Indochina Trip 2013: A night in Siem Reap

SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA

We reached Bou Savy Guesthouse around 4pm.

Welcome drink

Seems that they don't expect us to come early, the staff told us that our room was still occupied because the guest felt sick and extend to rest, he then offered a room while waiting.

For the meantime we stayed to this 3 bed room with air condition, but looks like the air condition doesn't worked well or the weather is really hot that time, as the sun is facing towards the room.

We don't wanna waste time and even we are tired after the long travel , we still go and explore the nearby market.

Staying at Bou Savy Guesthouse, you can avail the cheapest rate of tuktuk ride going to market and they can even fetch you if you want too.

OLD MARKET Siem Reap

PUB STREET

For your late night drink and try Cambodian cuisine you can check out pub street.

Dinner at KFC Siem Reap

Angkor Night Market

You can buy some shawls here for $2, I got mine for 4 pcs for $8 with free 1 shawl. Souvenir T-shirt is $2.5, you can also try body or feet massage for as low as $1. USD is widely acceptable in Cambodia, 4000 Cambodian Riel is 1 USD, don't be surprised if they change you some Cambodian Riel because $1 is their smallest dollar.

Body massage for $1.

Back at Bou Savy Guesthouse, they informed us that they already transferred our things to the room the we booked.

BOU SAVY GUESTHOUSE

Quick review in this guesthouse, the room is clean but mosquitoes are everywhere. The wifi is unreachable at the room, we have to go outside to have internet connection. The staff accommodates us well, arranged our bus trip to Ho Chi Minh City and the Angkor Wat Day tour. You can refill water at their restaurant, free breakfast starts from 6:30am. The place is accessible to the nearby market and minibus station, the guesthouse also provides tuktuk (of course you need to pay). Bicycles are available at the guesthouse that you can lend, and if you are tired to go out to eat, the guesthouse have a restaurant to serve from breakfast , lunch and dinner.

Good night Siem Reap!

Indochina Trip 2013: Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam

My first time to do backpacking, will do "Indochina Trip" covering Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam! Squeezing just 5 days for three (3) countries! Is it possible?? Yes if you fly from one country to another, but this is backpacking , talking about low cost budget we travel by land, cheaper but takes long travel time. Thinking only of 5 days to travel from Manila to Bangkok, then to Siem Reap, to Vietnam then back to Manila? Is it possible?? Of course! This backpacking result would be an Amazing Race trip!

 I'm excited, this is my second time in Thailand but I'm glad that I will visit new country this year "Cambodia" and "Vietnam".

The Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand

Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia

War Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Getting ready for this backpacking trip!

TICKET

Our round trip ticket is originally for Manila to Ho Chi Minh City, for the nth time , thanks to Cebu Pacific's PISO fare last August 2012, that cost roughly 900+php each. But because of my excitement booking that flight I accidentally input the incorrect return date :) Instead of a couple of days, the said travel date went for a month!  The plan for Indochina trip starts with the wrong booking and I waited for another flight promo, this time "Tiger Airways" had their promo.  I was able to book last January for 1 way ticket to Bangkok that cost 800+php per person, from Clark to Bangkok. To sum it up, our ticket is cost 1,700+php.

By the way, supposedly our travel date is July 10, 2013 but Tiger Airways rescheduled it to July 11. I don't understand their reason, they just send an email notification stating that "Your flight has been rescheduled due to a network review". A day after they canceled our flight to Davao!!! Wow Tiger Airways!!!

MONEY MATTERS

Still Czarina Forex for money exchange, Thailand Baht is a bit expensive compare to last year rate, buying rate is 1.5php to 1 Thailand Baht, I remember last it was only 1.37php = 1 bht. For Cambodian Riel and Vietnam Dong, I choose to buy some USD. Cambodia accepts USD, 1 USD = 4 Cambodia Riel and 1 USD = 21000 VND (Vietnam Dong). Buying rate of USD is 44.80php.

Baht and USD

ACCOMMODATION

For Bangkok, I booked again at Sunflower Place thru Hostelworld. I couldn't think of another hostel/guesthouse in Bangkok, my stay here last year is very good, the room is always clean, the place is safe and accessible and the staff is always accommodating. If I would be back in Bangkok , I'd still choose to stay here in Sunflower Place.

For Siem Reap, I booked at Bou Savy Guesthouse. I've learned this place from forums/blogs, a lot of good reviews for this guesthouse, so I decided to pick this. The rate is good, the room is nice and clean, the staff is very accommodating. Mr Bovorn always answers my queries through email, he even arranged our Angkor Wat Tour and the bus trip to Ho Chi Minh City.

For Ho Chi Minh City, I booked at Nguyen Khang Hotel. I've learned about the hotel thru forums and blogs. The rate is good, near to the bus stop of Mekong Express, the bus trip from Siem Reap to Saigon. The reservation is by email only, Ms Houng accommodates all my questions via email.


ITINERARY

July 11, 2013
Departs from Clark Airport
Arrived in Bangkok at 6pm

July 12, 2013
Half Day Temple Tour (Wat Po and Grand Palace)
Terminal 21
Platinum Fashion Mall
Siam Paragon
MBK Center
Patpong

July 13, 2013
Travel from Bangkok to Siem Reap, Cambodia
Check in Bou Savy Guesthouse
Angkok Night Market

July 14, 2013
Angkok Wat Tour
Angkok Night Market

July 15, 2013
Travel from Siem Reap to HCMC, Vietnam
Check in
Ben Thanh Night Market

July 16, 2013
Cu Chi Tour (half day)
Ben Thanh Market
Saigon Square
departs from HCMC Airport at 1am (July 17)


Adventure starts now!