Siem Reap Attractions and events

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Siem Reap is more than Temples

Its nice to know that if "Temple Fatigue" sets in; there are lots of things to do here

The New Angkor Museum Opened November 2007 Apsara Dancer at theatre

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 along 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.
Enjoy a relaxing hour or two at the new Butterfly Garden
Visit the New Angkor Museum
Relax on the small beach on the Western Baray.
Take in an Apsara Dance Show with buffet dinner at one of the many Dance Theatres
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

Photos from Around Siem Reap Town

Kings Palace Old Stone Bridge

Tuk Tuk driver Mr Ohda taking guests out for a night in Pub Street: Siem Reap Town

Siem Reap Pagoda Fish Market Shoe stalls in market

Grand Hotel D'Angkor Catholic Church

River Illuminations and boat racing on Water Festival; Siem Reap Angkor Marathon

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 our villa.

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.

In December the Angkor half Marathon is Held It raises money for disabled and attracts hundreds of able bodied and disabled runners. It is a fun run and has routes round the Temples for any ability. Date is to be confirmed

At Khmer New Year (mid April) The whole country is given over to Partying for 7 days . There is also a Silk Festival in the Royal Gardens in April.

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 the other similar hospitals around the country.

No Charge for entry but please give generously

Jayavarman VII Hospital

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 centre was opened at the end of 2005.

Entry is free of charge

cocoons

Weaving loom

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.

For more pics on Tonle Sap Lake see Tonle Sap pages

Land Mine Centre

Run by Aki Ra an ex army Land mine casualty.

He started off turning the garden of his home into 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.

In May 2007 the Museum moved 20kms North of Siem Reap on the Road to Banteay Srey Entry is $5

For more info on see Angkor Association for Disabled webpage and Aki Ra's Land mine centre website which I can highly recommend.

Angkor Wat In Miniature You do not have to stray far from Peace of Angkor Villa 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 splendour of Angkor is to take a tethered balloon flight. The Balloon is French Made and takes 28 people in a circular gondola. The Balloon is planned to be replaced in Nov 2007

At $15 the short flight can be one of the highlights of a visit to Angkor.

Angkor; Aerial View from balloon

Helicopter Flights: For those who have loads of money and want a unique view of Angkor and the surrounding country; or even a trip out to remote temples; you can charter a helicopter.

At $2000 to $3000 per hour only those on Company expense accounts need a apply

For those with more modest means you can get short flights 7 to 15 mins from $70 upwards depending on numbers in party and distance. Please contact us or www.helicopterscambodia.com

The Western Baray

This vast man made reservoir, 8.5kms x 2.5Kms was built by hand 800 years ago. It formed the centre piece to the immense irrigation systems the Khmers Constructed.

The photo shows the small dock and beach resort, where locals gather to bathe. you can get boats to the small island temple at the centre.

You will need your Angkor Pass to visit the island

Phnom Kulen

This Khmer Pilgrimage site is situated in a picturesque location 1 hour drive from Siem Reap. Approached by a scenic mountain road it give some of the best landscape views in the Area.

The falls are a popular bathing place for local families. At festival times the the Wats and Reclining Buddha are a place of great atmosphere. there is an area of Hindu Lingas on the riverbed; though nothing as extensive as Kbal Spean.

It is always busy; so don't expect to be alone.

Admission fee $20 for foreigner

Boat Racing Angkor Marathon

FCC Angkor At night Full moon on the river at the Moon Festival River illuminations at Festival

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 Thais also adopted this dancing style; though its roots are firmly Khmer.

There are regular shows in various restaurants in town. Our favourite is the Angkor Mondial on the river.

If you are lucky You may find concerts going on at Angkor Wat or the Bayon. I have added pics of recent Bayon Dance Show in May 2006; below.

Dancing at the Bayon 2006 Apsara Dancer Angkor Mondial

Cambodia Cultural Village

This Theme park opened in 2003. It houses a cultural exhibition centre set in pleasant gardens with models of famous sights in Cambodia .

Intended for local Khmers rather than westerners; it is not a place for high culture. If you go there expecting that; then you will be disappointed.

If you go there with your family and have a mind to have a lot of fun and meet Khmers doing what they like most (partying): you will have a lot of laughs and a a memorable experience! and some goof fun photos to be had!

The Shows go on from 2pm through to 7:30

Some of our Peace of Angkor Crew and friends in Oct 2007

Underweight figure in the tunnel of Judgement Dancer Fishy Headwear

The Admission fee of $9 for foreigners includes entry to all shows (it is $3 for Khmers)

Shopping 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, there are branded products at cheap prices.

CDs and DVDs for a few dollars (you will need a multi region DVD player to guarantee they will work) .Avoid software in Cambodia as the pirated stuff will probably not work or will be time limited demos .

Most guide books on sale are cheap copies so be careful what you pay as rip offs are not uncommon. Beware of Guide books with 2005/06 covers and 2002 content; or shrink wrapped bargains (usually crude photocopied content

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 metre 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.

The Angkor Zoo For your information the zoo park closed in April 2007

Massage After a day at the Temples one might want to have a traditional Khmer style Massage. there are many Massage parlours here. As in neighbouring Thailand some can offer special services beyond a normal massage. The Blind Massage places are probably the best available here.

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Peace of Angkor Villa 0133 Slorkram Village, Siem Reap, Cambodia

PO Box 93125 Email us ( 855 (0)63 760 475