Dear Rowan McCarthy,
I would like to say thanks for choosing our service for your trip here. This is to support our tour guides. We are not a tour agency and we work as a team of English-speaking tour guides here. Our profit is to support our family and help the poor in this country. Please look at my facebook: Bunleat. You can see our work with FOCO Cambodia orphanage and blind people here.
It took me a few days to investigate the case. I feel this was unfair to us, especially for Mr. Sokdat. Firstly, you made a last minute booking and we tried to arrange this trip for your group even though Mr. Sokdat was on holiday, but he decided to take your group with our request. Secondly, you didn't book us with sunset tour. Next, the tour guide already informed you that you could not enter Angkor Wat after 5:30 pm. This is the law and it's on the back of your ticket . You were inside the temple, you were allowed to stay till sunset at some temples. However, by sunset time, it was close to 6 pm already. You couldn't enter the temple any more.
Mr. Sokdat spent his whole day with you walking, climbing and answering to your questions and stopped at the south gate of Angkor Thom for your sunset photo as well ( But you never mentioned this a good point). He didn't stop the van cos he thought that you couldn't enter the temple. He worked all days long with your group. You did mention that he was a great tour guide and did excellent work too. However, you gave him two stars ( Negative review) which made him feel ashamed. I cannot find justice about this for him. I e-mailed TA management about this case, but they couldn't help us.
I would like to inform all tourists about this case and before making a booking with us, please study about us first. We work for you for 9 hours and please respect our working time. If you wish to see sunrise or sunset, you need to inform us in advance. Please don't treat us like this. We are human-being and we have equal right. It doesn't mean that we are in Cambodia and you can do whatever you want to us. We believe in Karma ( action), Bad Karma will lead to bad life and misfortune. If you can't help other people to be better in their life, please don't make it worse. Bunleat.