Siem Reap Diaries: Chasing a Childhood Dream 🇰🇭✈️

The last day in Chiang Mai had arrived, and I checked out of my room at Art Mai Gallery Hotel with mixed feelings. On one hand, I had completely fallen in love with Chiang Mai – its cozy atmosphere and culinary offerings had won me over. But on the other hand, I was excited for the next adventure. Don’t they say, “All goodbyes lead to new hellos?” 😁 But at the same time, we must remember that goodbyes are simply reminders of good moments and the possibility of a reunion, right? 😉😜

Anyway!

The day started early, as my flight from Chiang Mai was at 06:20, which meant I had to get up at an ungodly hour. So, I did what needed to be done, checked out, and found myself at Chiang Mai Airport by 04:30. The plan was to have breakfast, but to my surprise, nothing was open. So, I had to embrace a little patience. I checked in – because, well, there’s only so much you can do with time, right? 😂 After a while, a few places opened, and McDonald’s was the first to do so, so my breakfast ended up being fries 😂 Hey, it’s better than nothing, right?

Next stop? Cambodia! More specifically, Siem Reap!

To get from Chiang Mai to Siem Reap, you need to make a stop in Bangkok. The flight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok is about an hour long. I had looked up different flight options and found one with a reasonable layover of about two hours in Don Mueang Airport, which worked out perfectly, because I could grab a bite.

When I landed in Bangkok, I planned to eat, but to my shock, I wasn’t hungry (weird, right?). So, I ended up getting a chocolate bubble tea instead. And oh, was it delicious! 🤤🧋

Then, it was time to head towards Siem Reap!

It turned out that the Royal Thai Air Force also operates at Don Mueang, which meant that I got to watch jet fighters doing some pretty cool displays. And I, of course, couldn’t take my eyes off of them. Absolutely fascinating! 😍

Another quick flight (about an hour), and I landed in Siem Reap. After going through the usual customs and showing a few documents, I was on my way to the hotel I’d be staying at for the next two nights – Koulen Central Hotel. It had just opened a few months ago, and it’s a beautiful 4-star hotel, right in the heart of Siem Reap. I was genuinely impressed by how nice and well-maintained it was!

The staff greeted me so warmly, and I got fantastic service. Seriously, check out the décor! Omg 😍

I was stunned by the decorations, and I especially noticed the fountains depicting shivalingam – have a look!

And the room? I was in love! 😍

After checking in, it was time for lunch. By then, it was 13:30, so I dropped off my bag in my room and headed to an ATM just around the corner to get some Cambodian riel. Riel is a relatively low-value currency, so the bills are pretty big, and the highest denomination is 50,000 riel. I was a bit unsure whether I should withdraw in USD or riel, but decided to go with riel to support the local currency. The more of them, the better!

Finally, I was starving and in need of food! 😅

Before the trip, I had researched Siem Reap, especially places to eat, since I’m a vegetarian and Khmer cuisine isn’t exactly known for being spicy.

Fun fact: Khmer cuisine has a long and interesting history, and it’s generally quite mild, focusing on a balanced blend of sweet, sour, salty, and bitter flavors rather than heat. While spices like lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime, and turmeric are common, chili is often mild or optional.

Why is Khmer food milder?

1. Balanced Flavor Profile – Unlike Thai or Indian food, Khmer dishes emphasize herbs and fermented flavors over strong chili heat.

2. Indian & Chinese Influence – Though influenced by Indian and Chinese cuisine, Khmer food didn’t adopt their heavy use of spices. Curries, for example, are much milder.

3. French Colonial Influence – The French (1863–1953) reinforced a preference for subtle, aromatic flavors instead of fiery chilies.

4. Thai & Vietnamese Proximity – Khmer cuisine leans on fermented ingredients like prahok (fermented fish paste) for depth rather than spice.

5. Climate & Ingredients – Cambodia’s humid climate favors light, refreshing dishes with coconut milk and fresh vegetables, naturally toning down spiciness.

6. Chili as a Condiment – Instead of making dishes spicy by default, chili is served on the side, allowing diners to adjust the heat themselves.

While rich and complex, Khmer cuisine isn’t known for spice – so if you love heat, you’ll need to add your own chilies! But I wouldn’t recommend it, as it’ll definitely ruin the flavour experience.

Okay, back to Siem Reap!

On various YouTube channels, several had recommended Socheata, located on Street 9, just a few minutes’ walk from my hotel and parallel to the popular Pub Street. I checked their menu beforehand and saw they had vegetarian options, but when I got there, it looked more like a rundown “hole-in-the-wall” place, so I decided to try somewhere else. But I absolutely HAD to try an authentic Khmer dish, and one of Cambodia’s signature dishes – amok. Amok is a Khmer “gravy,” traditionally made with fish, though there are now vegetarian versions too. So, I headed over to Khmer Kitchen Restaurant, which was right on the corner of Street 9. It was much bigger and, well, looked more like a restaurant, not a hole in the wall 😅

At Khmer Kitchen, I was warmly welcomed and ordered a vegetable amok, served with Khmer mixed rice (red rice mixed with white rice). I loved it because I prefer red rice over any other kind. For my drink, I had a refreshing watermelon-mint juice.

Although amok isn’t spicy, it was absolutely delicious in both flavor and texture. If I had to compare it to something, I’d say it’s kind of like green curry but thicker and creamier. It was a unique experience and quite pleasant. Would I eat it every day? Maybe not. But I’d definitely enjoy it occasionally, and I even plan on making my own version soon 😃

After stuffing myself with amok, I decided to stroll around Siem Reap’s streets. As I walked, I couldn’t help but notice something about Cambodia – it’s a lot poorer than I expected, despite knowing Cambodia is poorer. You see many teenagers working, and it really hit me hard. But sadly, that’s the reality.

Like in Thailand, there are plenty of massage places, so I thought, why not try a Cambodian massage? I found a nice spot on 2 Thnou Street. When I sat down, I realized the person giving me the massage was very young – just a 17-year-old teenager 🥺😔

I felt so guilty, but I also knew that these kids have to work because they can’t afford education. Despite his age, my masseur was very thorough. He started with a detailed foot soak and therapy, followed by a fantastic foot massage. Afterward, I decided to pay double because I just felt really bad. I promised myself I wouldn’t get a massage again in Cambodia, at least not from a child laborer who doesn’t have access to education 😣

After the massage, I went back to the hotel to relax a bit because I was emotionally drained from seeing so many young workers. But thankfully, my mood improved, and the evening came, which meant dinner time. As I wandered through Siem Reap’s streets, I noticed something interesting – a lot of Indian restaurants, including Tamil ones. I was surprised!

Since I was craving spicy food, I chose a South Indian restaurant called Surya. There, I had a really good masala dosa and a mango lassi.

But be prepared: the restaurant standard is different from what you’d find in more affluent places – it’s much poorer.

After dinner, I returned to my hotel, packed my backpack for the big adventure the next day – a visit to Angkor Archaeological Park, one of my top childhood dreams! 🤩 

After dinner, I headed back to the hotel to pack my backpack for the big adventure the next day – my long-awaited visit to Angkor Archaeological Park. And when I say long-awaited, I mean major childhood dream level.

Visiting Angkor Wat, specifically, has been on my dream list ever since my 4th-grade math and “Nature” teacher, Bent, told us about it in class. If you’ve read some of my earlier posts about Granada, you might remember that it was also Bent who introduced me to Alhambra during a geometry lesson. He explained how its intricate Moorish architecture was based on mathematical principles, and just like that, tiny me decided I had to see Alhambra one day.

Bent was also the one who once talked about Angkor Wat in some random class, and from that moment, Angkor Wat was officially added to my “Places to See When I Grow Up” list. Which, back in 4th grade, consisted of just four places:

1. Alhambra, Granada

2. Angkor Wat, Siem Reap

3. The Maldives

4. Japan

Now, you might be wondering: why the Maldives? Well, when I was in 4th grade, someone told me that by the year 2000, the Maldives would disappear due to global warming. I remember panicking about all the poor people! And this was in 1998. So I made a deal with myself: if the Maldives were still there after 2000, then I had to see them too. Fast forward 25 years later, and they’re still here – THANK GOD! – so, challenge accepted!

So, with 1 out of four places already checked off my childhood list, it was finally time to fulfill the Angkor Wat dream.

And the cherry on top? My hotel, Koulen Central Hotel, really knows how to treat its guests right. When I casually mentioned my early morning visit to Angkor, the staff immediately offered to pack me a breakfast to-go – talk about service!

After packing and getting everything ready, I went up to the hotel’s sky bar on the 5th floor, where I enjoyed the view and atmosphere. There’s live music every night, which creates such a cozy vibe. Plus, the interior is just stunning! 😍

I sat there, sipping a pot of warm chamomile tea, taking in the view, and enjoying the live music. It was the perfect way to end the night before one of the most special days of my travels. And also Mars and Jupiter accompanied, alongside the Moon 😉🌓

And that’s how I began looking forward to visiting Angkor the next day 🥰😌