Angkor Wat - the lost turn lust city
For the sake of preparing YPO coming couple's outing - according to some uncertainty such as : Completing of Hotel One, service launch for TAIWAN HIGHSPEED RAILWAY, we have to re-identify the destination, via some introduction, we choose Angkor Wat and heading for the trial run on Sep. 30th, the very efficient decision done between Bengo, Steven and me. 10 days after we switch to the alternation plan, we book the Hotel De La Paix - a boutique hotel open for operation less than a year.This is a great explore for me, although over heard a lot of how spectalar and magnificent Angkor Wat can be, and why it was list in the 7 wonders of the world, unless I am the day chair for the tour, I might not be able to see it at this perticular time. in the turning point of this ancient city and the evolving country -Cambodia.
Take the Angkor Airway direct flight to Angor Wat ( Wall ), we took advange of S. Tusi's power - he is the Chairman of FAT, which operate 100% of Angkor Airway, screeze 3 seats and depart / return on our own wish - as the direct flight were 100% chartered by Travelling Agency, they only plan a 5 days 4 nights package, for us, the maximan of staying is 2 nights 3 days. well, they made it.
Arrvied at the Angkor Airport by 11:10, the custom is full of curruption, inside your passport, you must insert with 3 USD, we don't know who initiate it, but as it develop to a routine, it improve some administration efficiency but at the same time, perform a block out effect to Westerner - who will never bribe for nothing. this is a very new airport, we were told later that it started to operate by this July. the hotel we stay is only 25 minutes to the airport, a very modern, comtemporary and beautiful hotel, with only 107 rooms, you can see all the unique design all over the hotel.
to perform a trial, we begin with checking the room and facility in the hotel and decide to try as many restaurant and check other 5 star hotels as possible, it end up with having 8 meals in a days and checking 6 hotels at the same time. this is a never before experience. Bengo really know the hotel business, check the seats, and review the menu, talking to executive chef and question the sales director.
The resource in Angkor Wat is getting rich now, unfortunately, when walked out at midnight to the pub street, the Tutu ( Tricycle ) and steet stopper asked if we need to find Woman, this is so sad, a holy city and regilious place now full of seductiona and ruined by the capitalist. I feel bad about it, a sub-study told me nexst year, there will be more than 100 new hotels build and beginning their service. tghe quality will turn soure and the desire will kill the holy city agian.
I enjoy the food in the hotel we stay and really impressed by the artistic lounge, a great place to hide away. I will return with my wife in Nov. the hight season.
second day is the day for attractions, Angork Thom ( Big Angakor ) and the smiling Cambodia is truly touching, the Taren temple ( Where the movie Tomb Raider shooting scene ) and Angkor Wat is the best among the best.
Stop at Chez Shophia for lunch, Matther - the owner tell us about the corruption and how the tour guide ruin their life, we were so upsat about the immature attiture perform by Shai Chen, with a " No commision " he throw the empty bottle to the restaurant without taking care of guest feeling, only care about money and the concern of if he will get rich soon, a boy of 24 eagly to get rich, greedy in the business he just enter ( 2 weeks in the touring guide industry ), I don't know what went wrong, well if we recall the day before how we witness the Temple Club and Angkor What pub, we be never know we were in the place suffer by cival war for 27 years and be inferior from 16 centries.
Vrouth is another ideal place for dinner, this is another great place, owner - Faibien share with us the same story about the commision problem, it seems this gourgues cite it going to be lost again, I feels really bad about it.
posted by Roger @ 10/02/2006 01:06:00 上午
<< Home