December | 2025 | Galimatias

The journey to Siem Reap was meant to be a breezy six hours. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. Our bus driver took a wrong turn, adding a couple of extra hours to an already marathon day 😭.

But honestly? None of that mattered the moment we rolled into Siem Reap. First impressions? This place is my jam. Clean streets, buzzing energy, and that was just on the way to the hotel!

That night, we hit up Phare Circus—think Fringe World meets Cambodian artistry. Acrobatics, storytelling, music… it’s a must-see. Add it to your itinerary, no excuses.

The next day was the big one: Angkor Wat. We cycled there, and let me tell you—photos don’t even come close. You have to stand in front of those towering spires to feel the weight of history. It’s breathtaking. And it’s not just Angkor Wat.

Next stop: Angkor Thom. Unlike Angkor Wat’s Hindu roots, Angkor Thom is all about Buddha. Picture dozens of serene, smiling faces carved into stone towers—it’s surreal. At this point, I ditched the guided tour and wandered off. Cue me, sitting at the meeting point early, streaming the Lynx vs Flyers basketball game on my phone (culture clash much?). Suddenly, monkeys. Everywhere. Nestling up next to me like we were old mates. Meanwhile, I’m trying to focus on Han Xu, our exciting new import. Monkeys were not on my radar.

Then came the “Tomb Raider” temple: Ta Prohm. Nature and architecture locked in an epic embrace—roots gripping stone, stone supporting roots. Without one, the other falls. It’s hauntingly beautiful. I was so mesmerised I nearly got left behind.

By now, we’d clocked 32km, and let’s just say… chafing had entered the chat. Sitting comfortably was a distant dream, but there was still 14km to go. So I gritted my teeth, and powered through.

The day ended with one last dinner with the crew. I finally learnt everyone’s names (better late than never), and while we won’t be penpals, I genuinely liked every single one of them. If you’re considering an Intrepid Tour—do it. Highly recommend.

We’ve made it to the little town of Stung Treng, where adventure (and, more importantly, separate sleeping accommodation) awaits! Lunch is at the delightful Ponika’s Palace, and—surprisingly—the chicken with eggplant steals the show. Absolutely delicious.

There’s a lively market nearby, but let’s just say I nearly brought up my lunch when I saw all the meat laid out on the ground. Sometimes ignorance really is bliss. The veggies, though? They looked fantastic!

The next morning, we set out for a full day of exertion. First up: a riverboat ride, followed by a bone-rattling journey in a tractor-pulled cart. Then the real challenge begins—a hike to the “waterfall,” battling leeches along the way.

Now, about that waterfall… I’d like to query the definition. More like rapids, really—though I wouldn’t fancy kayaking down it! We were right on the Laos border, and naturally, all the flotsam washed up on the Cambodian side was blamed on them. 😉

After that, it was back via the same combo—hike, tractor ride, riverboat—before switching gears for kayaking. No way was I volunteering for a single kayak when I could team up and let someone else do the hard work!

Good portions of the downstream ride were spent idling while we waited for others to catch up—because I’m ridiculously competitive and happened to be paired with the guide. Winner, winner, chicken dinner!