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traxxe
Joined: 21 Feb 2007
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 Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 7:44 pm Post subject: A trip to Cambodia - What's your 2 cents? |
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I will be flying into Phon Phem on July 6th and heading out July 18th from Siem Reap.
So 12 days in Khmer land.
This will be my first trip to Cambodia. The Killing Fields, Palace, and Angkor Wat obviously being high on my list of things to experience. Happy Pizza to try once in my life too.
Here is where I hope you guys will throw in your 2 cents. Are there any out of the way places or experiences you would suggest? I'm not into the gun range as I've fired automatics and thrown grenades before, etc.
What about out of the way cities or cool sights. Or that special temple off from Angkor you thought was magical?
Any great places to stay or tips? I'm fairly intimidating and large so I don't get as many scammers overseas as some people and I will be travelling with a friend. Streetwise.
Thanks peeps. |
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Faunaki
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 7:19 pm Post subject: |
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Make friends with one of the scooter boys and tell him you'd like to go to a wedding. Of course, you're gonna have to give a present of money to the bride and groom for going. After ask to visit a family and check out how they live. You should give some money to them too - like 5 or 10 bucks.
And you can take a hot air balloon over Angkor Wat - it's pretty nice if you're into that sort of thing.
Oh and go dancing at one of night clubs. It's really cool cause every one dances in a circle and they move their hands beautifully.
Basically make friends with either the scooter boy or the hotel boy and buy em drinks and get them to take you around and do whatever.
FYI - it doesn't matter how big you are, the kids are gonna surround you and bug the living hell out of you. What you gotta do is, pay one kid to keep the other kids away. It works  |
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Frankly Mr Shankly
Joined: 13 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 1:04 am Post subject: |
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| smoke cones, root, drink piss! |
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jackdaniels
Joined: 13 Feb 2008
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 1:10 am Post subject: me too |
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| Yes! |
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jackdaniels
Joined: 13 Feb 2008
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 1:11 am Post subject: me too |
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| Yes! |
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jackdaniels
Joined: 13 Feb 2008
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 1:12 am Post subject: me too |
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| Yes that sounds great fun! |
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KoreanAmbition
Joined: 03 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 4:24 am Post subject: |
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My friend is female, black and from Canada.
She was with her male friend on the beach one night, but not sure what beach. They were drunk and suddenly attacked by 4 kids or teenagers throwing rocks and things at them.
She dropped down to protect her purse, and they stabbed at her and slashed her. She was badly wounded and now has many scars on her body.
Just beware at night being drunk. Once again, she was with a man and they were still attacked.
Hopefully you don't have any unsafe experiences.
Cheers |
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Snowflake
Joined: 12 Dec 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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I loved Cambodia! I have to say I felt very safe there.
Sihanoukville is well worth a visit, just jump on a bus from Phnom Penh, it takes about 3 hours I think - and you'll be at a great, very laid back, beach "resort" - I was there 3 years ago and there were a handful of bars and hotels, I guess it's developed a bit since then, but it wasn't a big flashy resort place at all. I stayed at Monkey Republic bungalows and can't recommend them enough. It was $6 a night back in 2005. I think they had a website.
Have a great time! |
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articulate_ink
Joined: 23 Mar 2004
Location: Left Korea in 2008. Hong Kong now.
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| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:26 am Post subject: Re: A trip to Cambodia - What's your 2 cents? |
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| traxxe wrote: |
I will be flying into Phon Phem on July 6th and heading out July 18th from Siem Reap.
So 12 days in Khmer land.
This will be my first trip to Cambodia. The Killing Fields, Palace, and Angkor Wat obviously being high on my list of things to experience. Happy Pizza to try once in my life too.
Here is where I hope you guys will throw in your 2 cents. Are there any out of the way places or experiences you would suggest? I'm not into the gun range as I've fired automatics and thrown grenades before, etc.
What about out of the way cities or cool sights. Or that special temple off from Angkor you thought was magical?
Any great places to stay or tips? I'm fairly intimidating and large so I don't get as many scammers overseas as some people and I will be travelling with a friend. Streetwise.
Thanks peeps. |
That's about how long I spent there.
One suggestion: fly from PP to SR on Siem Reap Airways, which is a subsidiary of Bangkok Airways. It's not too expensive and worth it if you're not a fan of long bus rides.
In PP: quite a few of the waterfront restaurants are really good. I liked the Foreign Correspondents Club a lot and ate there several times.
When you go to the Killing Fields leave time to recover afterward. The trip out there is hot, dusty, and very bumpy. The place itself isn't immediately horrifying; the effect is subtle: it sneaks up and stays with you. Don't rush from there to do something else. Go get a massage, have a nice dinner, or something else that's healthy and positive.
Expect the power to go out a lot.
I've read that the government has cracked down on happy pizza. You may be able to find it, but not necessarily. There's an alternative, though. Prescriptions aren't required (or weren't, as of 2 years ago) for medication in Cambodia. Woohoo, Vicodin!
The Angkor temples I liked the most were Bantey Srei (far but worth it), Preah Khan (the one with the tree growing into the wall, I think), the Bayon (see it in late afternoon, near sundown), and Pre Rup (climb all the way up and take in the view). The main temple is also amazing, of course.
My favorite place to eat turned out to be the Lingabar, which is one of SR's two gay bars. They also serve food and the chef was amazing.
Have fun! |
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crescent
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: yes.
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| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:01 am Post subject: |
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| S-21 Prison in Pnom Phen is a must see. |
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Dirk the Daring
Joined: 15 May 2008
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| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:11 am Post subject: |
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My finance and I will also be going to Cambodia for the upcoming holiday. We'll mostly be staying in the Siem Reap area. I've read that "happy pizza" is becoming rare in Phnom Penh, but does anyone know if that's the current case in Siem Reap? Not that happy pizza is on the top of our itinerary, but it would make us.. well.. happy. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks. |
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demaratus
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Location: Searching for a heart of gold, and I'm gettin' old
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| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:26 pm Post subject: |
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| As others said, S-21 or Tuol Sleng prison is a must see. I found it more interesting and disturbing than the killing fields. Phnom Penh is actually quite a nice city with a great selction of restuarants and Siem Reap is also quite nice. I highly recommend the Golden Orange hotel in Siem Reap as it was quite luxurious (amazing bed, amazingly clean, breakfast included) and only $15 a night, also the famous red piano was a great place to meet people and for a great meal check out the paper tiger on pub street. If you aren't flying from PP to SR then take the mekong express bus rather than the boat as it takes less time, is more comfortable and is cheaper. |
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Otherside
Joined: 06 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Dirk the Daring wrote: |
| My finance and I will also be going to Cambodia for the upcoming holiday. |
I've hear Cambodia is a little dangerous, might be safer to leave your cash in a bank account..  |
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deadman
Joined: 27 May 2006
Location: Suwon
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| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 8:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Faunaki wrote: |
| Make friends with one of the scooter boys and tell him you'd like to go to a wedding. Of course, you're gonna have to give a present of money to the bride and groom for going. After ask to visit a family and check out how they live. You should give some money to them too - like 5 or 10 bucks. |
*cringe* I suppose you could do that, since there aren't any real zoos to speak of.
Money management tips - generally, use USD for amounts over $1 and the local currency, riel ($1 = 4000r) for anything smaller, like short moto taxi trips.
Get small notes. Even $20 is an inconvenience for a lot of small businesses or vendors to change. Break big notes at money changers or big hotels.
Keep your main cash reservoir safe in a secure pocket. Don't flash your cash. Have an expendable wallet with money for everyday or drinking expenses. Have a shirt with a top pocket for riel and $1 notes.
Angkor wat is nice now - plenty of rain in the last couple of months has made the stones damp and mossy - looks better green.
Go to Angkor wat for sunrise (go when it is still dark). Immediately afterwards I recommend going to Ta Prom. Nice place nearby with trees and their roots growing over the ruins. You should have the place mostly to yourself at that time of morning.
I can recommend "Golden Orange" hotel in Siem Reap. They were very helpful when I left something in the room - the sent it to me in Phnom Penh within 24 hours. |
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Faunaki
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 9:16 pm Post subject: |
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| deadman wrote: |
| Faunaki wrote: |
| Make friends with one of the scooter boys and tell him you'd like to go to a wedding. Of course, you're gonna have to give a present of money to the bride and groom for going. After ask to visit a family and check out how they live. You should give some money to them too - like 5 or 10 bucks. |
*cringe* I suppose you could do that, since there aren't any real zoos to speak of.
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Thanks for that deadman. That's what I did and I had a great time. The scooter boys were the ones who suggested it.
So your saying that going to weddings and visiting people are disgusting but visiting the same old places that millions of people have been to is not.
There are many types of travellers out there. Some are happy to follow their little guide book and run around the beaten path. Others like to do other things.
Get stuffed. |
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