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Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is widely believed to be the largest religious structure in the world and also the best preserved. The moat surrounding it is huge - 1.3 km by 1.5 km and 190 m wide! It sure does represents the ocean it is suppose to signify, making the European moats look like child's play. The most famous decorations are the heavenly nymphs (Apsara). There are more of 300 of them and each one is unique! There is one at the entrance which shows her teeth! The bas-reliefs that surround its four long walls are absolutely beautiful and the stories they tell! Make sure you get a good guide.
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Angkor Thom
Angkor Wat is not the only temple to visit. There is a larger temple complex called Angkor Thom (The Large City) which has many 'smaller' temples. The most famous is the Bayon and some of the others are: the Elephant Terrace, Preah Palilay, and the Terrace of the Leper King. Angkor Thom has 5 elaborate entrance gates (gopuras) and on each side, there are 54 demon statues (on the left) and 54 god statues (on the right). Go to the Southern Gate as this gate with its 4 faces has been fully restored.
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Elephant Terrace
You can do the Elephant Terrace, Preah Palilay, and the Terrace of the Leper King all at one go as they are within walking distance of each other.
The Elephant Terrace is 350 m and it was used as a giant viewing stand during public ceremonies and as an audience hall. It is an open area so just imagine the king being shaded by parasols and fanned by his servants, thousand of people, music, dancing maidens...
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Terrace of the Leper King
The Terrace of the Leper King is a massive mound of laterite held in place by a series of ornately carved sandstone walls. This structure owes its name to a small statue that sits atop the terrace. Is it a sexless statute with no thumb, a king who had leprosy or Yama, the God of Death? Whatever the case, a replica sits in the original statute's place. The notable feature here is the wonderfully ornate bas-relief sculptures.
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Entrance to the Angkor Archaeological Park
An admission pass (an 'Angkor Pass') may be purchased at the main entrance on the road to Angkor Wat. One-day tickets only can be purchased at the secondary tollgate on airport road entrance near Angkor Wat and at Banteay Srei.
Passes are sold in one-day (USD20), three-day (USD40) and seven-day (USD60) blocks.
Photos for the passes are taken FOC on the spot.
Visiting hours are 5 AM - 6 PM.
Angkor Wat closes at 6 PM.
Banteay Srey closes at 5 PM.
Kbal Spean closes at 3 PM.
http://www.tourismcambodia.com/attractions/Angkor/
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Khmer Kitchen Restaurant
A family run restaurant. Tourists have been known to eat here only during their stay in Siem Reap as their menu of traditional Khmer food available is so extensive, there is no need to go anywhere else. They keep meaning to try other places but the food is so delicious, they keep going back! You can try something different everyday. And most importantly, the food reasonably priced. Apparently even Mick Jagger has dined here!
Address: Down an alley just north of the Old Market (Psar Chaa),
Around Town (next to Le Café, behind Pub Street)
Siem Reap
Cambodia
Tel: +855 63 964 154
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The Red Piano
This is one of the more popular Cambodian restaurants in Siem Reap. Not only because Angelina Jolie hung out here when she made the Tomb Raider movie, granted they named a cocktail after her, the menu has something for everyone. There is a selection of Khmer and Thai food, as well as pasta, salads, and steaks. The view is great as well especially if you sit upstairs on the balcony - you can view Pub Street and the stalls below. And if the place across the street has a band on, you get free entertainment too!
The Red Piano
No 341, 50 m Northwest of the Old Market
Svay Dangkom
Mondul I
Siem Reap
Cambodia
www.redpianocambodia.com
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Alliance Art Café
The Alliance Art Café is housed in a French colonial building built in 1953, on the former grounds of the French Cultural Centre. It is a French restaurant but it also has a fine selection of Cambodian dishes to whet your appetite. There is a variety of exhibition spaces spread out over 300 square metres, which includes the restaurant, a sculpture garden, a café and a new open-air veranda upstairs, so you can enjoy some artworks before you settle down for your meal.
Alliance Art Café
Wat Damnak
7 Makra Street
Siem Reap
Cambodia
Tel: + 855 63 964 940
http://www.allianceartcafe.com/
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