Korean Job Discussion Forums

[davester13]

I'll have about 18 days or so (flexible) in Cambodia, probably starting in late October. Which places and/or activities are "musts" in your opinion? (I like culture---temples, museums, anything interesting----and nature/outodoor activiites---hiking in jungles, etc.) I'm researching on my own, but would love your suggestions. Thanks.

[demaratus]

The Obvious musts are Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. I spent most of my time in Siem Reap. Aside from the major temples of Angor Wat, the Bayon and Ta Prohm check out Beng Melea (its a longer distance away but the drive has good scenery and once you get there you may be the only person there (I was besides by moto driver/guide) and it is pretty cool. The Roluos temples were nice (and not nearly as busy), Kbal Spean was nice and a good change as it involved some hiking, Preah Khan and Banteay Srei were also nice. You can also do a boat tour of the Tonle Sap lake and see boat/river people. It is interesting but beware as the begging from childeren who will literral latch onto your boat is bad here. There is also a large Khmer museum which is decent as well as a war and landmine museum in Siem Reap.

In Phnom Penh, Tuol Sleng, and the killing fields are the big sights to see. The royal palace is a nice and not so disturbing change fo pace. I though it was nice though not on the same scale nor nearly as opulent as the grand palace in Bangkok. The restuarants in Phnom Penh were excellent too. The other two main destinations in Cambodia are Sihanoukville (beaches) and Kratie (rare river dolphins). I imagine hiking in some areas is possible but I would be very careful off the beaten track as the landmine situation there is still really bad.

[spliff]

Extra "happy" pizza...you'll come back for more.

[itaewonguy]

Phnom Phen = sophie's

ask your local tuk tuk to take you there after dark ..
thats something you will never forget!!

[Matman]

Sophies is a seedy blow job bar where you'll probably pick up an STD. There are better places to meet women in Phnom Penh.

Get the three day pass for Angkor and hire a moto driver to take you to the best temples. Definitely the most stunning sights in Asia.

There's the national museum in Phnom Penh that has some nice statues taken from Angkor.

[chris_J2]

Actually, isn't Itaewon full of "seedy blow job bars where you'll probably pick up an STD. There are better places to meet women in Seoul"?

I also visited the 2 war museums in Siem Reap, to get a different perspective on the town.

Some pics I took:

http://www.trekearth.com/members/ChrisJ/photos/Asia/Cambodia/West/Siem_Reab/

[Tony_Balony]

Order an "Amok". Its French inspired Asian food, its... a heavy creme soup served on bread ... I think. Asian food made with dairy products is rare so try to have some. I tried to eat it every day.

[Matman]

On practically every street corner there's a hawker selling baguettes with pate. Very tasty. The French influence is still very present in Cambodia. Also you can order a delicious fruit smoothy (sweetened with condensed milk) from street hawkers, bars and restaurants.

[Leavingkorea]

[huffdaddy]

Bokor

[chris_J2]

All of the mines & UFO have been cleared away from around the major Angkor Wat ruins. Check locally if you intend visiting remote, outlying temples, though. But most (if not all) of those should be okay, too.

I had the same problem in Laos at Ponsavarn, where it was mandatory to stay on cleared walking tracks, & not venture off them. (Laos is the most heavily bombed country on the planet from the Vietnam war days, & they're still cleaning up unexploded ordinance, over 30 years later.) Every year, several kids are killed there.