Showing posts with label Siem Reap. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Siem Reap. Show all posts

20130812

Indochina Trip 2013: Successful Adventure (Budget)

Indochina Trip 2013: Successful Adventure




Here's my total expenses except for my personal expenses (airfare, shopping, pasalubongs, etc. )




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Indochina Trip 2013: A night in Saigon (HCMC)

After 13 hours of travel by land from Siem Reap finally reached Saigon! There's a light rain when we arrived, good thing that the bus stop is just few minutes from Nguyen Khang Hotel. We were able to locate the hotel after asking a lady Vietnamese along the way. Arriving at Nguyen Khang, they gave us welcome drink and this guy named "Henry" discussed the map where nearby restaurant, tourist spots, banks, etc is located. Then he was sorry that our room is not available because the air-condition is not working, so instead of staying at Nguyen Khang Hotel they transferred us at Ngoc Minh Hotel, this is also located in the area, in between two hotels. We had no choice and I don't want to argue, what matters to me is we had room to stay ^_^

Our Room





Even we are tired, we still go to Ben Than Night Market, to buy pasalubongs and to have dinner. (Motto: Time is Gold!)



On the way to Ben Than Market you'll see Starbucks, the only Starbucks in Vietnam. Yes, additional to my Starbucks Tumbler collection :)


Ben Than Night Market is opens from 6pm to 12 midnight. You can buy souvenirs t-shirt for 40,000VND here and also tried eating Vietnamese food.

my dinner

What to do in Ho Chi Minh City at night?
  • Visit the Ben Than Night Market, that usually opens from 6pm to 12 midnight. You can buy souvenirs, clothes, bags, accessories, coffee, etc. and try local foods. 
  • Visit some bars nearby, Saigon is lively at night.
  • Visit restaurant and food stall. 
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Indochina Trip 2013: Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City

Good morning and Goodbye Siem Reap!

We are leaving early for trip to Ho Chi Minh City, our trip was arranged by Bou Savy Guesthouse and Mekong Express pick us up at 8'o clock in the morning.


Our Angkor Wat tour guide says that it takes 12 hours travel time to reach Ho Chi Minh City, again this is gonna be a long day for us. My latest long travel is from Manila to Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte for 10 hours. I guess I'm well prepared for this :)

complimentary snacks

Siem Reap last look




We only had 1 stop over for 20 minutes, what we see is this exotic snack!

wanna try?? 

It takes 6 hours to reach Phnom Penh, we stopped here for 30 minutes. The staff from Mekong Express gets our passport and we had our new seating at the bus. It would take another 6 hours to Ho Chi Minh City.






To reach Ho Chi Minh City, crossing this river is a must. You can see a lot of vendors here and even street children asking for food.

Before reaching the border, the bus had some technical problems, we stopped in a restaurant nearby then they advised that we might transfer another bus. We reached the border around 7pm, we spent less than an hour in the immigration, a lot of people crossing the border. Then we transferred to  another bus and it took us 2 hours more to reach Ho Chi Minh City. A total of 13 hours trip from Siem Reap, Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, for the record this is my longest trip ever!







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Indochina Trip 2013: Angkor Tour (Siem Reap, Cambodia)

Good Morning Siem Reap!

Free breakfast at Bou Savy Guesthouse




The tour guide arrived around 8 o'clock in the morning, the tuktuk is also waiting for us and few minutes we set off for Angkor Wat tour!

Ticket for Angkor Wat Day Pass (one day) is $20, a picture has to be taken then..... ta-dah Angkor Pass will be given to you. The Angkor Pass will be inspected when you enter the temple.


My Angkor Pass



Our first stop is the South Gate of Angkor Thom








Next is the Bayon Temple Complex
  
  


Inside the Bayon Temple


nose to nose :)






  



 Next temple

  








More random pictures from the temples








 Next is the famous Ta Prohm featured in the movie Tomb Raider starring Angelina Jolie.



*pictures credit from (http://www.airpano.com/360Degree-VirtualTour.php?3D=Ta-Prohm-Cambodia)




This place is too crowded because this is popular among tourist, specially is you're a fan of Tomb Raider (the game) or Angelina Jolie.



Lunch first before heading to Angkor Wat


ANGKOR WAT



Inside Angkor Wat



  




We had a long day, exhausted from the Angkok Wat Day tour, the weather in Siem Reap is killing me. We went back at the guesthouse, rest for a few hours then we stroll again at the night market for last minute pasalubong shopping.



We tried eating Angkor Snow Ice, located at Angkor Night Market for 1 USD.








For the nth time, dinner at KFC, Siem Reap.




This is our last night in Siem Reap, I enjoyed the Angkor Wat Tour despite of the hot weather. I never thought that there is more to see in Cambodia. They are very rich in culture, I'm amazed that they showcased the history of the temples. I'm amazed with the structures of each temple I visit and the way they preserved it and continue to rebuild some of the temples. 

Compared to Thailand, Siem Reap is more laid back, no traffic here (due to limited vehicles I guess) There is no MRT or subway here, mode of transportation is similar to Thailand using "tuktuk". 

I feel safe during my stay here, people were kind even those in the market. When buying your souvenirs or stuffs at the night market try to haggle as much as you can, half the price of the item you want :)
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