Air conditioned and with free wireless internet: The Blue Pumpkin, Siem Reap. Very cool in both senses.
This is civilisation. Fresh spring rolls. Top notch cocktails, mine a rice liquor concoction with lemongrass and star anise; Jak’s a margarita.
Oh yes, and that thing that is so so hard to find in Australia: free wireless internet.
Siem Reap is one of those places with one reason for being: the vast Angkor complex. It is so much more than only Ankgor Wat. It is thousands of square kilometres of some of the most spectacular ruins in the world. And I mean up there with Mexico, Italy and Greece (I’m afraid I haven’t ticked of the pyramids yet).
Yet the town for the most part exudes a lot of charm. It perhaps is the French influence of low rise colonial shuttered buildings and the Asian open style of dining room.
Of course, you have to ignore the concrete boxes that line the 7km road from the airport.
Back to the spring rolls:
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It does look quite lovely. I must get to Vietnam or Cambodia before it gets too expensive.
So much for the third world – that looks amazing!
Kalyn, both are cheap. Cambodia – and we are at an expensive touristy part – is much cheaper than Vietnam. It costs $2-3 a main in most restaurants (unless you are in a hotel). Our hotel is about $35 a night and is fantastic. The trouble is everything defaults to the lowest domination of George Washington inflating some things.
Kylie, we didn’t show you the blocked loo!
My oh my have I got itchy feet after reading this post. And…cold spring rolls, what is better on a warm day. Mmmmmm!
Kikimiss…and aircon…
After a hot day traipsing the temples, nothing refreshes like a cold, minty towel to wipe your weary head with at Blue Pumpkin. May I HIGHLY recommend both their chocolate ice cream and a refreshing mango yoghurt shake? They also do the food at Angkor Cafe, near Angkor Wat!
Cheers Stephen,
Most things seem good there. I missed the café at Angkor but noticed there is also a Blue Pumpkin at the airport (without wireles sadly).
I went to the “dead fish tower” the atmosphere and decor were exceptional but the food was not.being australian i opted for some steak-the menu said it was australian but my teeth said it was water buffalo! tough and unedable..wish i had just had a drink at “dead fish” and then eaten at blue pumpkin.nobody told me about free internet..an absolute must for next year..the white rabbit
I like it…The White Rabbit!
Maharajah:
The best Indian restaurant in town
most favorite hunt of both experts & tourist curry lovers, due to its fresh, hygienic & authentic preparation with excellent taste vegetarian & non vegetarian over 260 fresh royal Indian dishes with traditional taste
Authentic spices used, very reasonable price
The one & only 100% HALAL food in town simply priceless. Continue o receive great reviews from customers,
Next to Pub Street between CAB bank and hospital old market area siem reap
Tel: +855 92 506622 http://www.maharajah.biz
Nice place to hang out….. I’m going to visit Cambodia soon, anyone heard or tried e-Visa before… found this site http://evisa.mfaic.gov.kh and thinking of getting visa online
We got our Visa at the brand spanking new, glamorous airport at Siem Reap. It took about 5 minutes with about 20 staff handling our plane load of visitors who had just arrived from Saigon. I always travel with spare passport photos so it was easy.