Travel Tips - Cambodia - Thailand - January 2006

Siem Reap Busting Out Allover - Sokha Angkor hotel in Siem Reap - Les Sync Band - Angkor Palace Resort hotel - Dr. Beat In Siem Reap, Cambodia - Toshu Fukami performed at Angkor Wat - - Beware Of Bangkok & Phuket THAILAND Tailors - - Sihanoukville WARNING - ATM Machines Now in Cambodia - NR Top 10 According to Google

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

Friday January 27, 2006

SIEM REAP the Gateway To ANGKOR WAT

To visit Angkor Wat for several days Siem Reap is the town where visitors will most likely stay. In recent years the town has grown like wildfire. Luxury hotels and guesthouses are popping up like mushrooms after a heavy rain.

In doing so the growth brings good news and bad news. The good news there is more things to do after a day visiting the temples. The bad news the growth brings noise, pollution and traffic.

The extra good news is one of the best bands I've ever seen play in a hotel setting the Les Sync band is now playing at the Siem Reap Sokha Hotel. The Filipino group recently finished a one-year engagement at the Sokha Resorts in Siihanoukville where they deservedly received rave reviews. If you stay at the hotel or not this band is a must see.

The Sokha Siem Reap hotel opened December 8, 2005. The 276-room facility is centrally located at the corner of National Road No. 6 and Sivatha Street a block away from the Royal Residence.

Though the hotel's location is in a town that has become noisy and jammed with traffic inside the hotel premises it is very quiet. The advantage of the central location is that you can walk virtually anywhere around town in a reasonable amount of time. For those of interested the Pub Street is about a 15-20 minute walk.

A special introductory offer that is good until March 31st, include rooms such as the Superior room for US $100. Its regular price is $250. The Royal Sokha Suite is normally priced at US $2,000 is available through March 31st 2006 for US $850. In all there are seven different room types available.

ANGKOR PALACE RESORT

This five star hotel is located outside of town on route 6, the road to the airport. The resort is in an arid like setting with several still pools of water on the premises. A new section of the hotel is under construction.

There is a free van shuttle available for hotel guests that begin at 7pm. If you are not spending the day at Angkor Wat and need to go to town from the resort during the day you are on your own.

Room rates range from US $300 for a deluxe accommodation to US $1500 for a villa. There is a Valentines Day special. Stay tuned... we are waiting for the information.....

DR BEAT IN SIEM REAP

Dr. Beat Richner is most notably known for two things... building children's hospitals in Cambodia and playing the cello. Dr. Beat performs in Siem Reap in the auditorium of Jayvarman Hospital Saturday nights at 7:15pm.

BEWARE OF BANGKOK & THAILAND TAILORS:

Thailand is known for its abundance of tailor shops. A tailor made suite can be a good buy. That's the good news.

The bad news is some tailor shops lure customers through their doors by advertising that they will give the tourist a package deal that includes two suits (or more), shirts and ties for $99 to $199.

When you request the promoted package you are shown old material that has been sitting on their shelves for years that the tailor can't sell. More expensive material is then pointed out to you. The price increases radically.

If you express that you have little time and are leaving the country you may be told that you can pick it up in one or two days

Give yourself enough days/time to see if the garments fit. Also give yourself enough time for the alterations to be done properly. If you leave Thailand before the clothes fit to your satisfaction, factor in how much it would cost to have the alterations completed in your country.

Many tailor shops are using brand names without authorization and are not affiliated with the brand. A full story on Thailand tailors is forthcoming.

TOSHU FUKAMI PERFORMS at ANGKOR WAT

Philanthropist Haruhisa Handa/TOSHU FUKAMI is known for many things, establishing Phnom Penh's Sihanouk Hospital, building schools, supporting orphanages, being the Chairman of The International Foundation for Arts and Culture included. But… did you know that is he also a musician and actor?

Fukami displayed his creative talents by performing at Angkor Wat Monday January 23rd. He played a Shite protagonist character Kuramatengu in the Noh play (Japanese theatre from an ancient time). It was his 40th performance in the role.

Fukami spent almost $400,000 to put the show together. Part of the expense was transporting almost 600 Cambodia University students from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap by bus to see the show, building an outdoor stage and theatre that seated 1,500 people. Admission was FREE to the public…. BUT... by invitation only. At that point things became complicated.

At a press conference five days prior to the show I asked Fukami, "If it's free how does the public obtain an invitation?"

Since it appeared he didn't have an answer he looked towards to Dr. Kao Kim Hourn of Cambodia University. Kao said there were security concerns and those interested should call the designated number.

Our concern was that if tourists were already in Siem Reap how would they know about it. Secondly if they read our report on the Internet about the event how could they obtain an invitation?

The answer was there were flyers available with the contact telephone numbers distributed in Siem Reap. A flyer was given to us.

We tried the numbers on Saturday two days before the show and there was no answer. The Sokha Siem Reap Hotel and the Angkor Palace Resort Hotel knew nothing about the event.

At the press conference we were told to enter from the back of Angkor Wat. When we showed up with our blue VIP pass we were informed that we had to enter from the front. The back entrance was only open for those possessing a red VVIP pass. The VVIP pass was a new one for me. I've never heard of that before. But hey…. This is Cambodia (TIC).

The show started almost an hour late and did so after the late arrival of Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Prince Samdech Norodom Sirivudh. He was greeted with a standing ovation from a predominately intellectual and NGO type crowd. Several speeches followed and the show began.

The show's setting was beautiful with a glowing Angkor Wat against a deep blue night sky. We wish we could have taken a picture but were informed beforehand that no cameras were allowed.

During the show many cameras were flashing away. Our guess is they didn't get the message. Headphones were passed out for translation. Ours didn't work. "It's a frequency thing," the gentleman sitting next to me said. His worked.

It appeared that others in attendance headphones didn't work since they took them off their head unless they understood Japanese.

We tried our best to understand the three-part play by reading the program in order to figure out what the scene was all about.

Fukami was the featured performer in the last segment. Donning in his mask and robe he managed to sing opera in his baritone voice fairly well considering he had a terrible cold just five days before. Working in the cool nigh-time air is extremely difficult for a vocalist particularly if they have a cold.

In all the experience was worth it. The point being was seeing a man who has donated millions of dollars now giving of his talent and trying to share with the students and Cambodia people a taste of Japanese culture.

Fukami raises and makes a lot of money and in the process he enjoys and shares his life with the less fortunate. But what many may not know is his thirst for improving his life through his own education.

Fukami 54, returned to school to learn his artistic craft when he was in his 40's. If anything can be learned by his performance is you should never give up on life, you can never learn enough and to pursue your dreams and make them a reality. COMING… ONE ON ONE WITH TOSHU FUKAMI.

SIHANOUKVILLE WARNING

In the past we have recommended to those visiting Angkor Wat to then take a rest break and visit the coast town of Sihanoukille, Cambodia. That recommendation is no longer the case.

The town is now overrun with foreigners of questionable character that own businesses there. Prostitution and drug use is rampant.

We first noted the problem in April 2005. Since that time the conditions have deteriorated.

As a result of our report a foreign owned publication that is largely supported by foreign owned bars that employ prostitutes violated international copyright laws by illegally printing an excerpt of our report without our permission and made threats to the author noting that he SHOULD KEEP A LOW PROFILE IF HE EVER VISITS AGAIN.

That statement enhances our warning.

The International Organization of Migration's (IOM) John McGeoghan agreed with our report. He pointed out that when he visited Sihanoukville's Victory Hill area in November of 2005 he observed those conditions and said regarding his departure from the site, "I slid off the hill."

He then reiterated his thoughts regarding the seedy atmosphere as he leaned forward, "Did you hear what I said? I said... I slid off the hill."

IOM plans to do a show for parents and children in Sihanoukville in March to warn them of child trafficking and being enticed into prostitution. For some it may be too little too late.

In the publication's illegal act they omitted an important part of the piece as noted below in blue italics. The following is a portion of the report they printed with their edited section IN BOLD ITALICS highlighted in BOLD RED.

Neon lights now illuminate the area. Concrete buildings housing foreign owned bars filled with taxi girls are growing in numbers. Victory Hill children have been exposed to a foreigner living in the village dying of a drug overdose a few months ago. Two other foreigners that owned business in the area were brawling in the street. Drug dealers and motodops working the area selling most anything a drug addict would want including HEROIN.

Children are now exposed to the danger of inconsiderate western thinking. Some foreigners show prejudices and racist attitudes. Victory Hill is now becoming a breeding ground for prostitutes, sex-pats, pedophiles and alcoholics.

What once was a place to raise children in peace and quiet is now a place that breeds the seedy side of life.

Loud pounding pulsating sounds of music blast from some bars well past midnight. The area is now taking on the garishness and decadence of a miniature replica of Pattaya's Walking Street.

What could have been Cambodia's second jewel in their tourism crown (next to Angkor Wat) is now degenerating into a place where respectable tourists, particularly those with children, could now have some concern about visiting.

This link is to the ENTIRE original report with pictures. The author did return with a HIGHER PROFILE. FULL STORY COMING

For $25,000 Thailand offers an Elite Card membership…. if you qualify. Some membership privileges include: airport transfers to your hotel, free or discounted green fees for those that play golf and the entitlement of being able to purchase 10 rai of land. Full story coming....

ATM MACHINES NOW AVAILABLE IN CAMBODIA

This past summer of 2005 ANZ Bank began business in the country. They have provided what many travelers need most…. ATM machines.

They are located in several areas in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap at the Star Mart store on Route No. 6 near the Sokha Angkor hotel.

THE PUB STREET - Siem Reap

A Street filled with bars and eating establishments is now called the PUB STREET. It reminds me of Key West or Wildwood, New Jersey in it's hey day.

The one block area is loud, noisy and draws a crowd that is somewhat reminiscent of a spring break older college type and sexpats. Some bars have live music. If drinking and a lively, noisy atmosphere is your thing this place is for you.

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