Siem Reap and its temples

[Bobcock]

DD

I have 32GB to date, I reckon I'll buy at least another 8GB card before leaving, maybe 2.

[Phuketrichard]

I was just in SR 10 days ago and the place is empty. All the trouble in Thailand means no one is flying. or traveeling to Cambodia. The flights are nearly empty so no idea why they said they are full;


I stayed at the Neak Pean, www.neakpeanhotelsiemreap.com and very nice for $35
Many of the new larger hotels (2-4 STAR) are along hwy 6, thats the road between the airpoirt and town. Many running at 35% occupancy so just hit a few and make them an offer

DON'T hire thru the hotel as then he has to pay the hotel commission
Hire a tuk tuk driver for $12-15/day outside every hotel and he is yours all day and night until u call it quits. and he will be there at 5 am to pick u up ( thats about what time you need to leave to get the sunrise) Tuk tuk's are much nicer as ur out in the fresh air

No need for guide, buy a few books and read up. Lonely planets is by far the best and there is a local one about the temples u can pick up from the kids outside the temples for about $7

NOTE you are allowed into The complex after 4 pm for free everyday so when you go go catch the sunset somewhere for free asnd then buy your three day pass ($40) the next morn.

Take u around to bars???? The bar scene SUCKS in SR, thats funny, they are all clustered in one small area, called pub alley and it is really Kao san road but more upper class. lots of nice restaurants and all overpriced!! Without Angkor ,Siem reap would get zero tourists. Its all new in the last 4 years


Plenty of internet shops around town so take an external hard drive and then just transfer your pics.

[sjaak327]

You can go to Angkor on the cheap from Bangkok, it won't take much time, from Mochit get the first class bus to Aran (236 baht per person, 4 hours), get a tuk tuk to the border from the bus station (80 baht) cross the border (20 USD per person visa on arrival, maybe a bit more, make sure you have dollars), then take a taxi to Siem reap, roughly 2,5 hours, should cost you no more then 50 USD. Might even be less expensive, SR to poipet (the other way arond) is only 35 USD.

I did this trip in reverse just about a week ago.

Flying into SR is madly expensive, and you also pay 25 USD airport tax on your way out. Flying into Phnom Penh on air Asia is not quicker nowadays then doing the overland trip from BKK to Aran and finally Siem Reap, as the bus from PP to SR will also take 5,5 hours.

The temples were great, I only went to Angkor Wat, the Bayon and Tha Phrom, as I had only one day, it was still worth every penny (20 USD for the ticket, 15 USD for the driver).

Anchor by the way isn't a bad brew either, but only from draught, not from cans, beerlao is also everywhere in Cambodia. Angkor is best from draught as well.

[alphagirl]

You can go to Angkor on the cheap from Bangkok, it won't take much time, from Mochit get the first class bus to Aran (236 baht per person), get a tuk tuk to the border from the bus station (80 baht) cross the border (20 USD per person visa on arrival, maybe a bit more, make sure you have dollars), then take a taxi to Siem reap, roughly 2,5 hours, should cost you no more then 50 USD. I did this trip in reverse just about a week ago.

wow I like it

[Bobcock]

Leaving tomorrow for angkor, I'm so excited.

Bought another 8GB of CF cards, so I'm now up to 42GB.

Doubt I'll fill that there, but I'll give it a go.

[Marmite the Dog]

Leaving tomorrow for angkor, I'm so excited.

Have fun.

[Bobcock]

I certainly will, noit sure how the evenings will tie in with the 5am starts though....

[NIRVANA1]

Hi

will be in SR in 3 wks
great if the place is empty
Is the dispute affecting tourists travelling to Cambodia overland?

[Mr Pot]

all the best BC have a good trip

[EmperorTud]

No curfew's now.

Yes I am well aware of that. I am a frequent visitor to Cambodia but I haven't returned to Siem Reap in over 8 years as I am afraid it might spoil my original experience of the place.

I'm in Phnom Penh yet again next month and will be heading down to Snooky for a few days. My first trip to the coastal resort.

[Bobcock]

Back from Siam reap, took 1300+ photographs and travelling with a top pro photographer has given me some real insight into some new techniques.

Of course i won't be posting any of the good ones as I ned to keep them for the nxt Teak Door competition, but I am certainly happy with some of them.

[Marmite the Dog]

travelling with a top pro photographer

Nice chap to boot.

[Bobcock]

Yeah he is, been friends with my wife and I for many years, we all met around the same time when we lived in Phuket in late 1991. We don't get to see him as often as we like, so it's been great having him around for a while recently.

As a natural history Photographer he is very innovative, which is why I guess he is so well known and has won every major competition in his genre.

When it comes to temples though, I got him sorted.......

[Phuketrichard]

where did u live in Phuket? I lived there from the middle 80's thru to this year when i moved to Phnom Penh.

Was up in SR 3 weeks ago although didn't go to the temples but spent my time in the markets around town which seem to have grown.

Snooky is cool, a lot like phuket in the 80's
even have one bar on the beach where you can sleep for free and another where you get all the Angkor draft you can drink from 11 am -7pm for only $7!! ONly a 4 hour drive from PP

[Bobcock]

I lived in Nanai in 1990 and Baan Mon in 1991. Was involved with South East Asia Divers.

[Phuketrichard]

I lived off of Nani in 90-91, Had an old British Enfield. You worked with Mark? I ran the Phuket food shopping guide book back then. Moved to kamala in n 94.
Those were the good old days :-)

[Bobcock]

Mark was South East Asia Yacht Charter as I remember it (though I think he had ownership of both), I was with South East Asia Divers, Ed Strannon and his daughter JJ were there then with such instructors as Peter Tucker, Johann Af-Uhr, Barry Chilton, Suzie, Tobias Raff, Jeff and others who's names escape me.

I used to live just down from Hideaway, owned by Omar who turned out to be Michael Mescal said to be the biggest drug runner in the region and captain of our soccer team. He's still in jail in Italy, though I believe that is due to change son.

Also in Nanai was Soi Coronation Street, populated by a large group of oil workers from Northern England.

[Phuketrichard]

Mark had part of SEA, ( with Dave, the orginal owner) and broke off to run SEAC, (on the 2nd road) which only did the live aboards and now produces his own boats down in Chalong.

Hiodeaway?? I helped set that up with Gary inthe 80's. Helped him clear the land. So I assume you know John who managed it till about 3 years ago? He is now over in Kamala working for the pool Doc.

Its a city back there. I drove thru there abiut 6 months ago and couldn't beleive it