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Cambodia & Aman Resorts
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[ New Topic]
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| The Designer |
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| posted by HKBloke 372 days ago |
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2 seperate (but related) questions. Thinking of taking the wife Cambodia this summer to see Angkor Wat. Anyone been to Cambodia and have any comments on it as a travel destination i.e. is it a single attraction destination or are there other things to see and do.
2nd Q - thinking of staying at the Aman Resort there. Has anyone satyed at any of these in Asia and are they worth the exorbitant prices they charge ?
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| Regular Member |
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| posted by EmilyBronte 372 days ago |
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I would also go to Pnomh Penh. Its good for maybe 1.5-2 days- have lunch at the FCC and watch the world go by. Theres a great, cheap market and the palace and the prison/museum to look round.
Cambodia in itself is very poor, lots of children begging, running up to you in the street, waiting on every corner. Its also chaotic, bikes everywhere, but has a life to it that will soon change, i'm sure.
PP and SRiep are also a bit of a mess still, rebuilding going on all the time.
On the whole, a great place to go. Angkor is amazing, you will need around 3-4 days at least, especially if you actually want to rest at some point.
I would highly recommend Raffles in both places- top notch hotels and makes the whole thing feel like you are experiencing something that will soon disappear. Along the highway to the Temple National park in Siem Riep, they are building and buidling , soon it will look like Las Vegas.
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| The Designer |
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| posted by HKBloke 372 days ago |
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Looks like you can only fly direct to Pnomh Penh from HK. How close is Angkor to PP - drive or internal flight ?
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| Regular Member |
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| posted by EmilyBronte 372 days ago |
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Internal flight- around 40 minutes.
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| Regular Member |
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| 6512 Posts |
| over the hill |
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| posted by puyi 372 days ago |
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best time to visit siem rep / angkor is in the winter as it drier and cooler....in summer its monsoon raining and hot ....if you can delay to dec jan feb its way better....have been there twice and its easy to take up to 4 days to see lots but can see a good deal in 3 days.....angkor for sunrise is very good get there in the dark and wait at the water / pool/ tank at front of main temple complex and watch the sun rise and the change in colours ....sunset near by up on a small temple on a hill is also vey popular and a good view....you can rent a car and driver for the day for 20 us dollars and they will know which places and times and circuits to take you on...some are good in morning and some are good in afternoon....there are very good places to stay there as its a boom tourist town...you can fly to saigon and then a flight onto siem rep with vietnam / cathay code share flights.....some of the package deals are a good value as can be cheaper than just the airtickets.....
darren rudd is a sinophile
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| The Designer |
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| 4126 Posts |
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| posted by HKBloke 372 days ago |
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ok - will have to drop this idea as flights are ridiculously expensive this time of year.....
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| Junior Member |
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| posted by jesswill 372 days ago |
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I went to Angkor and Phnom Penh in January and you can fly directly to Angkor from HK (and then go back from Phnom Penh) by Bangkok airlines. We bought our tickets from 4thetravel travel agency in Sheung Wan.
We found that it's worth staying in Angkor for a good 4/5 days and do at least 3 days of temple visits. Phnom Penh on the other hand we didn't like much but mostly because I didn't want to go and visit the killing fields and the museum of torture (where you can, should you wish so, watch how the Khmer Rouge filmed and photographed the people they tortured...) and there is not much else to do.
Cambodia was great but it was also the most expensive trip I have ever made in Asia. Everything is really expensive and if you don't want to spend your holidays negotiating the price of a can of coke well it adds up very quickly.
up to not much
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| Regular Member |
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| posted by LMOPQ 372 days ago (edited 372 days ago) |
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April 2004, From Hong Kong to Cambodia by CR Airways, from a winterish blue to full summer green. Arriving under an umbrella of coconut trees airport. I said to myself: Oh my god! I am in Cambodia! And then I was so excited I had to text to everybody I was in Cambodia! I was in Cambodia! It was 36 degrees! Very bright. So clear in fact I couldn¡¦t open my eyes. Very funny experience at the airport, there were all together 6 officers seating on the table. They looked at me, read my passport, waited a few minutes and gave it back to me. They hadn¡¦t chopped it. They had given me a very beautiful stamp with the Angkor Temple! Absolutely amazing!
So, my first day. Siem Reap Airport. The travel book said I had to wait for a driver to bring me to a Hotel. And this is true. 8-10 motos (small motorcycle) and drivers wait for me. I said: Bring me to Red Piano Hotel. How much? There was a guy looks friendly and he said US$1. Good. Then I follow him and sat behind him on the moto. And I would say riding on the moto is a wonderful experience. I feel so free! For a moment I imagined myself holding Tom Cruise. (Don¡¦t be jealous, I am dreaming only.) And there were a lot of bad guys chasing us and we had to escape quickly!
Then, my sudden nightmare: it was my first trip alone...The first night, I cannot sleep in a strange bed. Hang on. Most of the beds in Cambodia have a triangle shape blanket placed at the end. I don¡¦t know why and I never asked. Please let me know if you know the answer. And that night, I lit a candle, switched on the TV and tried to sleep. I closed my eyes, outside the hotel I heard some Cambodian music playing. Even though I cannot sleep, the music is very relaxing. Now it has been 6 months already, I still remember the melody!
About the greatest invention - the internet, a rich resource for travelers. I can research, hunt down bargain air fares, book hotels, check on weather conditions and ask other travelers about the best places to visit (or avoid)! In most of the Siam Reap Pubs and restaurants, cost 1US dollar/ per hour of the internet service. Not bad.
About Angkor: to Cambodians, Angkor is more than just the temple itself ¡V in fact there are hundreds of temples. Visiting the temples. Admission tickets are sold at the ticketing booth on the way to Angkor Wat. Don¡¦t worry. The driver will bring you there. A day pass costs US$20. 3 days US$40. 7 days US$60. And I bought 3 days pass because 1 day is not enough. 7 days I am sure I will be exhausted pretty much.
Here are my suggestions: Day 1: Morning: Angkor Thom South Gate, the Bayon, Terrace of the Leper King and Terrace of the Elephants, Baphuon. Afternoon: Angkor Wat. Sunset at Phnom Bakheng. Day 2: Morning: Prasat Kravan, Banteay Kdei, Srah Srang, Ta Prohm (my favourite), Victory gate, Thommanon, Chau Say Thevoda. Afternoon: Pre Rup, Eastern Mebon, Ta Som, Neak Pean, and Preah Khan. Day 3: Morning: Kbal Spean, Banteay Srei, Banteay Samre. Afternoon: Roluo Group. That¡¦s a lot to see, and there¡¦s a lot more, but it¡¦s a wonderful experience.
And when you have finished the temples, one thing you should definitely visit ¡V a massage shop. In Siam Reap, near the old market there are a lot of massage shops! There is NOTHING like a massage after a day at the temples. The therapeutic effects of massage are well-known, but the relaxation factor is the thing! Many locally operated massage centers are reputable and high-quality. So¡K what are you waiting for? For me, I spent US$6 dollars for a much needed one hour massage. After the traditional Cambodian massage, I feel so nice and fresh! Now I feel completely relaxed in Cambodia!
Boat Trip, from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, 5-6 hours. Depends on the water level. I spent just over US$20. I chatted to a 19 years old English Girl on the way down. For the boat trip, I had to wake up very early at 6. And the boat left at 7:30am.
Phnom Penh, I would say I was a bit scared in Phnom Penh because I cannot find any other visitors like me, and there were only a few backpackers. My boss said Siam Reap is equal to Central and Phnom Penh more like Mong Kok. Well¡K well¡K well¡K Ha! Maybe¡KBut Siam Reap has much more the look and feel of a French or more Western place. Phnom Penh, more Chinese Style. I found some Chinese there and some can speak Cantonese, too! You know¡K I grew up in Hong Kong. I feel comfortable when someone talks to me in Cantonese.
No. 9 guesthouse in Phnom Penh. This is a paradise although it is a peculiar one! I don¡¦t know how to explain it to you. I can see the sunset at this hotel. Captured a lot of photos there. It was so beautiful. I would recommend it for lovers to stay in and for relaxation. My room: No. 22. And it cost me US$4 only.
Internal Fight, Phnom Penh to Siam Reap, cost me US$45. 45 minutes. I booked with President Airline. Back in Siam Reap, I feel relaxed. It¡¦s time to buy some things for my friends...
Funny shops. Don¡¦t miss them! In Kokoon, ice-cream cost me US$1. I bought Rice Alcohol, honey. The Lazy Mango Bookshop has secondhand books in many languages. If you still have time, do visit the Grand Hotel d¡¦Angkor. There was a vintage 1929 antique lift there. Not sure if it still works...
Next time, I want to go to Sihanoukville and Battambang.
Finally, I want to say goodbye to my dear readers in Khmer language. Lia Suhn Hao-y (goodbye). Juab kh¡¦nia th¡¦ngay krao-y (see you later) ƒº.
- Written by: LMOPQ
- Edited by a mysterious guy
www.towncrier.com.hk
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| Senior Member |
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| posted by Load Toad 372 days ago |
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How many Amananians have you shagged LMOPQ?
You used to speak the truth.
But now you're clever.
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| Senior Member |
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| posted by Load Toad 372 days ago |
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quote:
I was a bit scared in Phnom Penh because I cannot find any other visitors like me,
No s**t!
You used to speak the truth.
But now you're clever.
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| Regular Member |
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| posted by LMOPQ 372 days ago (edited 371 days ago) |
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Aman. Aman. Aman.
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| Regular Member |
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| 4614 Posts |
| of trenchancy |
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| posted by smog 371 days ago |
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LMOPQ,
Thanks for the trip report. I appreciate it even if others don't.
___________________________
http://smogsblog.wordpress.com for more of the same
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| Regular Member |
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| posted by LMOPQ 370 days ago |
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I am thinking of my ex-bf because of Cambodia......
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| Senior Member |
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| 10799 Posts |
| Chemo Over |
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| posted by Beer Boy 370 days ago |
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quote:
Originally posted by LMOPQ
The Lazy Mango Bookshop
how prescient!!!
...so not only does he do cupboards but he sometimes sells books in Cambodia
I take under performing to new lows...
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| Senior Member |
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| 8423 Posts |
| in Bhutan |
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| posted by Juno Watt 370 days ago |
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Yes, he built the shelves himself, and bought the bookshop for cash
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| Senior Member |
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| 10799 Posts |
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| posted by Beer Boy 370 days ago |
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lazily should preface the last bit of that comment
I take under performing to new lows...
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| Senior Member |
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| 11357 Posts |
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| posted by Load Toad 370 days ago |
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LMOPQ has edited the bit where she said she hadn't shagged any Amananians as she had never visited that country.*
* which was a slice of comedy gold in my humble but no doubt relevant opinion.
You used to speak the truth.
But now you're clever.
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| Regular Member |
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| 6512 Posts |
| over the hill |
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| posted by puyi 370 days ago |
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but she wanted to learn their language .................
darren rudd is a sinophile
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| Regular Member |
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| 3514 Posts |
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| posted by LMOPQ 369 days ago |
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quote:
Originally posted by puyi
but she wanted to learn their language .................
Yes! Definately! lol
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