News Ticker

Siem Reap

Cambodia Sights

Sihanoukville

Latest Posts
Browsing Category "Siem Reap"

Angkor Wat

- Tuesday, November 10, 2015 No Comments
ANGKOR WAT was recorded in World Wonder List 

Angkor Wat, in its excellence and condition of safeguarding, is unrivaled. Its power and wonderfulness bespeak a grandeur and an extravagance surpassing that of a Pharaoh or a Shah Jahan, a greatness more prominent than that of the Pyramids, a creative uniqueness as fine as that of the Taj Mahal. Angkor Wat is situated around six kilometers (four miles) north of Siem Reap, south of Angkor Thom. Section and exit to Angkor Wat must be access from its west door. 

Angkor Wat was inherent the first 50% of the twelfth century (113-5BC). Evaluated development time of the sanctuary is 30 years by King Suryavarman II, committed to Vishnu (Hindu), copy of Angkor Thom style of craftsmanship. 

Angkor Wat 

Foundation 

Angkor Wat, the biggest landmark of the Angkor gathering and the best protected, is a building showstopper. Its flawlessness in creation, parity, extents, alleviation's and figure make it one of the finest landmarks on the planet. 

Wat is the Khmer name for sanctuary (the French spelling is "vat "), which was presumably added to "Angkor "when it turned into a Theravada Buddhist landmark, probably in the sixteenth century. After 1432 when the capital moved to Phnom Penh, Angkor Wat was watched over by Buddhist friars. 

It is for the most part acknowledged that Angkor Wat was a funerary sanctuary for King Suryavarman II and arranged toward the west to fit in with the imagery between the setting sun and demise. The bas-reliefs, intended for review from left to right in the request of Hindu melancholy custom, bolster this capacity. 

Design PLAN 

The arrangement of Angkor Wat is hard to get a handle on when strolling through the landmark as a result of the immeasurability. Its many-sided quality and magnificence both pull in and divert one's consideration. From a separation Angkor Wat seems, by all accounts, to be a monster mass of stone on one level with a long thoroughfare prompting the inside however close up it is a progression of lifted towers, secured displays, chambers, yards and patios on distinctive levels connected by stairways. 

The tallness of Angkor Wat starting from the earliest stage the highest point of the focal tower is more prominent than it may show up: 213 meters (699 feet), accomplished with three rectangular or square levels (1-3) Each one is logically littler and higher than the one beneath beginning from the external furthest reaches of the sanctuary. 

Secured displays with segments characterize the limits of the first and second levels. The third level backings five towers –four in the corners and one in the center and these is the most conspicuous structural component of Angkor Wat. This course of action is infrequently called a quincunx. Graduated levels, one transcending the other, give the towers a conelike shape and, close to the top, columns of lotuses decrease to a point. 

Apsara 

Apsara Statue at Angkor Wat 

The general profile impersonates a lotus bud, Several engineering lines emerge in the profile of the landmark. The eye is attracted left and right to the flat part of the levels and upward to the taking off stature of the towers. The smart arrangement of Angkor Wat just permits a perspective of every one of the five towers from specific edges. They are not noticeable, for instance, from the passage. A large portion of the structures and patios are fit as a fiddle of a cross. The. Guest ought to think about the arrangement on page 86 and get comfortable with this prevailing format. A bended slanting rooftop on displays, chambers and walkways is a sign of Angkor Wat. From a separation it would appear that a progression of long limited edges yet close up from distinguishes itself. It is a rooftop made of nimbly angled stone rectangles put end to end. Every column of tiles is topped with an end tile at right edges the edge of the rooftop. 

The plan comes full circle in enriched tympanums with involved casings. Steps give access to the different levels. Helen Churchill Candee, who went by Angkor in the 1920s, thought their convenience surpassed their engineering reason. 

The progressions to Angkor Wat are made to compel a stop at beauteous obstacle that the brain may be arranged for the air of holiness, she wrote keeping in mind the end goal to get comfortable with the structure of Angkor Wat the guest ought to figure out how to perceive the dull components in the building design. Exhibitions with segments, towers, bended rooftops, tympanums, steps and the cross-formed arrangement happen over and over. 

It was by consolidating two or a greater amount of these perspectives that a feeling of tallness was accomplished. This course of action was utilized to connection one piece of the landmark to another. Rooftops were as often as possible layered to include stature, length or measurement. A littler imitation of the focal towers was rehashed at the points of confinement of two noticeable zones the exhibitions and the passage structures. The long interstate at the passageway returns on the opposite side of the section structur

Angkor Wat Temple

- Monday, August 10, 2015 No Comments
Angkor Wat Temple
Welcome to heaven on earth. Angkor is the earthly representation of Mt Meru, the Mt Olympus of the Hindu faith and the abode of ancient gods. Angkor is the perfect fusion of creative ambition and spiritual devotion. The Cambodian ‘god-kings’ of old each strove to better their ancestors in the size, scale and symmetry of their temples, culminating in the world’s largest religious building, Angkor Wat. The hundreds of temples surviving today are but the sacred skeleton of the vast political, religious and social centre of Cambodia’s ancient Khmer empire, a city that, at its zenith, boasted a population of one million when London was a scrawny town of 50,000. The houses, public buildings and palaces of Angkor were constructed of wood – now long decayed – because the right to dwell in structures of brick or stone was reserved for  the gods.

This is the heart and soul of Cambodia. The temples of Angkor are a source of inspiration and national pride to all Khmers as they struggle to rebuild their lives after years of terror and trauma. Today, the temples are a point of pilgrim-age for all Cambodians, and no traveller to the region will want to miss their extravagant beauty. Angkor is one of the world’s foremost ancient sites, with the epic proportions of the Great Wall of China, the detail and intricacy of the TajMahal and the symbolism and symmetry of the pyramids, all rolled  into one.

Abandoned to the jungles for centuries, the magnificent temples are set amid the region’s oldest national park, with towering trees and a refreshing lack of modern development amid the audacious architecture. With such a wealth of temples, it is also possible to plan a peaceful pilgrimage here, far
from the madding crowds, which really are madding at some temples at certain times  of day.
Some visitors assume they will be templed out within a day or two, but soon discover the sheer diversity in design among the temples that switches dramatically from one god-king to another. Come face to face (quite literally) with Bayon, one of the world’s weirdest buildings; experience the excite-
ment of the first European explorers at Ta Prohm, where nature runs riot; or follow the sacred River of a Thousand Lingas like pilgrims of old. The most vexing part of a visit is working out what to see. If any of the ‘second string’ holy sites were anywhere else in the region they would have top billing. One day at Angkor? Sacrilege! Don’t even consider it, as there is no greater concentration of architectural riches anywhere  on earth.

Khmer traditional performances

- Wednesday, January 28, 2015 1 Comment
Khmer traditional performances


It has been a tradition since the earliest days of tourism in the 19th century to treat visitors to Siem Reap with an ‘Apsara dance performance’ - a taste of classical Khmer culture. No visit to Cambodia is complete without attending at least one performance. Dinner performances are now the most popular venue - most places offering buffet or set menus combined with a one-hour dance performance. Dinner ordinarily begins at 6:00 or 7:00PM and dance performances atm7:30PM or 8:00PM, consisting of 4 or 5 dances (classical and folk). Most dinner performances run $10-$35 including dinner and admission. Some place do not charge admission for the performance, but you are expected to order dinner. For the best seats, call for reservations.
Traditional Khmer dance is better described as 'dance-drama' it is not merely dance but also meant to convey a story or message. There are four main modern genres of traditional Khmer dance: 1) Classical Dance; 2) Shadow theater; 3) Lakhon Khol (all-male masked dance-drama.); 4) Folk Dance.

As evidenced in part by the innumerable apsaras (celestial dancers) adorning the walls of Angkorian temples, traditional dance has been part of Khmer culture for well more than a millennium. Yet there have been ruptures in the tradition over the centuries, making it almost impossible to precisely trace the source of the tradition. Though much modern traditional dance was inspired by Angkorian-era art and themes, the tradition has not been passed unbroken from the age of Angkor.
Most traditional dances performed today were developed in the 18th through 20th centuries, beginning in earnest with a mid-19th century revival championed by King Ang Duong. Subsequent Kings and other Khmer Royals also strongly supported the arts and dance, most particularly Queen Sisowath Kossamak Nearireach (former King Norodom Sihanouk's mother) in the mid-20th century, who not only fostered a resurgence in the development of Khmer traditional dance, but also helped move it out of the Palace and popularize it.

Many traditional dances including most Theatrical Folk Dances were developed and refined from the 1940s-60s under the patronage of Queen Kossamak at the Conservatory of Performing Artsand the Royal University of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh. Queen Kossamak trained her granddaughter Princess Bopha Devi in traditional dance from early childhood, and she went on to become the face of Khmer traditional dance in the 1950s and 60s both in Cambodia and abroad. Like so much of Cambodian art and culture, traditional dance was almost lost under the brutal repression of the Khmer Rouge in the late 1970s, only to be revived and reconstructed in the 1980s and 90s due, in large part, to the extraordinary efforts of Princess Bopha Devi.
Classical dance, including the famous 'Apsara dance,' has a grounded, subtle, restrained, yet feather-light, ethereal appearance. Distinct in its ornate costuming, taut posture, arched back and feet, flexed

PERFORMANCE VENUES
Alliance Café
Exclusive shadow theater and Khmer dance with traditional music. Set menu and a la carte. Dinner from 7PM.
Performance 8:30PM-9:30PM. Reservation recommended.
Wat Damnak area Tel: 063-964940
www.allianceangkor.com

Apsara Theatre
Traditional dance performances at one of the finest venues in town - an elegant wooden performance hall with
a/c. Set menu Khmer meal. $25/pax inclusive. Everyday, 7:30pm-9:30pm. Reservations recommended.
Wat Bo area Tel: 063-963561
www.angkorvillage.com

Crystal Angkor Restaurant
Fine dining, a la carte and set menu, Cambodian and international fare. Traditional dance performance every night at 7:00PM. Krous Village Tel: 012-786786
www.crystalangkor.com

The Khmer Barbe Q
Traditional dance performances with set menu Cambodian dinner. Six different dances. Dinner begins at
7:30PM. Performance from 8PM-9PM. Road to Angkor Wat near Angkor National Museum
www.restaurant-siemreap.com Tel:063-965650

La Noria Hotel and Restaurant
Shadow theater (sbeik toot - small articulated puppets) and traditional dances shows by children from the NGO,
Krousar Thmey, Wednesdays, 7:30PM-8:30PM. Admission and dinner. Set menu and a la carte.
Admission fee for the show goes entirely to the Krousar Thmey association.
East side of the river Tel: 063-964242
www.lanoriaangkor.com

Phare Cambodian Circus
An blend of traditional and modern theater, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling and contortion. Nightly 1-hour shows.
Every evening 7:30PM-8:30PM. Located behind the
Angkor National Museum. Tel: 015-499480-81-83

What to see and do in Siem Reap

- No Comments
What to See and do in Siem Reap province

Boxing
Khmer style boxing - Kbach Kun Boran Khmer Pradal Serey or ‘Kun Khmer’ - is a popular spectator sport but
until recently only Phnom Penh hosted regularly bouts .There are now regularly scheduled bouts at the new CTN Angkor Arena featuring some of Cambodia’s best boxers. Located on the road to Angkor. Mon at 5:30PM; Wed at 4PM. $15/pax. Tel: 063-5550310, 089-777105

Butterfly Gardens
Banteay Srey Butterfly Centre An interactive butterfly exhibit 25 km north of town, on the road to the Bantey Srey. The exhibit consists of a netted tropical garden with thousands of free-flying butterflies, all native species to
Cambodia.
Tel: 097-8527852

Butterflies Garden Restaurant 1,500 tropical butterflies and a koi pond in a romantic, private garden. Creative
tropical cuisine, unique Khmer specialties. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Fresh juices, shakes, beer, wine, cocktails.
#535 Street 25, Wat Bo area. Tel: 063-761211

Circus
Phare Cambodian Circus Cambodian circus offering nightly 1-hour shows. An amazing blend of traditional and
modern theater, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling and contortion. Every evening 7:30PM-8:30PM. Located
behind the Angkor National Museum.
Tel: 015-499480-81-83

Classes

Ceramics Classes
Artisan Heritage of Light Daily ceramics classes (Mon-Sat). Traditional techniques. 2 hour duration. $10-$15.
Reservations: 092-627993, 088-4415555
Khmer Ceramics Class Create your own replica of
Khmer ceramics within 2 hours. No experience required, made by you on the potter's wheel using traditional techniques. Potters will guide you through the process. Also offering an “Art Activity”: Draw and/or paint your own
design on mug, bowl, box, Buddha. A unique opportunity to discover your buried artistic talent. Stamps, stencils,
and pattern books available. Free pickup. Your creation will be fixed/fired/glazed and delivered to your hotel in
24 hours. 8AM-7:30PM everyday. Road to Angkor Wat.
Tel: 017-843014

Cooking Classes
Alliance Café Half day Cambodian cooking classes by a Khmer chef. Trip to a traditional market to select ingredients. Cook several Khmer recipes. Wat Damnak area.
Tel: 063-964940

Beyond Unique Escapes Half and full day
Cambodian cooking courses held in a rural setting just 10 minutes from Siem Reap. Maximum six people per
class. Booking essential. Sivutha Blvd & Alley West.
Tel: 063-969269, 077-562565

Champey Cooking Class Twice daily, half-day cooking
classes by a Cambodian chef. Visit a traditional market for fresh ingredients. Class conducted in a traditional
house in Siem Reap. Complementary booklet, recipes, certificate and spices. Reservations required.
Tel: 077-566455

Peace Café Wat Bo area. Regularly scheduled vegetarian
cooking classes. Everyday at 11AM-1PM. $20/pax, no appointment needed. Lunch included. Tel:

The RiverGarden - Cooks in Tuk-Tuks Culinary tours
and cooking courses focusing on local fare. Unique culinary tours include a tour of a local market with an introduction to local culinary culture, foods and ingredients, cooking equipment, followed by cooking classes.
Tel: 063-963400 www.therivergarden.info


Massage Classes

Body and Soul Spa Massage Class Regularly scheduled
classes from only US$15 – studying Khmer and Thai style massage a Reiki. Located on The Passage (Pub
Street Alley)
Tel: 092-226694
www.bodysoul-massage.com

Yoga Classes
The New Leaf Book Café Yoga lessons all available in a versatile space overlooking the Preah Prom Rath
pagoda. “100% of profits are donated to local charities.”

Golf

Golf Courses
Angkor Golf Resort 18 hole course, 7279 yards, par 72, built to challenge all levels of golfer and has been
rated by the US PGA. Tel: 063-392288

Phokeethra Country Club Siem Reap’s first international-standard golf course. 18-hole, 72 par golf course. Managed by Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort. Tel: 012-882882

Museums

Angkor National Museum in Siem Reap offers
eight chronologically ordered galleries of Angkorianera artifacts and multi-media presentations of Angkorian history and culture. US$12 (foreigners). $2 for a camera. 8:30AM - 6PM. Road to the Angkor Park.

Cambodia Land Mine Museum & Relief

Facility The Cambodia Landmine Museum has evolved from a small shack museum by former soldier and deminer Akira to a formal museum and charitable organization. The museum exhibits a variety of defused mines, bombs and other ordinance as well as information on mines, demining and Cambodia’s mine.

Preparing for visit Angkor

- Friday, January 16, 2015 No Comments
Preparing for visit Angkor
Almost of hotels are located in central Town of Siem Reap. There are none within the Archaeological park of Siem Reap. With the exception of Roluos group thirteen km east, the most important temples in the area lay 4 to 15km north of Siem Reap town, the closest being Angkor Vat. To visit the temples you will need to decide how long want to stay, and buy an admission pass (for visit Archaeological Park), arrange transportation and obtain a guidebook or tour guide. We recommence to find a travel agency for arrange your trip, in Cambodia there are many travel agencies.

PARK ADMISSION (entree fee of Angkor Archaeological Park)
You must possess an admission pass to visit all the temples and sites in the Angkor Archaeological Park. All passes can purchase at the main road toward to Angkor Vat Temple. Passes are sold in one-day costing (US$20), three-day costing ($40) and seven-day ($60) blocks. The three day pass is valid for one week, i.e. 3 days to be used within the week, not necessarily consecutively. The seven day pass is valid for one month, i.e. 7 days to be used within the month, not necessarily consecutively. A one-day visit allows you to see highlights of the most famous ruins but little more. Three days is sufficient to visit all of the major temples, a few of the minor ones and have a little extra time for favorites. Seven days is enough to really explore some of your favorites and visit many minor structures as well.

The admissions office opens at 5:00AM. Archaeological Park visiting hours are from 5:30AM - sunset. Banteay Srey closes at 5:00PM and Kbal Speanat closes at 3:00PM. Always bring ticket with you. It will be checked upon each park entry and at major temples. A regular admission ticket is not required to visit Koh Ker, Beng Melea and Phnom Kulen, but there are separate entrance fees of $20, $10 and $5, respectively.

WHAT TO BRING Visit in Cambodia
Dress for a tropical environment - warm, humid, sunny. Wear light, airy, covering clothing to protect from the sun and mosquitoes. The sun can be intense so bring a hat with you, sunglasses and sunscreen. Consider buying a traditional Khmer scarf (krama) to keep the sun off your neck. Carry a raincoat during the wet season (May-October,) though you will probably only need it in the afternoon. You should have mosquito repellent for sunrise and sunset hours. Wear practical shoes for climbing narrow steps and walking on uneven surfaces. For serious temple explorers, a flashlight, notebook and compass can come in handy. Books, refreshments, water, trinkets and snacks are available from small vendors throughout the Park.

TRANSPORTATION IN CAMBODIA
The temples are far  to make foot travel practical (though some hearty visitors are hiking it anyway). Transportation options include: two-person tuk-tuks (moto-romauk) average $10-$15 per day; car taxis $20-$30/day; motorcycle taxi (motodup) for $8-$10/day; bicycles for $2-$3/day. To avoid misunderstandings, you should negotiate the details of the driver’s services carefully - ask exact price, what time you expect the day to begin and end, availability during lunch and evening hours, limitations on your itinerary, different prices for small/large circuits, etc.

There are always additional fees for transport to distant temples off the main circuits (e.g. Koh Ker, Phnom Kulen, Kbal spean and Banteay Srey.) Negotiate the price with your driver. Bicycling around the temples has become quite popular. If you have the time to spare, the roads are good, the terrain is flat and the distances are about right. 

Siem reap water festival 2014

- Wednesday, November 5, 2014 No Comments
Siem reap water festival 2014
Siem Reap Water Festival 5-6 Nov 2014

The Water Festival or  Bon Om Touk  is celebrated across the country on the full moon of the Buddhist month of Kadeuk, which generally falls at the end of October or sometime in November. This year Water Festival take place on 5th-6th November 2014 in Siem Reap River.
There are many Cambodian people and foreign tourists joint Water Festival this year. Siem Reap is a second Town after Phnom Penh where Water festival are celebrated. The Water Festival is one of Cambodian Traditional ceremony that attracted many tourists during their visit in Cambodia.

Dating back to the reign of King Jayavarman, the Water Festival marked the end of monsoon, the reversal of the Tonle Sap, and the start of the fishing season, with boats races and celebrations.

The Water Festival is celebrated all over Cambodia, however, it was cancelled the last few years due to heavy monsoon rains and widespread flooding.

As we discovered during Khmer New Year, and again today at the Water Festival, Cambodians love a celebration. They love to spend time with family and friends. No matter how rich or poor they are, everybody heads out for these events, from the old grannies to the littlest kids, pants or no pants.

Cambodians love to socialise and they love to party. They love nothing more than sitting around with loved-ones, drinking and eating, even if they’re poor and they are drinking and eating very little. They go out to have a good time and they make the most of it.

Cambodians love the communal aspect of holidays. They obviously enjoy being part of a community. Everybody cheered for every boat that was racing today. There was none of the favouritism, competitiveness or aggression that you see at so many of these sorts of events around the world. Everybody seemed to be there to support… well… everyone.

Cambodians are also incredibly warm, welcoming and friendly. They are generous with their smiles and greetings to foreigners and if they speak English they’ll ask you if you’re enjoying yourself and make an effort to include you.

During Khmer New Year, I was on the receiving end of a number of invitations to join the round dancing. Today, people simply made room for us to squeeze in to watch the river action and they apologised if they were in my way or we stepped on eachother’s toes.

We have also been witness to an increasing entrepreneurial spirit during our time in Cambodia, especially during public celebrations. We saw it during Khmer New Year but today… well, we’ve never seen anything like it in Cambodia before.

The leafy riverside streets of Siem Reap have been closed to traffic and behind the masses of people on the riverbank watching the boat races, there are hundreds of stalls lining the road.

The stalls are selling everything from children’s toys and cheap clothes to phone plans and rice cookers to cold drinks and street food. Ah, the street food… corn on the cob, steamed dumplings, barbecued sticks, grilled sausages, pickled fruits, baby duck eggs, crabs, you name it.

So despite what you read in the travel stories written by writers who’ve only spent a few days in the country, most Cambodians are not still suffering some extraordinary grief, struggling to come to terms with the tragedy of the Khmer Rouge years, and so on. (Although obviously some are.) But the vast majority of people – these naturally happy people – are enjoying life, and it’s evident everywhere today in this magic little city.

If you’re in Siem Reap now, forget Pub Street. Make a beeline for the riverside, and its roads and side streets, parks and gardens. Tomorrow is day two of the Water Festival and the action is set to start at 2pm with the boat race finals. In the evening there’ll be full moon rituals and more live music and fireworks. It’s a fantastic time to be in Siem Reap.


cambodia water festival 2014 siem reap angkor
Here in Cambodia, Water Festival, or Bon Om Touk, is upon us. The Tonle Sap and Mekong River are the heart and soul of Cambodia; every November the Tonle Sap changes its course and Cambodians gather in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap to watch boat races to mark the occasion.

Water Festival gets a bad rap amongst expats. The week leading up to Water Festival is affectionately referred to as “robbery season,” because so many bag-snatchings take place. Every year, millions of Khmers from the countryside flood Phnom Penh (and to a much lesser extent, Siem Reap) and the streets are packed with families who have set up camp on the sidewalk, sometimes days in advance, waiting for the festivities to begin. Unsurprisingly, petty crimes rises when the city is flooded with poor relations.

This is what expats usually gripe about: the streets are packed, traffic is at a standstill, stores are closed, and crime is up. In 2010, there was a stampede during the Water Festival on Koh Pich in Phnom Penh that killed more than 350 people. There hasn’t been a Bon Om Touk celebration in the city since then, until this year.

But the Water Festival also offers a glimpse of Cambodian culture that shouldn’t be missed. If you’re in Phnom Penh, head to the riverside to watch the boat races. They have special grandstand seating set up for foreigners–or anyone willing to pay to sit there–that have unobscured views of the river. If you’re planning to head into the crowds, leave your valuables at home but bring sun protection and water. Once you find a seat you’ll probably not want to leave. In the evenings, there are fireworks.

Savvy Phnom Penh expats head to riverside apartments to watch the races. If you don’t have friends with a riverside balcony, considering getting a hotel room for the day. Check out the Hotel Quickly app for same-day hotel deals, if you sign up using the code MTCAM you’ll get a $15 credit (and so will we!). Agoda also often has good same-day deals on Phnom Penh riverside hotels.

Water Festival celebrations in Siem Reap are much less crowded but just as enthusiastic, with a carnival-like atmosphere, games and rides. Boat races celebrate during two day, 5th - 6th Nov  , with 34 boats set to compete. Like the festival itself, the boats in Siem Reap are smaller but no less colorful. At night, there are floating candles and fireworks.


Siem Reap Top attracted site

- Sunday, October 26, 2014 No Comments
Siem Reap 
Siem Reap is the Top attracted tourism site in Cambodia
Siem reap is the most popular place in Cambodia. Siem Reap was a Cambodian provincial town with few facilities, fewer surfaced roads and little in the way nightlife. The tourism  industry catered mainly to hardy backpackers willing to brave the tortuous road from the This border. Siem Reap fulled of ruin Temples become  the most attracted site of Europe and Asia tourists around the world in recent year, numbers of tourists  like Korean, Japaneses, Vietnam, Thai, French , Indian and other country increase rapidly. Hotels, Guesthouse, Restaurants, Malls, Markets and small pubs are everywhere around Siem Reap town. If Cambodia is a country of contrasts Siem Reap is the embodiment of those contrasts. Despite the massive shift in its economic fortunes, Siem Reap remains a safe, friendly and pleasant town. There is an endless choice of places to stay or dine, and a host of possible activities awaiting the visitor.

The most Popular and attracted Area in Siem Reap
The Old Market (Phsar chas) and surrounding area including the nearby Pub Street, Pub Street alleys and the Night Markets are 'must see' when visiting Siem Reap. Very popular, the whole Old Market area stretching from the river across to the night markets on Sivutha Blvd is now the dining, shopping and nightlife center of Siem Reap Town.

Getting to Siem Reap 
Most of tourists to Siem Reap arrive by air at Siem Reap International Airport from Phnom Penh , Bangkok and Vietnam. Though there are also direct flights from several other major cities in East and South Asia.
Air
Siem reap International Airport (www.cambodia-airport.com/) is a work of art set 7 km west of the center of Siem Reap town. Siem Reap international Airport offers regular connections to most neighbouring Asian Cities. Domestic flight are limited to Phnom Penh, but it is hoped that direct flights will resume to Sihanoukville at some stage.

Bus
All buses depart from the bus station, which is 3 km east of town and about 200 m south NH6. Tickets are available at guesthouses, hotel, bus offices, travel agencies and ticket kiosks. Some bus companies send a minibus around to pick up passengers at their place of lodging. Most departures to Phnom Penh are between 7 am and 1 pm, buses to other destinations generally leave early in the morning. Upon arrival in Siem Reap, be prepared for a rugby scrum of eager moto drivers meeting the bus. There are lots of bus companies that serve Siem Reap. All have kicket offices at the bus station. Most travelers buy tickets through their guesthouse, hotels, including a transfer to bus station.

Boat
Boats for the trip to Battambang (US$20) and the faster ride to Phnom Penh (US35) depart at 7 am from the tourist boat dock at Chong Kneas, 11 km south of thown. Tickets are sold at guesthouses, hotels and travel agencies, and include pick up from your hotel or guesthouses around 6 am.

Where to Stay in Siem Reap
Siem reap now has more hotels and guesthouse than temples that means there are hundreds to choose from, from simple shacks with share toilets to sumptuous six stars suites. accommodation range from budget one star to five stars. The price for budget accommodation in Siem reap range from US$5 to US$25, with luxury hotels at $300, $400,$1000 or higher. And you can find also standard hotels price start from $25 to $30 or $50 per night. it is up to you.

Angkor Holiday Hotel (4 stars hotel)****
A first class hotel located in the center of the town, close to main business, entertainment and shopping
Location: Coner of Sivatha St. National Road No. 6
Tel: (855) 063 96677
Fax: (855) 063 966800
E-mail: reservation@angkorholidayhotel.com
Web site: www.angkorholidayhotel.com/

Where to eat and drink in Siem Reap
Eatting
Worthy restaurants are sprinkled all around town but Siem Reap's culinay heart is the Ssar chas area, whose focal point, The alley, is literally lined with mellow eateries offering great atmosphere. In Siem Reap there are many Cambodian, Thai , Chinese, Korean , Indian, Europe restaurants, which include many kinds of dishes from around the world, all kind of foods were sold everywhere in Siem Reap.

Drinking
Siem Reap is now firmy on the nightlife map of Southeast Asia, with many of the most interesting places situated in the vicinity of Psar Chas area or near Pub street or The Alley. Many of the high-end hotels offer two for happy hours.

Nest (Bar-Restaurant)
A memorable watering hole thanks to its sweeping sail like shelters and stylish seating, this place has one of the most creative cocktail lists in town.

Miss Wong (Cocktail bar)
Miss Wong carries you back to the chic of 1920s Shanghai. A gay-friendly bar, the cocktails are the draw here.

Joe-To-Go
If you need gourmet coffe to course through your veins before you muster the luste to tackle the temple, then head here.

Kullen II Restaurent
This restauent located in the center of Siem Reap town. In Kulen II Restaurant you can find Buffet , many kind of dishes are here. Kulen II Restaurant is for only Dinner Buffet and you all so watch Apsara Dancing in This Restaurant. The price is reasonable.

Shoping in Siem Reap
Siem Reap has an excellent selection of Cambodain-made handicrafts. In addition to classic Cambodian souvenirs, Siem Reap has unique and growing variety of contemporary art galleries, fashion boutiqes and trendy shop.Psar Chas is well stocked. There are bargains to be had if you haggle patiently and humorously.

Getting Around Siem Reap
Siem reap is almost small enough to get around on foot, but not quite.  The ruin Temples are as much as 5 to 5 km apart, and the Angkor Park is 4 km from  Siem Reap Town. So you are require some sort of transportation. You should hire a bike-cycle (US$2) per day or take a Tuk-Tuk for a small group (US15-US$20). Transportation to and around the temples is usually hired by the day. To avoid later misunderstandings, make sure to negotiate the details of the driver'services carefully - exact prices, what time you expect the day to begin and end, availability during lunch hours, limitations on your itinerary, extra charge for distant temples.

Floating Villages
The famous floating village of Chong Keas is now so popular with visitors that it's become somthing of a floating cash cow, at least insofar as hiring a boat (US$11 per person plus US$2 entry fee) is concerned. unfortunately, large tour groups tend to take over, and boats en up chugging up and down the channels in convoy.
To get to the floating village from Siem Reap costs US$2 by moto each way (more if the driver waits), or US$15 or so by taxi, The trip takes 20 minutes. Or rent a bicycle in Siem Reap Town and just pedal out here - it's a leisurely 11 km through pretty villages and rice fields. More memorable than Chong Kneas, but also harder to reach, it the friendly village.

Museums in Siem Reap
Angkor National Museum
Angkor National Museum is located in the center of Siem Reap town on the road to Angkor Wat Temple, Angkor National Museum offers many kind of galleries of Angkorian-era artifacts and multi-media  statues of Vishnu, Lokesvara, Buddha ....presentation of Angkorian History and culture khmer. To visit Angkor National Museum (admission US$)
for foreigners. US$2 for Camera. Angkor National Museum open from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm.
More information please go to visit Angkor National Museum website: www.angkornationalmuseum.com/

Siem Reap War Museum
Siem Reap War Museum ,located on the road to Siem Reap Airport, displaying a wide variety of military hardware and equipment in decrepit condition, taken from the battlefield. Heavy armor including, rocket launchers, APCS,  T-54 tanks, anti-aircraft guns, artillery pieces, small arms and piles of disarmed mines, bombs and small arms.Most of the larger pieces are labeled.

Cambodia Land Mine Museum & Relief Facility
The Cambodia land mine Museum, located 7 km south of Banteay Srei Temple, has evolved from a small shack museum by former soldier and deminer Akira to a formal museum and charitable organization. The museum exhibits a variety of defused mines, bombs and other ordinances as well as information on mines, demining and cambodia's mine problem. To visit Cambodia Land Mine Museum (admission US$3 ) free for children under 12 years old. Cambodia land mine Museum open  from 7:30 AM to 9:00 PM.
More information about cambodia Land Mine Museum go to www.cambodialandminemuseum.org/

Siem reap Angkor Night Market

- Sunday, July 13, 2014 No Comments
Angkor Night Market , Siem Reap
Angkor Night Market was established last 2007 at that time there’s no night market in the whole country of Cambodia. The market founders were careful not to create a tourist park as in often case. there is no warehouse like setting instead you will find smoothly laid out huts built from natural materials and design in beautiful Khmer style. Over the years we have 240 souvenirs shops which sells traditional Cambodian made handicraifts from clothing’s, silk, painting and photography's, jewelries, wood and stone carvings.

You can also watch the history of the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime during 1975 – 1979, or the Cambodian landmine and the world's largest snake harvest at our Movie Mall , after a tiring shopping you can pamper yourselves with our original Dr. Fish massage, Body and Feet massage and spa or relax at our two bars the Island bar with its impressive bamboo tower and tiered lamp which you cannot see in any other bars here in Siem Reap, Cambodia or the secluded Brick House bar with its thatched roof and large bamboo furniture's blend a relaxed stylishness surrounded by a tropical garden. We also have a food court which offers Cambodian, Western, Asian Cuisine, Cafe Puka Puka with its milk snow ice and try our many varieties of shisha flavors at shisha bar.

1. Brick House Bar
Brick House Bar set in the relaxing tropical garden inside Angkor Night Market which has a wide range of beers, wines and cocktails with pool table and live sports events and musical events per week, which caters both for tourist and expatriate alike.

2. Island Bar
The Island Bar stands out as one of the only places in town where traditional Cambodian culture and architecture are fused with a cosmopolitan feel in an open-air, ambient setting.

Set within the wild beauty of a jungle botanical garden, under an impressive bamboo tower, the bar and surrounding food court give the customer the ideal retreat to relax after shopping, plan their spending spree or simply soak up the exotic atmosphere.

Many visitors return to The Angkor Night market just to revisit The Island Bar. With happy
your prices all night and the barmen juggling cocktails who can blame them!
The Island Bar is an ideal place to have a dinner and drink with your friends and colleagues. You can make a reservation in the bar for a company or birthday party as well as wedding or celebrate your important jubilee with your family and friends. The bar staff is friendly and always willing to grant your wishes.

Pub Street in the center of Siem Reap
Pub street is the most popular place for tourists, you can find all kinds of cuisines on and around the Pub Street including Khmer, Thai, French, Vietnamese, Indian, Italian and a variety of other international foods. Most of the bars are open all day but really get going around 5:00PM as people return from the temples and come to take advantage of the various happy hour deals. In the later evening the Pub Street is blocked to motor traffic, allowing pedestrians to stroll easily. It's then the street really comes alive as the curbside seating at the fill and the bars crank up the music. The whole area is the center of nightlife in Siem Reap these days with most places staying open until at least midnight and couple running until near dawn.


Running parallel to Pub Street about a half block to either side, the pleasant little pedestrian-only alleys harbor collections of unique cozy haunts and offer a more relaxed, artsy atmosphere. The Passage (aka Pub Street Alley) is the first and busiest of the alleys with the greatest variety of businesses - focusing primarily on restaurants, there are also several bars, galleries and shops. A continuation of The Passage across Street 11 is Alley West, perhaps the quaintest of the alleys with an emphasis on boutiques and shops but also offering a few friendly little bars and cafes. On the opposite side of Pub Street, The Lane is the sparsest and quietest of the alleys, sporting a few pubs, restaurants and a late night club.

Siem Reap Art Center (SAC) recently opening in 2011, Siem Reap Art Center's become one of the'must' night shopping destinations for shoppers. Found in the famouse areas Old Market (Psar Chas) and pub street, the place is always busy and chaotic with all club, restaurants, boutique, gallery, souvenir shop and lots of foreign tourists.

This market in Siem Reap's notorious nightlife places is often the first and easiest stop for many tourists just arriving to Siem Reap, Angkor, even as high level of accommodations surrounding mid-to-upper-end hotels in Siem Reap.

Siem Reap Art Center Market offer high and variety of the quality and prices of products and items sold are about as real and trustworthy as you can find here in Siem Reap. The market seem to complement each other well, but remember not to be fooled by first impressions and bargain harder.

How to Get There: Eastern part of Old Market (Psar Chas) along the riverside, and after five minutes from Pub street, you'll know you're there.
Address: Opposite old market (Psa Chas) 5 minutes walk from pub street, Siem Reap City, Cambodia


The Old Market (Phsar Chas) and surrounding area, including the nearby 
Pub Street, Pub Street alleys and the Night
Markets, are favorites when visiting Siem Reap.Stretching from the river on the east side across to the night markets on Sivutha Blvd, the entire area is now the dining, shopping and nightlife center of town.
Of the various traditional Cambodian markets in Siem Reap, the Old Market offers the deepest selection of souvenirs and curios. There are souvenir vendors throughout much the market, especially on the river side. The north side along Street 9 sports a number of inexpensive food stalls serving Cambodian fare in an interesting, local atmosphere. A good place for a budget meal and a taste of Cambodian street food.

After the sun goes down, the focus shifts to 'Pub Street' and Pub Street alleys.
Named for the numerous pubs that line Street 8, it all began in 1998 when Angkor What? Bar opened
its doors - the lone pub on a lonely street. These days Pub Street is lined end to end with restaurants,
pubs and shops, making it the tourist center of town, especially after dark. The narrow connecting alleys and passages just off the Street have also filled with small businesses, offering a more relaxed ambiance the ever-busy Pub Street. Things really gets going on Pub Street around 5PM as people return from the temples. The curbside seating fills, the bars crank up the music and the street is blocked to motor traffic. Most of the drinking venues stay open until at least midnight and couple running until near dawn.

Elephant Rides in Angkor Wat

- No Comments
Elephant Rides in Angkor Wat
As you take your journey, you will understand how the elephant has been so important in the creation of the fabulous Kingdom of Cambodia. The elephant has seen and served many kings and queens as they have travelled to and from the temples and has even helped to construct those same temples. Unfortunately, the elephant has also been used by soldiers in war time.

The elephant is a highly regarded and respected animal, and one of our main concerns, at Adventurous Asia, is to educate the people of Cambodia to preserve and sustain the elephant, and all wildlife, especially those that have become endangered because of warfare. We are committed to using our resources to help improve the quality of understanding in prese

An Elephant ride in Siem Reap is a great way to soak up the atmosphere under the shade of the huge trees and also offers a different view on the temples. The first elephant ride starts in the morning at 08:00 from the South Gate of Angkor Thom to the Bayon Temple. The elephants then are stationed next to the Bayon Temple for rides around Bayon temple. The last elephant ride is at 10:30 from Bayon back to the South Gate.

Elephant ride around Bayon temple
The Bayon is the most impressive temple in Angkor Thom city and is really one of the most spectacular ruins of Angkor, its gigantic smiling faces looking at different directions, so the elephant ride around the Bayon is an interesting and meaningful ride to explore the faces and see its huge scale from out side.