Siem Reap is the town that Angkor surrounds. It's very touristy yet there are signs of regular life all around. It's also a bit sad that there is so much poverty surrounding such luxury. Some hotels cost $700-800 US a night, while some people lived on a few dollars a day. I'm starting to develop a new theory that places that have been so torn up by war, poverty, and corruption are feeling the effects of wealth and are grabbing whatever they can now that they can. Honestly, who can blame them? You never know what tomorrow brings when your governments and surrounding nations are unstable, so why not try to get the best for your family today? And why are all these nations using the US Dollar as their daily trading currency?
The reason I wrote that is because we found Cambodia incredibly expensive, even compared to Taiwan and especially compared to Thailand. Albeit, it was Chinese New Year, but we did ask several locals about their cost of living as well. Dingy little hotel rooms filled with mosquitoes were going for $15USD; meals cost between $5 to $20 for 2 people - for not much food; tuk-tuk rides anywhere (even for a 2 minute ride) would cost $1US. The most ridiculous price we thought was the entrance fee to Angkor - $20US per person per day, or $40 per person for 3 days! It was like paying for Disneyworld, minus the fun rides, the cheerful costumed characters, and the "magical" atmosphere.
In any case, we enjoyed ourselves talking to the locals and trying to find some Khmer food that we liked. Siem Reap was fine, but once was definitely enough. For now.
The reason I wrote that is because we found Cambodia incredibly expensive, even compared to Taiwan and especially compared to Thailand. Albeit, it was Chinese New Year, but we did ask several locals about their cost of living as well. Dingy little hotel rooms filled with mosquitoes were going for $15USD; meals cost between $5 to $20 for 2 people - for not much food; tuk-tuk rides anywhere (even for a 2 minute ride) would cost $1US. The most ridiculous price we thought was the entrance fee to Angkor - $20US per person per day, or $40 per person for 3 days! It was like paying for Disneyworld, minus the fun rides, the cheerful costumed characters, and the "magical" atmosphere.
In any case, we enjoyed ourselves talking to the locals and trying to find some Khmer food that we liked. Siem Reap was fine, but once was definitely enough. For now.
Stilted houses along the bank of the river leading into Tonle Sap.
Bopha Angkor Hotel - pretty nice mid-range hotel we stayedat. The best part was the swimming pool. The worst part was
a tuk-tuk driver named Borin (who we do have to commend for
his business savvy) who kept bugging us about going with him
for tuk-tuk rides.
Monks strolling by the river.
This giant temple/monastery was right by our hotel. For ChineseNew Year, the temple turned into a carnival. The gods must not
have been pleased.
Cows add to the rush hour traffic on one of the main streetsof Siem Reap.
This felt like Hong Kong (and is possibly a result of Chineseinfluence in Cambodia): Roasted ducks hanging in windows.
Along with the cows were the poor little pigs - who had to betied on the backs of motorcycles (squealing and squirming) for
their last ride. Also shown in this photo are typical "rider-ship"
of a motorcycle (and we couldn't even get me and a backpack on one!)
Kris liked this truck a lot because of its teaching potential -no hood = see the mechanics at work!
Along with the cows and the pigs were the oxen.It's getting busier and busier!
Siem Reap flower - found at the Art Workshop
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