Angkor Wat Local Customs

Most beautiful Apsaras are found on the wall at 2nd floor of Angkor Wat Tower.
Please remind that during noon, hugh groups of tourist lining up to take photo infront of the beautiful Apsaras, I rather suggesting you better visit Angkor Wat early in the morning.

Some gifted young tourist practiced their talented art work on the wall inside Angkor Wat.
They added a huge human mushroom (50x300cm) and a 'play-boy' trademark rabbit on the wall.

Please understand that destroying the origin and the beauty of this piece of ancient world are strictly prohibited.

The Khmers penchant for craft is nowhere more apparent than in the intricate carvings found throughout the Angkor temples and Banteay Srei is often sited as the best example of Angkorian art bar none. Etched into a pinkish stone and viewed in the early hours of the sun’s likewise red hues, the temple has a bit of a fairy tale feel.

Trucks with dozens of people on it is not uncommon in Siem Reap. Travelling around Siem Reap, you can see 3 or even 4 people on a bike. Horse carts and bicycles with loads that are more appropriately put on a truck; motorbike with 2 passengers, stick between them and 20 or more live chickens hanging upside down from the stick on both sides. I just wish I was fast enough to capture them all on my camera, but with the speed we were travelling at, I try not to blame myself.
You can see a lotta Toyota Camry in Siem Reap, 2002/2003 model. The funny thing is, almost all of them don't have any plate number on them.

The custom of adorning Buddha figures in saffron robes is widespread in Cambodia but the practice adds particular color here at the ruins as they are otherwise in a natural state. In some of the corridors of Angkor Wat itself, there are rows of such representations with their flowing robes bringing the timeless hallways back to life.

After about 4 hours in Angkor, the sweet, cute little kids, were becoming the little annoying bastards! If you think I am insensitive, you haven't experienced the wrath of 20 little Cambodian kids all wanting your money! Of course, I never acted any way other than immensely nice and patient, for I realize that this is how they live. This is how the make a living for their family. Many of these 8 year-old-or-younger kids could hold a conversation with me in English. I was traveling with an Australian, and they knew the capital of Australia was...

Canberra! I bet YOU didn't know that! The only reason I did, was because I was in Australia two weeks prior, and had been caught there by a local! Anyway, these kids will use their charm to woo you for whatever their purpose is; selling jewelry, food, drinks, etc.

They are EXTREMELY persistent, and will try to get you to say that you will only buy from them, not their friends. It’s quite amusing for the first day, but after that....

You can see locals using their bikes for different purposes on a day. I'm sure on other day, this bike can be Tuk tuk. The loads they manage to put on a bike amazes me sometimes. It's not uncommon for you to see 3/4 ppl on a bike in the streets, without helmets!

You often find young children, six to ten years old, of course they could be older but appeared young, selling anything from postcards to scarf or cans of Coke to tourists coming down from their air con buses.

I was impressed with their mastery of "Please buy from me" in fluent American English and Japanese. I believe others will quickly learn them in Chinese, Spanish or French depending on the tour groups.

Did not hesitate to buy from these children as their parents are probably busy cooking in the restaurants or driving the taxis to make ends meet. Some how tourists like to snap their photos of their cute faces and then buy something in return.

My opinion: Better buy from the children than see them begging in the streets.