Can anyone recommend a witty and informed guide for Angkor
and where I might find this enlightened one....? i.e.,
which guest house to go to? Also, where is the most
reliable place to buy Angkor passes from? I've heard that
some local touts "recycle" used ones and keep profit for
themselves (understandable I know in such a traumatised
country, but I would rather my Riel go to preserving the
ruins and support the local people through other
means...)
Also does anyone know what days Lao Aviation fly from Phnom
Penh to Vientianne..
On a final note, what's the weather like in Cambodia and
Laos during June?
Thanks very much for your help! I hope I can assist others
once I've visited these fascinating countries..
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>Also, where is the most
>reliable place to buy Angkor passes from?
The new-ish official tourist office, just to the east of the
Grand Hotel d'Angkor. They tear the tickets out of the
original book as you watch and give you two of the three
sections (one is retained at the entrance booth on your
first visit to the temple site), so you can be sure they
aren't 'recycled'. They can also put you in touch with
drivers and/or guides if you don't want to deal through your
grasping guest-house. The tourist office is closed on
Sundays (or was, as of December '98).
>Also does anyone know what days Lao Aviation fly from Phnom
>Penh to Vientianne..
Sorry, I just threw my L.A. timetable away. However I do
remember that this flight leaves Vientiane at the crack of
dawn and takes hours, as there is a stop in Saigon en route.
Alan has good advice. Just to add that you must pay for the
tickets in dollars. I bought a week ticket for $60.00 &
used every minute. I was there in December when the weather
was cool enough to allow full sightseeing. During the heat,
many people return to their hotels to cool off. The tourist
office is in a fairly new building. As a result, the staff
isn't too sure what a tourist office does. Just keep
walking through until you can find someone.
As for guesthouses, there are several. I liked La Noria,
right by the Arun restaurant. It's new & they're hungry.
They propvide all the mod cons for $15.00 including a light
you can read by. Good value for money. The helpful,
friendly staff speaks fluent French & English. I tried to
get into the Aspara Guesthouse, but got dumped in the
Golden Aspara instead. It's a dump & charges the same as La
Noria. However, some friends were at the Aspera & when I
visited, it was excellent--the type of place where you'd
take your parents. It's a bit out of town & has few rooms.
Many backpackers go to Mom's. It's pleasant & cheap enough,
but I found the staff was suffering from burn out. Besides,
the owner decided to prune a beautiful bougainvillia with a
chain saw. I can't stand seeing lovely plants murdered. The
Freedom Hotel is also good, but filled with gringos. I
didn't use a guide, but instead I read Coedes' Angkor,
which unfortunately out of print. If you find a copy, grab
it. Dawn Rooney also has a guide book. You can buy the
latest edition in the States for $16.00, but an older one
is available in Angkor for $3.00. Angkor is incredible.
Give yourself pleant of time. bob