November is coming and the month reminds me of a holiday destination I visited last year — Siem Reap, Cambodia. No, it wasn’t a solo trip and I am so glad it wasn’t because I am sure I would be missing out a lot of stuff since there would be nobody or nothing to force me to climb on top of massive temples or listen to a tour guide who will be refreshing me of what I learned way back high school days. It was a great adventure.
Now that September is almost over, I guess it’s safe to disclose details (and a bit more) of the travel tips that I shared to a Cebu Pacific inflight magazine editor for anyone going to Siem Reap. Some of the information were released in the airline’s August 2015 issue.
Here are a few more travel tips for Siem Reap as I experienced them last year with Tala (Instagram: Kristal Vs World) and Dan (toploadingforlife.com).
What to Ride From Siem Reap International Airport
• In the airport, you can hire vans and taxis (7USD – 10USD) to city centre.
• Outside the airport entrance, you can ride tuk tuks (motorised rickshaws) for 5USD to the city.
• Hotels may also provide airport pick-up for free, just like what we had with Tasom Guesthouse (which is also a certified travel agent).
What to Expect
Some insights on how you can enjoy your visit in Siem Reap.
1 | Be physically prepared when temple hopping.
There will be lots of climbing very steep stairs and walking under the sun if you’re planning to visit temples. So make sure you’re physically prepared, especially your hips. Joining aerobics thrice a week and doing other related physical activities can be beneficial.
2 | You don’t have to go far when exploring the night scene
The colorful Art Center Night Market, the touristy Pub Street and the Old Market are located within walking distance from one another. It’s perfect for night strolling. Don’t miss out the shops, cafes and other establishments in the smaller roads and walkways.
3 | Visit major temples before the tour buses arrive.
There are lots of tourists in the popular Angkor Wat by the afternoon. So make sure to visit it in the morning.
What to Do
Don’t miss out these activities when you’re in Siem Reap!
1 | Learn about wildlife at ACCB.
An hour and a half informative tour at the Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB) will let you learn how Cambodia’s wildlife is being saved, nurtured and trained for release back to the wild. Be mindful that this isn’t a zoo.
2 | Wake up early for a majestic sunrise.
Don’t miss out the magnificent sunrise at Angkor Wat by buying your temple pass a day before your planned visit.
3 | Be amazed at the entertaining performance of Phare.
Spend a night (2-3 hours) to watch the Phare Circus where you can enjoy Cambodian stories told with great performances and amusing tricks. You’ll also be helping Cambodia’s underprivileged youth at the same time.
When we visited, we watched Sokha. Check out our story in “The Awesomeness That Is ‘Phare, The Cambodian Circus’ in Siem Reap”
Where to Eat
I am not a foodie; I just look like one. Hahaha. But these are some of our food experiences in Siem Reap.
1 | Street Food Carts (in and around Pub Street)
We definitely fell in love with Banana Chocolate Pancake (1 USD) the first time we had it. You might as well, too! There are street food cart vendors near the Art Center Night Market and on Pub Street.
2 | Lim Kim Cheng (in Old Market)
The reason I mentioned Lim Kim Cheng (located in Old Market, Siem Reap) is because they serve fried frog meat here. This is also a good restaurant to be when you’re looking for traditional Khmer foods at an affordable price.
The dishes I had and loved are Fried Cambodian Spring Roll (2 USD) and Special Khmer Curry Beef (3 USD).
3 | Koulen Restaurant (on Sivatha Street )
Enjoy a massive array of international dishes in a dinner buffet while enjoying traditional Cambodian dances at Koulen Restaurant (http://www.koulenrestaurant.com/). Our reservation was included in our tour and accommodation package with Tasom Guesthouse so we probably had a discount for that cultural event/dinner.
You can book directly with the restaurant. Regular price is 12 USD per adult as of June 2015.
We hope these tips will be helpful to you when you’re visiting or planning to visit Siem Reap. Tell us what you think or share to us your story.
If you want to read more travel tips to other destinations, you can browse through the past issues of the Smile Magazine online.
