Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below
napsgear
genezapharmateuticals
domestic-supply
puritysourcelabs
UGL OZ
UGFREAK
napsgeargenezapharmateuticals domestic-supplypuritysourcelabsUGL OZUGFREAK

Some helpful travel tips....plus pics from Cambodia and Thailand (updated)

N

nefertiti

Memeber
Elite Moderator
Moderator
Dear anyone who has a long haul flight that invloves at least 20 hours of total travel (including layovers): Please please bring in your carry on what I refer to as a "refresh kit." Including but not limited to, wet ones (for a quick washcloth bath in the airplane lavatory), deodorant, and one time use toothbrushes, to be used no later than 12 hours into travel. Please. This ha been a public service announcement.

The trip was awesome. I loved cambodia wayyyyyyy more than I did thailand, but I also didn't make it to some of the more scenic areas. But the people in Cambodia are all around way more awesome and not trying to con you at every corner. I got a little weary of the constant scamming attempts in Thailand, whereas my driver/guide in Cambodia charges me 15 for the whole day from 4:30am till 8:00pm and acted like I had bestowed an immense gift when I tipped him ten dollars. If anyone here plans to go to Siem Reap, PM me and I will set you up with the BEST people. I did reviews on trip advisor for the first time because my experience with the hotel and driver and one other restaurant were so outstanding.

(edit: actual travel tips in lower post after pics)

Some pictures (I'll keep adding to this as a resize them for your viewing convenience):

Angkor Wat-
I was sad I didn't get a sunset picture here....too cloudy both days I tried. But the lighting at sunset almost made up for it, as well as the sun shower...Most famous of the temple ruins I visited but honestly my least favorite. And really damn hard to get pictures without people in it lol.

oi6hqq.jpg

ixbhif.jpg

2m5jouf.jpg

2qno8p0.jpg

jv6b5s.jpg

330z8mq.jpg

eai72x.jpg

30bpuee.jpg


Next up: The other two well known temples I visited (Banyon and Ta Prohm)....but my favorites are yet to come after that :)
 
Last edited:
Re: Some helpful travel tips....plus pics from Cambodia and Thailand

Banyon temple in Angkor Thom:

xpr2tf.jpg

2u5g6x4.jpg

f9nxx.jpg

dxczgy.jpg


Ta Prohm:

(there's all kinds of reconstructive work going on and there are wooden platforms and hand rails blocking the traditional shot of this tree, so I had to frame these top two cutting out lower portions that included the structures)

bg78g7.jpg

34ht2qp.jpg

10gei3a.jpg


Next up: Some pics from my trek out to Koh Ker, a 2 hour drive from Siem Reap, and Koh Ker itself. It is a temple city in the middle of the jungle that has been left for nature to reclaim. HUGE area but I only passed six people the whole time.
 
Re: Some helpful travel tips....plus pics from Cambodia and Thailand

Koh Ker:
My favorite of the ruins. It was a long drive to get there, but 100% worth it. Don't go with a tour....hire a private guide, it costs nearly the same and you get to ride in an air conditioned car rather than a sweaty bus as well as being able to move around at your pace.

Pics from the ride out and the ruins:

2qk55zr.jpg

4r5bf9.jpg

9ivibl.jpg

faww12.jpg

ezhlxv.jpg

3021287.jpg

mi2o36.jpg

j5jxpg.jpg
 
Re: Some helpful travel tips....plus pics from Cambodia and Thailand

Next up, Beng Mealea, another temple left to the jungle and the sight for some shooting of the Tomb Raider movie.
 
Re: Some helpful travel tips....plus pics from Cambodia and Thailand

gatemoney said:
Do you work for Discovery Channel?
Click to expand...

Not yet lol. Almost did a special for them last summer (along with my coworkers), but that fell through last minute for reasons I couldn't control.
 
Re: Some helpful travel tips....plus pics from Cambodia and Thailand

Beng Mealea:

I was a little disconcerted by the kids begging outside the ruins, but a solid "NO" in "adult voice" got them to stop.

This little one wasn't a perpetrator, I just thought I'd sneak a picture of her with my long range lens. Clearly, she was wise to me.

kb3ekg.jpg


Another long range sneak shot at the entrance:

95pf9j.jpg


This ruin was fun because I was literally climbing through collapsed chambers. Definitely got my Lara Croft on.

4mgb5.jpg

2rephu0.jpg

of7rlx.jpg

2r6mi4g.jpg

359d17p.jpg

2nk7x1g.jpg

2nltimu.jpg



Next up: Random shots around siem reap
 
Re: Some helpful travel tips....plus pics from Cambodia and Thailand

Clearly, Cambodians have a sixth sense when someone is trying to sneak a picture.

2w23i9j.jpg

20ur0hd.jpg


Hands down, THE weirdest thing I have ever subjected myself to, the "fish massage." But I gotta tell you, my feet were pretty damn smooth afterward.
e13u4y.jpg


Shots from my hotel that was a whopping 45/night with breakfast included, a security gate, and a staff worthy of a five star hotel:

28a5iep.jpg

6iwcbo.jpg

2ry0um9.jpg


Next and last: bangkok and koh samet
 
Re: Some helpful travel tips....plus pics from Cambodia and Thailand

Nice.

But new rule: These threads must have at least one link to a picture with you in it. You don't have to say which one it is.
 
Re: Some helpful travel tips....plus pics from Cambodia and Thailand

Here are a couple of shitty phone pics of koh samet because I killed my camera battery in cambodia and my charger was in bangkok:

If you take the ferry, you are greeted by this rather terrifying statue:

5vx3qc.jpg


Dogs. Everywhere. All stray, they live on the beach. All look well fed and have sweet temperaments.
255rygw.jpg


hs5afm.jpg


I'll note that the fire dancers in Thailand KILL the ones in hawaii. The fire show was insane, acrobatic, dangerous, and done by a bunch of teenagers who looked like they were having a crazy amount of fun. I have video, may or may not post eventually.

Bangkok:

Bugs. I ate bugs. Some were tasty, some were not. Here's the mixed bag:
112byip.jpg


Here they are individually. Reviews of each to follow:
33f9cgp.jpg

Scorpion: Tasty, crunchy, no work required aside from removing the stinger.
Crickets: Remove wings and legs. Tastes like popcorn!
Cicada: Remove wings and legs, slightly less tasty than crickets.
Silk worms: Ehhhh. Wasn't thrilled by the texture.
Bamboo worms: Yum!
Little fried frogs: Yum!
Small water bugs: Not a fan. Lots of work, not great taste.
Giant Water bug: I fucked this one up. You are supposed to remove the wings, but they are hard so you have to really rip them off. When I couldn't get them off easily I assumed you just ate it whole. I have no comment on the flavor because all I can remember is this bug being stuck in my esophagus for half an hour.

Side note, I got some pretty hilarious reactions from the people around me as I fearlessly tackled this culinary oddity.


Last picture of the day, a heavily edited sunset picture from the restaurant on top of Banyon Tree hotel:
2qdmwir.jpg
 
Re: Some helpful travel tips....plus pics from Cambodia and Thailand

jackangel said:
Nice.

But new rule: These threads must have at least one link to a picture with you in it. You don't have to say which one it is.
Click to expand...

lol....I hate posing for pictures....if you don't sneak it mid action or really really push me, it isn't gonna happen. I had no one with me most of the time I was out there, so no one to pressure me into smiling for the camera haha.
 
pdaddyII said:
Awesome pics! What kind of camera/lens did you use? Glad to hear you loved it and are back home safe and sound :)
Click to expand...

Nikon D3100....most with a 50mm lens, a handful with a 500mm sigma dg (the two pictures I posted here where I mentioned the long range lens are the only two here...but I have a few more I didn't post that will go on FB).

This trip was the first time I've not left it in auto and done all the work in post processing, but my real time adjustments were limited to ISO and shutter speed (I left it mostly in shutter speed priority mode). Too overwhelming to really grasp more than that at one time. But in a lot of my pictures I've noticed where they could have been a LOT better by adjusting aperture. I'm a semi noob with photography, but obviously I enjoy it from a hobby perspective and I've gotten better over time.

I'm also still in the learning phase with adobe lightroom....I get carried away and turn pictures into unrealistic artsy fartsy things that look cool, but don't remotely represent reality. I may post a few of those here later just for the hell of it.
 
Me, thinking I'm artsy with post processing: (some reposts, some unposted edits of cambodia, some from when I was in san fran last year)

2mdp65f.jpg


35mi1ec.jpg


foj2fq.jpg


2v0lwqr.jpg


ohlova.jpg


awok75.jpg


m7gdiv.jpg


16jg3v4.jpg


2rxi3xy.jpg


akaefo.jpg


2zhla3d.jpg


Not sure if I think the surreal processing sucks, is totally self indulgent, is kinda cool, or some combo of the three haha.
 
nefertiti said:
Me, thinking I'm artsy with post processing: (some reposts, some unposted edits of cambodia, some from when I was in san fran last year)

2mdp65f.jpg


35mi1ec.jpg


foj2fq.jpg


2v0lwqr.jpg


ohlova.jpg


awok75.jpg


m7gdiv.jpg


16jg3v4.jpg


2rxi3xy.jpg


akaefo.jpg


2zhla3d.jpg


Not sure if I think the surreal processing sucks, is totally self indulgent, is kinda cool, or some combo of the three haha.
Click to expand...

Those all belong in frames. I prefer the surreal processing actually but not when it starts looking like CGI garbage or cartoonish. I think you found the perfect balance.
 
pdaddyII said:
Those all belong in frames. I prefer the surreal processing actually but not when it starts looking like CGI garbage or cartoonish. I think you found the perfect balance.
Click to expand...

Having it look cartoonish was my fear. I'm honestly really flattered by your comment about them deserving frames. I'm working with good, but not top of the line gear, and mostly self teaching. I feel like I have an eye for stuff, just not always the knowledge on how to deliver it.

Thanks again! I personally love my artsy processed pics. I told a friend recently, of this batch, "that's not the way it looked, but it was the way it felt to me, in the moment." I'll keep getting better the more I do it, and def aperture is my next project to tackle.
 
-SD- said:
These would look great in B/W
Click to expand...

I agree that some of them really would....I'll fiddle with the B/W edits now that I've done the basic. Gotta pick the pictures that will be the most dramatic with B/W.

During the sun storm at angkor wat I REALLY REALLY tried to get a shot of a couple of bright orange robed monks looking out at the rain. Against the gray stone, it would have been a really dramatic shot, especially so in a B/W shot with their robes isolated as a color point. The wiley fucks eluded me just as I changed lenses.
 
NP :-)

It's definitely a pain in the ass to re-size everything before posting here, but the whole reason I love taking pictures is being able to recreate my experiences for other people. Both countries, but Cambodia in particular, were wonderful wonderful places to visit. I found the Cambodian people to be warm, genuine, spirited people with an endurance against strife and a love for the culture that pol pot did his best to wipe out. Where one might look and see only the poverty...I did see that, but I also saw family, community, pride, hospitality, self deprecating humor, wortk ethic and a decided lack of "this person owes me xyz" and "I am entitled to abc." Every person I encountered had a love of country, a joy in their work, and a desire to educate visitors in a way that made that joy and love contagious. Of the pictures I took....the ones I kept and share I do because I want other people to fall in love too. It is a special place, and a special culture.
 
nefertiti said:
NP :-)

It's definitely a pain in the ass to re-size everything before posting here, but the whole reason I love taking pictures is being able to recreate my experiences for other people. Both countries, but Cambodia in particular, were wonderful wonderful places to visit. I found the Cambodian people to be warm, genuine, spirited people with an endurance against strife and a love for the culture that pol pot did his best to wipe out. Where one might look and see only the poverty...I did see that, but I also saw family, community, pride, hospitality, self deprecating humor, wortk ethic and a decided lack of "this person owes me xyz" and "I am entitled to abc." Every person I encountered had a love of country, a joy in their work, and a desire to educate visitors in a way that made that joy and love contagious. Of the pictures I took....the ones I kept and share I do because I want other people to fall in love too. It is a special place, and a special culture.
Click to expand...

Well - now you have to go back to Phnom Penh - see that tragedy up close.
 
I'd do so in a heart beat. I doubt it would do anything but solidify my opinion. Siem reap is full of tourists but the northern areas are not and I got a real look at post pol pot Cambodia. Hell, koh ker was only safe in limited sites because many areas hadn't been cleared of land mines. But it was amazing, beautiful, and well worth the ~100 I gave my driver for the trip there and beng mealea.
 
nefertiti said:
Bangkok was far worse as a solo traveler. I got manhandled by a tuk tuk driver who told me I was really sexy and that he wanted to be my "thai boyfriend," and how about he come up to my hotel room and take care of me? Gross.
Click to expand...

Did you accept?
 
Negative ghost rider.

It appears my thread has been linked to a Cambodia tourism sight. I will now offer a few actually relevant tourism tips:

1) That guy on the moto wearing a mask isn't doing it because the air is polluted....he's doing to bc of the dust. Do as the locals do.....when traveling by tuk tuk (which is a must in siem reap), find something the cover your mouth to reduce the dirt inhalation.

2) Hire Chan to be your driver. Excellent rates, excellent service, exceptionally gracious, knowledgeable, and patient. The long car ride out (round trip, about 4 hours in the car. Leather seats, AC) to Koh Ker and Ben Mealea cost about ~100 and included gas. Left at 7:00am was at my hotel by 3:00pm. The next day from 4:30am till 8:00pm on his tuk tuk he charged only 15 for the day and that included extensive tour guide knowledge of each temple. He took me to an excellent teaching restaurant (haven) that is a non profit that gives orphans skills that will allow them to provide for themselves after they are too old for orphanages.

3) Eat at haven. The owners genuinely seem to adore their trainees and you can feel their heart in every aspect of the restaurant. The kids working there have pride in what they are doing, bounce to their step, and a constant heartwarming smile on their faces.

4) Stay at Pool and Palm villa. Fantastic staff always present to assist with anything. Beautiful grounds just a touch away from the downtown mayhem. Safe, clean, amazing pool, and an owner who is personally invested in the well being of all of his guests. Owner will join you for dinner and spend the whole time talking about his country.

5)Get a foot rub. Two dollars for half an hour that includes a head and shoulders massage.

6) Fish massage. It's gross as fuck, but a better pedicure than you'll get in any spa in the U.S.

7) Pay no mind to the young girls with babies asking you to buy formula.

8)If you plan to return somewhere, tip a dollar or two....you'll be treated like a queen on return.

9) Locals LOVE to talk about Cambodia and practice their English, so get one talking, and soak it up. They tell a sad tale that always ends up inspiring me.

10) Travel with your own toilet paper and wet ones. I'm fine with sweating my brains out, but it's nice to wipe off the caked sweat now and then in between stops. Toilet paper speaks for itself. Sometimes there isn't any. Not like it ran out....but like it never was.
 
nefertiti said:
You don't understand....the trauma that is the hole in the ground stalls.....with nothing but a bucket of brown water to help "flush." and nothing else. NOTHING. ELSE.
Click to expand...

ha... I like those places. you are supposed to rinse with that water too, no need for paper. So efficient.

You got me wanting to go back and visit. Wonder how much it has changed. I am assuming immensely.
 
billfred said:
ha... I like those places. you are supposed to rinse with that water too, no need for paper. So efficient.

You got me wanting to go back and visit. Wonder how much it has changed. I am assuming immensely.
Click to expand...

Depends how long it has been. In some ways I imagine a lot has changed....in some ways I bet a lot hasn't. The tourism is there, but it's not hard to step out and still find the real cambodia.
 
pdaddyII said:
Did you see a lot of prostitution?
Click to expand...

I can be oblivious to this, but in cambodia, none at all that was overt. In thailand....who knows how old those bar girls were? I was never anywhere that it was completely in my face, even in the red light districts. I'm sure it happens, maybe even a lot....but they gloss it over pretty well these days.
 
nefertiti said:
I can be oblivious to this, but in cambodia, none at all that was overt. In thailand....who knows how old those bar girls were? I was never anywhere that it was completely in my face, even in the red light districts. I'm sure it happens, maybe even a lot....but they gloss it over pretty well these days.
Click to expand...

All bar girls in Thailand are prostitutes. Cambodia was still a bit of the wild west even when I was still there.

Well, first time I went, there were hardly any bars and restaurants. Second time was picking up a bit.

Then it got to where the pervs went because they could drink all day and fuck a 15 yr old all for the low price of $20 total. Not sure how it has progressed from there.
 
zwhit said:
I won't ask how you know this :D
Click to expand...

I read a book on some guy hanging there. Was disgusting. These guys did nothing but snorted coke, screwed underage girls and drank whiskey. In that order.

Were talking about moving somewhere in South American because Cambodia was getting too tame.
 
billfred said:
I read a book on some guy hanging there. Was disgusting. The guys did nothing but snorted coke, screwed underage girls and drank whiskey. In that order.

Were talking about moving somewhere in South American because Cambodia was getting too tame.
Click to expand...

"I read a book on it." that's a new one. I'll have to start using that one instead of "my friend..."
 
billfred said:
I read a book on some guy hanging there. Was disgusting. These guys did nothing but snorted coke, screwed underage girls and drank whiskey. In that order.

Were talking about moving somewhere in South American because Cambodia was getting too tame.
Click to expand...

Can't say it has totally streamed away from there, but it has definitely come a long way. I can smell and feel seedy a mile away....I never really got that in Siem Reap. Too many hippy backpackers nowadays for that kind of open shenanigans. Lots of do-gooders creating programs that develop occupational skills for the orphans who will eventually out-age their residency there.

It's still a fucking mess, but there is a whole lot of "try" going on.
 
nefertiti said:
Can't say it has totally streamed away from there, but it has definitely come a long way. I can smell and feel seedy a mile away....I never really got that in Siem Reap. Too many hippy backpackers nowadays for that kind of open shenanigans. Lots of do-gooders creating programs that develop occupational skills for the orphans who will eventually out-age their residency there.

It's still a fucking mess, but there is a whole lot of "try" going on.
Click to expand...

Yeah, even in 1996 Siam Reap was much cleaner and really isolated from Cambodia. Would kind of compare it to the difference between Bangkok and Koh Samet - if that makes sense.

** Wow - corrected my post. I haven't been there since 1996. Shit was still hot back then.
 
Those are some great pics thanks for sharing. It looks as though you had an amazing time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

N
Heading off to Thailand and Cambodia Sunday night
Replies
32
Views
5K
Bossinova
B
fistfullofsteel
What Your Drink Says About You
Replies
18
Views
3K
fistfullofsteel
fistfullofsteel
V
Danielle: The girl in the window
Replies
8
Views
3K
hanselthecaretaker
hanselthecaretaker
O
The Greatest Drunk on Earth
Replies
8
Views
4K
ukkared
ukkared
perkele
Steven Wright Quotes
Replies
6
Views
923
perkele
perkele
Top Bottom