Going to Siem Reap
Mention Cambodia and immediately, the image of immense complexes of temples known as Angkor Wat comes to mind. This is exactly what happened to me when my friend proposed that we go there. Although I prefer nature trips rather than historical/cultural stuff. The chance to visit one of humanity greatest accomplishments was too good to pass up.
My friend will be coming from Manila, but there doesn’t seem to be any point for him to go all the way to Singapore to meet up then go to Siem Reap, so I had to make an overnight trip to Kuala Lumpur and meet him at the airport there and take a flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. At least it would be cheaper since I do not need to fly to meet up with him.
It was my first time to the Kuala Lumpur airport and honestly, I wasn’t even absolutely sure how to get there. Fortunately, the mass transit system in Kuala Lumpur was easy enough to understand that I managed to get myself to the airport in no time.
Since we will be flying with Air Asia, a budget airline. We will have to check in from the Low Cost Carrier Terminal or LCCT. The LCCT is quite big for a budget airline. Although it seems that there is still not enough space for everybody. Some counters seem to be out of place and seemed to have been placed there as an afterthought. As with all budget terminals, there isn’t really much in the way of entertainment. There are a couple of eating places there, but that’s it. I was getting hungry so I chose to go with the safe one. McDonalds. Can’t go wrong with that, right?
Although, I feel terrible from that grueling overnight trip from Singapore, I was too excited to be tired. Soon, we were boarding our plane. It is not my first time on a budget carrier. I have tried Tiger Airways and Jetstar Airways from Singapore and Cebu Pacific from the Philippines. My first impression on Air Asia, was that the planes seem to be old. Well maintained but old. The seats are leather seats but a little cramped. I’m not a really big person but I feel cramped sitting on their seats. Well, it is cheap… The last time I felt this cramped was when I took Jetstar.
As we were on our way to Siem Reap, I managed to get a good look at Kuala Lumpur from the sky. There unmistakable figures of the Petronas Twin Towers and the Kuala Lumpur Tower stood out. In fact, from the air, they look no more than toys.
The trip took around two hours. Soon, the fields of rural Cambodia spread before us. Muddy rivers wind their way through the rice fields. Our plane seems to be flying low enough that I can see the individual houses. Seems like we are already quite near. From the map, it seems that Siem Reap airport is built right beside the complex of temple ruins. But strangely enough, I didn’t get to see any temples from the air. Anyway, who cares, I’ll get there soon enough!
By the way, if you have been wondering what happened to the pictures, yes, they have been edited. Did you seriously think I can take pictures through the window of an airplane?
Tags: Air Asia, airport, Angkor Wat, budget, Cambodia, Kuala Lumpur, LCCT, Malaysia, Siem Reap, temple
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