am back..hows everyone.. posting my post wedding trip for sharing...
Around Town: USD 5 from airport to any hotel in town. If you have pre-arranged transport, pick up is free.
TUKTUK: Through travel forum recommendations, i have emailed this tuk tuk driver - SENG VANTHA. He had created a blog and email, and he checks twice a day. He gave a brief background of himself and best is that he serves as a guide to tell us the backgrounds of the temples before we step in. He cannot step in as he is not an official guide which cost USD 25 per day. 2 bottles of cold 330ml water per day and cold towels when we are out of temples. This is a darn luxury when the sun is scorching hot and you are sun burnt. Hey! The mineral water and cold towels is not offered from other tuktuk, Vantha is personalizing his services. We even went to his house for visit, to see the real local lives.
Tuk tuk driver webby address:
http://angkorwattuktuk.wordpress.com/
For tuk tuk experience, sunglassess is a must. Super dusty and very hot compared to camry car that brings you around. And have guts, cos tuk tuk are perceived as more dangerous. I was very assured with my tuk tuk driver, cos his driving is safer than me, always giving hand signals. His cost is USD12+USD13+USD20 for 3 day tour, cost varies as the location distance differs, and rates are reasonable given that gasoline prices are increasing, and he is with you from morning to evening...like 8hrs standby!
Hotel Review: We booked the trip through ZUGI. And the Tara Angkor was a pleasant experience, as the hotel is only 1 yr+old, all ammenities are new and service staff is always so helpful. Room was upgraded when they knew we are only honeymoon, and even place rose petals on the bed. No free internet, wifi and business centre available, from USD3 per hour. Go to the town if you need, 50cents usd per hour. Webby:
http://www.taraangkorhotel.com/
Restaurant Reviews:
Soup Dragon: At the corner of Pub Street, the 3-storey restaurant consist of vietnam-khmer food, and western of course. We went back twice for the deep fried spring rolls, don't try the prawn fondue aka steamboat cooked in vingear soup. Not suitable for the singapore palatte.
Red Piano: Tomb Raider is a let-down. Ingredients: Lime Juice + Gin Tonic. At USD 3.50, will not recommend. Unless the purpose of the visit is to see Angelina Jolie's year 2000 pic hang on the wall and which chair she put her butt on.
Banana Leaf: Opposite Soup Dragon, chill out for a drink and people watch. Try the sorbert, it comes with sparkles, quite 'choo pattern' one.
Dead Fish Tower: Rated as no. 1 restaurant by ang mo travel forum. Food so-so...they have live crocodiles to let customers feed. Inside is all higgledy piggledy with lots of different levels like a cool old warehouse feel. Maybe cheap beer la...
FCC: We didn't stay in this hotel due to budget. But insist to visit for lunch, ambience is great. Feels so colonial and service is fabulous too. Fish and chips can try, and all the juice shakes are nice. Webby:
http://www.fcccambodia.com/angkor/
Blue Pumpkin: Semi closed for kitchen renovation. Great location for people watching. Expensive fruit juice at 2usd for 50ml of orange juice. Rip off....
Street Food: Fried mee mama at USD1, gutsy to try? Don't take ice cubes or shakes from street vendor, i saw them taking out the same ice to make drinks and chill the meat!
Restaurant around the temples: Cannot make it... we had beef loc lak and amok fish. Smelly and expensive. Around 4usd onwards and coconuts cost usd 2.
Beer Critic: We tried Bayon Beer, Angkr Beer, Beer Lao, Black Panther (means stout). Winner is Bayon beer!
TOD - Temple Over Dose: 3 days of visiting to Angkor wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon, Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Som, Ta Prohm(the tomb raider movie shooting), Banteay Kdei, South Gate of ANgkor Thom, East Mebon, Pre Nup. Elephant Terrace, Terrace of the Leper King, Phimeanakas, Banteay Srei, Banteay Samre. And slowly, all start to look the same to me...no sunrise/sunset for us, super lazy. If you are going Banteay Srei, which is 37km from town, ask the driver to bring you to the Landmine Museum which is on the way, for 1usd to see the pictures of landmines victims and their stories. Buy some stuff to help the children and association.
MOD - Massage Over Dose: We went to a couple massage to try every day. Seeing Hands - Blind massuee for usd 5 per hour, Dr Feet - 6usd (sucks big time, they use a wooden stick to pok my feet, not the kneading types), Body Tune - 12usd for foot, 18usd for body (consider higher end), Korean massage near Tara Angkor - 5 usd.
Children: Bring lots lots lots of candies if you are not buying anything from them. They can really follow up till you leave the place. Every temples has the kiddo peddlers, they will absolutely melt your heart with their doe-eyes look and pleads. As much USD we have, we cannot possibly be buying from everyone. So candies will bring sparkles to their hard day work. We brought new pens and stationery too, which are gladly receive by them, to encourage and remind them to use in school.
Donations: Do consider donating your stuff to them (hotel) or directly to the children you see on the street, such as educational materials, hygiene stuff - toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, toys!!! Kids love toys, and you feel all worth it when they receive from you. Pre-warn: you have to lug over and maybe overweight during check in.
This is the hotel to drop off your donations alternatively:
http://www.shintamani.com/community/index.php
To view lovely children pic, pls see my multiply site.