Latest news with #Hindu-Buddhist
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Angkor Wat in the wet season is not just cooler, it is less crowded too
The trip to Cambodia's Angkor Wat was unplanned. A Singaporean friend working in the aviation industry had just returned from Siem Reap and said that it was possible again to take a direct flight on AirAsia to the Cambodian city from Kuala Lumpur. The route had been put on hold during the pandemic, and was reinstated in July 2024, though perhaps not many were aware of it. The friend said that Siem Reap's gleaming international airport was near empty and that I should take advantage of the quiet season and visit the place. However, he did not tell me that it was the rainy season, and I too didn't do my research before booking the trip. I blamed myself for the oversight. After all, the heat and humidity in KL in June was unbearable so why would it be any different in neighbouring Cambodia? When my family and I arrived in Siem Reap, we were greeted by heavy rain. But that didn't kill my enthusiasm ... until I asked my tour driver if we should wake up early to catch the sunrise at Angkor Wat. 'Sir, tomorrow it's raining, no point waking up early. Tomorrow's sunset ... I don't know, it's still raining, maybe,' he said casually. By then, everyone was in complete silence and a little disappointed as we continued our journey to the hotel. The author taking the chance to pose next to a pool of water showing a reflection of the temple. After a good breakfast the next day, we were feeling more upbeat, so we decided to still make our way to the majestic Hindu-Buddhist temple complex, regardless of the weather. Armed with our umbrellas, we chose to get splashed by the puddles or even get stuck in the mud if such a thing would happen, than be confined to our cold hotel rooms. And it was a good thing we did, too as the rain wasn't so bad in the end. The rainy season here – usually from May to October – carries a reputation that makes many travellers delay their Cambodian adventures. But it also means wonderful hikes in the lush green forests, going through uncrowded temples, and enjoying monsoon-soaked sunsets that made my heart pause. Though visiting Siem Reap during this season was unplanned, I can confidently say that it turned out well for us. Let's start with the biggest misconception of travelling during the rainy season: that it rains all day, every day. It doesn't. During my stay, at least, most mornings were dry and breezy – ideal for cycling around the temple complex or exploring local markets. The rain came in the late afternoons or early evenings in dramatic, cinematic bursts. Think tropical downpours that cool the air, rinse the dust off ancient stones, and that last just long enough to finish one drink, before the skies clear again. The stones at Nokor Thum or Angkor Thom covered in moss. It may not be a good comparison but to me it was much like the rain in London, where it comes and goes fast. Visiting the Angkor Wat temple complex in the wet season gives you the feeling of seeing them as they once were – alive with water, wrapped in foliage, and free from camera-toting crowds. My guide, an avid photographer, kept pointing to the pools of water to remind me to take pictures of the reflections of one of the world's most famous religious structure for my Instagram. In the absence of the crowd, Angkor Wat was blissfully quiet in the morning, and we covered many parts of the complex without having to compete with other tourists. The air was cooler and we saw many ponds filled with blooming lotuses, while water buffalo waded through flooded rice fields. Ta Prohm, the famous Tomb Raider temple, looked especially otherworldly with its moss- covered walls glistening after the rain. Tree roots shimmered, stones dripped, and the echo of distant thunder made the jungle setting feel more primal than polished. And let's be honest – travelling during the off-season was cheaper and better as hotels offered lower rates and you could simply walk into any restaurant without a reservation. So, I'm glad we embraced spontaneity and booked the trip. In return, we got a Siem Reap that's softer, slower and soulful, with a more mystical Angkor Wat to boot. You can catch creatues like this lizard at the complex during the wet season.
The Independent
09-03-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
The trailblazing female Cambodian tuk tuk group driving change in a male-dominated industry
It's about 7pm, and night-time has already fallen in Siem Reap, Cambodia, and Ms Kim is sitting in the back bench seat of her own tuk tuk, talking to me via video call on her phone, after a long day of working. In 2013, she became one of Cambodia's first few female tuk tuk drivers, among the country's tens of thousands of male tuk tuk drivers. Motorbikes pull these motorised two-wheeled carriages with two bench seats – also known as auto rickshaws or 'remorque' in Khmer – and fill the country's streets, an easy and cheap way to traverse its busy traffic. However, you'll barely see any women driving them, that is, unless you go to Siem Reap. Known as the gateway to Angkor Wat – Cambodia's Unesco-status complex of Hindu-Buddhist temples on the well-trodden backpacker path – there are plenty of tourists to drive around. That's why Ms Kim started Tuk Tuk Lady here, Cambodia's first non-profit organisation for female tuk tuk drivers. It's now a 50-strong group of women driving tuk tuks around the area's historical sites and taking people to and from restaurants and hotels. The drivers are also easily recognisable thanks to their uniforms of bright blue T-shirts. Ms Kim says the community was created to 'empower women and give them more confidence and independence, and to break stereotypes' in a very male-dominated society and industry. It also gives them access to the country's growing tourism industry. Among them, there are single mothers, like herself, as well as widows, people with disabilities and young people who don't have work. It gives people who are often disadvantaged the chance to work and contribute. Tuk Tuk Lady started in 2021, but the idea for it has been brewing since 2013 when Ms Kim got her licence, and getting to where she is now certainly hasn't come without its obstacles. Previously, she had been a street vendor, selling fish and vegetables on roadside markets. But it became a necessity to find other work, as her youngest son has problems with his sight and hearing, and both she and her ex-husband suffered bouts of illness followed by divorce. Worse yet, to pay for treatment, she was forced to sell her tuk tuk. To buy another, which cost $2,200 (£1,700), she had to borrow the money. In 2013, there weren't any women driving tuk tuks in Phnom Penh. When Ms Kim finally got her licence and went to pick it up, even the people issuing it were surprised that she was a woman and the owner of a tuk tuk. There also weren't many tourists and so she had to rely on the business of locals, which also came with its problems. 'Once I had my licence and started driving on the road, I quickly realised that no one knew I was a tuk tuk driver! There were no passengers waiting for me because the idea of a female tuk tuk driver was still new.' She also says she was 'looked down on, especially by local people' who didn't think she could do the job. She would also often 'be confused for the customer of the tuk tuk, rather than the driver'. Even after showing potential customers her licence, they still didn't believe her, and so she struggled for work. It was when she moved from the capital to Siem Reap in 2015 that the tables turned. 'I met a lot of tourists who encouraged me, gave me advice, taught me English and made me feel confident and proud of myself,' she says. This newfound confidence pushed her to create Tuk Tuk Lady, and when other women saw what she was doing, many wanted to join the community she'd created. For Ms Kim, encouraging other women to believe that whatever men can do, women can do too, is the best part of her community. Though she says despite having plenty of support from international tourists, disappointedly, 'still, local people don't really support us, we want them to use our service too'. They're also in competition with Indian rickshaws – they're much smaller and usually have green and yellow or black and yellow cabs, but aren't as good for sightseeing as they're more enclosed. 'Local people prefer to use the rickshaw, as they're cheaper, it's one of the challenges for us,' she says. They're also mostly booked on ride-hailing apps, which limit the price on the distance, making them cheaper. Helping with her success, Ms Kim says social media has been key: 'I'm recommended on TripAdvisor, so I get pre-bookings through this and I also get tourists who want to book me immediately too via WhatsApp.' She's also on other social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, where she promotes her business and is also recommended by the G Adventures tour operator, which connects her drivers to travellers. Her main customers are usually families, as they've heard about Ms Kim's family and want to support her and 'they know I will look after them properly'. When I ask how her day has been, she says she's happy she's been able to help people today. When she's not driving tourists, she also uses her tuk tuk to deliver books to young children, as well as food to older people, and she is almost brought to tears when she tells me how important this is to her. Her commitment to supporting and improving the lives of her community runs deep. Ms Kim's tuk tuk community provides far more than simply a service to tourists. Not only is it a way for travellers to connect to local people in Siem Reap and to financially support them, but it's also giving women independence and confidence to be part of something much bigger – they're on the road to equality.
