Korean Job Discussion Forums

semphoon · Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Location: Where Nowon is

When is the wet season in Cambodia?

Is it cheap for accomodation and such? (I imagine like Thailand).

desultude · Posted: Wed May 31, 2006 3:48 am Post subject:

I prefer Cambodia during rainy season- the light is perfect for photos, and the rain brings down the temperature. It's tropical rain- so you get a lot at once, and then it clears out (most of the time). Of course, be sure to take skeeter lotion.

I have been to Siem Reap twice, each time for about 4-5 days. I have a great driver there (covered tuk-tuk). He would pick me up in the morning, and take me everywhere, and even sit outside the restaurant while I had dinner. I would usually send him home to his family and take another tuk-tuk back to where I stayed. Anyway, when you hire him for the day- he means it!

The last time I went I emailed him first and reserved his services while I was there. I don't remember what he charged, but it was the going rate, and cheap. His English is good, too.

Mr. Ouch Savoan
[email protected]
(855) 12 698 104

Have fun. I do love Cambodia, and found that Phnom Phen was worth a few days to be sure. The boat from Siem Reap to Phnom Phen is very boring, but okay. I haven't gone by road, but during rainy season the roads can be hell.

oni · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Location: Seoul

I went to CAmbodia in Feb and loved it there I was only there for a week so jus went to PHnom Penh and Siem Reap.
In PP i stayed by the lake its really chilled lots of guesthouses and restaurants and its easy to get a moto into town.
Definitely go to Seeing Hands massage place all the masseurs are blind and its wonderful its near a Wat something. There's evena vegetarian section i tried everything from it over a few visits, yummo!!!!
Friends restaurant near the National Museum is fantastic its staffed by ex-street kids and food is tapas style very creative and delicious and restaurant is bright.
I got a 3 day pass for angkor and spent the first and third days biking around on my own i did the small loop and the big outer loop one temple i arrived at late in the day and i had it all to myslef which was great.
I took the Mekong Delta bus btw SR and PP they even give u a breakfast box an theres a stewardess too!!

Nowhere Man · Joined: 08 Feb 2004

Couple of things to note:

1) You will (I think)inevitably have to hook up with some sort of guide who takes you out to the ruins. Choose carefully. And by this I mean transportation. There are vans, tuk-tuks, scooters, and probably a couple of other choices. I chose the scooter... and regretted it. You get the equivalent of saddle sore. I envied all of the other people I'd see in an extended tuk-tuk cruising by on a mattress-like seat. Mind you, I've been all over on scooters before (thailand, Greece, etc...), but the roads blow and you'll feel every bump.

2) Siem Reap hangs heavy on package tours. Cambodia operates on the dollar. In other words, it's not as cheap as you'd expect. On the well beaten paths, it's $1 for a bottle of water. Basically, everything is a dollar compared to Thailand, where it's 10-20 Baht. Reserve ahead for cheap accomodation.

3) That said, the Khmer are uber-nice. It's hard to imagine people more welcoming than the Thais, but...

4) While in PP, be sure to take in an afternoon at the FCC (Foreign Correspondants Club) on the river.

5) Maybe it's just me, but I think 5 days in SR is too much, unless you really groove on ruins. It does get a bit repetitive. Of course, I'd already been to Ayutthaya. I was more impressed by the foliage. I ended up taking more pictures of trees and such. I wouldn't have minded being taken out into the deep jungle.

6) The S-21 prison was the most memorable part for me. In particular because the structure is that of a traditional Asian school. Really hits home if you've been a teacher in such a layout that it has such a past.

And the photos...

To sum up, if I could do it again, I'd spend less time at Angkor (Think I spent three days) and try to go more off the beaten path. I don't think it's as dangerous as it's made out to be, but I'd hook up with another traveler to be on the safe side, meaning not going off by myself and definitely bringing a guide.

huffdaddy · Joined: 25 Nov 2005

semphoon · Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Location: Where Nowon is

There is a six day tour for 290,000W.

That's including flights, tax, accomodation and transport.

Aran - Seam Reap - Angor Wat - Poe Pet - Pattaya - Bangkok.

Those Koreans love the bali bali. WOW. Cheap. I think I need to ask a few more questions before I believe.

Is this type of tour common at this price?

Nowhere Man · Joined: 08 Feb 2004

I believe my flight to SR and back via PP (to Bangkok) cost that much.

The problem with your itinerary is that Pattaya doesn't have an aiport. Poi Pet certainly doesn't and there's absolutely no reason to go there (it's a visa-run hole).

Pretty sure your tour at that price is overland.

I lived in Thailand for 3 years and have no idea what "Aran" is.

Aranya Pathet (another Thai-Cambodian border town)?

That's fishy as sticks.

indytrucks · Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Location: The Shelf

Not to hijack the thread, but ...

Does anyone know (who's been there lately) if Bangkok Airways still has that air pass that goes around Siem Reap, Luang Prabang, Hoi An and Sukhothai? Last time I was there it was around $150 for the pass.

Thanks.

indytrucks · Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Location: The Shelf

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

off in less than a month *bump* curious about bokor.

huffdaddy · Joined: 25 Nov 2005

ariellowen · Joined: 19 Apr 2006

I've been there three times, including a month stay. If you land in PP, when you leave the airport you're gonna be pretty surprised if you haven't been in very 3rd world countries before, but don't stress too much. I suggest meeting a good guide, you could stick with the guy who takes you from the airport, they are registered and pretty honest; give him about 10$ a day, or more, also you can meet a driver at your hotel. He will probably have friends in various other towns and can have someone waiting for you where you want to go. Some people will tell you these guys will scam you, but come on, if you're worried about getting scammed out of two dollars--! Just remember the typical woman makes about $1.50 a day and guys, who do work, make little more. So judge on that. Prices for services are about 1/10th what they are in Korea and 1/20th what you'd expect to pay in America. And bring lots of ones and fives. Travel very light, wear light long pants, a long sleaved light shirt and leather sandles, all these things can be bought there cheap, (I mean light material not color, don't wear white or pastel due to the dust). (I walked all over PP, SR and Sihanokville at night and never had a real problem-- though be aware, you most likely have more money in you pocket at any given time than most folks there make in a season, so watch out; be aware there are no ATMs so take that into account. Also I can't see any real reason to go on a tour package, unless you want to make some tourist friends, go to the moto-drivers house, eat with his family, give his daughter an English lesson.... Skip the FCCC. You'll be sad when you're leaving and on your way back to the K-hole. I plan to be there again at the end of this August so I doubt we can meet up, but have a good time.)

trevorcollins · Joined: 02 Jul 2004