Siem Reap City by the light: another Tuk tuk ride tour (Pagoda and Artisan D’Angkor)

Type: Siem Reap City Center Tuk tuk tour

Date: 28 June 2019

Mode: Tuk tuk ride and some walks

Duration: 3 hours (10:00am to 13:00pm)

Fare: 5 USD (voluntary)

Other Expenses: Offerings, Lunch

Difficulty: Air and noise pollution

Highlight: Wat Preah Prom Rath (Buddhist Temple with Garden), Buddhist Monastery, Artisan D’Angkor, Tonle Sap River by day, 

Angkor Wat mesmerised me and the Bayon Temple invited me to feel the mystical ambiance of the past. The experience in the Angkor was like a travel inside a time machine where I was led to see one thousand years back in time. I had a night at my drivers lair and he gave me a safe haven amidst darkness.

Then was the morning of 28 June but I didn't have itinerary yet. My driver told me that we can go around the city once again. I gave him a voluntary amount as a gesture of gratitude for the night stay.

After morning preparations and a light meal, we roamed around the city again. We had with us Booleap his son. We went around the airport and had some photo ops there shortly. After a while, I requested my driver to bring me to the Siem Reap post office as I will take a van there going to Phnom Penh. I initially intended to travel by day going back to Phnom Penh via van but the trip was still at 2pm so I decided to take a walking tour around the city before finally deciding.


My intention also was to look for money changer. There are a lot of them. In fact, I found more money changers in Siem Reap at that area than in Phnom Penh. The rate there is higher than in Phnom Penh. I continued walking as I searched for the old market where I could find local food. I chanced upon a tuktuk driver seating relaxed and reading a book. I asked him if the "OLD MARKET" marker seen at a distance is where I could find local food to eat. He said that it is not but he pointed me to another direction. I then asked what he was reading as I felt curious. He showed me the book and I saw that it contains conversation lines in Chinese, Khmer, and French.


The brief inquiry was led to a lengthy conversation. I began to ask him how the life of a tuktuk driver is and he replied with a lengthy story. He said that it is off-peak season that month as the lake water was receding. People will start to arrive in throngs again on October or November to April as he said that there will be a Buddhist festival then. The conversation turned to an hour of exchange of ideas. I suddenly felt hungry so I invited him for lunch. He was thankful for the gesture.

After lunch, he offered to tour me around the city. I told him that I don't have money to pay his service. He replied that I can give whatever amount. He said that it is his gesture of gratitude for the free meal. I had a hesitation though as I thought he might scam me. But having been in conversation for more than an hour and having known his background, I thought it would be good to give it a try.


He brought me first to the Artisan D'Angkor. It is a shop and gallery combined and located at the heart of Siem Reap City. Visitors can enter the shop for free. It has wide and big shops for sculpting wood, metals, and stones. It also has shops for processing silk and other fabric. It has painting shops and other artistic works shops. At the middle of the Artisan is a gallery displaying all the products made at the shops. Visitors can use credit card or cash for purchases. I witness how meticulous it is make a piece of art and I did not wonder why the prices of artworks at the gallery are relatively expensive.


We went next to the Wat Preah Prom Rath. It is a Buddhist Temple with garden inside. My driver called the place simply as pagoda. We entered the temple inside and saw a big Buddha statue at the middle. Surrounding the temple are paintings of the life of Buddha. My driver started explaining to me the different paintings from the birth of Buddha. He continued to explain the different symbols seen at the paintings until we reached the end of Buddha's life.


As I listened to him, I realised how mysterious life could be. I remember the book written by Herman Hesse about the biography of Buddha and it was essentially the same as how my driver explained it. The difference was that the driver explained some religious symbols such as the lotus that grew under the feet of Buddha when he stepped the first time. And he also added that the mother of Buddha was a goddess so she must die after giving birth to him in order to return to the realm of the gods. And so, his explanations complemented the story of Siddhartha by Hesse. In fairness, the driver was eloquent and had painted a vivid picture in my mind about the life of a great master who mastered himself. his life inspired me once again to be stronger in putting my resolutions into reality.

We then went to another Buddhist statue inside the complex. He showed me some monks walking around the pagoda and told me that the monks live inside. He also told me that he takes a bath every day in one of the bathrooms there.

We then went to his original parking area as he prepared for his classes in the afternoon. I gave him a voluntary amount before we parted. I told him that he can see me still in the evening after his class.

I reserved for my bus for Phnom Penh at the nearby transport booth. It was 7 USD - 3 dollar cheaper compared to the bus I used previously. My trip was still at 11 pm (I was reminded to be there at 10 pm.) And while waiting, I went back to the walking tour. I saw a laundry shop so I let my clothes washed. It was 1 USD per kilo. Fortunately, all my dirty clothes only weighed 1 kilo. I told the lady that I will claim them in the evening at 9 pm.

I went back to the pagoda and meditated there. There, I strengthened my resolutions about my change of world perspective. I processed in my mind the concrete things to do when I go back to work. I fulfilled one of my mission in Cambodia and that is to experience renewal of self. This maybe due to my thirst in spiritual communion.

After meditation, I went to Tonle Sap riverbank which is just opposite the entrance of the pagoda complex. I spent time writing my observations about Siem Reap there. The water of the river is filled with algae and seems not moving. I remember what the driver told me about the absence of rain in the past month which has receded the water. As the late afternoon approached, more and more street food sellers occupy the street side. I tried to eat some like seafood roasted and Japanese fried rice. In the late afternoon, I went back to the pagoda.

Before I left the pagoda, I took a bath in one of the bathrooms located outside the monks' building. I felt relieved and strengthened by the cool water after realising that I had been continuously exposed outside for the whole day.

It was already dusk when I left the pagoda. I passed by the Little Pub Street to claim my laundry. The lady was still ironing my clothes when I arrived. The laundry shop had turned into a liqour store. Her son offered me a beer while I waited for my laundry. We talked about his brother in law being member of the military and he also talked about having been to the Philippines. When the lady was done, I was able to consume my drinks too. I gave the lady a tip for being patient in ironing my clothes and making them surely dry before packing inside my bag.

I continued to walk along the streets towards the transport booth. When I reached the booth, it was still 9:30 pm. My driver saw me again and he told me that he just finished his class. He invited me for a beer drink. I agreed to drink only for one can because I was afraid that I may throw up inside the bus if I drink excessively. At exactly 10 pm the pick up van arrived and I bid goodbye to my newfound friend. When I paid the beer, our colleagues told me not to pay anymore as they will take care of the bill. I gave a gesture of thanks and rode the van quickly as the conductor gesticulated me to move faster.

Siem Reap, a place of friendly and smiling people and people who love beer and alcohol. It is like the Philippines but unlike Indonesia. The van sent us to the bus station. I rode the sleeper bus and found a safe refuge for a night.