Korean Job Discussion Forums

[plokiju]

I couldn't resist posting this especially since there were a few other of these posts about. I was wondering if anyone has been to Angkor Wat recently.

Was it hard to get a visa?
Is it cheaper to go via Bangkok rather than Phnom Penh?
Did you go on a tour or alone?
What other questions should I be asking?

[dulouz]

The magic wears off after one day. Thats pretty easy. Cash is hard to get in Cambodia and each day costs $20.00 at Angkor. I found a guest house with really good service and a good cook. I only got out of bed to eat and drink beer and whatever. Cambodia is worth the visit just to see the grinding poverty and how people cope/do not cope with it. Sihonoukville is worth a visit. I saw a Cambodioan disco show that was really great.

[funplanet]

twice....you gotta do it, bro....

[indytrucks]

I thought Angkor was stunning. I stayed in Siem Reap for 8 or 9 days and forked out for the week pass. That way, you can take your time and revisit the sites you liked at different times of day (for photo purposes) rather than rush around trying to see everything in one or two days.

[winnie]

To answer your questions:

Get a visa before you go....arriving in Cambodia without it just invites corrupt officials to take advantage and charge you whatever you want.

I flew into Bangkok, and took a 4.00 local Thai bus to Aranyaprathet....1.00 tuk tuk to border, crossed into Poipet Cambodia(a real hole, watch out), and took a 3 hour Camry taxi ride(25.00) into Siem Reap. I really felt like a got an authentic experience out of it. You will see a lot of disturbing stuff....for sure.

I recommend doing it yourself...hiring Khao San tour buses is just a rip off waiting to happen. For many, they feel safer in numbers...but many got taken on those "deals."

Angkor was well worth the trip...3 day pass is a must....PP and Snookville are good too....

PM me if you need more specifics.

[ed4444]

Angkor is great.

I recommend having some kind of transport inside the complex. The distances between Ankor itself, Bayon and some of the other temples is too far to walk. If you go even a little off the main path you can escape all the maddening crowds.

If you only see Siem Reap you will not get much of a feel for Cambodia. It is a lot more developed than the rest of the country because of the tourists. Most fly in on packages.

I would second the comment on the Khao San road buses. I took a camry too and arrived hours ahead of that crowd who were all sheparded into places and forced to spend money by the bus company.

Get your visas beforehand. The borders are very shoddy and anything goes. they might also try and get you for a bribe if you don't have proof of your vaccine jabs.

[captain kirk]

And I recall your post about it, Tiger, in the 'Have you been to these places?' thread. Last month, Pyramids, Machu Pichu, etc. I think you said a couple of days was enough for Angor Wat, for you.

Looking at the tours offered on Kao San road, Angor Wat grabbed me. But ended up staying south instead and forgetting about it (Phi Phi, Koh Phangan). The southern islands are nice, make one stay.

So I've never been to A. Wat. Up in Bankok I'd hang around there, do the local things. But asking the local tour outlets along Kao San Road they said it was a four hour drive to Siem Reep I think it was, the town near A.Wat. To see the ruins you hire a motorbike driver and he rides you around to the parts, and waits while you look. The bus to Siem Reep stops at the border and you get a visa there, then carry on in the minivan bus.

The best Wat in Bankok, downtown by the river, the place everyone goes to has a scale model of Angor Wat in Combodia. It's scaled down like something you'd see on a mini-golf range. I can't remember the name of that Wat downtown, but it's highly gilt, and impressive. Has a huge reclining-on-his-side buddha, huge. And a Thai massage school where the top students will give you a massage. 150 baht for thirty minutes or something like that. You have to wear respectable clothes to get in, pants and not shorts. It's across the river from the Wat which is also very famous, tall spires inset with pieces of broken ceramic and porcelain pots and dishes, like tile inset.

It was about a hundred bucks to get to Angor Wat from Bankok, I think. Mini van from Kao San road.

Any foreigners I talked to about their visit lit up on the subject; they were really impressed.

One of my favourite movies is Apocalypse Now and Kurtz's lair/hideout in Cambodia has statuary resembling A.Wat. Except it's an elaborate set.

Thailand is so cheap and interesting I got too preoccupied with the present exotica to venture out there. Next time.

[Tiger Beer]

[Free World]

If you're looking for a great tuk tuk driver while there, contact [email protected]
Mr. Ou Hok knows how to avoid the crowds and get you to the most amazing places.

[brento1138]

It was the best place I've been to, ever. I stayed five days in and around Siem Riep. Would do it again in a heartbeat... even if it was the exact same trip.

[Greekfreak]

My wife and I did a one-day 'cultural drive-by' in the Ankhor temple park, and that was more than enough. These people that say you need 3-9 days are either a) being pretentious or b) flat-out idiots.

By the way, the main temple is probably the least impressive IMHO. It's physically imposing but there are other, more attractive ruins at other sites.

We got an enormous amount of pictures, and were well templed-out by the end of the day. Definitely worth seeing, but I wouldn't bother with the 3-day pass unless you're an historian or just have a lot of time to kill. We sure didn't.

[Greekfreak]

My wife and I did a one-day 'cultural drive-by' in the Ankhor temple park, and that was more than enough. These people that say you need 3-9 days are either a) being pretentious or b) flat-out idiots.

By the way, the main temple is probably the least impressive IMHO. It's physically imposing but there are other, more attractive ruins at other sites.

We got an enormous amount of pictures, and were well templed-out by the end of the day. Definitely worth seeing, but I wouldn't bother with the 3-day pass unless you're an historian or just have a lot of time to kill. We sure didn't.

[Greekfreak]

My wife and I did a one-day 'cultural drive-by' in the Ankhor temple park, and that was more than enough. These people that say you need 3-9 days are either a) being pretentious or b) flat-out idiots.

By the way, the main temple is probably the least impressive IMHO. It's physically imposing but there are other, more attractive ruins at other sites.

We got an enormous amount of pictures, and were well templed-out by the end of the day. Definitely worth seeing, but I wouldn't bother with the 3-day pass unless you're an historian or just have a lot of time to kill. We sure didn't.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Apart from getting propositioned by a child prostitute, and the constant unwanted attention from tuk-tuk drivers and child pedlars and beggars, it was amazing. Oh, and the 'ass-clown' Korean tourists. Rent a bicycle and cut the tuk-tuks out of the picture. I also met some really fascinating people from all over the world.

[flakfizer]