Siem Reap

  I just spent few days in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It was the fourth times I was visiting it. What a great place…

The old market in Siem Reap

The magnificent Bayon

Here’s my article about it: http://isaan.com/city-of-siem-reap-cambodia-tourism-guide/  

Visitor Tips

Located in Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), this is one of the many dining options available to visitors and expats in the Isaan region of Thailand. When visiting restaurants in Korat, it is customary to order several dishes to share. Most restaurants in this area serve both Thai and international cuisine, and staff often speak some English.

Getting There

Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) is located approximately 250 km northeast of Bangkok. You can reach Korat by bus from Bangkok’s Mo Chit terminal (about 3.5 hours), by train from Hua Lamphong station, or by minivan from Chatuchak. Tuk-tuks and songthaews (shared trucks) are the most common local transport within the city.

About Isaan Cuisine

The Isaan region of northeastern Thailand has its own distinct culinary tradition, influenced by Lao and Khmer cultures. Signature dishes include som tam (spicy papaya salad), larb (spiced minced meat salad), sticky rice (khao niao), and grilled chicken (gai yang). Food in Isaan tends to be spicier and more sour than central Thai food, using ingredients like padaek (fermented fish sauce) and fresh herbs.

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Useful Legal Resources for Expats in Thailand

• Usufruct Agreement in Thailand
• Divorce in Thailand: Complete Guide
• Social Security in Thailand for Expats
• Same-Sex Marriage in Thailand

Angkor Wat and the Temple Complex

Siem Reap is best known as the gateway to Angkor – the vast archaeological site containing the ruins of several capitals of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th century. Angkor Wat itself is the world’s largest religious monument, built by Suryavarman II in the 12th century as a state temple and later converted to Theravada Buddhist use. Its five towers (representing Mount Meru, the cosmic mountain of Hindu cosmology) are visible from miles away and at sunrise they reflect in the surrounding moat in one of travel’s most photogenic moments. Beyond Angkor Wat, the circuit includes the walled city of Angkor Thom, the Bayon temple with its 216 serene stone faces, and Ta Prohm – famously left partially reclaimed by jungle, tree roots growing through ancient stone.

Siem Reap Town

Beyond the temples, Siem Reap has grown into a sophisticated small city. Pub Street and the Old Market (Phsar Chas) offer everything from cocktail bars to massage shops to excellent Khmer cuisine. The National Museum and the Angkor National Museum both provide context for understanding what you’re seeing in the temples. More adventurous visitors hire bicycles to ride between temple sites – it’s flat terrain and a genuinely rewarding way to experience the scale of the complex. Cooking classes, silk farms, and floating village tours round out a multi-day visit.

Practical Information

Angkor Archaeological Park requires a pass: $37 per day, $62 for 3 days, $72 for 7 days. Temples are open from 05:00–18:00 (some exceptions apply). The best light for Angkor Wat is sunrise (east-facing) or late afternoon. Hire a tuk-tuk driver for the day – they know the site well and cost around $15–25 depending on the circuit. Siem Reap airport connects directly to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and other regional hubs. From Thailand, the overland crossing at Aranyaprathet/Poipet is the most used route.

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