Here's the summary video of our 5-Day Adventure in Seoul and Busan South Korea. Enjoy! Checkout Things to do in South Korea during Winter for the winter checklist I've tried.
Going on holiday is always the highlight of
the year – but one thing we could really do without is the stress of having to
worry about our luggage. You’ve probably thought one step ahead though, and
taken out some sort of insurance to cover your belongings going missing, right?
Unfortunately, even if you have, there are
still a host of circumstances where if things do go missing, you’re still
responsible. Today we’re going to look at the repercussions of leaving luggage
unattended, and when and where you’re covered or not.
5 Days. 2 Countries. Possible! Not to mention the 5th day was spent traveling from Bangkok to Manila. How? Read on...
Because Cambodia and Thailand share a land border, traveling from these countries can be easily accessible via bus making it possible to travel via land in a short period of time. Here is a quick run down of what Mike and I did for 5 days in Siem Reap and Bangkok. You can also check my actual expense at the bottom. Enjoy reading!
Day 0 | Arrival in Siem Reap, Cambodia from Manila, Philippines
This day was spent traveling from Siem Reap to Manila.
Dual Country Trip Day 1 - Manila to Siem Reap
07:55 pm - 09:00 pm | Travel from Manila to Siem Reap
09:00 pm - 10:00 pm | Travel from Airport to Hotel
Day 1 | Temple Tour, Blossom Cafe & Cuisine Wat Damnak
A jam-packed day. Did the whole temple tour on this day including a sunrise session at Angkor Wat. After exploring Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm wewent back to our hotel for lunch and rested. Afterwards, we had a quick sweet tooth cravings at Blossom Cafe then off we went to our last temple visit at Phnom Bakheng. We ended the fun day by having a fine dining treat at Cuisine Wat Damnak.
Dual Country Trip Day 1 - Siem Reap
04:00 am - 01:00 pm | Temple Tour - Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm
01:00 pm - 02:00 pm | Lunch at Hotel
02:00 pm - 03:00 pm | Rest and freshen up
03:00 pm - 04:00 pm | Dessert at Blossom Cafe
04:00 pm - 05:00 pm | Sunset at Phnom Bakheng
06:30 pm - 09:00 pm | Dinner at Cuisine Wat Damnak
Day 2 | Sugar Palm, Blue Pumpkin, Old Market, Bike & Pub Street
It was a care free day as we finished all temple exploration during our first day. We relaxed at our hotel by dipping in their lovely pool. Had a traditional lunch at the well known Sugar Palm Restaurant which was proceeded by a yummy ice cream at Blue Pumpkin. Had a bit of retail therapy at Old Market and since bike rentals are free in our hotel, we decided to bike around the city center. For dinner, we tried another recommended restaurant called Viroth's and thenhad drink at the famous Angkor What? along Pub Street to cap the night off.
Dual Country Trip Day 2 - Siem Reap
08:00 am - 09:00 am | Breakfast at Hotel
09:00 am - 11:00 am | Swimming at Hotel
11:00 am - 12:30 pm | Lunch at Sugar Palm
12:30 pm - 01:30 pm | Dessert at Blue Pumpkin
01:30 pm - 03:30 pm | Buy souvenirs at Old Market
03:30 pm - 05:00 pm | Biking around the city
05:00 pm - 06:00 pm | Freshen up at hotel
06:00 pm - 08:00 pm | Dinner at Viroth's
08:00 pm - 10:00 pm | Drink at Angkor What? Pub Street
Day 3 | Bus Ride from Siem Reap, Cambodia to Bangkok, Thailand
The third day was mostly spent traveling via land from Siem Reap to Bangkok. We tried to squeeze in a little shopping at MBK Mall where we also had an affordable Thai dinner at their food court. Mike and I got curious and checked out the rowdy Khao San Road which was just a walking distance from our hotel.
Dual Country Trip Day 3 - Siem Reap to Bangkok
06:00 am - 07:30 am | Check out and Breakfast at Hotel
08:00 am - 05:00 pm | Travel from Siem Reap to Bangkok
05:00 pm - 06:00 pm | Travel from Bangkok Bus Terminal to Hotel
06:00 pm - 06:30 pm | Check in at Hotel and freshen up
06:30 pm - 07:00 pm | Travel from Hotel to MBK Mall
07:00 pm - 09:00 pm | Dinner and Shopping at MBK Mall
10:00 pm - 11:00 pm | People watch at Khao San Road
Day 4 | Wat Pho, Wat Arun & Chatuchak Weekend Market
In the morning Mike and I explored two notable temples, Wat Pho and Wat Arun. We also experienced riding a water taxi. In the afternoon, we went crazy shopping at Chatuchak Weekend Market then had a super delicious Thai dinner at the Hemlock Restaurant. And last but not the least, we treated ourselves to an authentic, bone cracking but relaxing Thai massage.
Dual Country Trip Day 4 - Bangkok
07:00 am - 08:00 am | Breakfast at Hotel
08:00 am - 09:30 am | Wat Pho
09:30 am - 11:00 am | Wat Arun
11:30 am - 01:30 pm | Lunch and travel to Chatuchak Weekend Market
For Mike and I's day tour in Bangkok we decided to visit two temples so we could allot time for shopping. Wat Pho and Wat Arun were the temples we toured in the morning then off we went shopping at Chatuchak Weekend Market the whole afternoon until closing. Like Wat Pho, Wat Arun was not at all new to me. I've been here once but I wanted Mike to visit this temple as it was just a quick ferry ride from Wat Pho (Read: Wat Pho Bangkok, Thailand). I actually chose this for the ferry ride so Mike could experience it.
Because we only had one full day in Bangkok, Mike and I had a quick temple tour in the morning and then we spent the whole afternoonshopping at Chatuchak Weekend Market. Although I've been to Wat Pho twice, now thrice, I'd still want Mike to visit this temple. I'm certain he will be amazed by the wonders it offers and I was totally right.
If you've been reading my blog, you probably know that this was already my third time in Bangkok. The first two trips weresix years ago and after those two wonderful visits, I vowed myself I'd visit Bangkok again. That promisefinally came true this year as I celebrated my birthday in BKK, this time with Mike.
Thailand was the other half of ChaMike's Dual-Country trip, the other one was Cambodia. Supposedly it was a TRI-COUNTRY adventure (Vietnam-Cambodia-Thailand) but because I spent almost a month in Ho Chi Minh for work (Read Work wth Cham in Ho Chi Minh Vietnam), I skipped it and pursued Cambodia-Thailand instead.
Because
Cambodia and Thailand share a land border together with some of the
Indochina countries, you can easily travel via land from Siem Reap to
Bangkok. How? Read on...
Every night tourists who visit Siem Reap end their day at Pub Street to eat, unwind, shop, people watch & have fun. Pub Street is where the bars and clubs are located, it is Siem Reap's party hub so going here is a must. We went here on our last night, although we are not the type who drink all the time, experiencing Pub Street was on our list since this rowdy area is one of the most iconic places in Siem Reap that is not a temple.
Our first dinner in Siem Reap should be memorable. As I had mentioned in my previous posts this trip was my birthday trip and because I turned another year older Mike decided to treat me somewhere special. And there is no dinner more special than a dinner in Cuisine Wat Damnak. Cuisine Wat Damnak if not the best, is one of the best restaurants in Cambodia headed by Frenchman Chef Joannes Riviere. This restaurant is included in Asia's 50 Best Restaurants according to www.theworlds50best.com. It is the only Cambodian restaurant included in the list so this place is quite remarkable that reservation is needed weeks before for you to be accommodated.
This was the fourth and last temple we visited at the Angkor Archeological Park in Siem Reap. We came in full circle as we started the temple tour by catching the sunrise at Angkor Wat and ended it by witnessing the sunset at Phnom Bakheng. Phnom Bakheng is a Buddhist and Hindu temple located on top of a hill famous for the magnificent viewpoint during dusk.
Ta Prohm was our last temple stop before we went back to our hotel to have lunch and freshen up. It was already10:30 am and Mike and I were both a little tired and hungry as we've been up since 3:30am (Read: Angkor Wat Siem Reap Cambodia and Bayon Temple Angkor Thom Siem Reap Cambodia) Ta Prohm was the temple I was most excited about as it is most popular for the huge trees going out of the ruins. Some scenes from Tomb Raider were shot here while Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie) roamed around the jungle temple.
Walk with ChaMike in Bayon Temple Angkor Thom Siem Reap
After appreciating the sunrise at Angkor Wat, our tuk-tuk driver drove us to our second stop, Angkor Thom. Angkor Thom which means Great City is the last capital city of the Khmer empire making it an important place to visit when you are in Siem Reap. At the heart of the ancient city you will see the Bayon Temple, itis also one of the most well-known temples in the Angkor Archeological Park.
Out of all the many temples in Siem Reap, Angkor Wat is the most famous. It was the only temple I knew before I did my research about Cambodia. It turns out there were A LOT! And if you are the type that would love to explore ALL the temples, you should spend several days in Siem Reap but if you would only like to explore the most prominent ones, one full day would be fine with Angkor Wat at the top your top list.
Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world. It is said to be one of the most important archeological sites in South East Asia as it was the center of the Khmer Kingdom. Tourists from different parts of the world travel to see the majestic ruins. It is also best viewed during sunrise.
Walk with ChaMike at La Rose Blanche Boutique Hotel Siem Reap.
Have I told you I love boutique hotels? Yes, I absolutely love staying in a boutique hotel that's why I felt so lucky I was able to book a good one in Siem Reap.
My trip to Siem Reap is five years in the making. Yup! After so many failed attempts, it finally came true and it came at the right time - my last foreign trip before I become Mrs Magsaysay. I'm glad Mike accompanied me even if he had zero plans of visiting this country and he didn't regret it afterwards! Both of us were mesmerized by the charm of Siem Reap. Siem Reap is the most famous town in the Kingdom of Cambodia as it is the gateway to the Angkor Archeological Park. This then-quiet-town-turned-major-tourist-attraction is being flocked by a lot of visitors from around the world for the mythical temples it offers. If you are into Indochina's rich history, religious temples, laid back community and pleasant locals you will surely enjoy discovering this quaint town. Here are the things that you should not miss when visiting Siem Reap.
Cambodia was the other half of ChaMike's Dual-Country trip, the other one was Thailand. Supposedly it was a TRI-COUNTRY adventure (Vietnam-Cambodia-Thailand) but because I spent almost a month in Ho Chi Minh for work (Read Work with Cham in Ho Chi Minh Vietnam), I skipped it and pursued Cambodia-Thailand instead.
Mekong Delta was the place I didn't get to visit when I first went to Ho Chi Minh year 2012. So at last, I finally did during my recent trip. When I first heard of Mekong Delta tour, I thought that it was just a cruise along the small canals of the river but the tour had a lot more to offer.
I visited Ho Chi Minh twice for two different reasons: first was for pleasure, year 2012 and the second was for business (Read: Work with Cham in Ho Chi Minh). And during those times I got to experience Ho Chi Minh, I learned so much about their culture, food and places to visit. In fact Ho Chi Minh, as of this writing is the foreign country I stayed the longest (for more than a month if you combined my two visits) So I compiled all the experiences during my stay. Here is the rundown of the things you can and should do in Saigon.
As much as possible, I try not to mention my work whenever I post something on my blog. For me, blogging is my escape from 'reality.' I find balance whenever I blog;If you are in the TV industry you would understand. But recently, I had this great opportunity to travel for work and I just couldn'tresist not sharing with all of you my experiences from this trip.
ChaMike's 5th Anniversary Celebration at Mapating Island.
Because Anilao is a well-known dive spot, Mike and I didn't miss the chance of doing it on our anniversary... Snorkeling that is, kasi we didn't have a diver's license.
ChaMike's 5th Anniversary Celebration at La Chevrerie and Spa.
Any anniversary would not be complete without a dinner date. Prior to booking, I requested a romantic dinner set-up for two (like I always do every anniversary) and I was grateful that the management gladly accommodated my request.
ChaMike's 5th Anniversary Celebration at Mt Gulugod Baboy.
Celebrating ChaMike's 5th year wouldn't be complete without a hike up a mountain. Oh, I sounded as if we conquered a high one (haha) but because it was our first time, it was still an achievement for us.
ChaMike's 5th Anniversary Celebration at La Chevrerie Resort and Spa.
ChaMike just turned 5! This has been the longest relationship we've both been in and we really wanted to celebrate this milestone somewhere special.Originally, our plan was to visit El Nido, Palawan.We'vealways wanted to go there but because of our work schedule, we could not do any out of town/country trips that involve flying. So we thought the best alternative was an overnight stay in Batangas.
First week of spring break in Harajuku was chaos! The crowd at Takeshita Dori was unbelievably huge we couldn't even walk without bumping into other people.
Eat with Cham at the restaurant that inspired the fight scene in Kill Bill.
This is another Japanese restaurant that has been on my restaurant wish list that Mike and I failed to try during our first visit. The impressive Tarantino film that we all loved got one of its inspirations from this Japanese restaurant. So when I heard that Gonpachi was the restaurant that inspired the famous fight scene from Kill Bill- Bride vs the Crazy 88s and Gogo, I swore I'd visit it when I get back.
Pablo is a cheesecake revolution! I must say I was so curious about it due to the growing buzz online. The rounds on social media made me seriously want to try it myself. Looking at the irresistible gooey cheesecake would make anyone wish they're in Japan at that very moment. So of course, we didn't let our trip pass without trying the trending cheesecake.
Another reason why I really wanted to go back to Japan was this. Mike and I weren't able to experience a Kaiten Sushi (Sushi train) or sushi that comes in a conveyor belt. Not just that, can you believe that I only ate sushi once during the entire one week trip two years ago? Considering that I love eating sushi, I was really looking forward to taste really good sushi during our recent trip. Good thing my Mama is a fan too so we tried it at one of the most popular Kaiten Sushis in Tokyo, Genki Sushi.
From all the cities I've visited in Tokyo, Shibuya was my favorite - the wide array of shops, endless options of restaurants, the Hachiko statue and of course the busy scramble of crowds walking on one of the most famous pedestrian crossings in the world plus the restless energetic vibe from morning to evening makethisplace the most flocked by tourists in Tokyo.
Yes! I finally saw THE Godzilla. In the flesh! I'm pretty sure everyone knows who Godzilla is, especially if you were born in the 90's and below. But for the benefit of the young ones who never encountered the name and weren't able to watch any of the movies or series here is a little background about Godzilla...
Walk with Cham at Yamanakako and Gotemba Premium Outlet Store.
Mt Fuji, the most famous active volcano and highest mountain in Japan is a few hours away from Tokyo. No wonder this nearly perfect shaped volcano has been adored by locals and tourists over the years. During my first Japan visit, Mike and I didn't get thechance to visit and see Mt Fuji up close due to our tight schedule. Although we did get to take a glimpse at it while riding a Shinkansen Nozomi train from Kyoto to Tokyo (Read: Shinkasen going to TOKYO from KYOTO JAPAN). But it was during my recent trip where I had the lucky opportunity to meet her face-to-face.
Walk with Cham at some of the famous Cherry Blossom spots in Tokyo.
Of all the four seasons, spring is my favorite! (though I haven't entirely experienced autumn). I've mentioned this in one of my posts several times- The pleasant weather & blossoming flowers are the two main reasons why I love this season. Especially the pink cherry blossoms that are all over the streets and parks. Luckily my parents and I were booked in Tokyo during the start of cherry blossom season! So yes, I was so ecstatic to look for places where I can see the pretty sakuras and finally experience hanami or cherry blossom viewing which is famous for locals during spring. In our 4-day visit we were able to check out 3 famous sights in Tokyo filled with sakura trees.
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