Welcome to Siem Reap, Cambodia! This area is filled with majestic and ancient temples from the Khmer Empire built from the 9th to 13th Century. While Angkor Wat dominates the itinerary for most tourists, there are plenty of other temples that are unique and interesting. Here are the top five temples to see in Siem Reap.
Behind the scenes video
1. Angkor Thom and Bayon
The first stop is Angkor Thom and Bayon, built in the 12th Century by King Jayavarman VII. The temple of Bayon is one of the most recognizable for having the four sided-faces on the monument. It is flanked by a surrounding reflective moat. Our tour guide explains that the temple was modified from Buddhist to Hindu (by adding the third eye to the Buddha head) and back to Theravada Buddhist.
2. Ta Prohm
Next, we visit Ta Prohm which is the filming location for the movie Tomb Raider. It is notable for its atmospheric and jungle scenery, including giant tree roots from over 200-400 year old sacred fig trees engulfing the temple.
3. Pre Rup
Pre Rup is a Hindu temple made of brick and sandstone, notable for its cistern in the center, and towering staircase leading the towering prasats. It is most beautiful at sunset as the sandstone temple glows a pink color in the sun. 4. Ta Som Ta Som was built in the later 12th Century. The entrance is through a gate with a face culture on top, and a central temple while contains a Buddha sculpture. . 5. Angkor Wat Angkor Wat is so massive and historic, that it needs its own blog post. Stay tuned for the next blog post where we will review the top places to photograph within Angkor Wat.
Comment below on your favorite temple to visit in Siem Reap?
Welcome to Macau! In this video, we take a day trip via turbo jet ferry from Hong Kong Island to Macau , the land where East meets West.
Getting To Macau from Hong Kong We took the ferry from Hong Kong Island, which leaves about every 30 minutes. It cost $42 for a round trip ticket. Be sure to bring you passport as you are going to a different administrative region of China. Next, be sure to bring cash - cash is King in Macau and either Hong Kong or Macau dollars will do.
Why Go?
Macau was a former Portuguese colony from the 16th century until 1999 when China took it over. It is now a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China where Macau controls their own customs and currency, and China handles the rest. There is also an extravagant Las Vegas atmosphere in Macau that makes for an exciting destination to travel. It is also extremely easy to get to from Hong Kong.
Senado Square
First, we visit Largo Do Senado (Senado Square) which is the historic Portuguese center and UNESCO World Heritage Site. St. Dominic's Church is a main highlight of this square.
Fernando's - Chinese Portuguese Cuisine
Next, we venture to Fernando's to visit a Portuguese - Chinese fusion restaurant by the beach. We also visit the beach in Macau. Be sure to bring cash! Watch what happens when we try to get back to town without any cash left.
Ruins of St Paul
One of the most iconic sights in Macau is the Ruins of St Paul, which was the largest Catholic church in Asia. There is a grand staircase leading up to the facade that is still standing after being destroyed by a fire in 1835. Vegas of the East You cannot visit Macao without seeing the Casinos, including the Venetian, and Paris, and the Wynn. Did you know that Macao is the largest gambling epicenter in the world? It even beat out Vegas. It's the only region in China where you can legally gamble. Macau is truly one of a kind, with East meets West fusion. It is definitely worth a visit!
Layovers present a unique opportunity for travelers. With a few hours to spare between flights, you can visit a new city that you otherwise would not have seen. During my trip from Los Angeles to Hong Kong, I experienced just that – I had a six-hour layover in Taipei. With only six hours to spare, it was just enough time to see some of the top sights in the city. Here is how I did it.
METRO
From the airport, I took the airport MTR train to the red line metro, which conveniently stops at many of the city’s highlights including Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial and Taipei 101. I purchased a metro day pass and the trip took roughly 45 minutes to get there. Even though I was short on time, the metro was easy to use and efficient which enabled me to maximize my stay in Taipei.
1. TAIPEI 101
I wanted to hit the most obvious tourist spot first: Taipei 101. It is the tallest building in Taipei’s skyline and an engineering marvel. In fact, during the time of its construction in 2004 to 2010, it was the tallest building in the world at 101 stories and 508 meters tall. The building dominates the city with its unique tiered design, resembling bamboo, which is a symbol of growth. The tickets to the observation deck can be purchased inside Taipei 101 at NT$600, granting access to the 89th floor. To get to the top, I rode in the fastest elevator in the world, which took about 37 seconds. The ride was smooth and felt more like 10 seconds. Once the elevator doors opened, I found myself in a large room with floor to ceiling glass windows. The views from the top are absolutely jaw dropping.
2. DIN TAI FUNG
They say Taiwan is the country that never stops eating, which I found to be true. I took the elevator down to the bottom floor of Taipei 101, which had a sprawling food court. To my surprise, I spotted Din Tai Fung, one of Taiwan’s famous restaurants conveniently located in the building. Here, you can sample the soup dumplings, or Xiaolongbao, which originated in Taiwan. The dumplings are as tasty as they are photogenic. The restaurant has many locations around the world, but nothing can substitute enjoying it in the country of its origin.
3. CHIANG KAI-SHEK MEMORIAL
Next, we visit the Chiang Kai-shek memorial, who was the founder of Taiwan. We view the beautiful architecture of his memorial. Chiang Kai-shek was a Chinese political leader who served as president of the Republic of China on Taiwan. The plaza consists of a theater, memorial site, and historic gate and the architecture is impressive. After visiting Taiwan's tallest building, eating at its most iconic restaurant, and visiting is important historical sights, we headed back to the airport on the train. Even though our trip was brief, we were able to see much of the city thanks to the modern high speed rail. What are your favorite places in Taiwan? Comment below. |
Published Travel ArticlesWelcome to Run The Atlas!
We are two adventurous young professionals who turned our passion for travel into a blog to help others travel more.
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