There are many beggars in Siem Reap, and they confront the tourist with a distinct ethical unease. Do we sustain this practice or ignore it? One lesson I recently learned was: if you see a group of blind musicians (sometimes near tourist spots) don't ignore them. Locals will give them donations. For a start these traditional musicians are doing something to help themselves. Second - there is no welfare infrastructure to support them. Third - after Pol Pot a lot of the traditional arts including literature and music and dance were nearly wiped out. So support these guys: a dollar or two and no ethical dilemma! (Thanks to my guides for pointing this out.)

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

This is an inexpensive (US$12 per room), simple, clean and very friendly guest house. Each room has en suite and air conditioning. It is a good place to unwind after a hard, hot day. There is a bar, a casual restaurant (with Western or Khmer-style food), a pool table (good for chilling out) and free internet for catching up with your emails and bragging to friends. It is close to town and they give you transport around town and to the airport. The modest profits from here go to support Savong's School - a volunteer language school that is also worth visiting.

D&D Angkor Villa Guest House,
No 6 Highway (Airport Road, near the Caltex Station).
Tel : (00 84) 855 12 531 037
www.angkorvilla.com

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

There are two or three nightclubs in Siem Reap - this one tends to serve the locals more, and is less touristy. When you walk in (you may be frisked for knives) you'll be hit by the loud music (somewhat Western these days: Usher, Black Eyed Peas) and by the pictures of beer from the bar girls. Go for Angkor Beer. It is good, inexpensive. Now settle in and enjoy. Better still go with locals - these guys know how to party.

Just over the bridge from the old market area. A stroll. If in doubt catch a tuk tuk. Goes from 8:00pm to around 1:30am. (Remember, you'll be up at dawn to see Angkor, right?)

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

After three days of clambering around Angkor Wat there may still be a gap in your Cambodia experience: making a connection with the local people. I recommend teaching at Savong's School. I was apprehensive but the students were welcoming and enthusiastic and their humour is infectious. The full-time teachers accompany you and handle translation and the local style is to work from a glossary of words. Now Savong runs a bigger volunteer school (thanks to overseas support) and it serves 350 students in a rural area east of Siem Reap. Most of these kids are very poor but they value education enormously and languages represent the best hope of getting future employment, thanks to the tourism industry. It has become customary for visitors to make a small donation to help the school (US$10- 20 or more if you want to make a difference) or at least to bring a football (kids were wearing Beckham t-shirts when I was first there) or a volleyball or go shopping with Savong to find books or pens for the kids. Overall the whole experience was very moving for me.

D&D Angkor Villa Guest House liases closely with the school.
The school is 30 minutes east of Siem Reap and Savong can arrange transport for you (the back of his motorbike if you're alone - or tuk tuk if there are more than one of you.)
www.angkorvilla.com
www.savong.com

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends