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Tip No. 15: Do not forget to bring your wan dalah (this is how they say US $1.00 in Cambodia) bills and set aside cash for travel tax and temple passes.

US dollars are accepted in all stores in Cambodia.  Some establishments do not, however, have enough change to give you if you pay for purchases using $ 20.00 to $ 100.00 bills. So, my mom who had also gone to Cambodia ahead of us, advised Padma and me to bring $ 1.00 bills.  Also, since $ 1.00 is equivalent to about 4,000 Reils, you would need sacks of Reils to make a major purchase.  Of course, if you want to experience what it is like to be a millionaire, by all means, change your US dollars to Reils.

Tourists are assessed US$25.00 for travel tax when they leave Cambodia. Be sure to set aside this amount for the tax. Non-Cambodians are also asked to pay a temple pass worth $ 20.00 for a one-day visit or $ 70.00 for a five-day visit to enter the Angkor complex where most of the wonderful temples are located. You should also set aside money for this.

Tip No. 11: Get medical insurance for the trip.

Cambodia is just in the process of picking itself up from the aftermath of the reign of the Khmer Rouge, which was responsible for slaughtering intellectuals many of whom were doctors. For this reason, there are very few hospitals in Cambodia. Toe advised us to get medical insurance for the trip in the event that we would need to be flown out of Cambodia to receive medical treatment in a neighboring country.  Of  course, Padma and I are stingy like living on the edge.  So, we did not get any medical insurance.

Tip No. 12: Wear a hat and comfortable footwear.  I wore slippers (flip-flops).

Tip No. 13: Bring Off Lotion (mosquito repellant).

Tip No. 14: Do not fret over forgetting to bring a toothbrush or shampoo. Siem Reap convenient stores are well stocked with basic necessities and even wonderful treats.  Most convenient stores in Siem Reap cater to tourists, and for that reason, their shelves are stocked with toothbrushes, toothpaste, soaps, shampoos and batteries. More than that, those stores sell, imported cereals like Frosties, Huggies diapers, French wine, all sorts of cheeses and imported ice cream.

Tip No. 10: Splurge on food and sample some street food avoid street food.

Siem Reap offers a wide range of food choices.  There is the authentic Khmer food such as beef Loklak and chicken or fish Amok.  As Cambodia was once a French protectorate, many restaurants serve French food. Thai and Vietnamese cuisine are also available because, at one point or another, the Thais and Vietnamese tried to invade Cambodia.  For the less adventurous, pizza, pasta, deli sandwiches from the Blue Pumpkin and other more familiar food are available at restaurants that cater to foreigners.  So, you should not miss the opportunity to sample the different cuisine available in Siem Reap.

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Tip No. 8:  Chose your temples and avoid getting “Templed Out”.

There is much to learn from every temple.  Alas, there are more than 1,000 temples in Cambodia and it is impossible to visit all those temples in a couple of days (and I suspect even during a lifetime).  I find that the best way to enjoy the temples is to select only a few to visit and explore them at a leisurely pace. Two temples a day is my quota. Otherwise, my mind cannot absorb all the information about the temples, I would get overwhelmed and would  have no time to get a feel of their magic and mystic. Also, try to do other things like going to the Silk Farm or shopping in between temple visits to avoid getting “Templed Out”.

Between our temple visits, Padma and I visited the Silk Farm and went shopping at Artisan D’ Angkor and the Old Market.

From the Silk Farm or Artisan D’ Angkor, you could buy premium quality raw silk fabric and other items made of silk like bags, clothes, bed covers, table napkins and runners. From the Old Market you can buy Kramas or cotton scaves (just make sure you get the good kind by feeling the fabric to make sure it is 100% cotton), Kampot pepper (they say that no self respecting French restaurant would use pepper other than Kampot pepper, which is grown in Cambodia), silverworks (make sure you get the items that have 92.5% silver content), amber (cheap), and semi-precious stones. According to my friend, Toe, all stones that are mined in Cambodia like topaz are cheap but those which are not mined there like rubies and sapphires are expensive. The stones they sell are real but I suspect that not all are of the highest quality. Unless you know what you are buying, I suggest you just buy those that are less than $5 a carat and do not forget to haggle.

Tip No 7:  Share a meal or two with your guide and the Tuk-Tuk driver.

Since the Tuk-Tuk driver and guide are paid to serve you, they naturally act as if you are their boss and treat you with deference. For instance, they would offer to carry your bag, never contradict you and seldom voice out their opinion. Also, while they will definitely share information, it is very basic and seldom gives you a deep insight into the Cambodian people and culture. (more…)

Tip No. 5: Bear the dust and take the Tuk-Tuk.

When Padma and I stepped out of the modern Siem Reap International Airport, I expected a bus or taxi to take us to our hotel. Surprise, surprise…we were picked up by a Tuk-Tuk. I later discovered that the same Tuk-Tuk would be our mode of transportation for the entire duration of our stay in Siem Reap.

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Tip No. 3:  When taking Airasia, line up early and run fast or pay $20.00.

Flying via AirAsia was an experience in itself.

When we got to the AirAsia check-in counter, we discovered that no seats are assigned to you. Ergo, it is free seating. Thinking we were smart, Padma and I lined up early to ensure that we got to sit together. Apparently, lining up early was not all we needed to do to get the seats we wanted. We also had to run fast!

After we turned in our boarding pass at the gate, we noticed other passengers who were behind us in the line running ahead of us. Not wanting to be left behind, we also started running towards the plane. Then, most of the passengers started running! It was hilarious and I felt like I was participating in the Amazing Race. After that, I vowed that on my next trip on AirAsia, I would line up early and run faster. Of course, I could always opt to pay AirAsia an extra $ 20.00 to be given a five-minute lead to get to the plane ahead of everyone.  But nah, running is more fun.

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Today and in the following days, I will be posting Siem Reap travel tips.

Tip No. 1: Bring a camera. This tip needs no further explanation.

I regret that these are all the photos I could take with, and store on, my phone -

Tip No. 2: Study flight routes, canvass travel fares and book flights in advance.

For any trip, you should find the best way to get there. In our case, I learned that there are no direct flights from the Philippines to Cambodia.  You need to take a flight from the Philippines to Thailand, Malaysia or Singapore and from there to Cambodia.  This could make traveling to Cambodia expensive.  After studying flight routes, I found several budget airlines that offer affordable fares.   (more…)

Bantay Srei is a grand house (not a temple according to our guide) made of red limestone with tiny intricate carvings. On the day we were to leave for Bantay Srei, I felt feverish and decided to skip it. Padma went without me. I was so envious of her Bantay Srei excursion especially when I saw these pictures.

The Toothy Apsara and Sacred Apsaras

Apsaras are female celestial dancers who appear in various Hindu myths.  As Angkor Wat was built in honor of the Hindu god, Vishnu, many apsara images are carved on the walls of Angkor Wat.  (See www.sacredsites.com.)  All but one apsara wears a serene expression with a half smile that conceals her teeth.  Our guide introduced us to the only apsara in Angkor Wat who smiles with her teeth showing.

Our guide also told us that people have a tendency to touch the walls of Angkor Wat. Padma and I laughed when we noticed these apsaras. We now know where people have a tendency to touch.