Blessed with templates and ruins, Siem Reap has been a popular travel destination. The Angkor Wat complex is one of the major reasons that attract tourists from all over the world, and in fact among the largest religious structures on earth. Angkor Thorm Royal City is also a famous sightseeing in Siem Reap. If you are not familiar with background details, it is best to study the national history at the Cambodian Cultural village. The Angkor Night Market also promises a fruitful trip to surf through the shopping stalls, bars and vendors.
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA -6 DEC 2015- The Siem Reap International Airport (REP), located near the Angkor temple complex, is the busiest airport in Cambodia. Many planes are from Cambodia Angkor Air (K6). (EQRoy / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA -6 DEC 2015- The Siem Reap International Airport (REP), located near the Angkor temple complex, is the busiest airport in Cambodia. Many planes are from Cambodia Angkor Air (K6). (EQRoy / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – DEC 28, 201:View on the city’s main street in Siem Reap at morning. Siem Reap is Cambodia’s main tourist cities, World Seven Wonders of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. (Oleg Znamenskiy / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – SEP 10:The city’s main transport TUKTUK on Sep 10, 2012 in Siem Reap. Siem Reap is Cambodia’s main tourist cities,World Seven Wonders of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. (GuoZhongHua / Shutterstock)
Angkor Wat temple at sunrise, Cambodia.
ANGKOR WAT – MARCH 17 : Elephant rides for tourists at Cambodia’s most famous tourist attraction, the temple Angkor Wat March 17, 2009 in Siem Reap, Cambodia. (Komar / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – SEP 9:Visitor at the bayon on Sep 9, 2012 in Angkor. Angkor was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992. is one of the four major miracle in Oriental. (GuoZhongHua / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – SEP 9:Visitor at the bayon on Sep 9, 2012 in Angkor. Angkor was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992. is one of the four major miracle in Oriental. (GuoZhongHua / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – MARCH 08: Tourists visitors Angkor Wat is the country’s prime attraction, is the largest Hindu temple and religious monument in the world on March 08, 2016 Siem Reap, Cambodia. (nuwatphoto / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – DEC 13: Apsaras – khmer stone carving in Angkor Wat, Dec 13, 2012 on Siem Reap, Cambodia. Angkor is the country’s prime attraction for visitors. (De Visu / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – DEC 13: Draw-well in the complex of Angkor Wat – largest Hindu temple complex and religious monument in the world, Dec 13, 2012 Siem Reap, Cambodia. (De Visu / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – DEC 13: An unidentified cambodian girlie in Angkor Wat, Dec 13, 2012 on Siem Reap, Cambodia. Angkor is the country’s prime attraction for visitors. (De Visu / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – DEC 13: Hindu Brahmin blesses tourists in one of the temples of Angkor Wat complex, Dec 13, 2012 Siem Reap, Cambodia. It is the country’s prime attraction for visitors. (De Visu / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – DEC 2: Angkor Wat facade on December 2, 2012 in Siem Reap, Cambodia.Angkor Wat is the early 12th Century temple.It built by King Suryavarman II and is a symbol of Cambodia. (Ekashustrova / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – January 25, 2011. The young woman sells souvenirs and books in Angkor Wat complex. (Konstantin Aksenov / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – CIRCA JANUARY 2009: Three young girls are selling souvenirs at Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia on CIRCA JANUARY 2009. Allegedly, children work to support their families. (Daxiao Productions / Shutterstock)
Sale of souvenirs in the market, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Funny handmade wooden puppets donkeys and elephants with bright colorful harness.
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – JUNE 21, 2014: Unidentified tourists shop at the night market of Siem Reap. The city serves as a gateway to the world famous Angkor temples and is a major tourist hub. (withGod / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – FEB 21, 2013: Unidentified tourists walk at the night market of Siem Reap. It serves as a gateway to the world famous Angkor temples and is a major tourist hub. (withGod / Shutterstock)
CAMBODIA, SIEM REAP – DEC 28, 2011: Unidentified shop-boy shown in local paintings market. Native paintings are one from most popular souvenir in Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia (Oleg Znamenskiy / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA -10 DEC 2015- Les Artisans Angkor is a semi-public social business providing employment for rural Cambodians and reviving Khmer crafts, especially silk products. (EQRoy / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – JULY 13: Unidentified people shop in a local supermarket in Siem Reap, Cambodia on July 13, 2012. There are still just a few supermarkets in Siem Reap. (Matyas Rehak / Shutterstock)
TONLE SAP LAKE SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – JANUARY 10: unidentified girl paddle from front part of a boat on January 10, 2012 at Tonle Sap Lake, Siem Reap Cambodia (Naruedom Yaempongsa / Shutterstock)
TONLE SAP, CAMBODIA – DECEMBER 24, 2011: Unidentified Cambodian woman rowing her sampan for tourists in Tonle Sap water village, near Siam Reap,Cambodia on December 24, 2011 (idome / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP CAMBODIA MARCH 30: Woman cooks on the side on the street on march 30 2013 in Siem Reap,Cambodia Khmer cuisine or more generally Cambodian cuisine is one of the world’s oldest living cuisines (meunierd / Shutterstock)
Street food in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – FEB 16, 2015 – Woman cooking lunch in the market of Siem Reap, Cambodia (steve estvanik / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – DEC 13: An unidentified cambodian street juice seller in Angkor Wat, Dec 13, 2012 on Siem Reap, Cambodia. Angkor is the country’s prime attraction for visitors. (De Visu / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA MARCH 28: Unidentified young in traditional wedding Khmer clothing on march 28, 2013 in Siem Reap (meunierd / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – FEB 14, 2015 – Solo Apsara dancer uses hand gestures to tell a story, Siem Reap, Cambodia (steve estvanik / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – FEB 14, 2015 – Apsara dancers kneel at the end of a performance, Siem Reap, Cambodia (steve estvanik / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA -10 DECEMBER 2015- The historic luxury Hotel de la Paix in Siem Reap, built in a mix of Art Deco and Khmer style, is now the Park Hyatt Siem Reap. (EQRoy / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – MARCH 30, 2011: A hotel in khmer style in Siemreap, Cambodia. Siem Reap is the capital city of Siem Reap Province and a popular resort town as the gateway to Angkor region (Dmitry V. Petrenko / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – FEBRUARY 2015: Smiles couple enjoying massage inside the five stars hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia at the spa and sauna.
Water fall at Phnom Koulen at Siem Reap, Cambodia
Angkor Wat at sunset.
Angkor Wat , Si em Reap , Cambodia – september 9 , 2015: Traveling at the Angkor Wat Ta Pr ohm big tree temple. (lai man wong / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – SEP 14: Pub Street at Night, Unidentified tourists walk along street where is the centre of night life, with restaurants and bars on Sep14, 2013 in Siem Reap, Cambodia. (maodoltee / Shutterstock)
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA – NOV 16, 2014: tourists walking around at the night market of Siem Reap on Nov 16,2014. Siem Reap have many night market, this one call “Original Noon” (Noppasin / Shutterstock)
Siem Reap – Home of Angkor Wat
By Vince Samios
Siem Reap is a busy town and popular destination for tourists coming from all around the world to see the worlds famous Angkor Wat temple complex.
Hundreds of years ago, the asian south east was part of the mighty Siam Empire and this is reflected in the towns current name, Siem Reap, which means literally “defeating the Siam” which describes the war which is depicted on the temples of the Angkor Wat Temple Complex.
The first mention of Angkor Wat and is its surrounding temples in modern literature was by Antonio da Magdalena, a Portuguese monk who traveled through the region in 1586. He described the temples as having “Extraordinary construction, impossible to describe with a pen” remarking that they were like “no other building in the world” with “towers and decoration” which are as refined as the human imagination would think possible.
The best way to get around Siem Reap is either with a hired bike, or a Tuk Tuk. Following many foreigns having accidents, it is no longer possible to rent motorcycles and the alternative, the human powered bicycle, can be rented for around $4-5 per day. There are many bicycle rental shops around town, and you can also ask your hotel or guest house if they have any bicycles available for rent. The other option, a Tuk Tuk, is better in warm weather.
There are many Tuk Tuk’s around town in Siem Reap and its impossible to go without transport. You can hire a Tuk Tuk for short trips which will cost you $1-$2 within town, or you can hire a Tuk Tuk for the entire day, from before sunrise, until after sun-set. This will cost you $15/day, however if you decide to visit the far out temples such as “bantey srey” you will need to give your Tuk Tuk driver an additional $10. Tuk Tuk drivers in Siem Reap are required to register for a Tuk Tuk license and wear a numbered vest at all times. Remember your Tuk Tuk drivers number or you may not be able to identify which driver is yours.
Souvenirs popular with tourists, inluding paintings, carvings, silks and other fabrics, silver items, clothing, DVD’s and CD’s as well as pottery can be bought at the Old Market which lies in the middle of the most happening part of town. Vendors expect you to drive a hard bargain, so if you pay more than 2/3rds the initial price, you aren’t bargaining hard enough. Always halve the price first quoted, and play hard ball. This is a cultural thing and is considered a necessary part of trade.
The district surrounding the old market is full of restaurants, bars, hotels and cafes, some of which offer internet service. Many tourists make this a fun place to spend an afternoon, but this part of town definitely transforms into a party paradise at night.
“Pub Street” is a central street in Siem Reap which is made available to pedestrians at night, which provides a fun street atmosphere with souvenir shops, restaurants, bars and many of the most popular clubs in Siem Reap. As there is no traffic, many of the parties spill out into the street, where vendors and beggars are at a minimum. The most popular clubs in this street include the Temple Club for drinks, music and other entertainment, or the Angkor What? bar which caters to the backpacker crowd. Both are full every night of the week. Pub street is definitely worth a visit and no trip is complete without a night on the town in Siem Reap.
If you enjoy siem reap, there are many other attractions around cambodia, with the beach party scene of Sihanoukville, and the riverside restaurants in Phnom Penh.
Vince Samios owns and operates a series of travel websites focusing on Sihanoukville, Siem reap, Phnom Penh.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Vince_Samios/214536
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