The prosperous town of Siem Reap, which is on the doorstep of Cambodia’s most famous attraction Angkor Wat, is only two hours away by direct flight from Kuala Lumpur.
Siem Reap can be translated as “defeat of Siam (Thailand)”. That’s not very tactful – not surprising the two neighbours are at loggerheads over a disputed border. It would be like London naming its landmarks after victories over the French like Waterloo or Trafalgar.
Despite its war-filled history and more recent tragedies, the Cambodians are very friendly and hospitable, and Siem Reap is well worth visiting for a few days.
