Angkor Wat & Cambodia

By Anton Swanepoel

Going to Cambodia?
Do you know about the common scams, where to get your visa or renew it, what vaccinations are needed, and what accommodations there are? Want to know inside tips that could save you many times this book's price?

This book is full of tips and advice to save you money and make your trip to Angkor Wat & Cambodia go smoother.

Where and how to get your visas, including renewal for staying longer in Cambodia.

Safety in town, around Angkor Wat and Cambodia, with common scams and other tourist targeted crimes.

Accommodation, with pictures, from $1 to $15 and more a night, know what you will get, and how to get more for your dollar.

Immunization needed for Cambodia and common health problems.

Phone numbers and details for ambulances, hospitals, dentists, polices, and clinics in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang, and Shinaoukville. Details and phone numbers of embassies in Cambodia. These details are invaluable when things go wrong.

How to get unlimited internet data connection for $2.5 a month. This tip alone is worth more than the book.

Advice for if you want to stay longer or move to Cambodia.

Shopping with pictures and locations of markets and malls to shop in Siem Reap.

Tips to save you money when seeing Angkor Wat, or buying at the market.

How to get a Cambodian Driving license. Renting and buying motorbikes and bicycles.

Etiquette.

What to wear, and where to have your laundry done cheaply, where to get drinking water for $1 for 20L, and more.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Anton Swanepoel
• Release date: Jul 29, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310787652

Anton Swanepoel

Adventurer and world traveler, Anton Swanepoel, hales originally from Pretoria, South Africa, but has called a number of exotic locations home. Educated as a software engineer, he worked for a large multinational company before deciding to travel the globe. Along life's journey, Anton became a skilled scuba diver and technical diving instructor, teaching for seven years while living in the Cayman Islands. His resume touts Tri-Mix instructor levels from multiple licensing agencies, and dive records over 400 feet.Mr. Swanepoel has always loved travel and writing. In the past several years he's combined these passions, authoring and publishing a host of books, sharing secrets he's learned along the way. When he's not exploring an underwater landscape or racing a motorcycle down a stretch of highway, you'll find Anton visiting world destinations and chronicling his experiences.Today, he is a fulltime globetrotter and writer, having penned instructional guides for diving and travel, as well as a pair of fictional novels. His excurtion titles are geared toward do-it-yourself travelers, who enjoy saving money and seeing the out-of-way places. His favorite destinations include, Machu Picchu, the mountains of Vietnam, and the Temples at Angkor Wat.

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Siem Reap

Siem Reap is the capital city of Siem Reap Province in northwestern Cambodia, and the gateway city to Angkor Wat. The city’s name translates to Defeat of Siam. According to legend, King Ang Chan (1516–1566) gave the city its name after he drove back an army sent to invade Cambodia by the Thai King Maha Chakkraphat in 1549. This has not been proven as fact as of yet and remains a legend and the actual origin of the name remains unknown.

Today, Siem Reap is a vibrant town and a favorite destination of travelers seeking to experience the mystery of Angkor Wat. One of the most know streets in Siem Reap is Pub Street, where a variety of shops, restaurants, a market, and more can be found. Siem Reap city is mostly a cluster of small villages along the Siem Reap River, with modern shops mostly situated around Sivutha Street and the Psar Chas area (Old Market area). The Wat Bo area became a popular place for guesthouses and restaurants while across the river, the Psar Leu area developed into a large market. Siem Reap is a mix between the modern shops of Phnom Penh and the laid back rustic atmosphere of Battambang.

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Introduction

Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world, and situated at 8km (5miles) from the center of the nearby town of Siem Reap, in the district of Siem Reap, Cambodia.

The temple complex was first a Hindu complex, then later became a Buddhist temple complex. Angkor Wat dates back to the early 12th century and was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II and dedicated to Vishnu, unlike other temples that were dedicated to Shiva.

Around Angkor Wat are a number of additional temples of different eras. However, Angkor Wat remains the best preserved and most visited temple complex in Cambodia. It is impossible to see all the temples properly in one day, or even a week. However, the main temple can be seen in a day, with a few added ones in three days.

The Angkor Wat complex combines two basic Khmer temple architecture, being the temple-mountain and galleried temple. The complex is designed to represent Mount Meru, that is the home of the devas in Hindu mythology. The name, Angkor Wat, means Temple City or City of Temples in Khmer.

This book is not a guide to the different temples, but a guide to help you prepare for your visit to the temples and Cambodia, or possibly move to Cambodia. This book covers information such as Visas, temple tickets, weather, shopping, accommodations, and much more. Using the information in this book will allow you to have a smoother, safer, and less-expensive stay in Cambodia.

See my books, Angkor Wat Temples, and Angkor Wat & Cambodia Temples for information about temples, as well as my book, Kampot, Kep and Sihanoukville, for details about these towns.

Additional books that may be of interest are, Motorbiking Cambodia & Vietnam, and Vietnam Caves

Special note

Cambodia has been through rough times only a few short years ago and is slowly getting up on its feet. It uses tourism capital to fund its growth, with Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples, bringing in the Lion's share of it. Do expect most things to be geared towards tourism, but still being developed.

Thus, expect many things to be regulated by the tourism police, both for your safety and to protect the industry. Understand that standards in most places will not be up to what you may be used to back home, and that people may struggle to understand you, even if they speak English, so treat Cambodians with respect. They are people like everyone else, and have feelings like all of us, and are trying hard to adapt to the new world.

How to use this book

This book is broken into sections that cover a lot of information you need to, or might want to know. The sections are arranged alphabetically, so just scroll down to the section that contains what you are looking for. I suggest you read the entire book from the front to back, then use it as a reference as you prepare for your trip, and also while you are in Cambodia, and especially Siem Reap.

Most of the information does pertain to visiting Cambodia in general. However, detailed information and pictures are mostly from the town, Siem Reap and Angkor Wat, such as dentist, hospital, and shopping information.

The book is not a list of where to go shopping and eat, but more to prepare you for what to expect when visiting Cambodia, and especially Siem Reap. To help you negotiate the pitfalls and scams, and have a fun trip.

Chapter 1: Accommodation

One of the biggest expenses that you can save on is accommodation. Do realize that 5 star places, are mostly 3 star when compared to places in America and UK. However, even guest houses and 1 star hotels give very good service. Just do not expect gold taps, marble baths, and the finest carpets and linen, unless you pay $400 a night. You get what you pay for.

Thus, to save money, avoid the top of the line hotel. The cost difference between a top hotel and normal hotel is major, while the difference in the standard does not warrant the difference in money.

Prices

$1 a day can get you a backpacker bunk (although they are getting scarcer as Siem Reap is starting to cater more and more for richer tourists).

Budget backpacker $1 a day accommodation. Fast disappearing as places start to cater to wealthier tourists.

$2 to $3 a night can get you a bed in a dorm with shared showers.

$5 a night can see you get a room with possibly a ceiling fan and if lucky your own bathroom.

$5 a night. My first room, bed bug infested. Had to throw even the mosquito net and my silk sleeping sack away. Anti-bed bug repellant was useless

$10 to $15 a night can get you a room with air-conditioning and your own bathroom. In guest houses this may include breakfast, but in hotels, you will probably pay around $20 to $25 for that.

$12 a night, and still bed bug ridden. My second room.

$20 to $30 should get you an upper scale hotel with breakfast with a good bedroom and your own bathroom. If not, you are being ripped off.

Above $30 a night is luxury hotels, and honestly, unless you have money to throw around, not so much worth it.

Note that prices in other towns, such as Battambang are cheaper, and in even smaller towns, you can get a good room in a nice hotel or guest house for $10 a night. Furthermore, note that smaller villages mostly have no hotels or guest houses, and although it may be possible to find accommodation there, it will most probably be backpacker places. Some are good, but others may be a bit adventures.

Booking Online

Walking into a hotel or guest house is almost always more expensive than booking it online. However, do note that not all places are listed on Internet sites, so you may have to do some legwork to find their Internet page. Things are improving, and making a booking online or by e-mail is perfectly safe, even for backpacker places.

Personally, I used a number of applications on my iPhone, being.

Expedia, Bookings.com and Hostel Hero (great for backpackers).

Do however not expect immediate response or any at all from backpacker places and smaller hotels if you E-mail them. Rather phone. Furthermore, do check that they have everything you need and that there are English-speaking staff. However, do note that at times, many of the listed amenities may not work or no longer be available when you get there.

Checking In

When you check into your hotel, bring your confirmation number or E-mail with, as it will make things a lot easier. Many places do have an electronic system, but some still use a paper system.

First, only pay for one night, but reserve the option to stay longer. You will not get your money back if you try to leave because the place is not of your liking. I stayed on three separate occasions at a guest house, and on the last occasion, paid for two nights as I was on standby for a bus spot (wanted to transport my motorcycle with me on the bus). When I was told a spot opened the first day, I was refused a refund for the second night, and told I can have credit when I come back again. (Right).

Always do go and check out the room before you accept. I have run into situations with crappy rooms that are not close to what is shown in pictures online or even told to me at the front desk. You have been warned, always ask to see the room first. This is normal in Cambodia and avoids embarrassing situations. If you are refused, walk away, honestly, actually run.

When you get into the room, check everything. Especially lights, fans, and air conditioners. Furthermore, check that the warm-water unit (if fitted) in the bathroom actually works. In summer, they have a tendency to turn it off to save money, and you are told you do not need it (even if you pay for it).

If you find anything not working, immediately complain and either have it fixed (blown bulb) or have them move you to another room (air conditioner or so, not working), as once you are in and paid, it is sometimes a bit harder to get another room. Also check for toilet paper, and that the toilet flush. In most of the upper guest houses and hotels, you will find few problems (I did have an air conditioner not working in a hotel and hot water not working in two hotels and fluorescent lights in a number of others).

Do note that opinions differ, and one person's heaven is another person's disaster.

Major note, especially for backpacker places, do check for BED BUGS. My first two weeks in Cambodia were crap. I booked a room for $5 at a backpacker place (picture above under $5 section), and found it to contain bed bugs the evening. It was infested, and the place would not refund me (I paid for two weeks). I then upgraded to their most expensive unit at $12 a night (picture under to $10 to $15 section), and found it to contain bed bugs as well. I had to contempt with it as they refused to refund me. I could have had a far better place for that money somewhere else.

Bed bugs are very difficult to get rid off, and can ride along in your luggage or on you or your bags. I had to throw away a lot of stuff that were infested with bed bugs and possibly eggs.

Do not put your bags on the ground or bed. (I stored mine in black trash bags in the shower).

Bed bug bites are in line as the bed bug feeds continuously on you.

There is excellent information on bedbugs online. See http://goseasia.about.com/od/healthsafety/a/bedbugs-southeast-asia.htm

However, if you actually see them, they are infested. Pull the pillow away, and also lift the mattress. Look for the