Stone Temples and US Dollars
Trip Start
Mar 29, 2009
1
8
10
Trip End
Apr 23, 2009
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Sunday, April 19, 2009
To tour Ankor Wat and the other temples armed with just a map and a guide book is a waste of time in my opinion. I highly recommend investing in a local guide (the person type of guide) as they can answer any and all questions relating to any of the temples and more importantly.... what else there is to do and see when in Siem Reap. Most guides can be organized via any major hotel or visitors center
Living Room
. After I got a little templed out, I asked the guide about this gun range of sorts where you can pretty much shoot about anything available to the Cambodian Army including but not limited to AK-47's, M-16's and I shit you not..... toss a hand grenade or fire off an RPG. I mean seriously now people...... where on Earth can you pay to shoot an RPG without either signing up for four years or joining an extremist group? BAD ASS!!! Unfortunately, being the end of my trip, I did not quite budget for the RPG or hand grenades but was able to shoot off an M-16 like blazing idiot. Another great place to act like an idiot, is in downtown on the main drag of restaurants and bars. Full of damn near every ethnic food one can think of and cheep booze, this place is a backpackers and my personal paradise. Roam up and down any of the little alleyways and find yourself immersed in all things bad for you. Granted, one thing I did find very random while stumbling around these small little alley ways and side streets was the number of Mexican restaurants. Mexican restaurants!! WTF, I thought to myself? Not that Mexicans do not travel or they have not emmigrated to other parts of the world... but we are in Siem Reap, Cambodia and I have never seen this many Mexican restaurants so close together since I left Los Angeles a few weeks ago!! And no, I did not try any of them as I have a stead fast rule with regards to Mexican food which is I refuse to eat Mexican food more then 500 miles or 650km north of the mexican border. Yes I know there are probably some great Mexican restaurants in Seattle, Green Bay, Wisconsin and parts of Nova Scotia Canada, but of the ones I have tried, they all suck! Alas, I digress again. Most importantly though, heed my tips when in Siem Reap:
Mr. International's Siem Reap Tips:
1
Bedroom area
. Before entering the country, have a decent amount of US dollars available. Just about all of Siem Reap deals in greenbacks so it is important to have some at your disposal. 2. Invest in a guide when touring around and a vehicle of some sort (car, tuk tuk, donkey, Land Cruiser etc...) Generally you can not get a guide with out having some sort of transport. Guides not only explain to you everything you are seeing and reading about in your guide book but you can ask them questions, have them take pictures of you and most importantly, it helps them earn money so they can put food on their table at night and pay for a roof over their head. Plus, you can find a guide that speaks just about any language!
3. Bring a few extra passport size photos of yourself on your trip to Cambodia. If you are from a country that requires a visa on arrival (this means the USA, Canada and quite a few more) this will save you a few greenbacks and time at the visa processing area. Why are there 12 people checking your visa and your passport before you even get to the immigration counter is beyond me.
4. Always negotiate with a tuk tuk driver before going anywhere with them
Suite bathroom..... no pun intended :)
. Nothing is very far in SM. 5. Stay away from the all you can drink pitcher of booze mixed with soda/juice etc..... I think it's really pain thinner mixed with whatever pepsi flavored stuff they have available in the back. That shit will make you go blind, deaf, dumb and stupid. Jack and Coke, JW Black on the rocks etc.... and beer by name is all good and tasty to!
6. Do not pick a fight with any local people or anyone in general. Generally you will lose by either getting your ass kicked or landing in Cambodian prison which I assume is no bueno.
7. Most importantly, NEVER, I repeat NEVER ask anyone about Pol Pot or the Khmer Rouge. From what my guide said, it would be like asking a holacaust survivor how their stay in Auschwitz was. Seriously though, just do not go there. Ask about bars, clubs, temples, places to eat etc... just not that.
Well that's all I have for now my friends. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I have enjoyed writing about my adventures.
Next stop Singapore!
Mr. I
