In the Shadows of Angkor Wat, Siem Reap is a Destination in Itself

When I first went to Cambodia, I had planned to spend three or four days in Siem Reap, just enough time to see Angkor’s countless temples, peek at the city, and then continue to my next destination. I ended up renting an apartment, finding a night job at a wine bar, working at two volunteer projects during the day and staying for a month. It felt like home and I loved it.

The city near the ruins of the magnificent 13th century Angkor civilization receives less attention than its ancient counterpart. However, this small city (or large town) has enough sundry delights to warrant it being a destination in and of itself.

The cultural and commercial center of Siem Reap is the Old French Quarter, which is shaped like a giant H and filled with bars, cafes, restaurants, boutiques, galleries and myriad charming cobblestone alleyways.

Exploring the Old French Quarter is fun, in that this relatively small area refuses to be easily charted in the mind. One could spend a week wandering through the quarter before knowing where everything is. It refuses to be instantly ‘understood,’ which lends to it a whimsical feeling.

Those planning to visit Siem Reap should be sure to give themselves enough time to explore the city and to experience the many vestiges of modern Cambodian culture that it offers, such as the avant-garde yet traditional Phare Circus.

There are also many opportunities to go shopping for one-of-a-kind gifts made in Cambodia from the city’s many NGO-sponsored shops such as Bloom, as well as to grab a healthy and delectable meal at Haven Cafe, one of many eateries which train disadvantaged Khmer youth in the restaurant business.

Nightlife for backpackers often revolves around the famously rowdy Angkor What? bar near aptly-named Pub Street, as well as the much quieter (and slightly more refined) Laundry.

Siem Reap is a great town for those who love to wander and explore. It offers numerous fun and fascinating gems to find and experience when you aren’t exploring the world-famous temple complex just fifteen minutes away.