went to the lower floor to look for transportation into the city. There are several taxi offices there and they quoted about 80-90 MYR⁴. We had researched the night before and it was a little more expensive than usual. So we went back upstairs to connect to the WiFi and downloaded an app called Grab⁵. We got a Grab to our hotel in Bukit Bintang which took about an hour and cost 71.50 MYR. Once at our hotel, I found out the room had been paid but I still needed to pay the tax, and this could only be paid in cash. So I went looking for an ATM and found one in a nearby mall.

Once we had settled in, we went for a walk around the area. First, we went to get some food in the Bukit Bintang area. We were staying next to the famous Jalan Alor night market but during the day most of the places were closed. There are several malls and other restaurants in the area though. After getting food, we headed to the KLCC Park which was a short 15-minute walk away. The weather was very hot though at around 30 degrees Celcius and also very humid. So despite being a short walk, we stuck to the shade where possible. When we got close to the park we went into the KLCC building to cool down. There is an aquarium in this building as well as a food court. We then walked to the Petronas Twin Towers to see if we could get tickets to go to the top. Upon entering, there is another large multi-level mall. The ticket office is on the lower level but it was closed since it was a public holiday. Therefore, we decided to head to the Sky Deck KL Tower.

It was a 25-minute walk away, but at this point, we found out about the air-conditioned passageways. Part of the walk was still out in the open though. When we got to the entrance, the security guard said there’s a free bus service to the top every 15-30 minutes. There was some seating space in the shade and some fans at the bus stop, so we waited here for about 10 minutes before deciding to walk up. The ticket office is inside the tower and we bought tickets for the Sky Deck which cost 99 MYR each. It was around 5.30 PM by the time we took the lift to the Sky Deck. We took some pictures and then waited for the sunset at around 7.20 PM. There is a glass box for a photo opportunity with a professional photographer. You have to grab a ticket at the entrance which we found out later. Every group is given 60 seconds for pictures with a buzzer going off when time is up. The photographer takes a couple of pictures and you can also take pics with your camera. It was a great view of the sunset as you see the buildings turning on their lights as it gets dark. Next, we walked back to our hotel which took about 20 minutes. Even though the sun was down, it was still quite hot and humid outside. On the way back, we stopped by the Alor Night Market to check out the food stalls. Compared to the day, it was very busy at night with all the restaurants and food stalls open. The main road Changkat Bukit Bintang also has several restaurants, bars, and clubs. We headed back to the hotel for a bit before heading out at night to check out the nightlife. We were surprised to have found a Salsa night with some very good dancers. There were also several bars with shisha and happy hours.

The following day, we went on a trip to the Battu Caves which are to the north of the city. First, we went to the metro station and asked how to get there. They told us to first go to KL Sentral and then take a train from there. We decided to get a one-day travel pass which cost 25 MYR. At KL Sentral, we then got a return train ticket to the Battu Caves which cost 5.20 MYR each. The whole journey took us about an hour. Once at the Battu Caves, it’s a short 5-minute walk to the foot of the steps up to the cave, where a massive Hindu statue stands. Entrance to the temple caves is free and you simply have to walk up the 272 steps. Several monkeys are roaming free on the way up and inside the temples. There are several shrines inside the caves and they’re all very colorful. Once we got back down, we went to look for food in the area. We found an Indian restaurant/buffet who served meals on leaves. We decided to try it out and it was very good. We then headed back to KL Sentral which took about 40 minutes. In the afternoon, we went souvenir shopping in the Central Market. It’s a nice area with several arts and crafts stalls. We also checked out the nearby Petaling Street Market before heading back to the hotel.

In the morning before our flight, we went for a quick walk around the malls in the Bukit Bintang area. There are many huge multi-level malls and some are connected with underground passageways. It’s quite easy to get lost in but they’re a good way to get around whilst avoiding the heat. At around 3 PM, we called a Grab to take us to the airport before rush hour. It took about an hour to get to the airport from Bukit Bintang and cost 91.80 MYR. Once we checked in, we walked around the shopping mall-like airport while waiting for our flight.

Kulen Mountain, Beng Mealea, and Bakong

Jean Maldonado — Wed, 29 May 2019 20:31:00 +0000

On our last day at Siem Reap, we got a private car with a driver who offered to take us to Kulen Mountain, Prasat Beng Mealea, and Prasat Bakong for 65 USD⁶ total. This option is best if you are in a group, however, there were tour options for these locations but they didn’t include all these destinations. Our driver picked us up at around 8.20 AM and we first headed to Kulen Mountain. At around 9 AM, the driver asked if we wanted to stop and try some traditional Cambodian breakfast. We agreed and pulled up to a street food stall. He recommended a pork rice noodle soup or a fish rice noodle soup. Both were coconut-based with lemongrass costing 1.50 USD each and were very tasty. We finished breakfast at around 9.20 AM and then continued onwards for another hour to Kulen Mountain. There’s a ticket office at the park entrance and tickets cost 20 USD each. The last 20 minutes at the mountain is uphill along a narrow dirt road. There are park officials there though who help navigate traffic. Our first stop was at the Tiles of 1000 Lingas which are tiles carved into a stream’s bedrock. The driver told us of the story behind the tiles and then we walked about 5 minutes along the stream to a well. It was currently dry when we got there and the guide said when it fills up in the wet season. The locals believe it to be holy water since Kulen Mountain is considered a holy place.

We then went back to the car and drove another 5 minutes to the parking lot for the temple of the Reclining Buddha. From the parking lot, we walked through a market and up some steps which took about 5-10 minutes. Along the way, several locals have stacks of smaller bills in the local currency to change if you want to leave a donation at the temples. This place has many shrines for both Hindus and Buddhists. There are several cages in the area to leave your footwear if you want to step into the temples. The temples have been built around large rocks, and the reclining Buddha has been carved into the top of the largest rock. We climbed about 4-5 flights of stairs to get to the top where there was a small queue of people visiting the reclining Buddha. From the top, you also get a good view of the national park including a small town inside the park. At this site, it is mostly locals who come for worship but there are also several tourists visiting the area.

Once we were done taking pictures, we went back down to the car and drove a couple of minutes to the car park for the waterfall. From the car park, we walked through a market and arrived at the top of the waterfall. There is a small 5-meter waterfall here and a small stream you can bathe in. There is a trail that goes around the back and down to the large waterfall. It’s about a 10-minute walk and in the end, there is a small boardwalk with a swing that looks out to the waterfall. The locals charge to take pictures with the swing. There are also lockers there that you can rent if you want to go for a swim towards the waterfall. We left our belongings with the driver and jumped in. The water was refreshing but there are lots of small fish in the river, so probably not for the squeamish. There are several boulders in the river you can climb up to take pictures. Some people even ventured to the boulders at the base of the waterfall. Be careful in the water as it’s cloudy and there are several smaller rocks you can hit yourself on. The waterfall was a refreshing destination and a good break from visiting temples. Once we were done, we headed back to the car and onwards to Prasat Beng Mealea.

It took about 1 hour and 15 minutes to get to the ruins of the temple of Beng Mealea. The driver dropped us off at the main entrance and said he will be at the car park which was at the other end. Tickets to the site cost 5 USD and you’re free to roam around. It’s quite a large site and it mostly lies untouched in ruins. There are paths and bridges for you to get around but walking throughout the site feels as though you’re discovering the place for the first time. There are also not many people at this site so it’s easier to take pictures here. We roamed around for about 30 minutes before heading to the exit to meet our driver.

The final destination of our day trip was Prasat Bakong. This was about a 30-minute drive from Siem Reap and about an hour’s drive from Beng Mealea. These temple ruins are part of Angkor so if you already bought the Angkor Wat ticket as we had, then you don’t need to pay for another ticket. There are several temples in the area but the key one is Bakong Temple. It is in the form of a pyramid with several levels and decorated with stone carvings. We also quickly visited the smaller temple of Preah Koh which can be identified by its 3 towers. We then headed back to Siem Reap and our driver dropped us off at our hotel.

A Full-Day Tour of Angkor

Jean Maldonado — Tue, 28 May 2019 23:36:00 +0000

We bought a tour which included transportation and a tour guide for 12.50 USD¹ each. The tour bus picked us up at around 8 AM and the first stop was the ticket office for those who hadn’t bought tickets yet. We had already bought the 3-day ticket so we just walked around the stalls while we waited. Once everyone had their tickets, we headed to the temple of Pre Rup. We then find some shade while the guide gives us some history on the temple. This temple has 3 levels and pre-dates Angkor Wat; being the main temple at the time. We then had some time to walk around to take pictures before heading to East Mebon. This temple is also from the same period as Pre Rup so it looks quite similar. This is a smaller temple with 2 levels but the interesting thing here is that there are many holes in the temple walls. The guide said that there used to be diamonds and other precious stones in these holes but have since been stolen. There are also elephant statues in the corners of the temple which is a good spot for pictures.

The next stop is the temple of Ta Som which has long tomb-raider-like corridors. There is a V-shaped tree just past the entrance which is a good photo spot. When you get to the end of the corridors, there’s a massive tree growing out of the temple walls that also makes for great pictures. Once we’re done here, we head to Neak Pean which is on an artificial island in the middle of a man-made lake. The tour bus dropped us off at the entrance where you walk along a bridge that leads to the temple. However, since we were there at the start of the wet season, the lake was dry. Normally, there would also be 4 ponds that surround the temple, each representing the elements of fire, water, earth, and wind. After quickly walking around to take pictures, we crossed back on the bridge and then to Preah Khan.

From the drop off point, it was a 5-minute walk to the temple. We crossed a bridge that was decorated with statues that had their heads or upper bodies cut off. The guide said that foreigners had done this with the help of the locals to sell in the black market. Preah Khan was the most tomb-raider-like temple with many long corridors. There was also a large tree growing out of its temple walls which made it very picturesque. There was a wedding photoshoot going on when we got there. The guide took us through the temple making stops to give information on the site. He then gave us some time to wander around the corridors before making our way back to the tour bus. It was now around 1 PM and we were taken to a tourist restaurant in the area. It seemed to be a fancy place as we were given refreshing cold face towels on the way in. The guide dropped us off and then said he’d be back in an hour. The menus had several Asian and Western dishes but not many Cambodian options. Prices ranged between 8 and 15 USD but it was all very tasty.

We were picked up from the restaurant at around 2 PM and then taken to Banteay Srei which took about 40 minutes to get there. This temple was built by a priest rather than a king. Its walls and towers were the most detailed and its carvings were very well preserved. The guide took us throughout the site making stops to give us information. It was a beautiful temple but quite small and debatable on whether it’s worth the 40-minute drive. From Banteay Srei, we then headed back to Siem Reap which took about an hour. We were dropped off at our hotel where we chilled by the pool for some time. In the evening, we went for dinner in Sok San road and a quick walk around the area.

Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour

Jean Maldonado — Mon, 27 May 2019 22:44:00 +0000

This sunrise tour included transportation and a guide for 10 USD¹ each. It’s a very early start with the tour agency picking us up from our hotel at 4.40 AM. We were taken in a 4×4 buggy to the main road where the tour bus was waiting for us. Once everyone had arrived, it was then a 10-minute drive to the ticket hall for the Angkor Archaeological Park. Some people had already been on other tours so they already had a multi-day ticket. Those who needed to buy went with the tour guide who helped everyone purchase their tickets. Since we had another full-day tour the next day, we purchased the 3-day ticket for 62 USD. They take your picture at the ticket office which is printed on your ticket to ensure you don’t sell the ticket to someone else. Also, this is the only place you can buy tickets for Angkor, so be wary of your hotel or any tour agency offering to sell Angkor tickets. Once everyone bought their tickets, we headed to Angkor Wat which was about 5 minutes away. We arrived at the car park at around 5.20 AM. By now there was daylight but the sun was yet to come up above the temple. From the car park, you cross over a floating bridge and then walk about 5 minutes towards the temple.

We arrive at 2 ponds and everyone is gathered around the pond on the right side. This is because the sunlight first hits the pond on the right side. We went to the pond on the left first to take some pictures and then joined everyone at the pond on the right side. The sunrise was finished at around 6.20 AM and we re-grouped with the guide to head up to the temple. We start by walking the perimeter where there are many carved murals. The guide explains the murals and gives a history of who built the temple as well as its purpose. When we get to the back of the temple, we walk inside into the main square. From here, we get a great view of the temple, perfect for pictures. At around 7.45 AM, the guide says we can walk into the main temple and tells us to be back down at the main square by 8.15 AM. Inside the temple, you may come across some monks who look after the temple. As the complex is a sacred site, appropriate clothing should be worn. Since the weather is so hot and humid, the site officials are fine with shorts and t-shirts as long as knees and shoulders aren’t visible. The views from the top of the temple are incredible and the detail in the stonework is amazing. After walking around and taking pictures, we re-grouped with the guide.

At this point, we asked him if that was the end of the tour and he said yes and that they were going to stop somewhere for breakfast. We wanted more time at the site so we stayed and went our separate way. We later found out that the guide meant it was the end of the tour of Angkor Wat only. After breakfast, the tour was going to take us to Angkor Thom and then Ta Phrom. After we split from the group, we made our way to Angkor Thom. We exited through the car park where there are some street vendors. It was getting very hot so we bought some water there. We then walked north along the main road for 15 minutes and stopped at the temple of Phnom Bakheng. It was currently being restored but still open to visitors and it was a 10-minute walk uphill. Once at the temple, there are some great views and we found out that it’s a popular spot to catch the sunset. We then continued north on the main road and reached the South Gate. Next to this gate, you can find a smaller temple called Baksei Chamkrong. It was a quick stop here for pictures before we crossed the bridge decorated with carved stones that goes to the South Gate.

It was then another 15-minute walk to reach Angkor Thom. On the way, there were many monkeys and we crossed paths with 2 elephants. Once at Angkor Thom, we found some shade at the temple of Bayon and rested for about 30 minutes before exploring the temple ruins. This temple had many more towers than Angkor Wat although they were much smaller. What was interesting about this temple is that the many towers were shaped like the Buddha’s face. After about 10 minutes of roaming around, we headed to Baphuon. This temple has a long pathway leading up to it and several high steps to get to the top. You get some great views of the surroundings from the top. We rested here for about 15 minutes before heading to the exit which goes around the back of the temple. At the back, there is the face of a sideways Buddha on the temple walls. There are some information panels here explaining the difficulties of restoring this part of the temple.

The trail curves around the back and takes you to Phimeanakas. This temple has a pyramid-like shape with several animal figures decorating its edges. There is also a rectangular pond next to the temple. From here, we planned to start heading west towards Ta Phrom. However, someone who we thought was a park official said there was another temple a little further north. We decided to check it out and the person followed us giving us information on things we came across. We found this quite bizarre and realized he was trying to impose himself as our guide. We told him we didn’t want a guide and he wanted us to pay him for what he showed us which was practically nothing so we refused. It was a very uncomfortable experience but he left us alone. We continued west rather than going to the temple the person mentioned which was quite a big detour. After about 10 minutes walking west, we came across the Terrace of the Elephants. We walked around here for a bit and then continued to North Khleang.

We went through the ruins at North Khleang and then found the main road which goes to Victory Gate. After about 10 minutes down this road, we saw a sign for East Top Temple. It was a 5-minutes off the main road and not worth the detour since it’s quite small and mostly in ruins. Once we got back to the main road, it was a 5-minute walk to Victory Gate. This gate is shaped like the Buddha’s head and you can climb up the side to get some pictures. We took a 15-minute break here before crossing the bridge. At the other end of the bridge, there were 2 more temples. Thommanon to the north side of the bridge and Chau Say Tevoda on the south side. We took some quick pictures and then continued on the main road to Ta Keo.

This was a large temple with high walls and very steep steps. We took some rest here and after about 15-minutes, I saw grey clouds coming in. I quickly went around the temple to take pictures, and after about 10 minutes, it started to pour down. The amount of rain was incredible, and the ditch around the perimeter of the temple quickly filled up with water. It didn’t look like the rain was going to go away any time soon so we crossed over to the main road to see if there were any tuk-tuks. We waited for about 10 minutes and didn’t see any tuk-tuks pass by and since we had raincoats and a waterproof backpack, we decided to walk over to Ta Phrom which is a bigger temple.

It took about 15 minutes to walk there and we took refuge under the arc by the entrance since there were still no tuk-tuks. At this point, we were about to walk back to the main entrance and went to check the parking lot for tuk-tuks once more. There were only tour buses here but luckily a tuk-tuk came by and offered to take us back downtown for 5 USD. We agreed and it took about 35 minutes to reach Pub Street. We went to grab some food in the area before heading back to the hotel to get some rest.

Siem Reap – Floating Village Tour

Jean Maldonado — Sun, 26 May 2019 22:48:00 +0000

On the day we arrived, we bought an afternoon Floating Village tour for 12.50 USD¹ each. We were told to be at the tour agency at 1.30 PM to wait for the tour bus which arrived at around 1.45 PM. We were the first pick up and the bus then went on to pick up the other passengers from their hotels. Having spent over 16 hours on flights, we were knackered so slept through most of the ride, other than when the guide was giving information. It took about 30 minutes to reach a stop with a view of the rice fields which were dry at the time. It was also a stop for restrooms and snacks. We then continued onwards for another 30 mins towards the Tonle Sap Lake to the floating village of Kampong Phluk.

The month of May is the beginning of the wet season so when we got there it was dry. The houses are high up on stilts since in the wet season the water level rises around 10 meters. We walked through the village and we came across a group of ladies asking for donations for the local school. They followed us throughout which made everyone in the group very uncomfortable. On the walk, we also came across a temple in the middle of the village. When we reached the end of the village, we got on a motor-canoe and headed into Tonle Sap Lake.

It takes about 15 minutes on the motor-canoe to get to a floating restaurant in the middle of the lake where we stayed for the ‘sunset’. We got there at around 4.30 PM and stayed until 5.45 PM. However, the sunset hadn’t actually started yet. We got back to the tour bus at around 6 PM and began making our way back to Siem Reap. It started getting dark at around 6.30 PM and we arrived at Siem Reap at around 7 PM. They offered to drop us off downtown which we agreed to. We walked around the Angkor Night Market area for a bit and got some street food. We then headed to the hotel to rest since we needed to be up at 3.30 AM for our Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour.

Tikal – Extraordinary Mayan Citadel

Jean Maldonado — Wed, 16 May 2018 18:05:09 +0000

At only two hours from San Ignacio, it is imperative that one visits the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal. This site is more than just a couple of structures, it is a huge collection of ruins that reveal a complex planned Mayan city. The area it covers is absolutely massive. Whilst many tourists opt for a day trip, it is impossible to see everything Tikal has to offer. Getting a guide is also highly recommended since not only is it easy to get lost, but also because there is a plethora of flora, fauna, and history here. The national park is very strict about certified guides and thoroughly check their credentials. So if you go with a tour, ensure that their guide has genuine credentials or simply get a guide at the entrance to the park itself. This national park is also very well looked after and guarded so make sure you adhere to the signs. If you’re not sure whether you can touch or climb something, its best not to as you risk being escorted and banned from the park.

Among its iconic towering pyramids, Tikal is home to the tallest pyramid in Central America identified as Temple IV. There are plenty of temples and plazas to see in Tikal and some have platforms you can walk up whilst others allow you to climb the pyramid itself. You will notice that there are mounds of grass and sometimes even trees fused with a Mayan ruin on its surface. This is because approximately only 15% of this archaeological site has been excavated. Thus there is constant work being done to explore and uncover more secrets of this Mayan city.

As this site is in the middle of a rainforest, you will encounter lots of wildlife as you explore Tikal. There are mostly monkeys and you’ll see them jumping between trees and one may even run across you. The rainforest is also home to many different species of birds. You’ll mainly hear them sing and when you do, look closely into the trees to see if you can catch a glimpse of a Tucan.