So please allow me to dwell on a very good memory of my brief stay at Moon Boutique Hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia. My friend S and I made a last minute decision to travel early December and we decided to visit Cambodia for the Angkor Wat. We were sure we did not want to stay in a hostel and with the plurality of boutique hotels in Siem Reap, we were determined to choose one to our liking.
We initially wanted a centrally located one so we can just walk to the neighboring restaurants, cafes, galleries or get a tuk-tuk and explore. We happened to be there during Person with Disability (PWD) marathon so most of the hotels were booked. By chance or circumstance, we ended up with Moon Boutique Hotel.
And that's one occasion where not getting what you want and getting something else was a blessing in disguise. The hotel seemed far but the pictures from its website said it only had about 15 rooms, just opened 3 months prior, had a pool, had a tub, roundtrip airport transfers and provided free Tuktuk service and mobile phone to their guests. All that for about $30 per room!
When we we arrived at the Siem Reap Airport, we were expecting a car to fetch us. Instead, a TukTuk driver greeted us upon exit and there we were, whisked away under the morning sun, passing through highways, the main river and small roads until we reached our tiny boutique hotel.
While our luggage was being unloaded and we were checking in, they gave us a citrus drink to cool down. We had limited time so we immediately booked a private tour to Tonle Sap lake through the concierge. As soon we were settled, off we were again with our tuktuk driver. More on the lake on a different post!
After being away for about 3 hours, we were hungry and in dire need of relaxation. We had unlimited water in the Tutktuk but nothing spells rest than lounging on a bed by the pool with this view.
Famished as we were, we split a massive bottle of Angkor Beer and an order of battered shrimps. Although the shrimps were nothing spectacular, the light beer was more than enough to put us in absolute vacation mode. There we were drinking, lying down, talking under the late afternoon sun, right before we headed off to an evening of Apsara dancing in Siem Reap.
I'm not ending this post without mentioning how great breakfast is at the Moon Boutique Hotel. We had a very loooong second day and by the third day, we completely missed the breakfast schedule. I call this spread, breakfast for late risers. Could you see that entire basket of bread? There's the usual toast, then there's French bread, and normal and chocolate croissants! All these breads were packed jam, butter with fresh fruit as we went to Angkor Wat very early in the morning the day before.
So it was really with so much delight that the hotel indulged us with breakfast even if it was actually time for brunch already. I opted for the continental breakfast so I could have my sausages, bacon and eggs with fresh fruit juice. It was just such a pleasant feeling having breakfast at their al fresco dining area. The food was good, generous, and despite the occasional language barrier, the servers got exactly what we needed.
On one afternoon after going around Siem Reap, we came back again to the hotel to change and eat. Oh the convenience of having our own tuktuk driver at our beck and call all day (and night). On one of those late lunches, I ordered fish and chips. The crisps were not made of potato but cassava chips, a root crop similar to potatoes. Just their luck, I love cassava chips! Once again, with a tall glass of light Angkor Beer.
And here another shot of their dining area with a view of the swimming pool. All the 15 rooms surround the pool with the reservations area right at the front. It's a much prettier sight at night but I wasn't able to take pictures as we were swimming, and again, drinking and eating by the pool.
Even if only for the Moon Boutique Hotel experience, I will definitely come back to Siem Reap! The staff were both honest and attentive, and didn't mince with suggestions about where to go, what to eat, what to watch. We arrived Siem Reap without having any plans except to see the temples, the lake, watch a traditional show, and eat some local food. Despite not having any schedule in hand, their staff made it possible for us to see the best of Siem Reap!
Link to the Moon Boutique Hotel: http://www.themoonboutiquehotel.com/
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