The Best of Cambodia & Laos

More documents

Recommendations

Info

94 ORIENTATION SIEM REAP 6 1 ORIENTATION Originally a collection of separate villages based around separate pagodas, Siem Reap town is still a rambling place. The Siem Reap River runs north to south with National Rte. 6 (the road to Phnom Penh) running east to west along the north end of town. The center of town is around Psar Chas in the southern end of town, west of the river and east of Sivatha Boulevard, the main north-to-south thoroughfare. Psar Chas itself is on the river and remains your most important reference point. Heading away from the river are a number of parallel streets packed with restaurants, cafes, travel agents, and Internet cafes. The busiest of these is appropriately named Pub Street (St. 8). At night this area becomes frantic with blaring music, crowds of tourists, hordes of raggedy children, and hawkers of all things. In between and parallel to Street 8 and Street 9 is a smaller alleyway with plenty of restaurants and bars, but it is far more relaxed and quiet. Hotels and guesthouses are spread throughout the town on both sides of the river. GETTING THERE BY PLANE Bangkok Air (& 023/426-624 in Phnom Penh, or 063/380-191 in Siem Reap; www.bangkokair.com) is currently the only airline running the 1-hour connection to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh. One-way fares are $70. If you just want to see the great temples at Angkor, the process is simplified with international arrivals: Vietnam Airlines (www.vietnamairlines.com) flies directly from Ho Chi Minh City; Bangkok Air flies directly from Bangkok. Lao Airlines flies (www. laoairlines.com) in from Vientiane. Air Asia (www.airasia.com) and Malaysia Airlines (www.malaysiaairlines.com) fly from Kuala Lumpur. Silk Air (www.silkair.com) flies from Singapore. Note: The international departure tax (from both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap) is $25; the domestic tax is $6. Siem Reap airport is 7km (41 ⁄3 miles) out of town. Taxis cost $5 while a tuk-tuk will be around $4. Many hotels offer free pickup. BY BOAT A ride on the 5-hour boat connection between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap costs $30 to $35. Contact any hotel or travel agent (they all sell the same tickets at the same price). The trip connects to Siem Reap via the great Tonle Sap Lake. It is getting less and less popular since the roads have been improved. The buses are cheaper and more comfortable. Siem Reap also connects with Battambang, to the south and west, via the Tonle Sap and the Sangker River. The trip reveals life in fishing villages along the river as you pass the banks. In the rainy season when the water is high, the ride is relatively straightforward, but in the dry season (Feb–May) it can take 8 hours or more and isn’t recommended. Book your ticket at any tour agent or the front desk of your hotel or guesthouse. The price is $14. BY BUS Your hotel front desk can arrange bus transportation for you at no additional cost. Mekong Express (& 023/427-518) connects Phnom Penh and Siem Reap with daily luxury buses ($11 for the 51 ⁄2-hr. ride). Tip: Earplugs are your friend on this bus ride (and any bus ride really), as the buses play Khmer karaoke songs and various Asian pop music videos. Capitol Tour (No. 14 Rd. 182; & 023/217-627) also runs daily minivans along ($5 for the 5-hr. ride) as well as destinations farther afield like Battambang or Poipet at the Thai border. Neak Krorhorm Travel and Tour (& 023/219-496 in Phnom Penh, or 063/964-924 in Siem Reap near the Old Market) provides similar services. The road from Siem Reap to Poipet on the Thai border, which was appalling for
1 Airport (8 km) Siem Reap Phnom Penh 11 C A M B O D I A Bank Hospital Post Office 20 19 Sivatha Sivatha Blvd. Blvd. To Tonle Sap & Boats to Phnom Penh 24 12 Allson Angkor Hotel 1 Amansara Resort 2 Angkor Palace Resort & Spa 1 Angkor Village Hotel 23 Angkor Village Resort 6 Auberge Mont Royal D’Angkor 11 Bopha Angkor 16 City River Hotel 17 Ei8ht Rooms 20 FCC Angkor 9 2 Wat Kosararam 3 Street Street 05 05 Nat’l. Nat’l. Route Route 66 Street Street 02 02 Street Street 03 03 Oum Oum Khun Khun St. St. Sivatha Sivatha Blvd. Blvd. Oum Oum Chhay Chhay St. St. Achamean Achamean St. St. Siem Reap Hospital Pithnou Pithnou St. St. 8 8 Pub Pub St. St. The The Alley Alley Old Market (Psar Chas) 25 Wat Preath Prom Rath 21 22 4 Where to Stay in Siem Reap 15 10 To the Temples (7 km) 5 ROYAL INDEPENDENCE GARDENS Royal Residence Street Street 14 14 0 Pokamber Pokamber St. St. 1/10 mi 0 0.10 km Golden Banana 25 Hotel de la Paix 12 Ivy Guesthouse 15 La Noria 7 La Residence d’Angkor 13 Le Meridien Angkor 1 Mandalay Inn 24 Passaggio 26 Pavillon d’Orient 8 Pavillon Indochine 2 Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor 5 9 13 PROMENADE PROMENADE 16 17 18 6 Siem Siem Reap Reap River River Wat Wat Bo Bo Rd. Rd. 7 26 14 Wat Bo 23 Wat Po Lanka Shadow of Angkor Guest House 22 Shinta Mani 10 Sofitel Angkor 6 Sokha Angkor 3 Steung Siemreap Hotel 21 Sun Sengky Guesthouse 19 Two Dragons 14 Victoria Angkor Ω Post Hotel office4 Viroth’s Hotel 18 8 Bus Station (2.5 km) 95 SIEM REAP 6 ORIENTATION
Page 1 and 2:
Cambodia & Laos
Page 3 and 4:
Cambodia & Laos by Daniel White 1st
Page 5 and 6:
CONTENTS LIST OF MAPS vii 1 THE BES
Page 7 and 8:
8 SOUTHERN CAMBODIA 152 1 Sihanoukv
Page 9 and 10:
LIST OF MAPS The Best Small Towns,
Page 11 and 12:
HOW TO CONTACT US In researching th
Page 13 and 14:
The Best of Cambodia & Laos The cou
Page 15 and 16:
the world’s most rewarding journe
Page 17 and 18:
MYANMAR Muang Sing (BURMA) Luang Na
Page 19 and 20:
7 BEST TEMPLES & WATS • Angkor Wa
Page 21 and 22:
Cambodia in Depth If ever a country
Page 23 and 24:
Phnom Penh (see p. 83 for more on t
Page 25 and 26:
was Mahayana, not part of the Thera
Page 27 and 28:
keep Cambodia neutral in the confli
Page 29 and 30:
Rouge leaders will be prompted to s
Page 31 and 32:
As Hun Sen darkly quipped years lat
Page 33 and 34:
place largely without violence, Cam
Page 35 and 36:
high-rise residential developments
Page 37 and 38:
5 CAMBODIA IN POPULAR CULTURE RECOM
Page 39 and 40:
Wherever you are, stick only to bot
Page 41 and 42:
Planning Your Trip to Cambodia With
Page 43 and 44:
Bonn Pchum Ben. During this period,
Page 45 and 46:
3 GETTING THERE & GETTING AROUND GE
Page 47 and 48:
spend the night in Poipet, but this
Page 49 and 50:
can be cold due to excessive air-co
Page 51 and 52:
Come Armed with Singles We recommen
Page 53 and 54:
the malarial mosquitoes are at thei
Page 55 and 56: are riding on a motorcycle, keep yo
Page 57 and 58: cater to travelers with disabilitie
Page 59 and 60: General Resources for Green Travel
Page 61 and 62: INTERNET In Cambodia, where you fin
Page 63 and 64: 0 0 50 km 50 mi N Phumi Samraong Pr
Page 65 and 66: 2 THE BEST OF LAOS IN 1 WEEK Althou
Page 67 and 68: Pak Lai Gulf of Thailand Mekong Mek
Page 69 and 70: Sao Market to shop for special Lao
Page 71 and 72: Founded in the mid-14th century by
Page 73 and 74: The Tonle Sap: The Heart of a Natio
Page 75 and 76: 2 WHERE TO STAY There is a huge cho
Page 77 and 78: Mao Zedong Blvd. onireth Blvd. (217
Page 79 and 80: No. 227 St. 19. & 023/222-280. www.
Page 81 and 82: Hotel Scandinavia This relaxed offe
Page 83 and 84: Inexpensive Capitol Guesthouse The
Page 85 and 86: Mao Zedong Blvd. onireth Blvd. (217
Page 87 and 88: Phnom Penh’s Much-Loved Pachyderm
Page 89 and 90: completely punitive. They also have
Page 91 and 92: Le Jardin Café WESTERN As its name
Page 93 and 94: ao Zedong Blvd. onireth Blvd. (217)
Page 95 and 96: The Khmer Rouge on Trial As this bo
Page 97 and 98: SWIMMING & FITNESS Many top hotels
Page 99 and 100: 5 DAY TRIPS OUTSIDE PHNOM PENH OUDO
Page 101 and 102: (& 023/211-534) and carries a simil
Page 103 and 104: The excellent Sovanna Phum Art Asso
Page 105: The ruins of the ancient city of An
Page 109 and 110: 10% VAT. Budget travelers are also
Page 111 and 112: Vithei Charles de Gaulle, Khum Svay
Page 113 and 114: combo and sinks set in unique overs
Page 115 and 116: fan). The courtyard area is a pictu
Page 117 and 118: Mandalay Inn One of the first thing
Page 119 and 120: NIGHTLIFE Angkor What? 28 Dead Fish
Page 121 and 122: Shinta Mani INTERNATIONAL Shinta Ma
Page 123 and 124: Taj Mahal NORTHERN INDIAN It has be
Page 125 and 126: Some Guidelines When Visiting Angko
Page 127 and 128: 0 1st Level Vishnu’s victory over
Page 129 and 130: To To To Banteay Banteay Banteay Sr
Page 131 and 132: The Magic Hours at Angkor Wat The s
Page 133 and 134: Enter the temple from the west, the
Page 135 and 136: Westerners until a French researche
Page 137 and 138: Body Tune Spa, in the very heart of
Page 139 and 140: Colors of Cambodia Here’s a fun o
Page 141 and 142: A Dance for the Divine The royal cl
Page 143 and 144: APSARA DANCE Having spent the day l
Page 145 and 146: Battambang & Northern Cambodia From
Page 147 and 148: 0 0 0.25 km 2 DINING Bus Stop 10 Th
Page 149 and 150: either a car with a driver or a mot
Page 151 and 152: pleasant indeed with casual but sma
Page 153 and 154: its relaxed, open-air charm. The ty
Page 155 and 156: into a trip back on a small metal-a
Page 157 and 158:
a mix of traditional Khmer ballads
Page 159 and 160:
The Spiders of Skuon In the town of
Page 161 and 162:
$10 but can be more during high sea
Page 163 and 164:
all over by 10am. The Reclining Bud
Page 165 and 166:
1 3 4 2 5 7 6 8 10 8 11 12 9 15 14
Page 167 and 168:
Ochheuteal Beach to Victory Beach c
Page 169 and 170:
Beach Road Hotel Covering both the
Page 171 and 172:
Koh Rong Beach. & 016/214-211. www.
Page 173 and 174:
Snakehouse INTERNATIONAL Here’s a
Page 175 and 176:
Cooking Courses If you want to lear
Page 177 and 178:
ACCOMMODATIONS Champa Koh Kong Gues
Page 179 and 180:
can take a motorcycle or car into t
Page 181 and 182:
New Bridge Kampot 1 2 Prek Kampong
Page 183 and 184:
also a more straightforward house w
Page 185 and 186:
and a turnoff to a small waterfall
Page 187 and 188:
Information Post Office 3 2 Kep Bea
Page 189 and 190:
WHERE TO DINE All the hotels and gu
Page 191 and 192:
part in Lao culture; arguments are
Page 193 and 194:
forces captured and sacked Xiang Do
Page 195 and 196:
1950, an offshoot of pro-Vietminh I
Page 197 and 198:
CCHINA H I N A MYANMAR Muang Sing (
Page 199 and 200:
visited places such as Savannakhet,
Page 201 and 202:
There have been some tensions along
Page 203 and 204:
Water in restaurants is safe to dri
Page 205 and 206:
LAOS CALENDAR OF EVENTS For an exha
Page 207 and 208:
2 ENTRY REQUIREMENTS PASSPORTS A pa
Page 209 and 210:
A simple river crossing connects Th
Page 211 and 212:
will help your blood pressure to pl
Page 213 and 214:
able to organize a car and driver f
Page 215 and 216:
Although levels of HIV/AIDS are, at
Page 217 and 218:
Prabang and Vientiane are geared mo
Page 219 and 220:
monsoon forest, diverse wildlife po
Page 221 and 222:
Telephone Dialing at a Glance • T
Page 223 and 224:
also plenty of other shops and bout
Page 225 and 226:
expensive. You will see them lined
Page 227 and 228:
1/4 mile 0 L A O S L A O S 0 0.25 k
Page 229 and 230:
MODERATE Asian Pavilion Hotel Forme
Page 231 and 232:
Riverine Hotel This old colonial vi
Page 233 and 234:
37-01 Nokeo Khoummane Rd. & 021/262
Page 235 and 236:
1/4 mile 0 26 0 0.25 km Khoua Khoua
Page 237 and 238:
favorites from home. They have subm
Page 239 and 240:
Vientiane’s Street Fare The busy
Page 241 and 242:
35 1/4 mile 0 4 34 0 0.25 km Khoua
Page 243 and 244:
Wat Ong Teu Mahawihan Wat Ong Teu i
Page 245 and 246:
start start 11 Khoua Khoua Luang Lu
Page 247 and 248:
Organized Tours Most hotels, guesth
Page 249 and 250:
Dokkhoun Handicrafts Mainly special
Page 251 and 252:
has closed, going on until 2am in p
Page 253 and 254:
ead in cafes and bakeries. You will
Page 255 and 256:
GETTING THERE Vang Vieng is a smoot
Page 257 and 258:
18 17 16 1 Bus Station Hospital Pos
Page 259 and 260:
Vang Vieng Orchid This is an excell
Page 261 and 262:
20m (66 ft.) from the main junction
Page 263 and 264:
The Amazing Mountain Journey to Lua
Page 265 and 266:
20 L A O S L A O S Luang Prabang Vi
Page 267 and 268:
The Fate of the King Savang or Sisa
Page 269 and 270:
Lao Speedboat Risks Alternatively y
Page 271 and 272:
wood floors, and fashionable room d
Page 273 and 274:
lush rice paddies and picturesque h
Page 275 and 276:
great riverside location, although
Page 277 and 278:
L A O S L A O S Luang Prabang Vient
Page 279 and 280:
Lao-style crème brûlée, a custar
Page 281 and 282:
75/76 Ban Xieng Mouane. & 071/212-2
Page 283 and 284:
0 0 0.25 km 27 Old Stadium Phou Pho
Page 285 and 286:
where a shrine of the royal spirit
Page 287 and 288:
Make Merit Picture Sunday Mass at a
Page 289 and 290:
during the reign of Sam Saen Thai.
Page 291 and 292:
Its name translates as “golden ci
Page 293 and 294:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mount Phousi Wat Pua
Page 295 and 296:
SHOPPING The central area of Luang
Page 297 and 298:
Banks & Currency Exchange The Bank
Page 299 and 300:
If you go by road it takes about 3
Page 301 and 302:
with Western-style toilets and hot
Page 303 and 304:
6 PAKBENG If you are taking the slo
Page 305 and 306:
next to the post office. The airpor
Page 307 and 308:
containing an oxygen generator in c
Page 309 and 310:
Central Laos is rarely at the top o
Page 311 and 312:
L A O S Vientiane Savannakhet 4 3 S
Page 313 and 314:
Dinosaurs in Laos Quite strangely,
Page 315 and 316:
ACCOMMODATIONS Hotel Riveria 1 Inth
Page 317 and 318:
Souksomboun Hotel This hotel is sim
Page 319 and 320:
Southern Laos Southern Laos is ofte
Page 321 and 322:
DINING Delta Coffee Shop and Restau
Page 323 and 324:
Champasak Palace Hotel This hotel w
Page 325 and 326:
More Choice Eats in Pakse There are
Page 327 and 328:
WHERE TO STAY & DINE In Champasak,
Page 329 and 330:
(snake) Kaliya, the god Indra ridin
Page 331 and 332:
Getting There Boats leave Ban Nakas
Page 333 and 334:
Fast Facts 1 FAST FACTS: CAMBODIA A
Page 335 and 336:
There is no Canadian Embassy in Lao
Page 337 and 338:
Khmer & Lao Glossary 1 THE KHMER LA
Page 339 and 340:
HOTEL English Khmer Do you have any
Page 341 and 342:
English Lao Call a doctor Toh-ha ta
Page 343 and 344:
GENERAL INDEX AARP, 43, 204 Accommo
Page 345 and 346:
Food stores and markets, Vientiane,
Page 347 and 348:
Pak Ou Caves, 280 Pakse, 307-314 Pa
Page 349 and 350:
Tham Chang (near Vang Vieng), 250 T
Page 351 and 352:
Pavillon Indochine (Siem Reap), 102
Page 353 and 354:
The Red Piano (Siem Reap), 108 Red
Page 355 and 356:
MYANMAR MMYANMAR Y A N M A R (BURMA
show all

The Best of Cambodia & Laos

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?