Fun things to do in Cambodia

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CAMBODIA
Well, the most inexpensive and practical way to get about on my budget when in Cambodia was the "Moto" Remorque. This is a Motor-Cycle that pulls a very colourful and well fitted out trailer. These trailers can hold usually four. I hired my "Moto" for three days as that was the amount of time that I wanted to spend exploring Angkor Wat. The price I negotiated for the three day hire included pick-up, all waiting times and return to my Hotel. This was I found to be an exceptionally good deal over the three days . The driver being local is also very knowledgeable and can advise you on most things that are important. He was very reliable and was where he said he would be always.
Note:* The price you negotiate will depend on your bargaining skills and BEFORE you enter the vehicle to start your journey, MAKE SURE that you have agreed on a "complete price" for everything involved in your hire costs... Also , keeping in mind that these people don't make a lot of money, so don't be Too hard with your bargaining price.

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Angkor Thom is a ruined citadel several kilometres north of Angkor Wat. Built in the late 12th and early 13th centuries Angkor Thom encloses a rectangular area of nine square kilometers and at its peak may have held a population of over 100,000, living in tiled or thatched houses. The complex was bounded by walls and a moat. Bridge with Naga balustrades lead to each of the gates of the city and each gate is crowned with 4 giant faces. While Angkor Wat is Hindu in inspiration, Angkor Thom is a three-dimensional representation of Buddhist cosmology.
The Bayon Temple lies in the middle of Angkor Thom and is best known for the gigantic face sculptures that adorn its thirty-seven surviving towers. The structure is simply amazing. What at first appears to be a random pile of stone blocks actually consists of massive stones shaped into fluid sculptures, without apparent use of cement or mortar.
The faces are thought to represent a Buddhist deity that projected benevolence outward to the four directions of the kingdom or are they the face of King Jayavarman VII who built most of what you see in the Angkor Archeological Park.

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The Bayon is part of Angkor Thom. Many tourists prefer to stop here in the early morning, to take photos of the temple in the light of that time of day. I spent an afternoon wandering around the haunting ruins of the bayon where huge smiling faces carved on the towers gaze down at you from every angle. I popped back the next morning to get a shot of the temple's stones infused with the sunrise.

If you're in Siem Reap and you want to do something a little different, go to the Angkor Hospital fro Children and take a free guided tour and donate some blood for the children. It's perfectly safe and you'll even get a t-shirt and a coke for your trouble! The hospital is an NGO-run organisation that provide virtually free treatment for the poor. For more information see http://angkorhospital.org/default.php

Try the Seeing hands massage. Its done by people who are blind and are trained to be massage therapists.

There are many of them in Phnom Penh and some of them are registered charities. Give it a try. It does not cost the earth and they are good. Best way to relax after a long day of sight seeing.

http://www.massagemag.com/Magazine/2003/issue106/ttalk106.php

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There are so many children and families that need help in Cambodia that one could easily spend a majority of their time just visiting these places. You meet the most amazing people doing some incredible things. The Battambang Street Family Center was one of the best programs we have ever visited. They helped street families get a vocation and housing.

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So far I have lived on a small island off the west coast of Cambodia called Koh Rong Samloem. It is virtually an untouched paradise with just a small fishing village and a marine conservation company there. We have volunteers coming from all over the world to help with marine conservation as well as many other projects such as teaching Khmer kids english.

You can head to Sihanoukville and stay at a very reasonable and comfortable hotel called the Small Hotel for as little as USD$15 per night which has air con, hot showers and DVD players in all the rooms.

To get out to the island, you can just contact myself or you can talk to the staff at the Small Hotel and they can help you with getting there.

I would stay at least a week. Well worth it! My tour guide was awesome and has been doing tours for the last 12 or so years. He gave history on everything, and i mean everything.

Anyway, you hit upon the right places to see. You could also throw in the tonle sap lake and floating villiage. all worth it.

if you want to book him, just hit him up at: global-explore.com/cambodia

I think this is his direct page that I booked with him on.

Enjoy!