Tips and Tricks from Cambodia

Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts

September 24, 2016

There are a lot of options for travelers to choose when it comes to traveling from Phnom Penh to Bangkok. I myself experienced in travelling both by air and road to Bangkok. When it comes to travelling on the road, I have to be aware because different means will lead to high or low range of comfort and time spent for travelling. Now let’s say bus is your option, and here I am going to tell you one of the best bus options that you should consider.
Nattakan is a Thai bus company that cooperates with Rith Muny transportation company in Cambodia. Thus, when you choose this bus, you will have to buy its ticket at Rith Muny office which is nearby Gloria Jeans riverside. It costs $25 per ticket if you buy in Phnom Penh; and it costs 750 Baht when you buy 1 ticket at Mo Chit bus station.
PP to BKK:
  • 06:00 to 09:30 – Leave Phnom Penh and arrive Pursat.
  • 09:30 to 10:00 – Have breakfast at Pursat Cambodia-Japan friendship restaurant.
  • 10:00 to 14:00 – Arrive Poi Pet
  • 14:00 to 14:40 – Take 40 minutes at the immigration office
  • 14:40 to 16:00 – Travelling on the road to Bangkok
  • 16:00 to 16:30 – Thai bus driver stopped for dinner (It won’t happen all the time)
  • 16:30 to 19:30 – Arrive Bangkok at Mo Chit bus station
BKK to PP
  • 05:00 – Leave Mo Chit bus station
  • 07:00 PM – Arrive Phnom Penh
Pros:
- 1 stop only at Pursat for brunch
- Only 1 direct bus, no transit
- There is a toilet in the bus. Pee pee poo poo is not a problem.
- Short distance to walk from immigration office to find this bus
- Save time (about 1 to 2 hours) and energy (not cramped) as you will arrive at 7:30.
- Comfortable to sleep
- It’s more spacious, easy to sit, and better behaved people prefer it, so eventually the feeling is better too.
- There is no need to walk and find another van at the border and pay extra 250 Baht.
- It provides free evening meal and drink on the bus. So, we could save lots of time without stop from Aranyaprathet to Bangkok.
- Free snack and beverage in the morning, packed fried rice (EzyGo) to be delivered in the afternoon. It is included when you pay the $25 bus ticket.
- Thai drivers tend not to stop for picking up passengers. They are ready to go at 06:00 even with 3 passengers.
- No need to wait for bus to be filled to go on from the border because only those who bought in Phnom Penh could continue going from the border.
Cons:
Bad point is the bus stop is at Mo Chit Bus Station. You will have to take taxi or BTS to the central. It cost my family 130 Baht to get from Mo Chit Bus Station to Asoke area. Probably, you can take Uber for cheaper transport.
- On your way back, the bus leaves Bangkok at 05:00 in the morning. Not at 06:00 in the morning like when you travel from Phnom Penh to Bangkok.
- Khmer drivers tend to stop quite often to pick up more passengers, but it is not too bad. I managed to arrive Phnom Penh at 07:00 PM.
- Spend about 150 Baht more on taxi from Mo Chit to your hotel.
- Not easy to travel for some Khmer as they need to be dropped at DD House.
Below is some photos:
This is a picture of the Nattakan bus from Phnom Penh to Bangkok.
Cambodia-Japan Friendship restaurant in Pursat

After purchasing the ticket, you have to find Platform 106 and wait there. 
Inside Nattakan bus on my way from Bangkok to Phnom Penh
Bus ticket bought at Mo Chit bus station



Mo Chit bus station, where you can buy the ticket
Cambodia-Japan Friendship restaurant in Pursat

September 21, 2016


เขียวหวาน Icecream Terrarium (Kiao Wan Ice cream Terrarium) was founded in early 2016 by P House and Mamiao after the two fell in love and started the shop together. I do not recommend the shop only because they are my friends but the ice cream they serve is addicted!
Owner:
Kiao Wan was initially started by P House as Hthroughheart ice cream shop at Khao San Road. P House met Mamiao for the first time on their trip to Kanjanaburi on March 21-22, 2015; the two fell in love and started the shop Kiao Wan.
Inspiration:
Kiao Wan means Sweet Green. It's the shop that serve ice cream that is so natural and good for health. The ice cream shop's name also has the word Terrarium. So, it was also inspired by the self-sustaining plants which has its own eco-system. This shop uses terrarium as decoration.  
Ice Cream Flavors:
There are flavors that are there everyday and there are Unknown ice cream types in which guests can give a try because the lovebird owners always mix ice cream in a mysterious way and call it Unknown. You will have to guess what you are eating. :D And when you first step in, don't be shocked. You will be given a little of all ice cream types to taste and order the one that you like best. 
Probably, I do not have to describe much about flavors, I'll give you loads of flavor photos ... 









Find the shop at:




Their Facebook page:



+66 92 949 9141


Shop design:




January 9, 2016

There are hundreds of hotels in Bangkok in which you can find in a blink of an eye. However, only if you have stayed at those hotels that you realize how convenient it is. For this post, I am going to introduce you to two hotels which locate in a great location for a reasonable price.

1. Red Planet Hotel, Asoke Bangkok

Red Planet Hotel Asoke is a popular hotel among tourists as it's located just 100 meters from Asoke BTS station and it's also 100 meters from Terminal 21 shopping mall. This hotel room is generally booked. So, be well planned and book before others if you plan to travel in Bangkok.

It's hotel cost is around $30 to $33 per night for 2 people if you book via Red Planet Hotels homepage or via Agoda. Normally, you can get 10% discount if you are a Remembered customer which mean you are a returning customer. So, it's best to book via its homepage, rather than via Agoda. Children aged below 4 years old could stay for free if you don't request for anything extra.

I recommend this hotel because it's convenient to travel from one BTS Asoke to other tourist attractions. For example, if you want to go to Siam paragon, you can just take BTS Asoke to Siam BTS station at ease. BTS is specially popular among Thai people as the traffic is congested and it saves time too.

Read more details and book now!


Inside the hotel is not so spacious, but it guarantees its cleanliness and sleep comfort. The room is definitely for two people as the each of twin bed is enough for one person. 
Its twin bed

There is an app of this Red Planet Hotel for you to book too and there are many branches of Red Planet Hotels. You may browse through for a Red Planet Hotel before you travel to a country. It is not only for you to book, but also to ask friendly staff about services and attractions in Bangkok. 


2. D Varee Xpress Hotel Makkasan Bangkok

This hotel is a three-star hotel, it is located on new Petchaburi road and about 100 meters from Petchaburi MRT. You can use this MRT and connect with BTS at Asoke BTS Station (connected by Makkasan MRT).

This hotel is generally expensive. It could cost up to $151 per night, but if you book via Agoda, it you might get up to 75% discount at $28 per night.

There is a price for free breakfast also, but I did not choose this option since I wanted to walk around and try street food.

I used to stay at this hotel in January 2016 and found it convenient to travel via MRT too. The room is big and incredibly clean. This hotel is 600 meters away from Red Planet Asoke Hotel. It could take up to 20 minutes to walk to Red Planet Hotel.

Read more details and book now!

The look outside of D Varee Xpress

Inside D Varee Xpress Hotel

July 5, 2015












The Bayon School is a non-profit organization which headquarters are located in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Among other activities, the NGO has set up a professional training project: the pastry school. Their objective is to provide underprivileged girls a free vocational training leading to a stable job.

The selection of students is based on motivation, school results and familial environment. Following this step, around twenty girls are offered a free training lasting 11 months, including 4 months of internship. They are also sheltered at school and receive pocket money to support their family.

The project is implemented in partnership with Alain Cojean, French restaurateur, and Fabien Rouillard, Fauchon’s pastry chef.


In order to finance the project and allow the students to put their skills into practice, the NGO opened a coffee shop inside the garden of the pastry school, located in the heart of Siem Reap, where one can enjoy a peaceful atmosphere.

At the coffee shop, you can taste delicious French pastries such as financiers, madeleines or chocolate cake. These pastries will go well with one of the drinks proposed by the students, iced or old (Americano coffee, café latté, green tea, smoothie…).

The products can be taken away if you are in a hurry. You can also order a breakfast or break box that can be personalized depending on your needs.
By enjoying the products of the Bayon Pastry School Coffee Shop, you support the whole NGO and give the opportunity to young women to come out of poverty.

Apart from the coffee shop itself, the pastry school proposes another activity: pastry classes. You will be able to learn how to make French and Khmer pastries with Sokhoeum, the pastry chef.

Keep learning about the project on their websites:


https://www.facebook.com/bayonpastryschool

Disclaimer: This article was written by a third party and falls into Guest Post category. 

April 19, 2015

How safe is a Solex lock? I guess not only Solex, but other brands also. I lost keys of this lock and I had a chance to observe a lock repairer. It did not take him much time to make a new key for me. It took him about 2 minutes to observe what's specific inside the lock.


Then, he started numbering on side of the lock so that he knows what to do with a new key without any mark on it yet.  


Later, he started highlighting on a brand new key and scraped it. He scraped as he looked at the numbers on the lock. Simply, without even further modification. After he finished scraping, the key simply worked well with the lock. 


In total, it took him about 10 minutes to make a new key of the lock. Simple as that. Think Solex is safe? Think again. 

He only looked and numbered on the lock and made a new key for me. This is pretty dangerous if later he decides to change his job :D

What is a safer way to protect our house? Please kindly suggest.