 Going Solo In Cambodia |
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| I am planning a short trip to Cambodia and need your advice! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Round The World Rach Rachel Waterworth Post Count: 41 Msg: #1 272 days ago, February 28th 2009 | I am currently in Bangkok and want to organise a trip to Cambodia, my visa runs out in a couple of days so I need to get it sorted. My travelling buddies are flying home tomorrow so I will be going solo - first of all what are your views on a lone female going travelling for the first time into Cambodia? My second question is that I have some Meldrome Malarial tablets, has anyone had any side affects of these and would you advise me to take them? I was thinking of getting a bus from the guesthouse to the border rather than the train as they seem to only have 3rd class carrages and the guy said it would probably be standing room only for 6 hours and I don't really fancy that. The tour guide at the guesthouse said that you can't get a bus directly from Bangkok to Siem Riep and that I need to go to the border and then arrange transport from here - what are anyones views on that? I only have around a week to spend in Cambodia so I was thinking to go to Siem Reip first and check out Angkor Wat then down to Phnom Pen for the s-21 museum and the killing fields - is that the best way around to do it or would anyone recommend getting to Phnom Pen first? I would really appreciate anyones help with this, I will feel much better when I get something booked!! |  takahe CL Post Count: 16 Msg: #2 271 days ago, March 1st 2009 | Hi Rachel, | I'm currently traveling solo through Vietnam, going up through Cambodia in a week or so, might pass you! So far, no problems, hoping Cambodia is the same! Lots of touts everywhere offering rides, hotels etc, as a solo female, you probably get extra attention in this area! I usually ignore, used a couple of times without difficulty. Of course, supposed to haggle the price of everything, which I have a hard time doing when I'm offered hotel rooms for $10 a night or less. There's lots of info on the web about the 'fun' of traveling between Bangkok and Siem Reap, www.talesofasia.com/cambodia-overland.htm is intricately detailed. I've ended up avoiding all this with a cheap flight from SR to Kuala Lumpur, and land up to Bangkok. Circular route, to circumvent Thailand's 15-day entry permits! As far as malarials, a doctor is a safer source of information than misinformation on the internet. But malaria's not supposed to be a problem around Tonle Sap area (including SR and PP), and this is low season for mosquitoes. My doctor said just to use good insect repellent (30% deet and all that). So far, I've hardly seen a mosquito, only used the deet once or twice in the evenings. Happy travels! Catherine.  Chocolatemonkee Jason Ball Post Count: 87 Msg: #3 271 days ago, March 1st 2009 | We're in PP right now and it doesn't matter where you go first. Depending on how fast you get templed out will determine how long you will stay in Siem Reap. | PP is a cool city but to do S21 you can go there at 8:30 - 9:00 am (2 bucks to get in) walk around and at 10:00am watch the documentary until 11:00. Then you could go to the Killing Fields (10 - 15 min ride 2 bucks to get in) and spend an hour there (not much to see other than depressions in the ground and the Stupa with the skulls) then come back to Russian Market to shop then get dropped off at Royal Palace ($6.25) and walk around (2 hrs). That was our morning. We paid 20 bucks to our Tuk Tuk driver cause he gave a ton of info as he drove along and when we go to each place. We stayed at Okay Guest house. Its a really good place. 15 bux for two for aircon but for one w/ fan, its much cheaper. If you want to do the dorm room.... 1 US dollar a night w/ your own fan. Its between the Palace and Independence monument. Shou  Mell Mell Post Count: 13894 Msg: #4 271 days ago, March 1st 2009 | Hello Rachel |  Be sure to use more than Meldrome when going to Cambodia. Use DEET based repellant and a mosquito net if you have one. There is a good DEET based mosquito repellant available in Boots in Bangkok. Drug resistant strains of Malaria on the Thai Cambodian border Mel Round The World Rach Rachel Waterworth Post Count: 41 Msg: #5 271 days ago, March 1st 2009 | Thanks for your advice everyone, I really appreciate it! I've booked a bus to take me from Bangkok through the border at Poipet and then on to Siem Riep, thinking of staying there for a couple of days and then heading down to PP and then time depending maybe the beaches - would I be able to get back to Bangkok directly from PP to get the sleeper train up to Chang Mai does anyone know? The other question I have is that nobody in Bangkok seems to be able to supply me with money for Cambodia - do I just use US Dollars? Catherine if your around at the same time then it would be great to cross paths, from today I am travelling solo, I set off on my own but I met some friends and they have just gone home today so company of another girl would be great! If we don't end up meeting up I wish you all the best in your travels anyway :-) |  Rat on the Road Kris and Kate Post Count: 428 Msg: #6 270 days ago, March 2nd 2009 | They don't sell kip outside of Cambodia. But you can take and use US dollars. Many things in Cambodia can be paid for in dollars. You will get change in kip so you can build up your kip that way. | Have you booked a bus from Khoa San Road? If so, read up on the scam bus before you do the journey and make yourself aware of what you might get: It may take longer than you expect, it probably won't be the posh bus you have been promised at the other side of the border, you may pay more for your visa (although you usually do at the border anyway) and you may get taken to a specific guest house in SR. Also, keep your valuable with you, a friend of mine lost her ipod on the bus from KSR to SR because they stopped at to allegedly mend a puncture. They all got off the bus and when they got back on their valuables left on the bus had gone. I don't mean to worry you, just be aware and you'll be fine. As for the overnight train to Chiang Mai, you may be able to travel from the border to Ayuttaya or somewhere further up the rail line and get the train from there. Not sure. Does anyone know? Chocolatemonkee Jason Ball Post Count: 87 Msg: #7 269 days ago, March 2nd 2009 | Rachel, | Kris/Kate is so bang on with their advice. Watch your belongings and make sure your bag gets put on the bus. Today alone, I have spoken to 3 people who's bag was misplaced and not put on the bus from Khao San. Rather concidentally, both my wifes bag and mine was sitting on the sidewalk and they were going to pull away w/o putting them on but we were watching for this. Hate to sound like an alarmist and I'm sure it was an oversight but that's my schtuff and I'm not losing it if I can help it. In Cambodia, the bank machines pay out in US dollars but make sure you get an amount that is not divisible evenly by 50 or you will get 50 dollar bills instead of 20's. Regardless you get charged 2 bucks fee for cards not from Thailand and will need to stop at a local store to buy some gum to get change so that you have "ones" to use. Or exchange at the money counters. If you want to be around the action, ask your Tuk Tuk driver to drop you off at the old market or Pub Street and you can find several guesthouses in the area. Hope some of it helps. Man its hot hear in Siem Reap today! Angkor tomorrow! Yes! ben9 nel Post Count: 6 Msg: #8 269 days ago, March 2nd 2009 | You will be fine in Cambodia but i think a week is gonna leave you wanting to stay longer! you will need us dollars. if you have booked from the kho san rd, whats gonna happn is, the bus will stop at the border and the bus company will try to arrange visas for you. you will be charged 1300 baht which is double the fee for visa. if you take your bags and walk down to the border yourself ( its about 5 mins ) you will easily sort it yourself and then get a bus once in cambodia. its all a bit hectic and the road is terrible but things change completley once in siem reap. if you do decide to let yourself be ripped off you will be put in a bus by your company, driven a short distance down the road and then put in a taxi, which costs ten dollars. i suggest you try get a few ppl together to walk down the border and sort your visas from there then jump in a taxi together it will b much quicker and cheaper to siem reap. a tuk tuk will get you to a guest house, some are as cheap as 2 dollars. khmer food such as lok lak are delicious. i think 2 days would be enough in phnom penh. its gonna b hot this time of year! if you get the bus back from phnom penh you will have to stay the night in siem reap or koh kong. there are sleeper trains to chaing mai and they are fine. would you consider flying from phnom penh? flights with air asia are as little as 50 dollars last time i flew ( 2 weks ago ) | Round The World Rach Rachel Waterworth Post Count: 41 Msg: #9 269 days ago, March 3rd 2009 | Yes I would definately consider flying - I will be avoiding that bus journey back again at all costs! It was a very long day! I am wondering if I can get a flight from PP to Chang Mai? Otherwise I will stay here until my fight to Australia and then get a flight direct to Bangkok airport. Thanks very much for your help everyone :-) | ben9 nel Post Count: 6 Msg: #10 269 days ago, March 3rd 2009 | i dont blame you! i try to avoid it myself if i can!theres no flights to chaing mai no, best bet is a flight to bangkok with air asia ( will work out slightly cheaper to book online, if you cant do this then shop around a few agencies in phnom penh for best deal, i always check to see what the price should be online first before asking, bangkok airways flights will be up to 4 tims more expensive so ask for air sia if moneys tight ) then the sleeper train. but check out what time the last train to chaing mai is as the flight gets in at round 5 and train stations about 45 mins from airport. if you do get the sleeper train its fine but bring earplugs if your a light sleeper can be a bit noisey | Round The World Rach Rachel Waterworth Post Count: 41 Msg: #11 269 days ago, March 3rd 2009 | That sounds like a good plan - I will look into it, thanks everyone :-) | Kendlelight Loes Kendle Post Count: 1 Msg: #12 268 days ago, March 3rd 2009 | I can't disagree with anyone here. However I travelled Cambodia 3 years ago. I stayed there for 3 months by myself, and I found the travelling by myself very easy. I never had any trouble, though I did watch my stuff closely. However if the roads are as bad now as they were back then, then I would check out alternative transport. Perhaps go by the Tonle Sap (lake river) between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. I never did it, but appearantly it is possible. Enjoy your stay! | Chocolatemonkee Jason Ball Post Count: 87 Msg: #13 268 days ago, March 3rd 2009 | I have to disagree w/ the Tonle Sap idea. Its cheaper to go by bus 7 or 10 dollars (bathroom or no bathroom on the bus) and both stop at or around the half way mark. You can use Mekong express or the other one who's name escapes me (we did not use mekong and other than the bag incident, the other company was really good) and book via your guest house. As well the bus is quicker. | The road is paved with only a few small sections of broken up asphalt. Its nothing like the road from Poipot to Siem Reap. Ben9, Interesting that you would say that PP needs only 2 days and a whole week at SR. Why is that? ben9 nel Post Count: 6 Msg: #14 268 days ago, March 3rd 2009 | she said she only has a week in cambodia and is interested in sight seeing so its a lot to cram in. you could easily go to see s-21 museum and the killing fields in one day, have a walk round the city on the 2nd day and hit the markets. i never said a week in siem reap. just that you can visit most the sights in phnom penh in 2 days. dont get me wrong i love phnom penh , i live there, but a week just isnt enough really to soak it up. theres more to see around siem reap also such as angkor temples, kompong phhluk and chong kneas and fun activities like horse riding and hot air ballon rides. ....its probably worth mentioning you can consider doing a a khmer cooking courses, a visit to a massage and spas or a visit to an orphanage can be done in either place could be worth a look | Chocolatemonkee Jason Ball Post Count: 87 Msg: #15 267 days ago, March 5th 2009 | Good points Ben. My bad on misunderstanding you. | Round The World Rach Rachel Waterworth Post Count: 41 Msg: #16 266 days ago, March 5th 2009 | has anyone been down to the beaches in Sihanoukville? I might venture there in a couple of days......I think I love Cambodia to much to leave after just a week now!!!! :-) | ben9 nel Post Count: 6 Msg: #17 266 days ago, March 5th 2009 | yeah its nice, and great night life and food, much much cheaper than thailands beaches but not quite as blissful as its hard to relax as it suffers from the same problems as the rest of cambodia, but i suggest getting a boat to bimbamboo island if you fancy chilling out for a while.. there is nothing there, just a restaurant some cheap huts and a cow. its paradise. you can go fishing during the day if you get bored relaxing if you pay someone to take you on their boat, just a bit of line, a bottle, a hook and some bait is all you need , the owner of the boat will sort this out for you, the people in the restaurant will cook the fish you catch for you if you ask, good fun! but book ahead as its not uncommon to get there and no rooms available..if you have time you can travel back to bangkok via Koh Kong. its very close to sihanoukville and has some beautiful isolated beaches around and tons of stunning waterfalls and pristine rainforest, its beautiful . the town its self is a short bus journey to the thai border and much more sedate than the poipet crossing the roads fine too. also worth a look is bokor national park to the east of sihanoukville | Round The World Rach Rachel Waterworth Post Count: 41 Msg: #18 266 days ago, March 6th 2009 | I was wondering how people get back to Bangkok from Sihanoukville - is the bus the best option and how long does it take? It looks like a shorter journey to me than Phnom Pehn to Bangkok? Or is that just wishful thinking?? | Number of Users: 7 | Number of Posts: 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
