Majestic Angkor 6th September 2002

Re: Majestic Angkor 6th September 2002

Hi Andy
I'm going on your particular departure but I am booked to go in November.
I'm abit worried about the boat trip on Tonle Sap (overcrowding, no life jackets etc). I don't know what boat Im/trav use, but when you get back, would you mind posting me to let me know how it went. Thanks.

Sashaa

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Re: Majestic Angkor 6th September 2002

My mistake, the above post should read NOT going on your trip. Sorry.

Sashaa

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Re: Majestic Angkor 6th September 2002

Andy/Sashaa

Afraid I'm not on either of your trips, but have been to Angkor (last october).
It's amazing, especially if you have enough time to wander through some of the less visited sections of the temples. You can really get thet indianna jones / lara croft running through forest and temple ruins type feeling. Most tourists just seem stick to their own invisible set routes. A small ImTrav group can I'm sure easily get stuck into things. I spent about half an hour on the roof of one section of Preah Kahn (spelling could be wrong here) without seeing a soul.
Angkor will take your breath away I'm sure. I could easily have spent ages more there.

As for the Tonle Sap boat. Not sure if they are all the same, but ours had a central small open section that you could sit up on the roof from - just as long as you were careful as the roof was rounded and had no railings. The rear cabin also had a door at the back and a small deck. This was only for escape though (I checked it was unlocked) as there was so much smoke and soot from the engines that the whole rear end of the boat went black. It was reassuring to have two escape directions though.
The noise was of the not getting to sleep variety if you get what I mean.

Enjoy Cambodia, it's a great experience, and the kids near the temples selling things are a great laugh if you get talking to them.

Jerry

Re: Majestic Angkor 6th September 2002

Thanks for that Jerry. I'm not so worried about the boat now! Can't wait to get to Angkor, 7 weeks and counting.

Sashaa

Re: Majestic Angkor 6th September 2002

Hello,,,, have just returned from the most amazing time i think ive ever had. Cambodia was amazing. Shocking, but amazing. A real eye opener which shows that possibly our culture is not necessarily the best. Angkor Wat was mind blowing.
The boat ride on the Tonle Sap was all part of the adventure. Its a public boat, but its mainly taken up by travellers. Its a long thin speed boat which goes pretty fast with only two exits at the front on either side. However, we got there half an hour early so we could get the best seats which were at the front by the exits. There are plenty of life jackets. Sometimes the boat can be full up and people have to sit on the roof. There are railings around the edge to hold on to. The journey took 7 hours and i spent half the time just sitting on the roof watching the fishing boats and floating houses.

Its fantastic there, and im envious of you going back. Especially as ive just got back to uni and have lectures and a dissertation to do!!!!
take care,,,,,,,,,, andy

Re: Majestic Angkor 6th September 2002

Thanks for your reply Andy. So glad you had a great trip. I'm off in 2 weeks and I'm getting pretty excited now!
Good to hear about the life jackets and the boat doesn't sound so bad now. I had a vision of some leaky old tub, overloaded to the max (like most of the boats in Asia!).
Can't wait to get there.
Thanks again.

Sashaa

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