Singapore to Cambodia

So it’s the beginning of December and Sout East Asia, here we come!

We arrived in Singapore and oh what a change, everything here is shiny new and CLEAN (but of course way more expensive) and is looking very much like Canary Wharf but 10 times the size. On arrival a lovely old bloke was so helpful – practically taking us right to our hotel door – sadly he explained that he likes to help tourists to his country as when he visited the UK with friends, they were robbed at knifepoint whilst picnicking in Hyde Park! Poor guy. 

Our helpful stranger at Singapore airport

Us and The Marine Bay Sands Hotel

Singapore skyline

 It’s a big rich city where every other building appears to be a shopping centre or an office with a shopping centre or a Hotel with a shopping centre. It is spotlessly clean and a shoppers paradise so we did the shop, did the zoo and more shopping and a bit of sightseeing.

There were real giant tortoises at Singapore zoo

We managed to catch up with Arpita and David, friends who moved to Singapore about 3 years ago, who took us to a fantastic bar where the waitresses, dressed as angels, flew up to the ceiling to collect the bottles of wine.   From there, to Kuala Lumpur.

Friends in Singapore

Taking the train to Kuala Lumpur, we thought we would see more of the country but it was a bit of a tortuous journey and not much to see, so wish we had flown.  KL felt a bit like a Singapore from 20 years ago except for the Petronas Twin Towers, which Sarah really wanted to go up and Steve (scared of heights) didn’t. It is a truly spectacular building and of course we did go up, unfortunately the kids did not want to get up early enough for the queue so just the two of us braved the 86 floors.

Us on the sky bridge of the Petronas Twin Towers

Unusual earings

Christmas is coming in KL

Kids enjoy the KL paddling pool

The kids enjoyed paddling around the wading pool in the park below and we all enjoyed seeing a film in another huge shopping complex.  From here we took flight to Siem Reap in Cambodia. This city would appear to be the life support for all the tourists who come to visit the Temples of Angkor and is totally geared up for this task. We spent a great 4 days here visiting the temples, kids did one full day and Sarah and Steve did two more early mornings by bike. The temples are amazing and you could spend a week and not visit all of them, I think we saw enough without losing the plot.


The Bayon at Angkor Thom



Kids after three temples

Entrance to Angkor Thom

 

Trees in the ruins at Ta Prohm

More Ta Prohm

We also celebrated Sarah’s birthday here with a lovely Cambodian Barbeque just off Pub Street in the main town. Bobby and Amber loved cooking their own meat and wanted to eat there every night. Bobby was particularly pleased as they had Spiderman and a Batman- themed Tuk Tuks – along with the regular ones of course.

Bob rides the Batman Tuk Tuk

The kids enjoyed the hotel pool and we also did a tour to a floating village on the lake, Tonle Sap. Yes,  the whole  village was pretty much all afloat on the lake and there were some amazing sights – including a crocodile farm and pig pens and chicken runs all bobbing up and down.

Spot the crocodile

Floating village

Kids find some shade for game play

Sarah's birthday meal

After leaving Siem Reap we headed to the capital, Phnom Penh but we seem to running out of time in Cambodia. We decide to head straight to Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), Vietnam and leave the rest of Cambodia for another holiday.