Cambodia with children
SIEM REAP
Among the many World Heritage temples that are concentrated in Siem Reap, there are some that are especially attractive to children. The history of the Angkor civilization, the struggles of its kings and its impressive ruins in the middle of the jungle will undoubtedly capture the attention of the little ones. The key is to select the temples, respect their attention span and move around in a fun way that tires them a little. For this, nothing like rent a tuk-tuk to get to Angkor , enjoying the jungle scenery and its many monkeys along the way, and combine it with elephant rides and walks between the temples, scampering along the paths that link one temple to the next.
Of all the temples in Siem Reap, there are two that are especially suitable for the little ones, due to their ghostly air and their figures carved into the rock.
Start by Angkor Thom . The one that translates as “Great City” was the last capital of the Khmer Empire and at its height it had more than a million inhabitants, when in Europe cities were more like small villages. His stories of demons, gods and kings will blow the imagination of children . Of the fortified city that it was, only the stone ruins remain today, but they are enough to give us an idea of the magnificence that Angkor Thom must have represented in the 13th century. In each of the entrance towers, a row of 54 demons and stone gods that guard them , with expressions that reveal their identity. In the towers, the four faces carved in stone, each facing a cardinal point, are among the most photographed images of Angkor. And if this were not enough, the Terrace of the Elephants will keep you entertained for a long time, counting how many of them appear on its base.
The temples of Angkor will make children's imaginations run wild
Continue with Tha Phrom, the most photogenic of the Angkor temples . As if it were The Jungle Book, the little ones will marvel at the tree roots sticking out between the stones , as if they wanted to gobble up parts of the temple. The not so little ones will remember Lara Croft and her adventures in this same temple. Some travel agencies organize games for families based on the film, a kind of treasure hunt with a map included that will undoubtedly amuse everyone. And don't forget to look for the sculpted figure in the stegosaurus-shaped rock , undoubtedly the result of the creativity of Khmer artisans towards rhinoceroses, which can give rise to stories of creatures lost in time.
The roots of Tha Phrom will delight the little ones
When they get tired of temples, take a break and take them to see the floating village of Tonlé Sap lake . Children will be amazed to see other children who make their lives on water, including going to school which, of course, is also floating.
For the more adventurous, give them something they won't forget: see the temples of Angkor from a hot air balloon , which hovers over the temples for 20 minutes. The balloon is tethered to the ground, and 20 minutes up there seems so much longer.
A hotel: e he Sofitel It has adjoining rooms that connect, babysitting service and a room with video games to keep the children entertained in the hottest hours. In most cases, a large swimming pool like the one at Pavillion d'Orient it is enough to recover from the temples and recharge energy.
A restaurant: visit the Night Market and eat in its simple open-air restaurants. If you still have strength, dare with a fish foot massage.
An advice: avoid the hottest hours don't spend more than half a day to see the temples . Make frequent stops and bring some filling to make sandwiches with the baguettes that are sold at the entrance of the temples.
It is advisable not to spend more than half a day visiting the temples
BATTAMBANG
Take a boat to Battambang and spend a couple of nights in This rarely visited city in the northwest of the country is worth a visit if you are traveling with children . Visit the Phare Ponleu Selpak circus , a cultural organization that offers Cambodian youth a way out of poverty by teaching them to be professional artists, with shows on Monday, Thursday and Friday at 7 pm. Or go to the Apostolic Prefecture of the Spanish Bishop Kike Figaredo, where the Jesuit and his team carry out work to reintegrate and rehabilitate young people affected by the anti-personnel mines that populate the area. Thanks to the work of Kike and the Spanish volunteers, many children that the center welcomes speak Spanish, and their stories of overcoming will make the visit a wonderful educational opportunity.
A hotel: Located between the rice fields, the Battambang Resort It is an oasis of tranquility with a saltwater pool.
A restaurant: go to gecko cafe to rest from spicy Khmer food. Burgers, pizzas and even quesadillas in this place near the night market.
An advice: do not miss its Bamboo Train, unique in the world. A wooden platform with detachable bamboo slats, which rides on rickety rails on a 7-kilometre road between Battambang and the village of O Sra Lav.
The Phare Ponleu Selpak Circus in Battambang
PHOM PHEN
The Cambodian capital is known for the Killing Fields or the S-21 prison, both examples of Khmer Rouge brutality. Unless you are traveling with teenagers, it is not recommended to visit these historical places with minors . However, Phnom Penh has a lot to offer families with children.
- Stroll along the river at sunset. The walk comes alive at night, bringing together many families strolling at the end of the day and fishermen returning home with their catch. crowd of local food and popcorn stalls line the sides , and it is the ideal place to interact with local children, who play ball and run around the promenade.
- Visit the National Museum and feed their giant fish. The Museum displays photographs and artifacts from across the country, and is an ideal introduction to the temples of Siem Reap. But what the children will like the most will undoubtedly be feeding the giant koi that crowd the garden ponds.
- Go to a shadow puppet theater . The Souvanna Phoum art association offers performances on Fridays and Saturdays from 7:30 p.m. You can also visit the association during the day to see how the puppets are made.
- Get a music lesson at the Royal Palace . For a small donation, the musicians at the Royal Palace will let your children try out traditional Cambodian musical instruments, and even give them a music lesson. The Palace gardens also offer a multitude of opportunities for children to play and let off steam.
The pool at Villa Paradiso
**- A hotel: Villa Paradiso **, for its pool, its tranquility and its extremely friendly service staff. The Balinese Suite has a raised platform with a mattress that can be used as an extra bed for two children.
- A restaurant: Friends , for its fusion menu that allows you to find something for all tastes, and for the work it has done since 1994 picking up young people from the street and offering them a professional future.
- An advice: the best time to enjoy Cambodia is between November and February , when temperatures are milder and it doesn't rain. But this is also the time that most tourists visit, which in the temples of Siem Reap can ruin the experience.
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