Exploring Angkor Wat was foremost in my mind when I visited Siem Reap and I was pleasantly surprised to discover Jaya House River Park Siem Reap as a luxurious boutique hotel with a sustainability program.
With 36 rooms and suites, 2 swimming pools, a spa and a restaurant specializing in Khmer cuisine for dinner, the hotel operates with zero plastic - not a single plastic bottle in sight and instead the hotel provides each guest with a refillable aluminum bottle.
The aluminum water bottle was very handy as I carried it around when I was going in and out of town and discovering the nearby sprawling temples.
The egg shaped clay jar as a refilling water station reminded me of the days in the province when the jar was the primary container for keeping the water cool and fresh.
It was also my first time to use a bamboo straw to enjoy a fresh glass of watermelon as part of the hotel's welcome drinks together with the glass of champagne - thanks to the French colonial influence on the latter.
Local fruits are part of the amenities instead of the usual apples and oranges.
The spacious suite seems to be accentuated with a homage to Cambodia's spirited past - the nostalgic black and white portraits and dial phone - just before the Khmer Rouge seized power of the country on April 17, 1975 and until the regime was overthrown in 1979.
The modern and minimalist bathtub and separate shower with a rain shower head overlook a private verdant garden that also has its own shower. Lotus flower shampoo, liquid soap and lotion are contained and refilled in ceramic bottles.
The suite leads directly to a swimming pool and lounge area. Along the hallways, Buddhist-inspired artifacts, lotus flower paintings and artworks made out of recycled and discarded military equipment are on display.
Jaya House River Park and the beautiful city of Siem Reap bloom like a lotus flower, reminding me of a Buddhist quote, "As a lotus flower is born in water, grows in water and rises out of water to stand above it unsoiled, so I, born in the world, raised in the world having overcome the world, live unsoiled by the world."
Aside from the van and Tuk-tuk, the hotel provides a military-style jeep for visiting tourist attractions.
The hotel was featured in Siem Reap as having one of the top 10 sustainable tourism initiatives together with the city's top businesses.
For more information, visit: Jaya House River Park Siem Reap and FB - Jaya House Siem Reap
Comments
Post a Comment