Travel///Cambodia
(Left) Angkor Wat, Cambodia; (Right) The Independence monument, with its Khmer architecture style, in Phnom Penh.
formed during the rainy season (April through November) when the swollen Mekong River backs up into the Tonle Sap and fills up the lake, expanding it from 2,500 square kilometers to 12,000. At Chong Khneas boat dock, take a boat to see floating villages, markets, repair shops and livestock in floating pens. Almost everything is floating there during the rainy season. From Chong Khneas, as well, boats are available to Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary, what is considered the single most important breeding ground in Southeast Asia for globally threatened large water birds. You can get from Siem Reap to the capital, Phnom Penh, by bus, boat, plane, taxi or mini-bus. You can also rent a car. For $12, Giant Ibis buses take passengers on a journey of about six hours to the capital, offering Wi-Fi and power outlets on board as well as a food stop. Three airlines also operate flights between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh five or six times daily. It takes about 45 minutes and costs $100 each way. In Phnom Penh, stay at The Plantation, Phnom Penh, an urban resort and spa and sanctuary with “zen-calm rooms.” As you head to one of two pools, lie down on a cabana bed or have a cocktail before heading upstairs to the notable restaurant.
CAMBODIA Visas: Most nations’ citizens receive a 30-day visa on arrival: Tourist visas cost $20. Business visa (the only one that can be extended) cost $25. Getting there: Flight durations range from 8 hours and 20 minutes to 14 hours, depending on the routes and will include one or more stopovers. Routes include Guam to Phonm Penh or Guam to Siem Reap via Eva Air, Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific or Korean Air. Best time of year to travel: The dry season starts in December. December through February when the weather is cooler. It’s hot from late February through April until the rainy season starts, and the rains come late April through November. Exchange Rate: Cambodian riel is 4,000 to one U.S. dollar. Cambodia is a dollar economy. Small bills are best for everyday use. ATMs will give you dollars or riel. People prefer dollars. Must see: Angkor Wat Must Eat in Phnom Penh: The Lost Room — open for dinner and drinks only in the now trendy Tonle Bassac neighborhood. It’s cozy but stylish with an off-the-beaten-track feel, inspiring the name. The menu features a range of small plates that are meant for sharing, such as warm spiced goat-and-feta-cheese dip with crudites and peri peri kampot crab cakes with onion jam. Be sure to try the crispy pork belly braised in dark ale.
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