Siem Reap | The Poor Traveler

The Budget Travel Guide to Siem Reap, Cambodia

January 13, 2013 by The Poor Traveler 1 Comment

Three times I tried to visit Angkor Wat in Siem Reap and three times it failed to materialize. The amount of time spent on building my itinerary and money wasted on unused plane tickets were nothing compared to the disappointment that devoured me each time it didn't happen. The first attempt was in 2010 but something I could not abandon came up at work. The second was in 2011 but the money I allotted for the trip was used for a more pressing matter. The third was in mid-2012 but news of enterovirus in Cambodia pushed us to drop the idea and take a detour to Malaysia instead. When I decided to finally make my dream of backpacking across Southeast Asia a reality, Cambodia was actually not … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Budget and Expenses, Cambodia, Planning a Trip, Sample Itineraries, Siem Reap, Travel Guide Tagged With: angkor wat, angkor wat tips, angkor wat tour, biking in siem reap cambodia, cambodia budget travel, siem reap budget travel

Angkor Temples: 10 Tips for an Enjoyable Tour – Siem Reap, Cambodia

January 13, 2013 by The Poor Traveler 5 Comments

Setting foot on the grounds of Angkor Wat is scratching off one of the top items on my bucket list. It has always been a dream and I was glad to finally make it a reality when I visited Siem Reap. Angkor Wat can be overwhelming. It is huge, even bigger than what I imagined. But Angkor Wat is just one of the many structures at Angkor Archaeological Park. There are several other temples dotting the jungles of this part of Cambodia and many of them are well worth a visit. Thus, exploring Angkor is not really a walk in the park. If anything, it can suck out all the energy in you and make the experience less enjoyable. Thus, I'm compiling some tips to help you make your trip hassle-free. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cambodia, Historical Sites, Religious Sites, Siem Reap Tagged With: angkor wat, angkor wat tips, angkor wat travel guide, siem reap budget travel, siem reap travel guide

Mandalay Inn Review: Where to Stay in Siem Reap, Cambodia

January 10, 2013 by The Poor Traveler Leave a Comment

After numerous wrong turns, I finally reached the street that harbors the hotel I was staying in. It was past midnight in Siem Reap and I was trying my hardest not to look crazy drunk as I walked back to the hotel after a night of partying at a club in Pub Street. When I finally made it to the reception, a helpful staff member smiled at me, took the key to my room from the pigeonhole, and handed it to me. Great service --- it was that one asset of Mandalay Inn that I saw radiate through even when I was severely intoxicated. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Accommodations, Cambodia, International Trips, Siem Reap Tagged With: cheap hotels in cambodia, cheap hotels in siem reap, mandalay inn review, mandalay inn siem reap, where to stay in cambodia

Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda: The Twin Temples of Angkor – Siem Reap, Cambodia

January 10, 2013 by The Poor Traveler Leave a Comment

A 12-year old boy was the first to greet me upon stepping on the temple grounds. He introduced himself to be a tour guide and although I politely declined, he insisted on accompanying me as I walked around the ancient structures. I thought he would let me be but the little boy followed me around. Having been warned by other backpackers about many scams involving children, I explained to the kid that (1) this temple was not part of my itinerary and I was just taking quick photos of the place, (2) I was in a hurry because it was late and I was still halfway my tour, and (3) I wouldn't have the money to pay him. All of my reasons were true, by the way. Still, he continued trailing me and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cambodia, Religious Sites, Siem Reap Tagged With: angkor archaeological park, cambodia kid scams, cambodia scams, cambodia tourist scams, Chau Say Tevoda, Chau Say Tevoda cambodia, temples in cambodia, thommanon temple, thommanon temple cambodia

A Taste of Siem Reap, Cambodia – Fried Rice, Noodles, and Fruit Shakes

December 3, 2012 by The Poor Traveler Leave a Comment

Amok Shrimp. Shrimps are steamed in a coconut based sauce.

Siem Reap is not exactly a food destination. While neighbors Thailand and Vietnam have already gained worldwide popularity for their delectable cuisines, Cambodia is not as well-known for its food as it is for its temples and historical sites. Well, at least here in the Philippines. Thus, I did not have much expectations of my tastebuds bathing in utmost delight during my stay in Siem Reap. Still, this Cambodian city did not disappoint. Many dishes that I tried were cooked simply, prepared fast, and cost cheap! For someone who isn't really an adventurous eater anyway and whose budget is very limited, sometimes they are enough. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cambodia, Food, Siem Reap Tagged With: amok, cambodian cuisine, cambodian food, noodles, siem reap food, siem reap trip

Preah Prom Rath Pagoda: The Gracious Souls at the Temple – Siem Reap, Cambodia

December 2, 2012 by The Poor Traveler Leave a Comment

The sun was scorching the pavements of Siem Reap but I was more than ready to flaunt my newly acquired biking skills. After spending the entire morning learning how to bike for the first time (since I was a kid), I roamed around the city in two wheels, looking for anything of interest. And Wat Preah Prom Rath was certainly interesting. I breezed through the gate straight to the bike parking area, where a group of young locals were quietly having a conversation. After a quick smile and a nod at them, I walked around the site. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cambodia, Religious Sites, Siem Reap Tagged With: buddhism, buddhist temples, preah prom rath, preah prom rath pagoda, preah prom rath siem reap, preah prom rath temple, temples in cambodia, temples in siem reap, wat preah prom rath

The Crushing Embrace at Ta Prohm Temple – Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia

November 26, 2012 by The Poor Traveler Leave a Comment

I feared that when I walked through the doorway, I would be taken into another world. To my astonishment, that's exactly what happened. I had been to many temples before but this was something else. Prasat Ta Prohm (Ta Prohm Temple) is one of the dozens of ancient structures scattered throughout Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap Province, Cambodia. While the temple itself is truly stellar, what sets it apart from the others is its losing battle with the surrounding jungle. Trees have started to take over the site again, their monstrous roots creeping around the walls like mutant tentacles giving a deadly embrace. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cambodia, Historical Sites, Religious Sites, Siem Reap Tagged With: cambodia budget travel, how to get to ta prohm temple, king jayavarman vii, prasat ta prohm, siem reap budget travel, siem reap cambodia, ta prohm angkor wat, ta prohm temple, temples in cambodia

The Many Faces of Bayon Temple at Angkor Thom – Siem Reap, Cambodia

November 25, 2012 by The Poor Traveler Leave a Comment

Buddhist Monks and some locals walking out of Angkor Thom through the South Gate

As I made my way in between the walls of the stone labyrinth, I could not shake off the feeling that someone was watching me. And who would not feel that? After all, the Bayon Temple is dominated by towers with faces on every side. And they're not just faces. They're giant, smiling faces. You know, the same kind of smile that Mona Lisa has --- enigmatic, magnetic, bordering on creepy. But that's what makes Bayon Temple one-of-a-kind. Its many faces watch over the temple that was at the dead center of the once thriving Angkor Thom. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cambodia, Historical Sites, Religious Sites, Siem Reap Tagged With: angkor archaeological park, angkor thom, angkor thom faces, angkor thom gates, angkor thom southern gate, angkor wat, angkor wat cambodia, bayon temple, bayon temple architecture, buddhism, buddhist temples, cambodia budget travel, history of angkor thom, history of bayon temple, how to get to bayon temple, king jayavarman vii, siem reap budget travel, siem reap cambodia

Angkor Wat: Amidst the Greatness – Siem Reap, Cambodia

November 24, 2012 by The Poor Traveler 4 Comments

No other man-made structure had made me feel so small. As soon as I stepped on the temple grounds, I felt weirdly belittled, but not in a bad way. Angkor Wat is immense and I'm not talking about just its size. From the intricacy of the bas reliefs in its galleries to its role in the history and culture of Cambodia, everything about this colossal structure must have required tremendous amount of time, resources, effort, and patience. And standing in the middle of the site, I could not help feeling insignificant compared to the surrounding grandeur made of sandstone. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cambodia, Historical Sites, Religious Sites, Siem Reap Tagged With: angkor archaeological park, angkor wat, angkor wat architecture, angkor wat cambodia, angkor wat design, angkor wat history, angkor wat layout, buddhism, buddhist temple, cambodia budget travel, hindu temple, hinduism, siem reap budget travel, siem reap cambodia

Pub Street, Angkor Night Market, and a Dose of Nightlife at Siem Reap, Cambodia

September 25, 2012 by The Poor Traveler 4 Comments

I did not want to leave the club yet. I was at the bar, alone, having my fifth mug of beer, just waiting for all the alcohol to sink in. Then I could join the mob, start dancing, vanish in between the phosphorescent lights, and lose myself in the beat of the pumping music that almost made the building explode. It was close to midnight and I had not spoken to anyone at the club except one waitress who had been serving me my mugs of beer. The night did not start out this way and would not end like this, either. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cambodia, International Trips, Roads + Bridges, Siem Reap Tagged With: angkor night market cambodia, angkor night market siem reap, cambodia budget travel, cambodia nightlife, party places in siem reap, pub street siem reap cambodia, siem reap budget travel, siem reap cambodia, siem reap clubs, siem reap nightlife, siem reap restaurants

The Budget Travel Guide to Siem Reap, Cambodia

Angkor Temples: 10 Tips for an Enjoyable Tour – Siem Reap, Cambodia

Mandalay Inn Review: Where to Stay in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda: The Twin Temples of Angkor – Siem Reap, Cambodia

A Taste of Siem Reap, Cambodia – Fried Rice, Noodles, and Fruit Shakes

Preah Prom Rath Pagoda: The Gracious Souls at the Temple – Siem Reap, Cambodia

The Crushing Embrace at Ta Prohm Temple – Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia

The Many Faces of Bayon Temple at Angkor Thom – Siem Reap, Cambodia

Angkor Wat: Amidst the Greatness – Siem Reap, Cambodia

Pub Street, Angkor Night Market, and a Dose of Nightlife at Siem Reap, Cambodia

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