Hi all,
Some of us have had some side discussions on the proposed Siem Reap, Cambodia visit, and as JK and family will be back in Asia around Aug/Sep timeframe, and possibly CLK will join too, we would like to coincide with their trips from halfway round the world if possible.
So the specific dates are:
Arrive Siem Reap: morning of 30th Aug, 2009
Leave Siem Reap: 2nd Sep 2009
Tuan Sinos, who is obviously well-connected there, has been most kind to check out a great program for us. Although we will not have our dinner under the stars at Angkor Wat itself, since the pricing is exorbitant, Sinos' alternative proposal sounds very good. For accomodation, one of the best new 4-star hotels, Borei Angkor Resort & Spa, is currently being considered. The rate seems very reasonable.
The next section, which is directly from Sinos, gives us more details ...
Itenary & expected budget for your visit ( based on what I used to recommend/arrange for friends). Of course, it is not final and can be changed to suit your needs or likings, Sir. Budget is all in US dollars as this is a dollarized country
- Hotel: US$45 net per room per night inclusive of breakfast & airport transfer. ( 2 days, 3 nights)
- Angkor Wat pass- US$20 per person per day. You can also buy 3 days pass for USD40-00 per person
- Mini-bus rental ( if many are coming)- US$ 70 a day with gas & driver. Of course, we can use tuk-tuk ( motor cycle trailer): 4 persons in one tuk-tuk @US$18 a day. This is more fun & better way to see the country & sites.
- English speaking guide-US$ 25 ( We can do away with the guide as they are plenty of guide books in English) But the choice is yours, if we are lazy to read the guide books !!
- Lunch & dinner: depends on food preference. Wide choices of food available..western, Asian, Khmer, Chinese, Indian, Thai etc) We have M'sian restaurant here but mahal lah. Say, US$20 a day?
- Dinner with traditional Khmer Apsara show: US$8 per person for buffet
- Boats to cruise the Tonle Sap lake.. Floating fisherman village: US$20 per boat for 2 hours boat ride & excursion. Each boat can carry 15-20 paxs
- Airport Passenger Service Charge ( airport tax) is US$25 for adult foreigner and US$13 for child below 12 yrs old. Plse take note, this tax is not included in your ticket. Pay as you exit.
- Visa for non-Asean passport holders is US$20 for tourist. Apply upon arrival. M'sian: No visa required.
You may change a small amount of local currency called Riel. 1US$= 4100 riel. For small purchases, tips etc.. US$ is most welcomed here.
All the above, would be equally divided among all coming and it will be lesser when done that way, such as for bus rental, boat rides, guide fees.
Possible Program
- On arrival: if you all arrive together on one plane, it will be much better & easier to arrange "something" but no worry your host will arrange something.
- Day 1: If arrival is before lunch, a visit to the Tonle Sap lake is recommended. From 2.30 pm to 5.00 pm. 7 km from the Siem Reap town.
- See the magnificient sun-set at Phnom Bakheng temple. This is FOC after 5.00 pm. A great site.
- 1st evening: Dinner with traditional Khmer apsara show ( buffet)
- After dinner, suggest you all balik tidur awal as next day will be a long day. Those who are energetic..night out is OK.
- Day 2: Visit to the Angkor Wat temple complex. There are many great temples to visit but I recommend you don't cramped it all in or esle you will be templed-out ( mabok!!). Start around 8.00 am while it is still cool.
- Lunch at Angkor restaurant infront of Angkor Wat ( choice of western & Khmer food available)
- Continue the temple visit till around 5.00 pm. back to hotel, relax.
- Dinner can be at the Pub Street. A long stretch of pubs, bars, restaurants. Lively & interesting.
- After dinner, visit the Night Market.. Interesting places for shopping & looking around
- Day 3: Free & easy. visit Phsar Chas ( Old Market), or visit the Silk Farm ( 15 km from town).
ACTION REQUIRED: What we specifically need at this time is for you to give Sinos a firm indication of whether you can make it, and how many people in your party (wife, children, girlfriends, etc etc). Can you revert before end May?
xxxx
Posts
Glad to see the SR visit discussions started again!
ReplyDeletea vist to Phnom Penh not included in the itinerary?
ReplyDeleteNO, I don't think you can fit both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in 3 days. Those interested may choose to fly to Phnom Penh for an extra day or two if they wish.
ReplyDeleteSinos, betul tak?
Coincidentally, today i received Ambank's monthly 'offers' to their credit card holders. This is what they offer for ground package [ie not including airfare]:
ReplyDeletePhnom Penh/Siem Reap 4 days/3 nights from RM888 per person on twin sharing basis.
Included are: Muslim meals, 3 nights hotel accomodation, 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners, return airport hotel transfers
full day phnom penh tour: royal palace, silver pagoda, tour sleng, russian market.
full day siem reap tour: angkor wat, angkor thom, baphoun, royal enclosure, phimeanakas, elephant terrace, terrace of leper king, bakheng hill.
just for your info in case anyone wants to do both places. i may not be able to make the trip as my son is sitting for his form 5 exams this year.
btw, why not do the trip from 29 aug which is a saturday? ie 29 aug to 1 sept. then only need take one day off for malaysians. those patriotic malaysians overseas should still not work on 31 aug as it is hari kebangsaan! ;-)
We will sing "Negara-ku" after "Sons of St Joseph" at Siem Reap or Phnom Penh.
ReplyDeleteIf only few of us coming to the SR Mini-Reunion, singing the National Anthem & Sons of St. Joseph maybe not with much gusto..but we will sing it anyway. For us in Cambodia, Hari Kebangsaan celebration would normally be held in Phnom Penh by the embassy & M'sian Biz Council where there are more M'sians there. But we can do something also here in SR. It is not a PH here, anyway.
ReplyDeleteSo guys, plse make a strong effort to come & join, visit. Nick Lau, Dato Anthony, Anthony Chung, Ben Wong, GL, Mark & Edward Chin, Bakrie etc...come lah..
Thanks,
Sinos
Aiya George, whether you go to Siem Reap or not, your son is still going to get 10A* for his Form 5 exams and become a lawyer like his dad. So book your tickets and bring your family.
ReplyDeleteHey Mr Kuo, I didn't get 10A. I was not one of the brainy ones like you and WJ, or Panjang or Ah Chiang. If my son is anything like his dad, he'll have to work like sh*t for his grades!
ReplyDeleteIf the trip is from 29 aug to 1 sep, I might be able to bring the family along cos we only need to skip one day of school. When are you going to be in Siem Reap? I hear you are bringing the family along.
I read that "Siem Reap" means "Defeat of Siam". There were centuries-old wars between the two neighbours, and in fact, many of the Angkor Wat relief carvings depict these ancient battles.
ReplyDeleteAvailable Flights- Air Asia @ today
ReplyDelete30 Aug 09 LCCT- KL-SR
AK280 Depart 0700 Arrival 0800 RM709.50
2 Sept 1009 SR-LCCT KL
AK281 Depart 0835 Arrival 1135 RM539.50
Total RM1,239.00
Hello Lee Kien. Where did you get that quote from? Way too much. I went on to the air asia website just now and for the same flights, here are the costs: To Siem Reap RM201.50, return:RM176.50. Total per person (return):RM378. Can we expect to see you there too? My other half would be very glad to see you. Then we could say this is a SJS-STS reunion.
ReplyDeleteGeorge, you are way too modest. 10A*, I predict. 10 bowls of Laksa to me if I am right. Message to George junior: you can do it, YES YOU CAN. If it is convenient to you, you could go from 29th Aug to 1st Sept. We can visit the Angkor Wat and have the reunion dinner on the 31st. Before that I intent to visit Kuching to collect my laksa prize. Remember to make a reservation at the Foody Goody Cafe.
ReplyDelete10 bowls of laksa, Mr Kuo? You might have to fix your own cardiac system after that !!!!
ReplyDeleteHello Annonymous. Why not? We only live once. So ENJOY!!!! especially when our tow kay friend, George, is paying!
ReplyDeleteHey Anon 7.16pm,
ReplyDeleteYou under estimated our friend Doc. You think he will eat the 10 bowls of laksa just like that? I am sure he will take something for the reduction of elevated total cholesterol.
Anyway, we only live once.
WJ,
ReplyDeleteThousand apologies!! I must have keyed in current month.Double checked its RM453 return now.
There are a thousand reasons why i should go!! I had been in 2006 so i will pass. Were there 5 days and i was so
awed by the granduer of Angkor Wat.Built in the 12th century and its the largest sacred architectural complex known to man.It is also listed as the UNESCO World Heritage sites.
It is also any photographer's heaven, a site not to be missed during sunset and sunrise.
Another place not to be missed is Ta Prohm (TP).TP was the centre of the Royal City.Both a Buddhist temple and a monastery,its the largest monuments of the Khmer civilization.Known for the gigantic trees with huge roots,roots that are at least 2 storey high.The temples has been deliberatley left in a derelict conditions.
Aiya, i bring the CDs to show you all the photos."Kah teng loo lang get so excited you guys cannot wait to go!!
The girl who went with us couldn't sleep for days before the trip.
3 days for the trip is not enough lah.Bring good climbing shoes.ENJOY!!
JK n Khim,
ReplyDeleteI will see you guys in KL. Let me know the dates and will keep myself free to take you guys around.Will also round up the girls and not forgetting the boys in KL.Will get Harry Goh, PC,Leong Kueh Fook,LC,KCK. Who else did i miss?
Pay back time especially to PC for all the lovely meals he whipped remember?
Sok Sebai Sinos.....
ReplyDeleteCheaah Khmei tei?( ....pud Thai mai, di mak2), mein madam nhiek? Ort barn ter Siem Reap bong...ort mean lui neik, telai nah.mein muan Vietnam bong?...som okun
Sinos Sir, have been following the threads whenever I can and, boy, am I glad you survived. Your Rosli has left for Asmara and I can 'jool'( understand)the compelling pull of Siem Reap and the rest of Kampuchea Krome. The trauma,stigma and drama of surviving the 1997 Cambodian civil war ( Vietnam War relived) still remain etched in my memory, when Pochentong was akin to Utapao, and how you made it through the embattled city of Phnom Penh to the safe heavens of Sofitel on moto-dub shall remains untold. I still remember the 3 days inland journey, on moto-dub from Siem Reap to P Penh in disguise, across across rivers and through villages. Maybe it is timely the story be told and unfold....Sinos lead us on.........
........Roney PPenh 94-2000, FormVScSJS76
Sound great! Kalau jadi whom should i contact for the arrangement etc etc.Please keep me inform. i really want to see Angkor What hie...hie...hie
ReplyDeleteMy e-mail address is robertjfc@gmail.com
Yes Sinos! Count me in and once the dates are firmed I will fly down from Hanoi .
ReplyDeleteAgreed with most we all should try to make an effort . Once a lifetime opportunity to meet up old firends - realistically speaking
Cheers !
Sinos replied:
ReplyDeleteSumreap suor bong Roney!!.Good to hear from you again after your "mysterious"disappearance from Cambodge ( Kemboja). I heard that you were in Thailand & Vietnam also?
For the info of others...RZ was the first person I met in the MAS plane from KL to Phnom Penh way back in 1994, whenI started to work in Cambodia. Imagine,how happy & surprised I was then. Of course, RZ was already the taiko in PP back then.He is more seasoned than most of us. We were still the green boys.
Ron, the story of my survival during the 1997 war was really an experience. What you told are all true but you minus the fact that I was carrying the bloody USD in my backpack.....banyak juga jumlah wang USD tu... (not my money but the bank that I was working for). Can you imagine those directors of the bank were only concerned about their money? Not about our safety & live..Choi mai betul ( you know what that mean bong)
I have to bribe my way through also and to buy my nyawa..Saw burnt out tank on Pochentong intersection, dead bodies along the drains, broad-day light looting,fearful citizens running away ..Just like the movie, "The Killing Field"...and I was the thick of it.
This 1997 war story, I could relate it during the upcoming mini-reunion in Siem Reap...so if you guys want to know more, 1st hand version...plse cometo the reunion lah,OK?
Bong RZ, kenyum mien prepoun Khmei hai.. Pontai, ot tuan mien khourn nas..Kenyum cham bong RZ teur daleng srok Khmei tiet, ban ot? Bong twekar ner na aleour? Malaysia, VN,TH or overeas. I don't know here is Rosli maybank now.
Orkhoon cheran bong RZ...do keep in touch...tolong bagi e-mail address, barn ot ?
Selamat maju jaya !!
Sumreap leah...Love& peace to all from Siem Reap, Cambodia !!
Yes, Sinos, you also carried guns and had bodyguards from what I was told.
ReplyDeleteHi Sinos, can u update who's confirmed for the Siem Reap trip?
ReplyDeleteTuan Jaga Website,
ReplyDeleteSorry for been missing for a few days. Been away. So far, JK, yourself, Nick Lau, Philip Chin & maybe Robert Chin and the latest participant is Dato Anthony Bujang @ MacPerson.
Plse use your persuasive ways to get more attendees..
Will continue to update you all.
Cheers,
Sinos
Kawan,
ReplyDeleteGuns & bodyguards those days were required as the country had just emerged from war and peace & stability masih fragile lah. We were given a china-made K59 handgun ( pistol) and we were taught how to aim, tembak & jaga the pistol and where to put them and where not to. So, malam, simpan bawah bantal lah and day time in the office drawers. 24 hours house guards and driver also armed. But thank God, nothing unwanted happened so far , apart from the 1997 civil war and occasional break-in and usually the thief won't stand a chance to run-away or survive. Mob lynching still happen until today as kita punya kawan Polis, tak boleh harap punya.
But now it is all safe & peaceful...so safe & peaceful that we MUST have the mini-reunion here in Siem Reap, home to the world-famous Angkor Wat...so, are you coming Sir?
Thanks,
Sinos
Sinos,
ReplyDeleteI am considering going again but anybody would like to share room with me? Females only!!
Aiii Bong Sinos ...cheh Khmei cheram tei, loq orr tei. kenyum cheh tik tik, ot mein practise.maley mein plurng cheran tei......hahaha
ReplyDeleteBong Niek mein prepoun khemei? saad?, somsa khemei mui tiet barn? kedui muan vietnam ot saad nea?hehehehe
..so glad for you. You take damn good care of yourself there bro
Som okun Bong
Hello, can I join the Siem Reap Trip. Old classmate of Form5 Sc(1976) - CLF
ReplyDeleteHi CLF, glad to see you on the site. Do make your presence known on the "ROLL CALL" posting (end June entry).
ReplyDeleteWelcome CLF. Happy you able to join the Class of St Joe Form 5 (1976) mini-reunion in Siem Reap. This an exclusive trip only for the classmembers & families, and we will have lot time to catch on what has happened over the past 33 yrs.
ReplyDeleteYAY !!!! SIEM REAP !!!! IT'S REALLY HAPPENING !!!!
ReplyDelete