While Matt’s brother was visiting we really wanted to take him to Siem Reap. Matt and I had been there before, but before we had Lily. We expected this time to be a lot different and we totally underestimated how different it would be!
First of all, it was a lot hotter this time around than when Matt and I went over 5 years ago when we went during the January-February timeframe. Also, it was Khmer New Year from April 14-16, which we had no idea about until landing. Khmer New Year is a lot like Thai New Year in the same respects of it being a huge celebration that usually involves water gun spraying! From our guide, we learned that most places throughout Cambodia it is quiet for the Khmer New Year, but everyone comes to Siem Reap to celebrate, which made it even more busy and crazy! All the shops and restaurants were open as usual, but since it is so hot, most people come out at night to celebrate. This means that it is packed at night and you should be prepared to be sprayed or even water hosed down with water, especially if you are a tourist.
On the eve of Khmer New year, we ventured from our hotel, Chateau d’Angkor La Residence, to Pub Street, where all the shops and restaurants are located, by tuk-tuk which took forever due to traffic and leaving us vulnerable to getting wet. Once Lily was sprayed in the face the first time, it was game over for us since she had a fit and was scared. So we dropped off the boys and we went back to the hotel via tuk-tuk to eat there in peace and quiet. On the way back most of the people saw us and didn’t spray us as I covered her face with my hand and this giant plane balloon to protect her eyes. As we passed the crowds I noticed that we were not in a busy area and the tuk-tuk driver took us to the wrong hotel. I had to search it on his phone and luckily he was able to take us there no problem, without up charging us on the fee. Upon the guys returning, they told me that it was a safe thing bringing lily back to the hotel, because pub street was so busy and the water fights were much more intense, definitely not the scene for a three-year-old.
The next day we booked a driver and headed to Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm Temples. Being as these are temples I had to wear full pants and covered shoulders, which made it even hotter to walk around. Upon entering Angkor Wat and walking across a wobbly bridge (which was not there 5 years ago) to main temple grounds, Lily became too hot and wanted to be held, so this made the long walk exhausting for us all in the morning sun. So Lily and I hung back by at the front of the temple in the shade, while the guys went off exploring and having a photoshoot…
Then we went to Ta Prohm temple and of course had to walk a long distance from the car to the temple so the toddler was not happy! There were a lot more shaded areas at this temple so it didn’t feel as hot. You might recognize this temple even if you’ve never visited Siem Reap because it is famous for being in the movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie. There are trees growing in, out, and on top of the ruins of what’s left of the temple. This is a cool temple for kids to explore as there are many corridors to explore, making for awesome Instagram photos. Our reality was that our toddler was not happy so our photos weren’t so Instagram worthy!
The next day we were done with being hot and tired from the past couple days events and overwhelming New year celebrations, so we hung by the pool to relax and indulge in adult beverages while the kiddo splashed in the water! There are many different temples to visit within the Angkor complex so plan ahead as it’s cheaper to buy a two-day or three-day pass, versus a one-day pass over 2 or 3 days. You have to bring your passport with you when you buy the ticket and they take your photo. Prices can be found here. Most hotels have a driver you can hire to take you to each temple or you can hire a tuk-tuk for the day to take you around. We choose a car for obvious reasons, air con! You can spend quite a few days around Siem Reap visiting the many temples in and outside of the city.
Takeaways from this trip:
Visiting temples means uneven ground and even stair climbing which means it is not stroller friendly. If your child is small enough to wear, use a baby carrier or a hiking backpack carrier, especially if your little one hates to walk (like ours!) or is not big enough to walk yet and needs to be carried.
Cambodia is in a tropical hot climate, so depending on the time of year it can be too hot for little ones. Bring plenty of water, hats, sunscreen, and cool rags to keep them (and you!) chilled out.
Also, ladies, remember to wear pants or a skirt (no leggings) and shirts that cover your shoulders at the temples. You can buy them near the temples usually for cheap, but it’s easier to just bring your own and don’t do what I did, make sure your outfit matches! The pants I wore over my shorts ended up not matching the shirt I wore so my pictures look funny!
Unless you like crowds and fun water playing, don’t go on Khmer New Year with little ones. The overstimulation, loud fireworks, water in the face and crowds can be very scary for little ones and possibly quite dangerous. Pick a time when there are no holidays to get the full experience of Siem Reap without the crowds!
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