Cambodia
I had one objective in Cambodia: Angkor Wat. That was it. Everything else was secondary.
I arrived in the morning and Ubered to the Park Hyatt Siem Reap. The hotel was gorgeous, but what I remember most is the staff. They were genuinely kind in a way that stayed with me. I know hospitality is their job, and I keep that in mind when I travel, but there’s a difference between professional warmth and something that feels real. This felt real. I had lunch at the hotel restaurant, spent the evening resting, and went to bed early since I had an early morning the next day.
The guided Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour started at 4am. Getting there was a little hectic. The ticket stop alone was a lot but being in a smaller group meant we moved quickly and arrived ahead of the crowds.
We were the first group there. The temple reflecting on the water in the early morning light, before the day got busy—I have no words for it. Magical is the closest I can get, and even that falls short. We got perfect pictures before it got crowded, and then we stayed steps ahead of the crowds for the rest of the morning.
Walking through the temples and learning the history of the religious transfers of power was as fascinating as the temples themselves. I soaked in as much as I could. My favorite was Ta Prohm—the one where the trees have grown directly through the structure over centuries. Angkor Thom was a close second with all of its four-faced Buddhas.
I went back to the hotel for lunch and then met up with a Private Walking Tour guide I’d booked through TripAdvisor. When I met my guide, I noticed the name on his ID badge didn’t match the name I’d been messaging with. I told him I wasn’t comfortable going on the tour with someone I didn’t know. He asked me to follow him into a nearby coffee shop and there were plenty of people around, so I went. He bought me a coffee (which I picked up myself from the counter), sat down, and pulled up his credentials until I was satisfied. I’m sharing this because I want to be honest—I wouldn’t recommend this approach to everyone. I trust my discernment, and I felt confident in what he showed me. But for anyone else, I’d say abandon the tour and sort it out with the company directly. Safety always comes first, even if it means losing out on an experience.
Once we got going, the tour was enjoyable. He took me to Psah Chas market where one of his friends ran a food stand. The friend was closing up for the night but made us a small plate of noodles anyway. We visited Wat Preah Prom Rath, where he took me to witness a traditional wedding celebration. We walked to the Royal Palace and along the river. At the end, he walked me back to my hotel and gave me some straightforward advice—Don’t go out alone after dark. He told me there was a store one block away that was safe, but to go straight there and straight back without stopping to talk to anyone. I appreciated that. It told me everything I needed to know about navigating the city as a solo female traveler.
The next morning, I took a walk down Chaktomuk Walk Street to look for souvenirs. I found what I was looking for in two shops and didn’t have to haggle once, which is always a win. Went back to the hotel, packed up, and took a hotel taxi to the airport.
Siem Reap is a great city, and I’m glad I did the walking tour instead of trying to navigate it alone after dark. Having a guide made me feel more comfortable and informed. That said, I’d still only recommend it to seasoned female solo travelers who know how to move through an unfamiliar city with confidence and awareness.
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