Siem Reap from the air

Flying into Siem Reap: Airlines and Destinations

Being an international tourist attraction has its advantages. Although Siem Reap is sometimes a sleepy provincial town, many flight paths lead to Angkor. Most Asian capital cities have direct connections to Siem Reap.

Haggling at Cambodian markets

How to Haggle over Prices at Cambodian Markets

If you don’t know the usual price for an item you are interested in. I suggest you check prices at three different stalls to have a feel for the prevailing market conditions! With the exception of a few scoundrels, Cambodian vendors don’t usually ask for crazy mark-ups.

Khmer numbers

How to Count in Khmer

For a quick start, you only need to learn numbers from 0 to 5 and multiples of 10. That’s only 16 Khmer words to be able to count to 1000! Khmer has the particularity of using a bi-quinary counting system (base 5 and 10), which makes it easier for visitors to pick up.

Welcome to Angkor

Welcome to Siem Reap and to Angkor

Despite its typically audacious old school Khmer name (Siem Reap means victory over the Siamese), Siem Reap is a rather sedate provincial settlement. As you arrive in Siem Reap, notice the slower pace (it gets a lot slower in the countryside surrounding the city).

Useful Khmer Expressions and Words

Useful Everyday Khmer Expressions and Words

If there is one expression you should learn, it is Sok Sabay, which is used to greet people, ask how they fare, bid goodbye. Literally Sok means peace and Sabay means happiness.