Siem Reap is a city located in northern Cambodia and has become famous worldwide for hosting around the Angkor temple complex, the cradle of Khmer civilization. The city of Siem Reap and the surrounding area is quiet, but purely tourist crowds. At no time did we feel unsafe. Its people are friendly and co-workers mostly.
The small airport of Siem Reap is about 15 minutes the center of the city. You can fly to this city, apart from internal domestic flights from Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) and Thailand. The visa for entry and exit is made at the airport and the procedure may lead to a half hour or less depending on the number of passengers who arrive on your flight. They are $ 20 input and 25 output. Passport photo required (takes more than a case).
The city has many hotels of different categories with very affordable prices. We were in a 4 star resort (Angkor Village Resort & Spa). For transportation from airport to hotel can be arranged with the hotel or take a taxi prepaid at the airport.
There are travel agencies that offer tours or you can hire Tuck Tuck or car / taxi to take you anywhere you want for a pre-agreed price.
I can recommend our driver that in turn made us a guide for 3 days in the area. We were lucky that we play as a taxi driver in the transfer from airport to hotel. We connected instantly, so that eventually we agreed an affordable price for all 3 days, while our service throughout the day and offering an interesting place with maximum time efficiency and also told us many anecdotes of the country and the area. It's a young guy who speaks good English and that is understandable even to those who have a language medium.
Here are their contact details :
Lin (Puth Kemleanng): Lin_discovery@yahoo.com; Tf
+85512794949
OUR ITINERARY:
Day 1: Arrive early in Siem reap the afternoon, leaving from Saigon, after an hour's drive. Transfer to hotel and rest. Can be exploited to get around the city.
Day 2: Early departure from hotel. Transfer to the temple of Beng Mealea, outside the site of Angkor, some 70 km northwest of the city (an hour and a half trip to tr
birds of beautiful scenery of rice fields, traditional houses and forests). One of the most ancient, little known and less restored. Separate entrance from the rest of the complex of Angkor ($ 5). I can paste is one of the guards of the temple that will take you through the nooks numbers. They do not usually speak English or French, but you enter the ruins sites that may not fall going alone. Give them a tip at the end and expect no less than 3-4 $. Transfer
south of Siem Reap, north of Lake Tonle Sap, the largest in Asia. Our destination: the houseboats of fishermen. After leaving the car we boarded a boat just for us and for almost 2 hours we could surf watching the customs of the area, visiting the Buddhist temple of the village and receive a blessing by the monks.
Importantly, the inhabitants of these floating villages live in the waters of the lake feed on your fish, drink its water and waste is dumped directly into its depths. We do not recommend swimming in the lake! After the trip back to the hotel, stopping at a simple restaurant in Siem Reap where we delight in a Cambodian rice that I loved (and I was hooked).
Day 3: We got up super early (at 5 am) to go to see the sunrise at the temple of Angkor Watt. Before you buy into the complex of temples (a world heritage site) for 2 days price $ 40. Usually recommend bring a photo, but make you a digital on the same ticket that is registered on the pass (which is not transferable).
not forget a flashlight (we leave in the hotel) or you'll stumble and you have to walk 10 minutes to the entrance of the temple and there are many steps and flush changes. The image is spectacular. Do not expect to be alone. At these times are concentrated many tourists with cameras to immortalize the moment. A visit to most of the temples took 4 to 5 hours. In the back of this famous monument, a huge forest trees where monkeys live very thugs who steal do not hesitate to hand any kind of food you're carrying. After the visit transfer to hotel for breakfast and relax in the pool until 3 pm.
We returned to campus to visit the Angkor temple of Preah Khan. Personally we liked more than Angkor Watt. It is not that great but it has more charm and less crowded. We loved it. It runs in an hour and a half. Later
entry Angkor Thom (ancient city of Angkor), an area which includes several small temples (we only visited the gallery of the elephants, and Phimeanakas Baphuon) and higher (Bayon), capital of the city. To get to the top of Phimeanakas or Bayon is necessary to use narrow, steep stairs unsuitable for those who are afraid of heights. Worthwhile, but to pass this hard time for the spectacular and the views. The south gate of Angkor Thom entrance is beautiful, surrounded by a lake or postal typical movie. After leaving the complex we moved to Phnom Bakheng, a small temple on top of a hill, place to watch the sunset. The climb up the hill takes about 15 minutes, as is customary, to climb to the top of the monument is difficult to use stairs, making the process even more charming. Temple very crowded at that hour. After visiting the temples Lin took us to a self service restaurant and entertainment had live. 
personally I did not like either the show or the food. Duration hours. Affordable price. Finally finished the day going to a massage parlor where we feasted on a traditional Khmer massage ($ 15 hour period, there are cheaper, but we wanted a massage done by professionals). This traditional massage is far from relaxing, "ARE warned!, But who had a bad back or other joints was us pearls.
Day 4: Early transfer after breakfast to the northeast of the Angkor site to see Banteay Srei temple or pink. Unlike the rest, as the name indicated by the color of its stones. Crowded but advisable. Is soon as it is not very large (one hour long shooting). Later transfer to the north, Kulen Phunom National Park which occupies one of the few mountains that are in the area. Price ticket includes
been in general pass. After one and half hour climb along a very well signposted and leads to a beautiful stream with waterfalls (Kbal Spean waterfall) and images made with rocks in his bed. In the dry season (November to April) the river flow is low and the waterfall a little disappointed, but worth it nonetheless. Trip time about 3 hours. Again we take the car to go to the city stopping to visit Temple and Ta Prohm Ta kreo, famous for starring in films such as Tom rider or two brothers. It is the temple where the walls are among a huge and spectacular estate. Estimated time 2 hours. Transfer to the hotel to collect luggage from the airport to leave this magnificent country.
ISSUES TO CONSIDER
- Shopping typical jewels (gems, especially emeralds, amethyst, topaz and sapphire) extremely well priced, mainly mounted on silver. Typical pictures. Wood and stone figures. Medicinal ointments smell of menthol.
- Very friendly environment. Refrain from throwing anything on the floor. There bins everywhere.
- There are clean bathrooms at the entrance of temples and the national park entrance, even before taking the bench in Tonle Sap.
- Can speak English and French.
- There are stalls to buy souvenirs in all temples and places to buy food and drinks.
- Important be well stocked with fresh water and it is very hot. Lin had a cooler in the trunk and we would often providing water (included in the price, but we also gave him a tip).
- Better to be respectful of their traditions, but do not say anything, better to have covered shoulders and be covered to the knees.
- the hat for having little hair is essential. Bamba, comfortable shoes recommended type or sneakers. Sunglasses essential.
- Bring mosquito lotion Releco type. Although malaria prophylaxis recommended I did not make (this type of medication given me many side effects). If you protect yourself well against mosquitoes is difficult to contract the disease. Take pain relievers, sunscreen, moisturizer and protector of the stomach. The diarrhea often more by changing intestinal flora (dysbacteriosis) than infection. You can try Thiorphan if they are very abundant and Lacteol.
- Most hotels have pools, so do not forget to wear clothes bath.
- Changing the currency is easy (in hotels, airport shops and change) but we operate every day in American dollars, accepted even at roadside stands.
- You have to bargain to buy, they expect and feel more satisfied if you do. When it is not profitable for them to say clearly that you can not lower the price.
The city has many hotels of different categories with very affordable prices. We were in a 4 star resort (Angkor Village Resort & Spa). For transportation from airport to hotel can be arranged with the hotel or take a taxi prepaid at the airport.
There are travel agencies that offer tours or you can hire Tuck Tuck or car / taxi to take you anywhere you want for a pre-agreed price.
I can recommend our driver that in turn made us a guide for 3 days in the area. We were lucky that we play as a taxi driver in the transfer from airport to hotel. We connected instantly, so that eventually we agreed an affordable price for all 3 days, while our service throughout the day and offering an interesting place with maximum time efficiency and also told us many anecdotes of the country and the area. It's a young guy who speaks good English and that is understandable even to those who have a language medium.
Here are their contact details :
Lin (Puth Kemleanng): Lin_discovery@yahoo.com; Tf
+85512794949
OUR ITINERARY:
Day 1: Arrive early in Siem reap the afternoon, leaving from Saigon, after an hour's drive. Transfer to hotel and rest. Can be exploited to get around the city.
Day 2: Early departure from hotel. Transfer to the temple of Beng Mealea, outside the site of Angkor, some 70 km northwest of the city (an hour and a half trip to tr
birds of beautiful scenery of rice fields, traditional houses and forests). One of the most ancient, little known and less restored. Separate entrance from the rest of the complex of Angkor ($ 5). I can paste is one of the guards of the temple that will take you through the nooks numbers. They do not usually speak English or French, but you enter the ruins sites that may not fall going alone. Give them a tip at the end and expect no less than 3-4 $. Transfer south of Siem Reap, north of Lake Tonle Sap, the largest in Asia. Our destination: the houseboats of fishermen. After leaving the car we boarded a boat just for us and for almost 2 hours we could surf watching the customs of the area, visiting the Buddhist temple of the village and receive a blessing by the monks.
Importantly, the inhabitants of these floating villages live in the waters of the lake feed on your fish, drink its water and waste is dumped directly into its depths. We do not recommend swimming in the lake! After the trip back to the hotel, stopping at a simple restaurant in Siem Reap where we delight in a Cambodian rice that I loved (and I was hooked). Day 3: We got up super early (at 5 am) to go to see the sunrise at the temple of Angkor Watt. Before you buy into the complex of temples (a world heritage site) for 2 days price $ 40. Usually recommend bring a photo, but make you a digital on the same ticket that is registered on the pass (which is not transferable).
not forget a flashlight (we leave in the hotel) or you'll stumble and you have to walk 10 minutes to the entrance of the temple and there are many steps and flush changes. The image is spectacular. Do not expect to be alone. At these times are concentrated many tourists with cameras to immortalize the moment. A visit to most of the temples took 4 to 5 hours. In the back of this famous monument, a huge forest trees where monkeys live very thugs who steal do not hesitate to hand any kind of food you're carrying. After the visit transfer to hotel for breakfast and relax in the pool until 3 pm. We returned to campus to visit the Angkor temple of Preah Khan. Personally we liked more than Angkor Watt. It is not that great but it has more charm and less crowded. We loved it. It runs in an hour and a half. Later
entry Angkor Thom (ancient city of Angkor), an area which includes several small temples (we only visited the gallery of the elephants, and Phimeanakas Baphuon) and higher (Bayon), capital of the city. To get to the top of Phimeanakas or Bayon is necessary to use narrow, steep stairs unsuitable for those who are afraid of heights. Worthwhile, but to pass this hard time for the spectacular and the views. The south gate of Angkor Thom entrance is beautiful, surrounded by a lake or postal typical movie. After leaving the complex we moved to Phnom Bakheng, a small temple on top of a hill, place to watch the sunset. The climb up the hill takes about 15 minutes, as is customary, to climb to the top of the monument is difficult to use stairs, making the process even more charming. Temple very crowded at that hour. After visiting the temples Lin took us to a self service restaurant and entertainment had live. 
personally I did not like either the show or the food. Duration hours. Affordable price. Finally finished the day going to a massage parlor where we feasted on a traditional Khmer massage ($ 15 hour period, there are cheaper, but we wanted a massage done by professionals). This traditional massage is far from relaxing, "ARE warned!, But who had a bad back or other joints was us pearls. Day 4: Early transfer after breakfast to the northeast of the Angkor site to see Banteay Srei temple or pink. Unlike the rest, as the name indicated by the color of its stones. Crowded but advisable. Is soon as it is not very large (one hour long shooting). Later transfer to the north, Kulen Phunom National Park which occupies one of the few mountains that are in the area. Price ticket includes
been in general pass. After one and half hour climb along a very well signposted and leads to a beautiful stream with waterfalls (Kbal Spean waterfall) and images made with rocks in his bed. In the dry season (November to April) the river flow is low and the waterfall a little disappointed, but worth it nonetheless. Trip time about 3 hours. Again we take the car to go to the city stopping to visit Temple and Ta Prohm Ta kreo, famous for starring in films such as Tom rider or two brothers. It is the temple where the walls are among a huge and spectacular estate. Estimated time 2 hours. Transfer to the hotel to collect luggage from the airport to leave this magnificent country. 
ISSUES TO CONSIDER - Shopping typical jewels (gems, especially emeralds, amethyst, topaz and sapphire) extremely well priced, mainly mounted on silver. Typical pictures. Wood and stone figures. Medicinal ointments smell of menthol.
- Very friendly environment. Refrain from throwing anything on the floor. There bins everywhere.
- There are clean bathrooms at the entrance of temples and the national park entrance, even before taking the bench in Tonle Sap.
- Can speak English and French.
- There are stalls to buy souvenirs in all temples and places to buy food and drinks.
- Important be well stocked with fresh water and it is very hot. Lin had a cooler in the trunk and we would often providing water (included in the price, but we also gave him a tip).
- Better to be respectful of their traditions, but do not say anything, better to have covered shoulders and be covered to the knees.
- the hat for having little hair is essential. Bamba, comfortable shoes recommended type or sneakers. Sunglasses essential.
- Bring mosquito lotion Releco type. Although malaria prophylaxis recommended I did not make (this type of medication given me many side effects). If you protect yourself well against mosquitoes is difficult to contract the disease. Take pain relievers, sunscreen, moisturizer and protector of the stomach. The diarrhea often more by changing intestinal flora (dysbacteriosis) than infection. You can try Thiorphan if they are very abundant and Lacteol.
- Most hotels have pools, so do not forget to wear clothes bath.
- Changing the currency is easy (in hotels, airport shops and change) but we operate every day in American dollars, accepted even at roadside stands.
- You have to bargain to buy, they expect and feel more satisfied if you do. When it is not profitable for them to say clearly that you can not lower the price.
0 comments:
Post a Comment