How smart is it to fire your arranged means of transport when you intend to see the sunrise at Angkor Wat that requires a 0430 departure from the hotel? Not smart.
However, the hotel – actually, just an inn – The Cashew Nut, recommended Bob, one of the tuk tuk drivers who works with them.
Since I am back early, I make plans to see Phare, the Cambodian circus and have dinner at Touiche, which has a fish dish baked in salt I’d read about. The hotel checks if Bob is available and he is, so I get to meet him before the next day.
During dinner, when Bob wanted to run an errand, he came in and asked if it was okay if he ran to do something and that he’d be back at a certain time. So I said okay.
Other than that, he was quiet and I wondered if he’d turn out to be another dud tuk tuk driver. But it’s way too late for any change.
I finish my baked fish at Touiche Restaurant. It’s good. The fish is fresh. The French man at the next table is unhappy with his food and makes a complaint. The staff try and make amends. I head back to the hotel.
Bob turns up the next day to pick me up. He’s early, I’m on time.
Unlike the previous tuk tuk driver, it turns out he’s hardworking, not lazy. He picks up on my interests. When I ask the “cousin” what the thing in the bamboo is, he says “rice” and rides on. Bob always asks: “You want to try?”.
From Angkor Wat, we make our way to the Pre Roup, and here’s where you can find Day 3 temple photos in the gallery. Pre Roup was quite nice. A lot of restoration work has been done on the place, but the temples are starting to wear me out. And I can’t seem to look at them with new and curious eyes. Also, I’m annoyed at the art vendors who are right in the temple compound selling their art.
Between Angkor Wat and Pre Roup, we have already made a couple of stops: I try milk fruit, I stop to take photos of the farming lesson the kids are having. I think this is going to be a good fit.
We head to the Rolous Group where there are more temples. The largest is Bakong.
I also get to see Preah Ko and Lolei which is quite distinctive given it’s tufts of grass growing on the old structures.
Finally on the way back to town, I visit Psar Leu which is the biggest local market in the Siem Reap area.
The day is concluded with a visit to the Royal Gardens to see some bats hanging on trees in bright day light.
For dinner, I walk along the Siem Reap river and make my way to Khmer Kitchen to try their Fish Amok. I’m ashamed to say it is right on Pub Street.