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Started By
Message
Siam Reap, Cambodia: Travel Review
Posted on 3/26/16 at 1:53 am
Posted on 3/26/16 at 1:53 am
This will be TLDR for most you skip to bottom for pics.
Was there for two days and had an amazing time, would like to return for longer in the future. The people are very nice and friendly, they have a lot or pride when most of them have almost nothing.
There is a lot of history here between the Hindu and Buddhist people and the shift in power over the years, and wars/ally with indigenous people as well as neighboring countries.
I had my own tour driver and guide for the whole day for about $100 and they both were exceptional and I have contact info if anyone is thinking about going. My tour guide lives in a two room building and pays $.50 per KWH for electricity. He only has two light one in and one out, a fan, and a TV, Much of the country has no electricity.
The people have almost nothing and yet go about their live as if they aren't wanting, it was quite an experience and makes you think about the luxuries that you bitch about. The bartender at the hotel makes $80 a month and pays $50 of that in rent, so she has a 2nd job, she works 6 days a week with no vacation ever.
Hotel was Palace Residence and Villa Siem Reap and it was amazing, the staff was top notch, the accommodations were great, and the amenities were top notch. You can see pics in the link below. Highly recommend.
Travel notes:
- Power, bring a converter it's all 220, your laptop battery will likely only need an adapter. I brought one converter and wish I had two.
- The dollar is always accepted and mostly used due to local currency fluctuation.
- Venture out and buy from the local people, I purchased 3 hand painted works that you can see in the photo link for a total of $80.
- Do not buy from the people selling at the tourist sights, like most places these are 2 to 3 times more expensive.
- Always negotiate a price for a taxi before hand.
- Tipping is not necessary but I found that I did tip depending on service and probably over tipped, but I always had excellent service.
All the pics and videos can be found here: LINK
Someone will find it so here is it, the pic with me in it.
Sunrise at Angkor Wat
Cambodian Choppa:
Tomb Raider filming site

Was there for two days and had an amazing time, would like to return for longer in the future. The people are very nice and friendly, they have a lot or pride when most of them have almost nothing.
There is a lot of history here between the Hindu and Buddhist people and the shift in power over the years, and wars/ally with indigenous people as well as neighboring countries.
I had my own tour driver and guide for the whole day for about $100 and they both were exceptional and I have contact info if anyone is thinking about going. My tour guide lives in a two room building and pays $.50 per KWH for electricity. He only has two light one in and one out, a fan, and a TV, Much of the country has no electricity.
The people have almost nothing and yet go about their live as if they aren't wanting, it was quite an experience and makes you think about the luxuries that you bitch about. The bartender at the hotel makes $80 a month and pays $50 of that in rent, so she has a 2nd job, she works 6 days a week with no vacation ever.
Hotel was Palace Residence and Villa Siem Reap and it was amazing, the staff was top notch, the accommodations were great, and the amenities were top notch. You can see pics in the link below. Highly recommend.
Travel notes:
- Power, bring a converter it's all 220, your laptop battery will likely only need an adapter. I brought one converter and wish I had two.
- The dollar is always accepted and mostly used due to local currency fluctuation.
- Venture out and buy from the local people, I purchased 3 hand painted works that you can see in the photo link for a total of $80.
- Do not buy from the people selling at the tourist sights, like most places these are 2 to 3 times more expensive.
- Always negotiate a price for a taxi before hand.
- Tipping is not necessary but I found that I did tip depending on service and probably over tipped, but I always had excellent service.
All the pics and videos can be found here: LINK
Someone will find it so here is it, the pic with me in it.
Sunrise at Angkor Wat
Cambodian Choppa:
Tomb Raider filming site

This post was edited on 3/26/16 at 2:38 pm
Posted on 3/26/16 at 1:57 am to DoUrden
Awesome post. Always thought Angkor Wat was an underrated marvel of the world.
Posted on 3/26/16 at 2:00 am to DoUrden
Looks like an awesome time.
I'm jealous
Thanks for sharing
Are you 'light in the loafers'? Nttatwwt
I'm jealous
Thanks for sharing
Are you 'light in the loafers'? Nttatwwt
Posted on 3/26/16 at 2:06 am to DoUrden
Awesome pics, thanks for sharing. I want to go to that part of the world soon.
Posted on 3/26/16 at 2:21 am to Napoleon
I got very lucky, that was one of three days out of the year that the sun rises like that, not planned just got lucky.
Posted on 3/26/16 at 6:18 am to DoUrden
Not being cheap, legit question. If they make $80 a month local wages, why pay the tour guide $100 a day?
I would imagine you would have guys standing in line for that work.
I would imagine you would have guys standing in line for that work.
Posted on 3/26/16 at 7:28 am to jbgleason
quote:
Not being cheap, legit question. If they make $80 a month local wages, why pay the tour guide $100 a day?
The bartender made $80, the $100 to the tour was split between the driver and the guide. To be a guide you have to pick a language and then pay to learn it. My guide had very good English and knowledge, hell I met the man's family and he offered me beer at his house.
Posted on 3/26/16 at 9:33 am to DoUrden
Driver AND guide. So two people. That makes more sense.
No doubt worth it, just was curious about the amount. Nothing beats getting the local experience like going to someone's house. So much better than an organized tourist function IMO.
No doubt worth it, just was curious about the amount. Nothing beats getting the local experience like going to someone's house. So much better than an organized tourist function IMO.
Posted on 3/26/16 at 9:50 am to jbgleason
I'm jealous.
My friends wife is half Thai and Cambodian. They went. It was very emotional for her.
Her last time their was in her mother VERY pregnant belly as she ran for their lives. Through jungles at night. Her mother said they could hear the screams as people behind them were captured and killed. 1975 or so.
They were amazed by the monkeys at one of the temples. The locals attitude toward those mean bastards. "they were here first" so they let them be.
They THOUGHT about going to the killing fields, but decided not to. It is still an attraction/monument. right?
My friends wife is half Thai and Cambodian. They went. It was very emotional for her.
Her last time their was in her mother VERY pregnant belly as she ran for their lives. Through jungles at night. Her mother said they could hear the screams as people behind them were captured and killed. 1975 or so.
They were amazed by the monkeys at one of the temples. The locals attitude toward those mean bastards. "they were here first" so they let them be.
They THOUGHT about going to the killing fields, but decided not to. It is still an attraction/monument. right?
Posted on 3/26/16 at 10:49 am to LSU alum wannabe
Yes. The major one is outside Phnom Penh.
OP: glad to see you made it. Siem Reap is definitely one of those places you book for 2/3 days then wish you had a few more.
OP: glad to see you made it. Siem Reap is definitely one of those places you book for 2/3 days then wish you had a few more.
This post was edited on 3/26/16 at 10:50 am
Posted on 3/26/16 at 11:00 am to DoUrden
We rented bikes in Siem Reap and rode to through the temple complex. Killer life experience. I would definitely go back.
Posted on 3/26/16 at 12:14 pm to LSU alum wannabe
quote:
They were amazed by the monkeys at one of the temples
Probably at Angkor Wat, during the sunrise tours the hotels provide box breakfasts that include a lot of fruit and the monkeys gather to pillage the what people leave behind.
quote:
Siem Reap is definitely one of those places you book for 2/3 days then wish you had a few more
No doubt, I plan on going back when it isn't so hot, I hit four temples in 7 hours and it was the tour of 1000 steps, up down, up down, up down, buy the end of the day I was wrecked.
Posted on 3/26/16 at 12:19 pm to DoUrden
I remember doing one of those fish foot massages there. A bunch of British people all had ther feet in the water with a couple fish in each foot. Mine went in and every single fish flocked to my feet. It was so embarrassing
Posted on 3/26/16 at 12:33 pm to DoUrden
Man bra, brah.
Seriously, thanks for sharing, glad you had a good time.
This post was edited on 3/26/16 at 12:39 pm
Posted on 3/26/16 at 1:03 pm to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
quote:
Solid!!!!
Thanks, I know there is someone planning a trip this way in a few months so hopefully the review will help. Both you and Teddy Ruxpin did a lot in helping me prepare for this trip.
This post was edited on 3/26/16 at 1:04 pm
Posted on 3/26/16 at 2:06 pm to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
quote:
HoustonGumbeauxGuy
All caps got your thread I think.
Posted on 7/25/16 at 5:38 pm to DoUrden
I am adding this info because I have been asked for it. The taxi and guide I used was Meoung Kong and his brother you can reach him at taximaster@yahoo.com. They do tours all over Cambodia, not just in Siem Reap.
Here is someone that also used him and had the same experience.
LINK
Here is someone that also used him and had the same experience.
quote:
We got Meoun Kong (taximaster@yahoo.com), who was just perfect. We hired him for 3 days, and he arranged tours, drove us everywhere safely, and was unfailingly knowledgable and patient. He been providing tours since 2000 and speaks excellent English.
LINK
This post was edited on 7/25/16 at 5:42 pm
Posted on 9/21/16 at 10:36 pm to DoUrden
Hey dude thanks for sharing your trip review and photos. My family and I (along with my friends and their families) are going to Siem Reap in a few weeks.
I know its been awhile since you've been but from all your temple touring can you tell me which ones you thought were coolest / easiest to do with kids?
Thanks
I've got Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm on the list but don't want to miss any of the other interesting sites.
I know its been awhile since you've been but from all your temple touring can you tell me which ones you thought were coolest / easiest to do with kids?
Thanks
I've got Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm on the list but don't want to miss any of the other interesting sites.
Posted on 9/22/16 at 7:37 am to lsugradman
It would be awesome if you could post a few photos we can add to the sticky
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