Come to Cambodia

Hi,

Men's Resort is a great looking hotel, good rooms which I viewed and nice pool area. There is a common denial by all owners of these gay places and that is the proximity to the Old Market area and Pub Street! They are nowhere near for the lazy ones amongst us.

Men's is down a dirt track and I would not fancy returning alone late night in the blackness, with howling dogs etc. Once you are there you are more or less stuck there unless you have an arrangement with a tuk tuk.

Miss Wong's is quite OK as a town centre fun bar destination and quite popular.

Linga Bar last night had a drag show on a tiny stage at the bar entrance. It is that tacky it is funny, but was most appreciated by the outside street urchins ands tuk tuk drivers, none of whom help in the bar revenue or contribute to its income.

Golden Banana appeared to be under renovations.

Eight rooms, good location, cheap rooms and basic services, but you get what you pay for.

Grand Cafe. Great mixed eating place in the centre of town but not really a ' gay venue ' as such, good food at reasonable prices. All Siem Reap offers too many places for the foodies and specially looks after the veggies.

Tuk tuks can be hired at anything from $8-$12 dollars a day to look around town. These guys need the money and are prepared to do deals.

Molly Malones is an in town residential irish pub. Non gay but who cares and traditional good irish breakfasts and extensive menu. Excellent location.

I visited the National museum. A fabulous day out two day pass for $12 dollars and great audio visual commentary for an extra $3 dollars. A great start to learn and understand the history of Angkor before you visit the temples, which I am doing Wednesday next.

The town does quad bike rentals, trips in microlight planes, Crocodile farm, horse riding trips etc all relatively inexpensive. The government likes you to use registered Angkor Wat guides for visiting the temples as opposed to unauthorised ones, these are about $25 dollars a day.

There, now you can do, go and enjoy yourselves!

[Beachlover]

This is my first trip to this amazing Country and I cannot understand why I left it so long... The people are warm, interested in doing business, and love giving you good service... Siem Reap is great value with fabulous food and drink at a fraction of the cost of Thailand.

Totally agree... had pretty similar thoughts when I first landed in Cambodia.

I think I may possibly have found the city I am looking for...

Not sure of your plans but if you're seeking to open a new hospitality/service business in Asia, outside Thailand, Siem Reap may be the place. Thriving destination for travelers and LOTS of gay entrepreneurs have gotten creative in developing a whole host of business, from restaurants and hotels to spas and bars.

Men's Resort is a great looking hotel, good rooms which I viewed and nice pool area. There is a common denial by all owners of these gay places and that is the proximity to the Old Market area and Pub Street! They are nowhere near for the lazy ones amongst us.

Men's is down a dirt track and I would not fancy returning alone late night in the blackness, with howling dogs etc. Once you are there you are more or less stuck there unless you have an arrangement with a tuk tuk.

Well put and totally agree... stunning facilities. Just have to put up with the location.

"Hotel Be" or "The One Hotel" would be my pick. Gay owned and run. Really nice and located smack bang next to Pub Street where the action is. But doesn't have the facilities that MENS has.

Hi Beachy,

You see to me I really don't care about a place that its gay owned and run. I find them all in a bit clique in Siem Reap who own bars, they tend to huddle together as though they know something that the customer doesn't. This I have noticed and those in straight bars are far more willing to give you information on local customs, rules and regulations.

Anyone going about their lives well mannered over here, with a smile, firm but polite, I can't see them having problems or stares from other guests in straight establishments with a Khymer guy, although it's early days and I may be wrong on this!

The Cambodians are very careful as to what their peers are seeing and their opinions on this area, in what I can see.

To be honest, I am a bit careful and have not got involved at all with any trade, especially due to the fact I have computers, i phones etc in the room with me. I think, I don't know the place well and you can't be too careful.

This Country is way poorer than many in SE Asia, although I must say, up to press, I have not felt threatened at all, quite the opposite but no need to show or flash wealth, is there??, to people in their financial situation.

It really is a bit of culture shock but marvellous experiences every day that goes by.

[Brisboy82]

The mens resort is in a very obscure location but there's tuk tusk available 24 hours a day waiting at the door to take you into town in about five minutes.

The resort is amazing value for money and there's always people at the bar to chat with even when I wa there in super low season.

The hotel staff are all very nice but they aren't allowed to sleep with guests so I had to take one to a short time room elsewhere

Hi,

One or two mentioned the Cambodian visa and I can only describe my personal experience.

VISA

There is a t visa available for one month with the possibility of extending by another month. After that, you must leave the Country. The visa I requested was an e visa for business at $25. This visa is valid for a month but can then be extended up to ONE YEAR MULTIPLE ENTRY by going to a travel shop and allowing them to do it for you, and yes, unlike Thailand, this is acceptable practice. It can be extended ad infinitum.

I didn't. After making friends with an immigration officer, he explained he had to go to Phnom Penn the following day and would be prepared to do it for me personally, with a donation to pay for his transport. He duly arrived at my hotel and I handed the photos to him and $300 dollars. I have seen websites where this visa is available at $250 but most people who live here say they pay about $275 using an agent. I am perfectly satisfied therefore not to be interested in $25 dollars for the officers personal assistance and cutting through long queues and whatever red tape there is. This is all legal by the way!

I find immigration authorities here inobtrusive, pleasant and polite and not surly and greedy as in some other Countries. You are not stopped or asked to produce your passport anywhere except for obvious things such as cashing travellers cheques. I cashed some at the airport booth and was charged a commission which I couldn't figure out why.

TIPPING

This practice is NOT expected for every small service as it is in Pattaya and Bangkok such as bringing your luggage down from the room or opening a bloody door! They are actually slightly embarrased by it and as I left a tip after a couple of beers in a bar, she left it in the change pot and ignored it until I had vacated. Most people I have observed leave about a $1 or $2 dollar tip but there is certainly not any hard and fast rule or whispers of them being a tightwad if they don't!

BEGGARS.

The goverment has removed 95% of beggars. There are a few in number, but children try to sell you books on the genocide or flowers, saying they have no parents. A bit of a scam and a minor irritation. Visitors are recommended not to encourage them by giving to the correctly labelled recognised charities here, if they wish to help the Country. It is best not to sit at tables very nearly on the sidewalk in Cafes as these are the hot spots for you and the prime spots for the beggars. There are quite a few land mine victims but they are trying to sell their goods not beg for money.

NIGHT MARKET

Don't buy things at VASTLY inflated prices in the museums, who don't allow you to take photographs in there either. In fact, don't buy anything until you have been to the night market with goods at fabulous prices and good/reasonable quality for what you are paying. It's a great pleasurable experience.

WALKING AROUND

This is safe but I wouldn't go off the beaten track or in the many unlit areas late night. You wouldn't do it at home! The people are great but there are bound to be bad apples and opportunists in a tourist town like Siem Reap.

MONEYBOYS

After the initial surge in interest and OTT behaviour, they seem to have calmed down in the bars after a couple of days and can then actually be quite useful for information and pleasant to talk to. They do, by and large, accept NO for an answer. THEY USUALLY START AT $50 EXPECTING YOU TO BEAT THEM DOWN TO $30!

TWO DRAGONS.

For those on a limited or tight budget there is the Two Dragons guest house in Wat Bo. It's a tuk tuk into town but very cheap place to stay and recommended on trip advisor. However, the main reason I am telling you is the fact they serve good beer and specialise in THAI food. I love ISSARN food which they serve as the owners wife is Thai. There were a few mixed couples on my visit of Thai/farang. Please do not get the idea it is a GAY guesthouse, it isn't. It's a budget guesthouse.

TUK TUKS

A fair price for them is $12 a DAY waiting around for you at temples ans sightseeing. They are offering afternoon deals at the moment for $5 in the low season. You can't complain at that rate!

Hi,

Still stranded in Siem Reap! What a shame, eh?

Hairdresser came to my hotel from the Linga bar today and insisted we have the ' excitement ' I was a bit hesitant, but you have these things to do sometimes for England.

No mention of money, Well he didn't , so nor did I....... :laughing3: Don't want to be rude and offend the natives!

Had one of the best indian meals in my life, and I've lived in Bradford and Halifax in the UK. The place is called MAHARAJAH, Taste of India in the Old market area near pub street. Everything original except the name! Chicken tikka massala and beautiful lamb sheek kebabs with all the trimmings, $11.50............www.maharajah.biz...........tel.063 966 221


I am thinking of heading down to P.P. about Thursday and visiting Land mine museum tomorrow.

You all must come here to Siem Reap at least once in your life.

My last update for a while..............

NIGHTCLUBS.

The ZONE.

This is Siem Reap at its worst with low class hookers of both genders, grabbing, screaming in a drunken Hollywood style atmosphere. Also, the 4 x 4 big car brigade of cambodian noveau rich are here, demanding and ruling the roost, as any visitors to Hollywood of old will remember.

HIP HOP DISCO.

Inside similar to the above. They are not so keen on us late night seeing them in this environment. However, it has a great beer garden attached where you can sit, relax and enjoy a drink. These are definitely not really pick up places for Foreigners, and the attitude is a lot more that this is their space.

Most of these people are there with their friends and partners. just good advice for any members foolish enough to think their khymer Discos are similar to Hollywood in Pattaya as we knew it.

[Brisboy82]

Have you not been to phnom penh? If you liked siem reap you will love phnom penh I think. It's a pretty wild city always plenty to do and much bigger and better gay scene than siem reap. I fid siem reap a little bit too glossed over whereas phnom penh is a bit more rough around the edges and feels more genuinely Cambodian.

Have you not been to phnom penh? If you liked siem reap you will love phnom penh I think. It's a pretty wild city always plenty to do and much bigger and better gay scene than siem reap. I fid siem reap a little bit too glossed over whereas phnom penh is a bit more rough around the edges and feels more genuinely Cambodian.

Hi,

I pick and meet far more of my type on the straight scene than the gay scene but am heading to PP this week!

[Brisboy82]

Well you will also find a lot more 'straight scene' in phnom penh as it's a large city as opposed to siem reap which is a small tourist town. I have also found the people in phnom penh to be friendlier although those in siem reap are not unfriendly.

Phnom penh feels more real than siem reap as it is not a tourist trap. The vibe is great there you will really love it.

[thonglor55]

The vibe is great there you will really love it.

Don't you mean "I really love it and I hope you will too"??