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15 things to do during your stay in Siem Reap

1. Take a Trip to Banteay Srei Temple: Located about 41km from Angkor Palace Resort & Spa, this Hindu temple was built in the late 10th century. C.E. Banteay Srei, which means "Citadel of the women", displays some of the finest examples of classic Khmer art. The walls are densely covered with some of the most beautiful, deep and intricate carvings of any Angkorian temple. The temple's relatively small size, pink sandstone construction and ornate design give it a fairyland ambiance (quoted by Siem Reap Angkor Visitor Guide Book, 27th Edition, April-July 2008, page: 26). Top Tip: Put on your comfortable shoes, and dress respectfully as this is a Buddhist country. Be polite, have fun and enjoy yourself. Drivers usually charge a fee in addition to their normal daily charge for the trip.

2. Sunrise at Angkor Wat: Sunrise over Angkor Wat is a virtual pre-requisite of any visit to Siem Reap and the Angkor temple complex nearby. A view of Angkor Wat at sunrise is what many, many people dream about. In Japan it is a symbol for beauty of nature combined with ancient craftsmanship. It makes people travel around the world, get up at 4 in the morning and wait three hours standing on the spot to get a glimpse of it. Contributed by Oliver (Oct. 2007) - Tokyoahead.com. Top Tip: Contact our Concierge or Tour Desk to arrange car and/or Remork (tuk-tuk) for you in advance. In Siem Reap, there is taxi service for early morning calls.

3. Sunset at Phnom (Hill) Bakheng: Bakheng is the name of the temple located on the top of the mountain about 65m high. This is the first major temple to be constructed in the Angkor area, which marked the move of the capital of the Khmer empire from Rolous to Angkor in the late 9th century AD. Travellers who come to Siem Reap make it a point to catch the sunset set & panoramic views of Angkor Wat and Siem Reap town. Top Tip: Be ready at the temple prior to 1715hrs in order to enjoy the best location since there are many tourists (from hundreds to thousands). You can either take an elephant ride or walk-up to the hill which takes about 15 to 20minutes from the ground.

4. Visit Local Pagoda: There are several pagodas in and around Siem Reap, which form the traditional seat of Khmer culture and play a central part in everyday life. A visit to one is an interesting experience and you can even get your possessions blessed by the monks; if you need a little luck from Buddha (quoted from Cambodia pocket guide, Dec-Feb, 2008-2009. #9). Top Tip: We recommend to visit Wat (pagoda) Preah Prom Roath which is located in the heart of the city (about 3.5km from Angkor Palace Resort), and Wat At' Vear which is located outside the city - about 10km from Angkor Palace Resort. Wat At'Vear has ancient temple located inside.

5. Stay at Angkor Palace Resort & Spa: While you are in Siem Reap, don't miss the opportunity to experience at least a night in an authentic Khmer designed resort. This is the first Cambodian-owned premier luxury international 5-star resort accommodation. Its design, décor and furnishing reflect the finest in Cambodian architecture befitting royalties and dignitaries. Top Tip: Numerous online promotions are available throughout the seasons. For online reservation, please visit: http://www.angkorpalaceresort.com/ or contact our reservation hotline 855 12 333 240.

6. Visit Angkor National Museum: This museum is a profound cultural landmark in Siem Reap placing in the area of 20,000 sqm which reveals the Golden Era of the Khmer Kingdom, and includes The Cultural Mall. Top Tip: Angkor Palace Resort & Spa is located about 3km from Angkor National Museum and takes about 10 minutes drive by car and about 15minutes drive by Remork (Formerly Tuk-Tuk). The entrance ticket is USD 12.00nett per ticket per person (subject to change).

7. Visit Angkor Wat Temple: Angkor Wat temple (pictured) was built by King Suryavarman II (who reigned from 1113 to 1150) to honour Vishnu, identified as a god-king and perhaps as his funeral temple). Angkor Wat is visually, architecturally and artistically breathtaking. It is a massive three-tiered pyramid crowned by five lotus-like towers rising 65 meters from ground level; with its soaring towers and extraordinary bas-reliefs, is considered by many to be one of the most inspired and spectacular monuments ever conceived by the human mind. Top Tip: Angkor Palace Resort & Spa is located about 10km from Angkor Temple and takes about 20 minutes drive by car and about 25minutes drive by Remork (Formerly Tuk-Tuk). A private sightseeing tour can be arranged to visit the temples and city tour. Car rental with driver is available at day and night time. Please contact our Concierge/Tour Desk team prior your arrival.

8. Take a Boat Trip on the Tonle Sap Lake: It is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia and is an ecological hotspot that was designated as a UNESCO biosphere in 1997. In the wet season, the Tone Sap Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia, swelling to an expansive 12,000km2. Many villagers live on the water including houseboat, school, pagoda…etc which forms a floating village; this is the most interesting place for visitor to see and experience themselves. Top Tip: Angkor Palace Resort & Spa is located about 20km from Tonle Sap River and takes about 30 minutes drive by car and about 40minutes drive by Remork (Formerly Tuk-Tuk). Private boat trip can be arranged by our Concierge and Tour Desk Team.

9. Tee off at Nick Faldo Course: 'The Faldo Course' at Angkor Golf Resort is the closest golf facility to Angkor Palace Resort & Spa - just a short 10 minutes drive only. Top Tip: Special green fee rate and/of golf package can be arranged at Angkor Palace Resort & Spa. Please contact our reservation team or book your package online (subject to change).

10. Visit Bayon Temple: Bayon temple was built by the greatest builder king Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century or early 13th century as the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist (Mahayana Buddhism’s compassionate Bodhisattva, or perhaps a combination of Buddha and King Jayavarman VII). The giant stone faces of Bayon have become one of the most recognizable images connected to classic Khmer art and architecture. Top Tip: Angkor Palace Resort & Spa is located about 13km from Southern gate of Angkor Thom and takes about 25 minutes drive by car and about 30minutes drive by Remork (Formerly Tuk-Tuk). A private sightseeing tour can be arranged to visit the temples and city tour. Car rental with driver is available at day and night time. Please contact our Concierge/Tour Desk team prior your arrival.

11. Visit Angkor Silk Farm: Angkor Silk Farm is located about 15km west of Siem Reap town. It is run by Artisans D’Angkor, a state-run organization that promotes fair trade and sustainable development for the Cambodian people. By training workers for skilled professions, these people are able to provide for their families and promote their own culture through art. Top Tip: Angkor Palace Resort & Spa is located about 13km from Angkor Silk Farm and takes about 30 minutes drive by car and about 45minutes drive by Remork (Formerly Tuk-Tuk).

12. Traditional Dance: Dance is an integral part of Khmer culture, combining Apsara dances, folk dances and shadow puppetry. One of the not-to-be-missed dances is "Apsara Dance", a uniquen Khmer traditional dance. Top Tip: Angkor Palace Resort & Spa occasionally arranges this dance for special functions within the resort complex. However, please contact our front office or concierge staff for recommendations on local show venues in town during your stay.

13. Attend Dr. Beatocello's Concert: Swiss doctor Beat Richner plays Bach on his cello every Friday and Saturday evening at 7:15 pm at Jayavarman Hospital, to provide support to the three children's hospital that he runs - donations of blood and money are most welcome. Top Tip: Please contact our concierge team to arrange the transportation for you.

14. Learn to Cook Khmer Food: Khmer cuisine employs subtle blends of ingredients and spices to give unique flavours. Angkor Palace Resort & Spa usually organize half-day cooking classes. Top Tip: Learn more about how our Executive Chef Ving San prepares his Royal Khmer Cuisine please visit the Blog " The Royal Khmer Cuisine".

15. Visit Local Markets: No trip to Siem Reap would be complete without a visit to one of the traditional markets, though they can be little cramped and hot in the middle of the day. Don’t miss the Angkor Night Market too, which features over 100 outlets. (quoted from Cambodia pocket guide, Dec-Feb, 2008-2009. #9). Top Tip: Angkor Palace Resort & Spa organizes a free-shuttle service to Pub Street (located closed to Angkor Night Market) every evening from 1900hrs up to 2300hrs. Please contact our front office or concierge team to reserve your seat.

Once you have enjoyed these activities, take a rest and pamper yourself with a relaxing massage at our Kainnora Spa. The more adventurous may want to rent some mountain bikes and get out into the countryside to explore the rice paddies, though remember your sunscreen and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Source: Texts are quoted from various sources included: cambodiapocketguide.com, canbypublications.com.

What to do in Angkor Palace Resort?

Nestled invitingly within a spacious 11-hectare estate, the lush resort offers you the serenity of a secluded retreat whilst ensuring you are provided with every possible convenience.

In the morning:

Morning Jog: Either an invigorating morning jog or a romantic stroll in the moonlight, fountains, waterfall and pond with golden fishes – guests can simply indulge in its peaceful ambience during the stay. Residents are sure to enjoy the thousands of individual flowering plants, shrubs, palms, and a wide variety of tropical trees.

Gym, Steam, & Sauna: Located within the Kainnora Spa complex, the gymnasium at Angkor Palace Resort & Spa is surrounded by a landscape garden and sugar palm trees, which are symbolic of Cambodia.

Free Internet Access & Library Corner: Our Business centre provides free use of internet access for our residents. Should the residents wish to read up on the local cultural or history, our library corner located in the business centre provides various of information about the book of Angkor temples, maps, Khmer cuisine, uniform and other historical information about Indo-China and Cambodia.

Quick Shopping: Other than the many shopping attractions in Siem Reap, the two shops located in the Angkor Palace Resort & Spa are definitely worth a visit to bring home memories of your stay with gifts and souvenirs.

In the Noon Time:

Lunch in our Restaurant: For a casual dining experience, embark on a culinary journey at the Sunset Café, where innovative cuisine meets only the finest wines to complement a truly satisfying meal.

In the Afternoon:

Break at our Pool: Lounge in the sun and work on your tan while sipping on our special concoctions at the poolside bar. Enjoy light snacks and cocktails while swimming in the pool or just simply laze at our sunken pool bar.

Khmer Traditional Massage: 10 treatment rooms offer an extensive selection of traditional Khmer massage and Western therapeutic massage and beauty treatments including a tranquil relaxation room for reflexology treatments. An oasis for the senses, indulge in the wealth of spa treatments that pamper the body. Slip into the calming waters of the pool for a refreshing swim, or revive aching muscles with an invigorating massage.

In the Late Afternoon:

Driving Range: Newly opened golf driving range provides every discerning golfer the challenge and opportunity to improve your accuracy and golf swing at the 16 exclusive sheltered golf driving bays. Alternatively, you may also polish your putting skills on the putting green beside these driving bays.

Tennis Courts: Enjoy the game in our two open air tennis courts that can be used either during the day or evening.

In the Early Evening:

The Lobby Lounge is the perfect gathering place for pre or post dinner cocktail drinks. For the perfect end to a long day, indulge in our signature cocktail “The Palace Inspiration” or the “The Palace Chilled-Out” and catch the sunset in the comfort of the lounge seats.

In the Evening:

Dinner with Royal Khmer Cuisine: Savour the blend of exotic yet subtle spices in the best of Khmer fine dining from recipes taken from the Royal Palace at Soriya Restaurant located just next to the Lobby Lounge.

Night Life: For guests who wish to explore for Siem Reap night-life, the resort offers complimentary shuttle service to Pub Street everyday from 1900hrs until 2300hrs at hourly intervals. The direction will be resort to Pub Street (or Angkor Night Market) and back. Guests can contact our duty manager via 012 333 615 if they wish to stay over 2300hrs for the appointed pick-up place.

Well, this is our catchy text of the Angkor Palace Resort & Spa written by our team…don’t believe us, mark your holiday calendar now- come to stay and experience yourself!

The Royal Khmer Cuisine

Many travelers always wonder – what does Khmer food look and taste like; is it similar to other ASEAN nation food?

Prior to joining Angkor Palace Resort & Spa, our Executive Chef Ving San (pictured) has spent much of his professional career researching, together with his previous colleagues , the Royal recipes of Royal Khmer Cuisine that were lost for two decades during Cambodia war.

The Royal recipes have been carefully prepared by The Royal Palace' Chefs in the 1960s(?) and only served for the Royal family, dignitaries and guests of the King.

Ving San said “Royal Khmer Cuisine is the menu represented at The Royal Palace in the Kingdom of Cambodia and this menu has been used for welcoming guests to The Royal Palace. I am delighted to introduce the selected receipes from our finest traditional Khmer cuisine, to our hotel guests at The Palace. As a Cambodian, I fully understand the characteristics of each ingredient, and I am familiar with culinary treasures from each province of Cambodia.”

A popular signature dish presented by Chef San from the Royal Khmer Cuisine is the baked large prawn from Tonle Sap Lake dressed in a mild spicy curry sauce. According to Chef Ving San, “I am pleased that our guests from Asia to Europe enjoy this particular dish very much.”

Chef Ving San and his team are busy finalizing the menu for the new Royal Khmer Restaurant in the resort (scheduled to open in third quarter of 2009). He explains, “The world is globalised nowadays and major Asian cuisines, i.e.; Japanese, Chinese, Korean, are available all over the world, but Khmer cuisine is unique to Cambodia and this is one of the key experiences for visitors to Cambodia to try.”

Watch more Siem Reap videos at tripfilms.com

Where to Stay?

By ParGolf Magazine, Jonathan Ponniah, (December 2008). Not Just Temples! Vol: 10, No. 116, Page: 129.

There’s a huge buffet of hotels to choose from in Siem Reap, from backpacker B&B’s at just US$5 a night to five-star hotels with all the luxurious trappings.

One of the best hotels is the Angkor Palace Resort & Spa (http://www.angkorpalaceresort.com/), the first Cambodian-owned five-star resort hotel in Siem Reap. The spacious hotel sprawls over 11 hectares of landscaped grounds and is a wonderful enclave to escape to after a day-long temple trek or a night tour on Pub Street.

Located just 10 minutes from Siem Reap town and 20 minutes from the Angkor Archaeological Park, the resort offers 259 luxuriously-appointed rooms with traditional Khmer fittings, private balconies and modern amenities. There are also eight villas those willing to spurge on a more private retreat.

The hotel prides itself on its F&B outlets and for good reason. The Sunset Café is a great place for a fine-dining experience, while the Soriya Restaurant serves up some tasty Khmer dishes. Come sundown, the Lobby Lounge offers a relaxing environment to unwind with a beer or cocktail, while enjoying the in-house band.

If you need more proactive rejuvenation, spend a few hours at the Kainnora Spa which has a wide range of treatments including the must-try Khmer massage. For golfers, a full-fledged driving range complete with a proshop and shaded bays awaits.
http://www.pargolfmagazine.com/

The Charming Uniform!

Be enthralled by the beauty and majesty of Angkor Wat, the largest and most enchanting of a series of temples bearing testament to the skill of Khmer architecture at its greatest. The temples of Angkor are witness to the legacy of the Khmer empire that embodied a perfect fusion of spiritual devotion and creative ambition. Today, this is still the hallmark of Cambodia – where a spiritual and cultural heartbeat still strongly resonates against the backdrop of modernity.

In respect to the wealth national and rich culture, the team at Angkor Palace Resort & Spa putting the effort together to provide the highest Khmer hospitality service to the residents during their stay in a memorable experience. One among the unique experience, guests will be charmed by a contemporary fashion design of more than twenty different staff uniforms which is reflecting the tradition, dignitaries and royalty.

All the residents will be greeted upon arrival by a doorman wearing a “Sampot K’bin” – a type of sarong and/or pantaloon worn by Cambodian mean during formal occasions and ceremony – incorporating the traditional Cambodian colors for the seven day of the week.

Sampot K’Bin will be visible and worn by most of our staff in the different department such as Room Valet, Bellboy, and telephone operator staff. Apart from Sampot K’Bin – the shirt for the man staff also reflecting the different design which is obtained from the sculpture of the temples.

The Hostesses in the restaurant, which serves Royal Khmer Cuisine, wear a long, elegant skirt and cream color shirt with short sleeves. Apart from the frontline staff, the housekeeping staff will be accompanied by Krama – a kind of short scarf which cover the some part of the body to reflect the attraction.

Krama is the Khmer word of scarf. It is arguably the one single item that is representative of Cambodia as it is used from pleasant to royalty in a variety of ways, on the head, as a towel, as a belt, as a wrap when men take a shower in the open, as a carrier for a packet meal, as a baby seat and as far as your imagination allows.

The design of uniform has been incorporated by the owners of the resort and all local management staff to make it unique and charm to our residents.

How to reach Angkor Palace Resort from the Airport?

Angkor Palace Resort & Spa (The Palace) is strategically located a mere 10 minutes drive (about 5km) from the Siem Reap International Airport and city centre (about 3km) as well as 20 minutes drive (about 10km) from the famed Angkor Wat temple.

For your convenience please print this page and show to your taxi driver in Khmer language upon your arrival. (The meaning of this text: Please bring me to Angkor Palace Resort & Spa located along national road no. 6 situated near the Siem Reap’s Electricity Administrative office)

• Direction to The Palace from Siem Reap International Airport:

Turn right when leaving airport. You will travel south until you reach a T-junction. Turn left (i.e., go to east) and travel along the main road. You will see the resort signage on your right after travelling east for about 2km. Angkor Palace Resort & Spa is 150m off the main road.

Airport transfer can be arranged by our hotel car (maximum: 3 passengers) at USD 12.00nett per car per way and by mini-van (maximum: 6-7 passengers) at USD 25.00nett per car per way.

Please contact our concierge desk, should you wish to receive details of the direction:Email : fom@angkorpalaceresort.com or concierge@angkorpalaceresort.com
Tel : Available 24hour hotline: (Duty Manager mobile number)
+855 12 333 615 or +855 12 333 240

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