Chapter 4: New Year's in Bangkok and a Getaway to Cambodia

After my time in Phuket, I returned to Bangkok to celebrate New Year's before heading quickly to Cambodia to see the famous Angkor temples. Bangkok was a logical stop along the way, and since I planned to return to France in early January, I only intended to spend a short time in Cambodia.

Upon arriving in the Thai capital, I found a brand-new hostel at an unbeatable price. It had just opened, so it wasn’t crowded yet, making for a quieter and more pleasant atmosphere. That’s where I met Tan, a Norwegian of Vietnamese and Chinese descent, a digital nomad staying in Thailand. We quickly decided to spend New Year's together, watch the fireworks, and explore a few places in Bangkok that I hadn’t had the chance to visit during my previous stays.

After these final days in Thailand, I took a bus to Siem Reap, Cambodia, the city near the Angkor temples. There, I spent several days exploring this legendary site, a fascinating remnant of a once-mighty empire.

The History of Angkor

Angkor was once the capital of the Khmer Empire, which thrived between the 9th and 15th centuries. This vast temple complex stands as an impressive testament to the power and ingenuity of the Khmers. Spanning over 400 km², the site contains hundreds of temples and ancient structures. The most famous of them, Angkor Wat, was built in the 12th century under the reign of King Suryavarman II. Initially dedicated to Vishnu, it gradually became a Buddhist site. The architecture of Angkor Wat, with its intricate bas-reliefs and lotus-shaped towers, symbolizes Mount Meru, the dwelling place of the gods in Hindu mythology.

Over the centuries, the Khmer Empire declined due to wars, climate changes, and resource depletion. The city was gradually abandoned and reclaimed by the jungle until it was rediscovered by Western explorers in the 19th century. Today, Angkor is a UNESCO World Heritage site and remains one of the most visited archaeological sites in the world.

My Stay in Siem Reap

I also took the opportunity to go on a boat tour to a fishing village on the shores of Tonlé Sap, the largest lake in Southeast Asia.

Since Cambodia is an incredibly affordable country, I decided to slow down and extend my stay in Siem Reap. Hostels cost barely 3 or 4 euros per night, and living expenses were surprisingly low, with meals for just 1 or 2 dollars. Initially, I had planned to leave quickly, but flights in early January were expensive due to the holiday season. I even considered heading to Vietnam, but after weeks of traveling, fatigue was setting in, and I mostly just wanted to go home.

In the end, I stayed in Cambodia until mid-January, making the most of the great weather and the peaceful atmosphere of Siem Reap before finally catching a flight back to France.

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