Travel Tips - Cambodia - Thailand - May 2006

Angkor Wat - Pannasastra University Film Festival IS ON with schedule change!!! - Cambodia University Serves Food For The Mind - Thailand's Grand Palace - Getting Around Bangkok via Riverboat Taxi's - BEWARE of Thailand - - ATM Machines Now in Cambodia - Beware of Bangkok & Phuket THAILAND Tailors - NR Top 10

Thursday May 25, 2006 - National Radio Text Service

ANGKOR TEMPLES

The Angkor Wat Temples is the palace to visit when visiting Cambodia. This is the rain season so be prepared. Full story

PANNASASTRA UNIVERSITY FILM FESTIVAL... IS ON!!!

If you're traveling to Cambodia, the Film Festival Cinema Cambodia at Pannasastra University will be held on a Saturday, May 27, 2006, at the University Rooftop Amphitheater on Norodom Boulevard near the Independence Monument..

Festival organizer Dr. Raymond Leos said, "The emphasis of this year's festival is on providing a comfortable and supportive venue for young Cambodian filmmakers to show their work, and to share and network with others." Full story...

BEWARE OF THAILAND

As readily available on news reports Thailand is undergoing some political unrest. Thailand has a history of this problem and caution is advised.

The same type of situation came about in the early nineties that resulted in a show of force in May 1992 by police and the military to contain protesters. It resulted in nearly 50 deaths and hundreds of injuries.

We were there just before and after that outbreak and all was calm. It was as if nothing had ever happened.

Prior to the conflict it was like the calm before the storm. On the surface, to a traveler, the same type of calm existed after.

Caution is advised. Check with your embassy for information. Being careful is better than being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

CAMBODIA UNIVERSITY OFFERS FOOD FOR THE MIND

When traveling to a non-English speaking country it is difficult to find a library with English language books and magazines. That problem has been resolved in Phnom Penh, Cambodia where Cambodia University has an Internet service and library with books and magazines in English that is open to the public.

The Internet service is open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week. The rates are 1000 riel for a half hour and 1500 for one hour.

The schools TOSHU FUKAMI library is open during the week Monday through Friday the from 7:30am to noon AND in the afternoon from 2 to 8pm. Saturday and Sunday it is open from 7:30am to noon and 2-6:30pm.

The university is located near the Independence monument at #143-145 Preah Norodom Boulevard. Tel: 023-993-276.

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.

BANGKOK'S WATER TRANSIT - A GOOD WAY TO GO

Getting around Bangkok is a nightmare. Being bogged down in traffic is a familiar site. One way to counter the problem is to use the water transit systems.

Tourists that are on a package tour are guided most everywhere. On your free day when you are left up to the decision making of your movement WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Shopping is usually on the menu but there is more.

The Grand Palace is on the Chao Phraya River. Take the Sky Train to the last stop at the Taksin Bridge. Under the bridge is a boat taxi station where you can catch a boat to the Grand Palace.

The Grand Palace entry fee is 200 baht (US $5) for foreigners and free for Thai citizens. Tour guides are available at the palace for a fee.

A guided tour takes two hours. You can also rent a tour audio cassette or mini disc if you prefer to go it alone. To rent the audio equipment a passport, American Express, Master Card or Visa is required.

The cassettes and mini disc's come in eight languages: English, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish and German.

Using a cassette or mini disc the tour can take one and a half to three hours depending on your pace. The cassette and mini disc's rent for 100 baht for the first two hours and 100 baht per hour thereafter.

The Grand Palace is open to the public from 8:30am to 3:30pm. The wearing of shorts sandals, sleeveless or belly exposed shirts are not allowed. Some items may be rented at the palace. Socks may be purchased for 15 baht.

If you see the Grand Palace late in the day you can fill the day out by taking the riverboat to the River City stop. There you can take a diner cruise on the Chao Phraya river. There are two diner cruise boats at River City.

The Royal Chaophraya Princess cost 850 baht per person. The Grand Pearl charges 1100 baht per person. Departure time is 7:30. The boats are scheduled to return at 9:30.

The Sheraton Hotel is at this stop. You can also shop at very high upscale River City shops. Several years ago one shop had shop was selling a life size statue of an elephant for US$12,000. That shop no longer exists.

If you take in the Grand Palace early in the day you can fill out the day with shopping, dining and a movie you can take the boat and return to the Taksin Bridge stop.

From there take the Sky Train to the Siam stop. There are numerous stores, restaurants, a bowling alley and movie theaters in this huge three-block area that include MBK, Siam Square and Siam Center..

The Hard Rock Café is also in Siam Square. Chulalongkorn University campus is adjacent to Siam Square thus there are many students that patronize the area.

For those that enjoy football the National Stadium is a near the area. There is a National Stadium stop. It is the stop after Siam. It is he last stop when taking the train from the Taksin Bridge.

The Thailand professional league plays their games at the stadium.

MBK shopping center is also at the National Stadium stop.

The World trade Center is within walking distance from the Siam Skytrain train stop.

The World Trade features two upscale department stores, movie theaters and an ice skating rink.

The Big C shopping Center is across the street. This is more mid-level shopping. The complex also has a fitness center and upscale movie theaters.

In the EGV theaters VIP section you can purchase a recliner couch (Love Seat) for two with leg rests for 500 (US $12.50). Recliners without a leg rest are 300 baht (US $7.50).

The Pratunam Market shopping area is a short walk for the World Trade Center.

Pratunam is well known for its low priced clothes and bags.

Pantip Plaza is also within walking distance of the World trade. It is know for great deals on computers, cell phones, software and computer peripherals.

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 Star Mart stores. In Siem Reap there is one located on Route No. 6 near the Sokha Angkor hotel.

1. JIM MURRAY - 2. Kobe Bryant & NBA Trivia - 3. Zico Leads Japan To World Cup. Who is Zico? - 4. Cambodia's Royal Palace - 5. Teerathep Leads Thailand to SEA Games Title - Singapore' Coach Movia - 6. Thailand Impressive against Premiere Club Sides and Real Madrid - 7. Fox Searchlight Pictures Promotes Zola Mashariki to Vice President of Production - 8. Jerome Bettis of Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers - Kobe Bryant - 9. Cambodia's ANGKOR WAT TEMPLES - 10. Grammy Music Awards Show

Full Story NR Top 20 for May * Note - New entries in RED

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