Siem Reap

Its nice to know that if "Temple Fatigue" sets in; there are lots of things to do here and Siem Reap has many special events through out the year.

Here are just a few things to do away from the temples:

Enjoy the old French Colonial atmosphere in and around the restaurants and bars and the Psar Chas Market.
Wander along the riverfront and absorb the semi rural atmosphere to the east of the river.
Visit the Silk farm and enjoy the unspoiled countryside on the way.
See Angkor from the Air from the Angkor Balloon
Cruise on the Tonle Sap and see the fascinating life on the lake.
Relax on the small beach on the eastern Baray.
Take in an Apsara Dance Show.
Visit the Land Mine Museum
Take a short stroll to see Angkor In Miniature
Plan your trip to take in one of the many festivals in Siem Reap

Jayavarman Children's Hospital

This hospital provides very high standards of care for children only. It is a charity and welcomes support. Dr Beat Richner plays weekly concerts of Bach on cello and talks about the wonderful work done here and at the other similar hospitals around the country. No Charge for entry but please give generously.

The Countryside

The area that surrounds Siem Reap is has many attractive villages and farms. You do not have to go too far to see rural life here. Here are a few pictures around Siem Reap area Silk Farm 16 Kms to the west of Siem Reap; near Pouk village the silk farm is a worthwhile place to see a slice of Cambodian rural industry. Set amongst fields of mulberry trees, the silk farm is a working factory farm, producing some of the finest silk in the country A new visitors center was opened at the end of 2005.
Entry is free of charge

The Tonle Sap Lake

Cruise on the great lake to see the floating villages and fisheries. This fascinating ecosystem fills with the water from the Mekong each year bringing vast numbers of fish and irrigation during the dry season. Without it the building of the Angkor temples could not have been sustained.

Land Mine Center

Run by Aki Ra an ex-army land mine casualty. He has created a museum of mines and other ordnance. You will see dozens of ways to maim, injure or kill. They may not have been Weapons of Mass destruction, but hundreds of thousands were seriously injured or killed by these instruments. Sadly the injuries are still continuing today.

Angkor Wat In Miniature

You do not have to stray far from the hotel to find this small but interesting attraction, round the corner from us. The Sculptor Dy Preung has created replicas of a number of Temple sites in the garden of his home. There is a lot of photographic interest in his yard which apart from the replicas is full of atmospheric stonework and part completed figures their is a viewing platform which gives an "aerial" View of Angkor Wat

Balloon Flights over Angkor

If you want a real aerial View of Angkor, a very spectacular way of appreciating the vastness and splendor of Angkor is to take a tethered balloon flight. At $15 the short flight can be one of the highlights of a visit to Angkor.

The Western Baray

This vast man made reservoir, 8.5kms x 2.5Kms was built by hand 800 years ago. The photo shows the small dock and beach resort, where you can get boats to the small island temple at the center

Festivals and Events

Throughout the Year Siem Reap has many special events. The Bon Oum Took Boat Festival October / November, is one of the biggest events attracting tens of thousands of Khmers for the Boat racing which is held on the river close to the hotel. In September or October The Spirit Festival is a celebration of the ancestors; where offerings are made to the spirits. this happens in Buddhist Pagodas all over the country. From November 25th to December 1st, there is the Angkor Photo Festival. This takes the form of various Photo Exhibitions round town It is jointly sponsored by the FCC Angkor and many other Organizations.

On December 17th the Angkor half Marathon is Held, It raises money for the disabled and attracts hundreds of able bodied and disabled runners. It is a fun run and has routes around the Temples for any ability.

Khmer New Year

The whole country is given over to partying for 7 days .There is also a Silk Festival in the Royal Gardens in April. The biggest international event of the year will be the Angkor Gyeongju Cultural Expo a Joint Cambodian and Korean cultural fair is to be held in a purpose built exhibition site North of Siem Reap. Running from Nov 21st to Jan 9th, it will showcase Korean and Cambodian dance, kite flying, fashion. films art and food. 400,000 are expected to attend.

Apsara Dancing

No visit to to Cambodia would be complete without seeing one of the many Traditional Dance shows around Siem Reap (or Phnom Penh). The floating dance style, music and themes were influenced by the music and dance of South India. The Thai's also adopted this dancing style, though its roots are firmly Khmer. If you are lucky You may find concerts going on at Angkor Wat or the Bayon.

Cambodia Cultural Village

This new Theme park opened in 2003, It houses a cultural exhibition center set in pleasant gardens with models of famous sights in Cambodia. Intended for local Khmers rather than westerners, it gives a rather bland, but idealized view of Cambodian life. It is no substitute for the real life that surrounds us here and in rural Cambodia. Admission fee of $12

Shopping & Markets

There are tourist markets and shops around the Psar Chas (Old Market) and Central Market in town. Also, anywhere that tourists gather there will be someone selling something. The Artisans d' Angkor is a good place for quality (i.e. expensive) gifts. Silks and small wood or stone carvings are of good quality. Clothing and baggage is on sale at good prices, branded products at cheap prices. Plus music and films CDs and DVD's for a few dollars. Most Guide books on sale are cheap copies so be careful what you pay as rip offs are not uncommon.

Crocodiles and Snakes

If you are into seeing men playing with detoxified cobras and wrestling with crocodiles then there is a place on the road to Angkor Wat. Otherwise the proprietors of the fish farms on Tonle Sap Lake may offer you the chance to handle a 3 meter Boa Constrictor (they don't let you play with their crocs though!) There are number of crocodile farms, the biggest in 3kms south of Siem Reap, on the road to the Lake.

Golden Orange Hotel