Flying to Siem Reap, Cambodia

OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can it be? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.

Jiffy (also jiff)

noun [in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.

ORIGIN late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.

So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use that one. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!

Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas

Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!

Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!

Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra

Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!

คุณพูดภาษาไทยได้ไหม ไม่มีปัญหา ถ้าคุณต้องการไปหน้าถัดไป ให้กดปุ่ม “Next” ข้างบนนี้

Вы говорите по-русски? Просто нажмите синюю кнопку "Next" с левой стороны и Вы моментально переместитесь на следующую страницу!

E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.

Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.

Thursday 14 ^th of December 2023 and Air Asian flight FD 610 departing at 09:55, arriving to Siem Reap at 11:00. So I had my tea immediately when my alarm went off at 4 o'clock, well, there wassome “snoozing” time. But I was ready to book my Lineman car at 6 o'clock, or a few minutes after 6.

And today, luckily enough, it was quite quick to get a car to respond to my booking. I went down with the garbage and a box with “refreshments”

My favorite refreshments are not available in Cambodia, at least not last time I was in Cambodia back in August. And I brought my own back in August as well, but this time I need refreshments for a 7 days birding tour.

And I had paid for extra checked-in luggage for the Bangkok to Siem Reap leg. Going back home and there will not be any need for the extra check-in luggage. I went back up to get my bag and the taxi arrived when I was back down again.

My luggage ready to be loaded in to the taxi

On the way to Don Mueang International Airport/ ท่าอากาศยานดอนเมือง

Early morning and we were soon on the toll way booth at Sukhumvit Soi 1 and I was pleasantlysurprised to find the toll way almost empty. We were hauling arse towards Don Mueang International Airport/ ท่าอากาศยานดอนเมือง.

Making it to the airport in a record-breaking time and I step out of the taxi around 7 o'clock and I have three hours before departure. Plenty time for check-in, immigration and security.

And I need to get my refund for tourists, 8320 Baht, for my new lap top. Checking in, the machines was not working, or I don't know how to operate them. There were no instructions at all on the machine so I went to the check-in desk.

Everything went very smooth and I was soon on my way to the tax refund for tourists. I showed my receipt and my computer and they stamped my yellow tax refund document. I will show this after immigration and they will give me the cash.

Air Asia check-in

Refreshments and luggage

I went to the immigration and it was a pretty quick affair and the security was even quicker. I sat down on a char after the immigration and I had brought my bin with all my stuff. I did not really fancy to block the queue after the x-ray.

I put on my belt and shoes and my snus went down the pocket and the valet in the back pocket. My e-cig went in to the shirt pocket, phone and camera in to my two belt pouches. A lot of things to remove before the x-ray.

I went to collect my tax money and by then I had two hours to kill before departure.

Don Mueang International Airport/ ท่าอากาศยานดอนเมือง

Don Mueang International Airport/ ท่าอากาศยานดอนเมือง

Don Mueang International Airport/ ท่าอากาศยานดอนเมือง

Don Mueang International Airport/ ท่าอากาศยานดอนเมือง

Of course, departure gate #14, at the far end and I started to trot towards the gate. Getting really nostalgic walking towards the gate. It is almost 20 years ago I ha dmy last flight from Don Mueang International Airport/ ท่าอากาศยานดอนเมือง

I am getting thirsty and as there is no MAX available on the airport, I was looking for water. Or why not a cup of tea. I pass a S & P restaurant but there is too much people so I continue towards gate #14.

Suddenly I found myself having put all shops behind me and I gave up the water idea. I arrived to the gate and I remembered how it was sitting there waiting for my flights 20 years ++ ago. And I have missed several flights departing from Don Mueang International Airport/ ท่าอากาศยานดอนเมือง.

About two hours to departure and there was not many people waiting and I got a seat close to the boarding gate. Now I have to kill time in my chair hoping that the time will pass quickly.

I reach gate #14

Gate #14

Gate #14

Gate #14

Time was actually passing very quickly, one hour passed like nothing and suddenly it was 9 thirty. No sign off any boarding to start, 25 minutes until departure and it says that the gate close 20 minutes before departure.

We started boarding and by now it looked like the plane will be quite full, if not completely full. The waiting area was full and group 1 started boarding and a couple of minutes later it was group 2. I am in group 3 as I sit in row 6.

Boarding is quite quick and I am soon sitting in my seat. I have to rise after a few seconds as the tow passengers that are going to sit between me and the window are coming to take their seats.

Gate #14

Walking to Air Asia Flight FD 610

Walking to Air Asia Flight FD 610

Boarding Air Asia Flight FD 610

Boarding Air Asia Flight FD 610

Departure as scheduled and we touched down in Siem Reap almost exactly one hour after pull back from the jet bridge in Bangkok. I have downloaded some games to my phone so one hour passed very quickly. Same as my last flight with Air Asia, a nice flight.

Coming out from the plane and I did not recognize the airport. I remembered last time in Siem Reap and we were driving along the new, but not completed highway between Sien Reap and the new airport.

So, obviously, they have opened the new airport and it was really looking brand new. But not many airplanes, our plane + one Singapore Airlines on the tarmac and a domestic airline.

Siem Reap International Airport / អាកាសយានដ្ឋានអន្តរជាតិសៀមរាប

Siem Reap International Airport was an international airport serving Siem Reap and Angkor. It opened in 1932 and closed in 2023 upon the opening of Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport. It was the second-busiest airport in Cambodia after Phnom Penh International Airport.

Siem Reap Airport opened in 1932 under French supervision. A modern terminal was inaugurated in 2006.

Due to increased traffic and pollution damage caused to Angkor Wat, in 2010, plans for replacing the airport with a larger airport further from the temple complex were announced. After delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2023, the Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport was opened and the Siem Reap International Airport was closed.

Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport/ អាកាសយានដ្ឋានអន្តរជាតិសៀមរាប-អង្គរ

Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport is an international airport in Soutr Nikom District, Siem Reap province which serves the city of Siem Reap, Cambodia. 40 km east of Angkor Wat and 50 km east of Siem Reap.

It is the largest airport in Cambodia. SAI covers an area of 700 hectares of land and has a 3,600 m runway. The airport can handle 65,800 flights and 7 million passengers annually, projected to increase to 112,700 flights and 12 million passengers annually from 2040

History
The airport was built to replace Siem Reap International Airport, which proved unable to handle increased traffic and caused damage to Angkor Wat due to pollution. The project was introduced in 2010, and a Chinese company, Yunnan Investment Holdings Limited, was selected to build the airport in December 2016.

The airport was constructed under a 55-year build–operate–transfer agreement.

Construction started in July 2018, and was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a labor shortage. The airport opened on 16 October 2023.

Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport/ អាកាសយានដ្ឋានអន្តរជាតិសៀមរាប-អង្គរ

Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport/ អាកាសយានដ្ឋានអន្តរជាតិសៀមរាប-អង្គរ

Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport/ អាកាសយានដ្ឋានអន្តរជាតិសៀមរាប-អង្គរ

Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport/ អាកាសយានដ្ឋានអន្តរជាតិសៀមរាប-អង្គរ

Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport/ អាកាសយានដ្ឋានអន្តរជាតិសៀមរាប-អង្គរ

And of course, we are arriving at the gate furthest away from the immigration and I had to trot all the way to the immigration. Well, maybe good, I had not been to Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym today.

So instead of my sesion with The Red Devil (ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์) I got thisconstitutional out of my trip to Cambodia.

Immigration was a quick affair as I had applied for an e-visa before going. Last time I had to queue up to buy a visa but this time I was through in a couple of minutes.

My refreshments came on the luggage belt by the time I came to the luggage claim area so no need to wait and I was soon on my way to the custom. They stopped me and pointed at my paper box on my luggage cart.

- Whats in the box?
- Diet drinks, I answered
I bend down to open the box and he told me that it was not necessary. But I had planned to open the box anyway to have a refreshment in the car.

Refreshments arriving on the luggage belt

Coming out and I recognized my Guide from the last time. He was waiting for me holding up a sign. The driver was soon arriving and we took off towards the hotel in Siem Reap.

We expect it to take about one hour to reach my hotel in Siem Reap, Grand Yard La Residence.

I enjoyed a refreshment in the back while we were driving along the new highway from the airport. We discussed the upcoming days and we had canceled the cranes on the first day.

The cranes have not arrived to Cambodia so we will see if we can go on the last day of birding before I go back home.

On the way to Siem Reap

Enjoying my self

Checking in to my room, and I found myself in a very nice room. I had a cup of tea with a piece of cheese. They delivered 7 liters ow water and a bottle of milk for my tea. We have arranged for them to bring my breakfast at 04 thirty in the morning.

We will leave for bird watching at 5 o'clock.

So, I will need water and milk for my morning tea and I can enjoy myself before they come to pick me up for the bird watching.

My room at Grand Yard La Residence

My room at Grand Yard La Residence

My room at Grand Yard La Residence

My room at Grand Yard La Residence

My room at Grand Yard La Residence

I went down to the reception to ask for a supermarket and the staff arranged for a tuk tuk to take me to the supermarket and back. They have Yellow Label tea at the hotel and I would not mind some Earl Grey tea.

So they were sending me to a 7 Eleven and I told them that I needed a big supermarket. 7 Eleven's tea selection will for sure not be impressive and will be a waste of time.

So they instructed the tuk tuk driver to bring me to a big supermarket. Angkor Market was a big supermarket and it would be 5 Dollars for a return trip.

Well, 4 dollars, but I only had a 5 Dollar bill so I had planned to give him 5 Dollars and I will have got rid of my last dollars.

We are ready to take off

On the way to buy tea at Angkor Market

On the way to buy tea at Angkor Market

Driving through Siem Reap

Arriving to Angkor Market

Arriving to Angkor Market

There were plenty tea and I bought 50 bags of earl Grey tea. I was looking for some loose tea as well, to bring back home. In Bangkok there is only Twining’s Earl Grey. It is a good tea, but sometimes it is nice with a change.

I would like to buy Darjeeling tea but they only had bags. There was something called Russian Earl Grey Bio and I bought 600g to bring back home.

I had a burger (two) when I was back in my room. I ordered room service without fries and the buns. A bucket of Earl Grey tea and I am ready to go to bed and I am pretty excited to get out birding at Changkran Roy to look for the Bar-bellied Pitta.

Click HERE to find out if we have any luck with the bird watching.

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