The Best of Cambodia & Laos

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320 THE BOLAVEN PLATEAU SOUTHERN LAOS 15 driving east you will need to don a sweater even in May. The road climbs very gradually to Paksong (nothing more than a main road lined with a few municipal buildings, a covered market, and two very basic guesthouses in which you can stay). Paksong, however, is better done as a day trip from Pakse. Nearby Bolaven are some spectacular waterfalls. Tat Fan, Tat Yuang, and Tat Meelok are some of the ones more accessible from Paksong. Travel agents such as Xplore-asia and Green Discovery (p. 308) also run coffee tours showing you how the coffee is cultivated and manufactured as well as giving an insight into the lives of local people.
Fast Facts 1 FAST FACTS: CAMBODIA AREA CODES The international dialing code for Cambodia is 855. Area codes are listed in the “Fast Facts” sections of specific cities. BUSINESS HOURS Business hours are generally between 7am and 7pm from Monday to Friday. Markets close earlier, generally by 5pm. Most banks are open from around 8am to 3 or 4pm from Monday to Friday. Some are also open on Saturday mornings until 11:30am. DRINKING & DRUG LAWS In Cambodia, there are no regulations on drinking alcohol. Drugs are illegal (though marijuana is widely available), and if caught the police will likely attempt to extract large amounts of money from you. ELECTRICITY The electrical system in Cambodia is 220 volts AC. Two-pin flat plugs are the norm. The electricity can often be cut without warning. It’s a good idea to carry a flashlight, especially in more remote places. EMBASSIES & CONSULATES The embassy of the United States is at the corner of St. 96/51 (& 023/728-000). The embassy of Canada is represented by embassy of Australia, located at Australia Villa 11, St. 254 (& 023/213-470). The embassy of Ireland is represented by embassy of the United Kingdom, at No. 27–29 St. 75 (& 023/427-124). There is no New Zealand Embassy in Cambodia. HOSPITALS In the event of a medical emergency, you should head to Thailand. 16 Healthcare in Cambodia is not good. Although the main hospital in Phnom Penh is the Calmette, it is not recommended. The International SOS Medical and Dental Clinic, at No. 161 St. 51 (& 023/216-911), is the best place to handle minor emergencies. Naga Clinic, at No. 11 St. 254 (& 011/811-175), is also recommended. For any major emergency or injury, however, you’ll want to arrange medical evacuation. In Siem Reap, the Royal Angkor International Hospital (No. 6 Airport Rd.; & 063/761-888; www.royalangkor hospital.com) provides 24-hour emergency care, ambulance, translation, and evacuation. Check on their website before departure to make sure your insurance covers you under their terms and conditions. INSURANCE For information on traveler’s insurance, trip-cancellation insurance, and medical insurance while traveling, visit www.frommers.com LANGUAGE Khmer is the official language of Cambodia. English is increasingly widely spoken. Some older people speak French. See chapter 17 for a glossary of Khmer terms. MAIL Mail services from Cambodia are unreliable and things go missing. DHL has an office in Phnom on No. 28 Monivong Rd. (& 023/427-726), and FedEx is at No. 701D Monivong (& 023/ 216-712). It costs 2000 riel to send a
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Cambodia & Laos
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Cambodia & Laos by Daniel White 1st
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CONTENTS LIST OF MAPS vii 1 THE BES
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8 SOUTHERN CAMBODIA 152 1 Sihanoukv
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LIST OF MAPS The Best Small Towns,
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HOW TO CONTACT US In researching th
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The Best of Cambodia & Laos The cou
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the world’s most rewarding journe
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MYANMAR Muang Sing (BURMA) Luang Na
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7 BEST TEMPLES & WATS • Angkor Wa
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Cambodia in Depth If ever a country
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Phnom Penh (see p. 83 for more on t
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was Mahayana, not part of the Thera
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keep Cambodia neutral in the confli
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Rouge leaders will be prompted to s
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As Hun Sen darkly quipped years lat
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place largely without violence, Cam
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high-rise residential developments
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5 CAMBODIA IN POPULAR CULTURE RECOM
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Wherever you are, stick only to bot
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Planning Your Trip to Cambodia With
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Bonn Pchum Ben. During this period,
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3 GETTING THERE & GETTING AROUND GE
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spend the night in Poipet, but this
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can be cold due to excessive air-co
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Come Armed with Singles We recommen
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the malarial mosquitoes are at thei
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are riding on a motorcycle, keep yo
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cater to travelers with disabilitie
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General Resources for Green Travel
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INTERNET In Cambodia, where you fin
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0 0 50 km 50 mi N Phumi Samraong Pr
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2 THE BEST OF LAOS IN 1 WEEK Althou
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Pak Lai Gulf of Thailand Mekong Mek
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Sao Market to shop for special Lao
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Founded in the mid-14th century by
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The Tonle Sap: The Heart of a Natio
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2 WHERE TO STAY There is a huge cho
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Mao Zedong Blvd. onireth Blvd. (217
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No. 227 St. 19. & 023/222-280. www.
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Hotel Scandinavia This relaxed offe
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Inexpensive Capitol Guesthouse The
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Mao Zedong Blvd. onireth Blvd. (217
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Phnom Penh’s Much-Loved Pachyderm
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completely punitive. They also have
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Le Jardin Café WESTERN As its name
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ao Zedong Blvd. onireth Blvd. (217)
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The Khmer Rouge on Trial As this bo
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SWIMMING & FITNESS Many top hotels
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5 DAY TRIPS OUTSIDE PHNOM PENH OUDO
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(& 023/211-534) and carries a simil
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The excellent Sovanna Phum Art Asso
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The ruins of the ancient city of An
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1 Airport (8 km) Siem Reap Phnom Pe
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10% VAT. Budget travelers are also
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Vithei Charles de Gaulle, Khum Svay
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combo and sinks set in unique overs
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fan). The courtyard area is a pictu
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Mandalay Inn One of the first thing
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NIGHTLIFE Angkor What? 28 Dead Fish
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Shinta Mani INTERNATIONAL Shinta Ma
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Taj Mahal NORTHERN INDIAN It has be
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Some Guidelines When Visiting Angko
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0 1st Level Vishnu’s victory over
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To To To Banteay Banteay Banteay Sr
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The Magic Hours at Angkor Wat The s
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Enter the temple from the west, the
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Westerners until a French researche
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Body Tune Spa, in the very heart of
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Colors of Cambodia Here’s a fun o
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A Dance for the Divine The royal cl
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APSARA DANCE Having spent the day l
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Battambang & Northern Cambodia From
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0 0 0.25 km 2 DINING Bus Stop 10 Th
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either a car with a driver or a mot
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pleasant indeed with casual but sma
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its relaxed, open-air charm. The ty
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into a trip back on a small metal-a
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a mix of traditional Khmer ballads
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The Spiders of Skuon In the town of
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$10 but can be more during high sea
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all over by 10am. The Reclining Bud
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1 3 4 2 5 7 6 8 10 8 11 12 9 15 14
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Ochheuteal Beach to Victory Beach c
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Beach Road Hotel Covering both the
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Koh Rong Beach. & 016/214-211. www.
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Snakehouse INTERNATIONAL Here’s a
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Cooking Courses If you want to lear
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ACCOMMODATIONS Champa Koh Kong Gues
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can take a motorcycle or car into t
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New Bridge Kampot 1 2 Prek Kampong
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also a more straightforward house w
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and a turnoff to a small waterfall
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Information Post Office 3 2 Kep Bea
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WHERE TO DINE All the hotels and gu
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part in Lao culture; arguments are
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forces captured and sacked Xiang Do
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1950, an offshoot of pro-Vietminh I
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CCHINA H I N A MYANMAR Muang Sing (
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visited places such as Savannakhet,
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There have been some tensions along
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Water in restaurants is safe to dri
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LAOS CALENDAR OF EVENTS For an exha
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2 ENTRY REQUIREMENTS PASSPORTS A pa
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A simple river crossing connects Th
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will help your blood pressure to pl
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able to organize a car and driver f
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Although levels of HIV/AIDS are, at
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Prabang and Vientiane are geared mo
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monsoon forest, diverse wildlife po
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Telephone Dialing at a Glance • T
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also plenty of other shops and bout
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expensive. You will see them lined
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1/4 mile 0 L A O S L A O S 0 0.25 k
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MODERATE Asian Pavilion Hotel Forme
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Riverine Hotel This old colonial vi
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37-01 Nokeo Khoummane Rd. & 021/262
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1/4 mile 0 26 0 0.25 km Khoua Khoua
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favorites from home. They have subm
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Vientiane’s Street Fare The busy
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35 1/4 mile 0 4 34 0 0.25 km Khoua
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Wat Ong Teu Mahawihan Wat Ong Teu i
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start start 11 Khoua Khoua Luang Lu
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Organized Tours Most hotels, guesth
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Dokkhoun Handicrafts Mainly special
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has closed, going on until 2am in p
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ead in cafes and bakeries. You will
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GETTING THERE Vang Vieng is a smoot
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18 17 16 1 Bus Station Hospital Pos
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Vang Vieng Orchid This is an excell
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20m (66 ft.) from the main junction
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The Amazing Mountain Journey to Lua
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20 L A O S L A O S Luang Prabang Vi
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The Fate of the King Savang or Sisa
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Lao Speedboat Risks Alternatively y
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wood floors, and fashionable room d
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lush rice paddies and picturesque h
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great riverside location, although
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L A O S L A O S Luang Prabang Vient
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Lao-style crème brûlée, a custar
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Page 283 and 284: 0 0 0.25 km 27 Old Stadium Phou Pho
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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
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Page 303 and 304: 6 PAKBENG If you are taking the slo
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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
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Page 321 and 322: DINING Delta Coffee Shop and Restau
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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: Getting There Boats leave Ban Nakas
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
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The Best of Cambodia & Laos

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