Comments on: The Cambodian National Treasure of Angkor Wat

By: Jake

Jake — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:39:38 +0000

I forgot to mention, actually, were I to do it again. I’d book a tour with Intrepid Travel. One of their tours was on the same bus I was on, only they didn’t get shaken down for inflated visa costs and they sailed through the border checkpoint while I was stuck there for hours, arguing why I didn’t want to convert any money to the worthless Cambodian Riel.

By: Jake

Jake — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:40:06 +0000

Hi Hookie,

I meant to say Train AND Bus. There is a Thai train to the border, I think, and then you can catch a bus or a cab the rest of the way. I’m doing my best to remember conversations from Ko Sahn travel agents. The Thai Bus is nicer, but the road from the border to Siem Reap, is hellacious. Though it is the cheapest and that’s what got me to do it. If I were to do it again I was about to say I’d fly. I just got on Siem Reap Air’s website and Bangkok was missing as an option. I checked Bangkok air and it was around $170USD, which is a lot. It’s making me wonder what’s going on with the air prices. I remember almost getting a flight from Pattya to Siem Reap for around 2000THB. I’d have to do some heavy checking on the flights, but they used to be fairly cheap, I suppose the recession is hitting the airline industry all over the world. Looks like that nasty, dirt road is the best/cheapest option. Oh well, but look at it as a culturally enriching experience. Though you might want to look at some of the other airlines that serve that area. I tell ya, if I were going back, I’d consider paying the $170, even though that’s about three times what I’d expect to pay for that route.

By: Hookie

Hookie — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:14:51 +0000

Jake

Great piece of work…

You mentioned you can get to Siem Reap by train?, I am planning to visit later this year.

Was thinking of the train from Bangkok to the border and was unsure of the best way to get to SR, any advise from someone who has been there and done it welcomed, also could you tell me typical travel times between the border and SR and from SR to PP?

Look forward to hearing from you, keep up the good work

Hookie

By: T

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:07:55 +0000

As a Cambodian descent, I was touched reading your blog:(! It’s hard to bare the pain that my ancestors left for us and the world and yet we tend to destroy it day by day! Angkor was the largest Pre-industrialized city in the world and am very proud of that:)!

By: Amy @ The Q Family

Amy @ The Q Family — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:05:49 +0000

What a moving story! Thank you for sharing. I plan to take my kids there next year and I hope that they will get the experience and come home learning more about other countries.

By: Ramona

Ramona — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 02:41:47 +0000

Jake, your articles are a rare combination of professional reportage and unusual personal insight. I only wish I could have your account of my every destination.

Keep up the good work!

By: Craig Spivek

Craig Spivek — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 06:08:05 +0000

fantastic blog. Makes me want to travel. well done jake.
c

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:53:57 +0000

Angkor Wat is a spectacular place to go and visit albeit I visited many many years ago when it was very dangerous place to. It’s been some years now and this article has got me thinking I might want to go back to visit the far east.

By: Sam

Sam — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:42:43 +0000

Geez… you make me really want to go there and that is one of the last places I thought I’d ever desire to go see.

The length of the plane ride is what would probably, quite honestly, keep me from ever seeing these sights with my own eyes… thank you, Jake, for letting me see it through yours. Your writing paints an incredibly poignant picture.

By: Mr. Nicholas

Mr. Nicholas — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 23:49:46 +0000

Sir,
I must say that your accounting of Cambodia is by far the most succinct and travel inspiring telling i have ever read. I will book tickets post hast. Bravo sir, bravo.