Siem Reap

[Fast Eddie 48]

Need some info. Did anybody go to Cambodia culture center? If so how is it.
On the website it looks like a good cultural experience for the whole day.

to sammon

I don't think you want to waste a whole day there , you might want to go for
a few hr if you have a lot of time , you should spend more time at ankor wat.
you can find some good bargin there .


fast eddie 48

[Sammon]

Need some info. Did anybody go to Cambodia culture center? If so how is it.
On the website it looks like a good cultural experience for the whole day.

[Changray69]

Hi,

I was in S. R. In December and I stayed at the Golden Orange Mansion www. Goldenoranghotel. Com a new hotel tv, air c. Fridge and really friendly, if you want they can call for you a lady for a full massage. 20 dollars per night, they didn't accept credit card, you'll probably need cash for the bill! If you like disco and a little of action, like me, go to ZoneOne you find there either regulars and more or less 15 mongers (I had a great time with one of them) 25 dollars for long time, you should give money in advance to the mamasan. In my opinion the best place where to spend your time without problems. If you prefer massage try Hollywood. Zanzybar is a really bad place and Martini is nothing special.

As for Visa you are correct, it's possible to change money in the airport at the time you arrive but you had better to change money (dollars) before, so you could save time. In Cambodia now the real currency is dollar especially in S. R. , Riel is used just for little things (1 dollar is + or - 4000 Riel). The place isn't dangerous, I hope you'll have a good time as I had! If you'll need further information, just ask!

Hi guys!

I will arrive in Siam Reap Intl. Airport on the 27th at 20.00.

Which hotel / guesthouse do you suggest to stay? (of course guest friendly....)

And where do you suggest to hang out for the first night?

And some other practical info:

- Visa: doable at the airport (20 USD + photos) correct?
- Where to chanhe money?
- Better to have Euro or Dollars?

Happy to start my Christmas mongering!

[Hobby Fan]

ANZ bank is now opening ATMS in Siem Reap. Two are now (barely) operational, although they would not take one of my ATM cards. (My spare ATM card, linked to a different bank, worked fine; the rejected card worked at ANZ in Phemn Penh). Just ask your moto or tuk-tuk driver for "A-N-Zed Bank."

Dollars are still the #1 currency in Cambodia. Nobody uses Euros.

The "scene" includes Martini's (too loud), Zanzybar type places (bar with pool table and working girls glad to be picked up) and a series of fish-bowl massage places two blocks further from the River from Martini's. From the plaza or street in front of Martini's you can spot strings of red and white lights down the street that heads away from the river - 2 or 3 blocks away - that is where they are. The middle place of the three massage places appears the cleanest. I was quoted $ 25 once and $ 30 once for 90 minutes. Hollywood quoted $ 15 for one hour, the rooms are dingy there. If you go this route, I would ask to see the rooms first, and that way you may be a cleaner one. The women appeared pretty cute in both places.

City Spa, Chai etc. are legit massage places on the road from town to archeological area. I had a world class oil massage and probably overpaid at $ 15, I know that price could have been negotiated as they guy who quoted it went home and they did not know what they had to charge me when we were done....but it was much better than the $ 6 massage (also legit) in the center. YMMV.

I do not know about TopTown.

Play safe - HIV rate is very high in Cambodia. HF

[Lorenz]

Hi guys!

I will arrive in Siam Reap Intl. Airport on the 27th at 20.00.

Which hotel / guesthouse do you suggest to stay? (of course guest friendly....)

And where do you suggest to hang out for the first night?

And some other practical info:

- Visa: doable at the airport (20 USD + photos) correct?
- Where to chanhe money?
- Better to have Euro or Dollars?

Happy to start my Christmas mongering!

[Dinghy]

Gohan - a bit misleading - true, the hotel company gets 10 percent for issuing the tickets, but the other 90 percent goes to APSARA (the organization responsible for maintaing the temples and such)

It's well documented (of course, there is probably a little graft in there as well, but it doesn't all go to the hotel company)

[Danielus20]

I looked around a bit one night to check out the scene. Mind you, I am a first-timer in Asia and first time in Cambodia - I like the Korean MP scene in the US where the girls are pretty, young, and in the business for god know's why but at least not because they are dirt poor with nothing else to do.

Zanzybar - best looking chic here was a dude with a pockmarked face but a nice body...

Crazy Kim's or some such - a little better than Zanzybar

Sok San - some people singing Karaoke, looked to be girls, didn't stay

Blue Wave club - very dark but the girls looked none too hot

All three are on or just off Srivatha street. Across the river was Martini which seemed to have girls but they wouldn't let me in with my bottle of water I was carrying to rehydrate in the heat!

YMMV of course because I did see westerners with good looking Khmers.

[Gohan39]

So, big deal if the government charges $23 a day to see it (or $45 for 3 days). They are using the Temples at Angkor to try to fund the re-building of the entire nation's infrastructure, and those temples are, frankly, the ONLY resource besides dirt cheap labor that the entire country has got. .

Unfortunately your money is not going to the people of Cambodia but instead
a corporation. Below is an excerpt I copied from...

http://www.talesofasia.com/cambodia-sokimex.htm
*********************************************************

As you head north towards Angkor Wat, capturing that first glimpse of the famous towers peaking out from behind the trees, you no doubt think, 'at least my money is going to save the temples... isn't it?'

Look at that ticket again. Above the picture of Angkor Wat it says "Sokha Hotel Co., LTD." They are the ones taking your money. Sokha Hotel is a division of Sokimex - a corporation founded in 1980 with close ties to the CPP government. Aside from the Angkor ticket concession, Sokimex is a petroleum company, and is a supplier to the government of military uniforms, medicines, and food for the military. It is also involved in import-export, rubber, transportation, and real estate.

[Member #2041]

Don't omit Ta Phrom. It's the un-reconstructed temple that has been left mostly in the state in which it was found, largely reclaimed by the Jungle. Personally, I found it to be the most fascinating of all, and at least as worthwhile a visit as the Bayon and Angkor Wat. Three days is more than sufficient. If you have a knowledgeable guide and a car and driver, you can see all the major temple sights in one complete day.

[Dinghy]

OK - on Angkhor - some people promote the week package (evidently a bit more expensive than last year when I went - it was 20/40/60 for 1/3/7 days). There are a few temples worth seeing (unless one is into reconstructive jig-saw puzzles) - Bayon, Angkhor Thom, Anghkor Wat, the sunset from the hill directly in front of Angkhor Wat, the various "gates". The rest of them are essentially for the archaeologist - big piles of rocks (a couple of smaller temples were a bit interesting) After a couple of hours, they start looking the same. BUT - well worth the trip - even to the "piles" as long as you enjoy watching some reconstructive efforts (funded I might note by OTHER than the US for some reason)

I did 3 days. Either take plenty of water or buy en route at the various food/drink stops in the area. Wear comfortable shoes you will be climbing in (pretty hard to see most of the interesting stuff without climbing - have no fear of heights, and don't expect handrails - few and far between) Go now before it gets so popular they restrict entry

[Firedick]

I couldn't agree more.

Who of us remembers the "Nok, Noi, On or Anh" from a year ago ?

That said, I'm still looking forward to my first trip to Angkor. Wasted all my time in PP, K11 and S-ville on previous trips.

Next time for sure.

(not meant sarcastically)

FD

[Member #2041]

The fact is, it probably costs $200-300 extra just to travel to Angkor from Bangkok anyways. So, big deal if the government charges $23 a day to see it (or $45 for 3 days). They are using the Temples at Angkor to try to fund the re-building of the entire nation's infrastructure, and those temples are, frankly, the ONLY resource besides dirt cheap labor that the entire country has got. I certainly had no problem spending a bit over $20 to spend an entire day there seeing some of the most amazing ancient structures on the planet earth. Frankly, if you are from somewhere far away, and you DON'T take the trouble to see Angkor, you are missing something really important in the historical development of humanity.

The way I look at it, spending the fee to see the Temples at Angkor It's about the same as a short time girl in Thailand, or an all nighter in Cambodia. And Angkor is far more memorable and unique, and you will be far better for it in the long run, than that one extra bit of shagging. And most of us can easily afford both, in any case.

[Beno69]

To fast Eddie:

About Angkor Wat.

Is it really worth seeing it? Is it worth the trouble and the cost?

Not really. It's $23 for a day's permit plus $8 for transport. To be honest if you have seen Sukhotai then you have seen all ruins in the world. At Sukhotai you only pay $1 entrance fee if I remember well. Plus hire a bicycle for another $1.

I thinck this is really Shit, what you tell here. I was there about 15 Years ago first time. It's the Best what you can see. The Combination of Temple in the Jungle is great. If you just go to look the main Temple in 10 Min., then of course you don't see much. But as we see you write about Angkor in SexGuide , so better tell Stories about Boum-Boum, than about Temple that you didn't see.

[Luludinky]

Will have to spend 1 night nest week in SR. What who make the most out of these few hours according to you guys?

Thanks

[Samu Ray]

I wrote my last report at a cafe internet. I would like to say a little bit more regarding my previous report. I had been in Cambodia many times. I have lost count. I have traveled by air, some times by land which costs about $40. I took the boat from Koh Kong to Sihanukville three times, in those three times the boats were overloaded with goods and people. If they had vests they were unreachable. On top of that, the sea is always agitated. I took a pick up truck once, the only service from Koh Kong to Phnom Penh, it is a grueling seven to eight hours on an unpaved road, same as the road from Siem Reap to Poipet. The road from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap is paved!

As I mentioned in my previous report, I spent ten days in SR. The bus I took from the central market in Ph Penh discharged passengers barely at the entrrance of Siem Reap. I walked aimlessly until, mercifully, someone directed me to the center of Siem Reap. Without lookin for the Golden Angkor hotel I stumbled upon it! It has clean rooms, ac. cable, bottled water all for $12.

The bus ticket I was sold to go from Siem Reap to Poipet turned out to be a scam, they sell you bus tickets and make you travel on top of a pick up truck! the sun and dust are unbearable. I took once that trip. As an adventure once is enough!

I took a real bus for $4 to Poipet the following day. After clearing customs at the Thai side, after few yards on the right side of the exit I found buses to BKK for 100 bt, $2. 50. the trip takes tree hours!

I spent ten days in Siem Reap in August, this month. On the previous report the old market, the bridge and Martini are mentioned. If you keep on walking in the same direction after you cross the bridge, about two long blocks, on the right side, there are at least three "massage" places. Did not go in. The last one "Hollywood Massage", I think is the better one. There were about 30 Vietnamese girls, all young. There were three or four that I would say were not good looking, but were OK. Locals $5, outsiders $10. Take out $20. Took a couple at different times. The first one was OK. The second one left at 4: 00am. I learned a while ago that it is better not to argue, just let them go.

There is another massage place about two blocks from the main street, on the road that goes toward Poipet. The name of the joint is Tokyo. There were also about 30 girls, all young. I did not see anyone attractive. the price, take out $50!

I staye at "The golden Angkor Hotel" $12 night, not bad. They sell bus tickets to Poipet, $12. a van came to pick me up, took me to a gas station, I was told to get on top of a pick up truck. Hell no! Got my money back.

BEWARE of this scam!