First observations in Siem Reap

We've been in Cambodia now for 24 hours and there are a few things that have changed (and some not) since our last visit.  

1. Lack of tourists

Pub Street is the evening entertainment centre for tourists (or farangs as we are called). Bars and clubs thumping out EDM (electronic disco music for us old people 😂) and many western style restaurants selling pizzas and other bad European food.  What is visible is the lack of tourists. Yes they are here, but not in great numbers. Bars are empty and lacking in any atmosphere.  It's left to bar staff to try and coax you in with happy hour offers. Which leads me to my next point..

2. Prices have risen

Lets be honest, its not as expensive as going to Greece, the Carribean or being in the UK.  However a pint of Angkor used to be 50 cents and its now $1.75-2.

Meals have risen in price to around $4-6pp. And tours and entry costs for foreigners have been hiked up. I appreciate that locals need to make up the money lost during Covid. However these prices have made us really consider what we will and won't be doing in Siem Reap. Luckily we have been to Angkor Wat before - a sightseeing trip including entry for a day is now $60 per person minimum. And you only want to spend 2-3 hours there as it gets really hot. 

3. Hassle

I've already mentioned staff trying to get you into their bars. We made the mistake of sitting at the bar entrance onto the street. This gives every single hawker the opportunity to try and sell you something: fruit, nuts, DVDs and other crap. Alot of them don't say no for an answer and on a firm no we were sure they cursed us in Khmer. But you have to be quite firm in the end.  

I went to bed early so George returned to to Pub Street briefly and got different hassle every few steps: offers of drugs and prostitutes.  He left Pub Street to have a quiet drink somewhere else.

Away from Pub Street the tuk tuk drivers are desperate for trade and camp outside hotels in the vain hope of getting business.

But all is not lost. Locals are very pleased to see you and will bend over backwards to help. They laugh at your very bad attempt at the local language and want to speak English back to you. And of course the food is very tasty like Thailand. 

I still highly recommend people to come here to see the wonderful sights and experience the culture and people. Cambodia needs tourists back.

#siemreap #cambodia #tourists