SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA (Angkor Wat) via Jetstar Asia

A month ago, I took a 4D3N trip to Siem Reap with several friends.

Some information for 1st timers to Cambodia:
They charge mainly in USD, accepting local currency(Riels). (3800-4000 riels to 1USD as of June 2007)
Cambodia is an hour behind Singapore or GMT +7
No visa is neccesary for entry into Cambodia for Singapore Passports
Do ask for R/T transfer to the airport. It will make things much more convenient for you

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1, Early Morning Arrival
- Takes about 15mins to get from the airport to the hotel at the town centre
- Landmine museum to look at the the vast collection of landmines and other explosive devices. An interesting place to understand the effects of the civil war most Cambodians have gone thru not too long ago. An hour or so if you travel by tuktuk, about half an hour if going by car
- Lunch at Dead Fish, wide variety and most importantly good food
- Walk around the Old Market area
- Dinner at Ecstatic Pizza
- Chill out at the hotel

Auberge Mont Royal

Ecstatic Pizza @ Siem Reap


Day 2,
- Arranged for a guided tour of Angkor Thom (Ancient City), Ta Prom (Temple which was the setting for Tomb Raider) and Angkor Wat (Temple) thru the hotel. You can ask for Mr Narim to be your tour guide (Very Good Guide)
- Elephant Ride Near Angkor Wat
- Dinner at Ecstatic Pizza again. Its not only happy, it really addictive too

Ta Prom(Top) & Angkor Wat(Above)


Day 3,
- Long breakfast stretching into lunch
- Arranged tour to Tonle Sap (Great Lake) via Art School (Free admission) to catch the sunset at the lake. Along the way you will also meet the floating village's residents
- Remember to remind the reception to arrange for transfer to airport the next day
- Pack up for early morning departure & Chill out at the Hotel Bar

Tonle Sap (Great River)

Tips:
- If you want to stretch your first day, you can rent a bicycle to go to the landmine museum. It would take about 2 hours to get there leisurely and another 2 hours back. At the end of the day, you can arrange for a massage to loosen up those muscles.
- You could also spread the visit to the Angkor temples into two day. The place is big and you can't really finish visiting it. 2 day passes are available at the Angkor checkpoints/entrance.
- Be aware though if you are cycling, traffic in Siem Reap is rather different from what we are used to in the city. 2 opposing lanes and gigantic trucks carry building materials overtaking at some speed is not for the faint hearted.
- Same goes for crossing the roads, the rule of give and take applies to both pedestrians and motorists. Just look left & right and continue doing so until you're safely on the other side.
- Sunblock necessary for those who love their skin, Angkor Wat doesn't provide much shelter.
Light clothing/Berms & Slippers are allowed.
- If you're going out at night, do apply some insect repellent. The mosquitoes here give really bad bites.
- There will be lots of children asking you to buy things from them and are extremely good at persuading. If you really want to buy something from them, do it just before you leave the place. Once you buy from 1 of them, a whole lot of others will come forward and do the same thing.

Ecstatic Pizza

Happy Pizza is a popular 'spice' laced pizza widely available on the streets of most Cambodian cities. Personally, I've only tried the happy pizza served at ECSTATIC PIZZA in Siem Reap. There is another branch located somewhere in Phnom Penh.

Happy pizza is so called because the pizza is topped with marijuana powder, in small amounts, enough to make you happy anyway. Well worth a try for the experience and not to worry, its not going to harm your health in anyway. The owner of this particular branch is very friendly and you won't see him without a smile on his face just like the restaurants logo mascot. After the meal, you're likely gonna end up like this.


You can even buy a Ecstatic Pizza T-shirt for only 4USD.

The pasta served here is also a must order besides the pizzas that you will surely give 2 thumbs up to.
Recommended drinks here are the fruit shakes and their cocktails which are very well mixed and not stingy at all.




SIEM REAP
Opposite Province Hospital Near Old Market
Phone: (855 11) 928 531, (855 12) 436 869
Open Everyday From 6.00 am till Midnight
Delivers to hotels, call before 11pm