Exploring Siem Reap: Fun Adventures on Pub Street and Angkor Wat

With both Pub Street and Angkor Wat calling, our three wandering rascals survived the six-hour taxi ride to Siem Reap. Two thirds of the gang enjoyed those six hours more than the other third.

But arrive they did, and it’s always a pleasant surprise to find that your previously booked hotel is actually surprisingly nice.

A luxurious bedroom featuring a large bed with decorative pillows, a wooden bench, and elegant bedding accented with gold. To the right, there is a seating area with two chairs and a wooden table, along with a modern bathroom visible in the background. — *One of the better hotels had along the way at one of the lesser prices*

Aerial view of a hotel courtyard featuring a swimming pool with dolphin designs, surrounded by lounge chairs, tropical plants, and a patio area with tables under palm-like structures. — *One of the better hotels had along the way at one of the lesser prices*

Being hung over can be thirsty work, but these boys are cunning and sniffed out hydrating stops with ease. Thirsts were quenched.

Three men posing for a selfie at night on Pub Street, showcasing vibrant neon lights and a bustling street scene in the background. — *Unsure what sort of businesses were on Pub Street, the gang went to check*

(Not so) bright and early the following day, the Da Nang Dunts hit the road to where Angelina Jolie filmed Lara Croft: Tomb Raider at Angkor Wat 25 years earlier.

A person wearing a helmet is sitting on a motorcycle, checking their phone, dressed in a blue shirt and patterned pants, on a street with various buildings and vehicles in the background. — *The Dunts’ fearless leader, President Thor*

Mirroring ‘The Black Widows’ in Clint Eastwood’s Every Which Way, But Loose, film, the Dunts hit the road and, remarkably, even found their way there.

But first, they took a pit stop.

A man wearing a blue helmet and sunglasses sitting outdoors, sipping from a coconut through a straw, with colorful umbrellas in the background. — *Not even one hop was used in this rehydration stop*

A freshly opened green coconut with soft white flesh exposed and liquid inside, placed on a pink table. — *Not even one hop was used in this rehydration stop*

And then there was Angkor Wat.

At US$62 for a three-day pass to the Angkor Archaeological Park, it’s not overly expensive, but considering the Dunts could’ve purchased 31 cocktails each, at happy hour, for the same price, splashing out that much was not a decision made lightly.

An interior view of an ancient stone structure featuring a long hallway with multiple doorways, stone benches, and a prominent statue of a figure on the right. — *Built in the 12th century, Angkor Wat’s legacy is comparable to that of The Da Nang Dunts*

Ruins of ancient temple complex with stone structures, stairs, and detailed carvings under a clear blue sky. — *Built in the 12th century, Angkor Wat’s legacy is comparable to that of The Da Nang Dunts*

Four young girls dressed in traditional attire are gathered in an ancient temple setting, with two girls sitting on steps, one girl adjusting her clothing, and two girls standing closely together, one looking at a phone. — *Local young girls there for their own photo shoot*

Two men standing side by side with their hands on their hearts, wearing gray t-shirts, in front of a textured wall. — *Part of a weird sound test, not the Da Nang Dunts National Anthem*

Two men standing side by side against a stone wall; one wearing sunglasses and a blue shirt with patterned pants, and the other wearing a beige shirt and dark pants, both with hands over their hearts. — *Part of a weird sound test, not the Da Nang Dunts National Anthem*

Three men sitting on a stone wall by a body of water, with ancient temple structures visible in the background.

Three men standing on a pathway in front of Angkor Wat, with palm trees and temple structures visible in the background.

Three men posing for a selfie with ancient temple ruins in the background, greenery visible in the distance. — *One of The Da Nang Dunts’ promotionals posters*

A vibrant sunset over a temple complex, featuring intricate architecture with tall spires, surrounded by lush greenery and a reflective body of water in the foreground. — *A local artist’s painting, remaining to this day, rolled up somewhere* *unknown*

Close-up of a soda can with a tab and condensation on the surface. — *Old school beer can tab*

Whatever day of the year it was, it just so happened to be one of the 365 days of the year that Pub Street was open.

It would’ve been rude of the Dunts not to return and support the Cambodian economy.

The Dunts don’t like being rude so they supported the Cambodian economy very, very, very well.

But first, one must prepare with food, pool beers and pulling faces.

Plate of bruschetta topped with diced tomatoes and fresh basil, featuring toasted bread slices. — *Pub Street preparations in full swing*

A plate of rice topped with a fried egg and a serving of stir-fried chicken with basil, green onions, and chili peppers. — *Pub Street preparations in full swing*

At $2 a cocktail, the Dunts had never felt richer.

Rather than try a drink, the Dunts tried all of them and still came away with cash in their pockets.

The Dunts love Pub Street!

Three men posing for a selfie at a rooftop location with a vibrant cityscape in the background, featuring colorful lights and busy streets.

Two men smiling while sitting at a table with colorful cocktails in a lively bar setting, decorated with lights and greenery.

A vibrant cocktail served in a glass with ice, garnished with a slice of lime and a green straw, resting on a textured surface.

On Pub Street, one can enjoy a drink at an outside bar, while people-watching and having a fish pedicure. That’s Doctor Fish (Garra Rufa) eating away the dead skin.

The Dunts dig all that stuff but they did not want to be responsible for the fish dying, so went to bars without the fish-eating-feet experience.

It may have been around this time, or maybe a little later, that the Dunts came to the conclusion that late at night in Siem Reap, weird things can happen.

Three men smiling and posing for a selfie at night, with colorful lights and a bustling scene in the background. — *Sometimes late at night, Thor has itchy nipples*

A man standing next to a colorful rooster statue, wearing a grey shirt and patterned pants, with flip-flops on a tiled floor. — *Sometimes late at night, Member finds random cocks to play with*

A man holding a microphone while sitting in a colorful, lively setting with decorative items and a backdrop featuring artwork. — *Sometimes late at night, Member* *impersonates strangled cats*

Two men in a colorful bar setting, one sitting and looking serious while the other playfully leans in behind him, holding a drink. — *Sometimes late at night, Member gives Sarge sexy looks while Thor licks his lips and cuddles Member*

A man kneeling on one knee is proposing to a woman in a casual setting, with a joyful expression on her face. The background features soft lighting and colorful decorations. — *Sometimes late at night, Member is an environmentalist and recycles beer can tabs*

A close-up of a person’s hand receiving a ring from another person, with jewelry and a brightly lit background. — *Sometimes late at night, Member is an environmentalist and recycles beer can tabs*

And possibly… very probably, in fact, the weirdest thing that happened late that night in Siem Reap, was on the way home.

The Dunts stopped off for one last beer at a pop-up trolley bar, somewhere unknown.

A free, very weird, live sex show thing unfolded before the Dunts’ now blurry eyes.

The Dunts didn’t want anything to do with this exhibition.

They even felt embarrassed just being there.

So they took some photos.

Because seriously, who on earth wears a sun hat at night?

A smiling man in a casual shirt sits in a dimly lit setting, with colorful lighting. In the background, two women are seated, one wearing a floral outfit and another in a large hat. — *Sometimes late at night, superhero outfits are different*

A group of five people socializing at a bar in a lively setting with colorful lighting. One person is taking a selfie, while others are seated at a table with drinks. — *Sometimes late at night, superhero outfits are different*

With hard-core motorbikes hired and more famous ruins yet to be experienced, our night-dwellers, the ones with penises but without sunhats, became day-dwellers venturing out to the ancient stone temples once again.

Doing their Easy Rider thing, the Dunts putted throughout the Angkor Archaeological Park, taking in…

Ta Prohm…