After buying our pass, we are on our way up to Phnom Bakheng to watch the sunset. It involves a hike into forested path till you reach the peak. Not steep and most path are not uphill. Remember to bring a torchlight along because after the sun sets, you have to get down and walk back the same unlit forested path (if you go during year end, there are many people walking along with you, mostly foreigners)

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We arrived in the afternoon, took a short rest. The tuk tuk driver who was engaged by the guesthouse recommended a friend of his as a tourguide. Since we did not know anyone, we agreed to engage his friend as a tourguide.  It was a decision that we both soon regret.

In the evening, we were on our way to Angkor Wat to buy our 3 days pass which will cost each person USD40. If you buy the pass after 5pm,you can watch the sunset for free. Bring along a passport photo as you need to put in on the pass. If not, you have to get your photograph taken there- which will be overpriced.

Normally after buying the pass, it is likely that you will be taken to Phnom Bakheng to watch the sunset because it is not far from the ticket counter.

Note: I travelled there in Oct 2006- therefore is unable to confirm if there is any price increase.

OK, I thought of these ideas if you are really trying to save some $$.
1. Bring and cook some of your meals (for budget conscious travellers).
Bring a heating rod and supply of instant noodles, porridges, Campbell soup, biscuits, chocolate bars, etc. Bring along a steel mug, own plastic spoon/fork because most guesthouses do not provide eating utensils. Heat the water in the steel mug using the heating rod and tata… your simple meal is ready. Got the idea from my university dorm days. If you are from Malaysia, well, it is cheaper if your food supply is from Malaysia. A bottle of Pringles, Snickers bar or whatever are more expensive in a minimart in Siem Reap than in Malaysia.

2. Washing your own clothes
You would need to bring your own detergent and a 1.5 plastic litre container(maybe an old Nestle rectangle ice cream tub). So you need not pack so much of clothes and washing can help you pass time in the evenings. The plastic tub is for you to soak clothes because most sink, even at hotels, may not have the plug for you to retain water in the sink. Anyway, if you are lazy to wash clothes. you can get Tshirts easily.

 » You can get very cheap copies of Lonely Planet guide books in Cambodia so it will break your heart if you were to buy one at RM99+ from Kinokuyina only to find it sold for USD 5 in Cambodia- however, note that the maps are not clear because it aint the original. Still, investing in a guide book would be a good idea to prepare yourself for the trip (and you have no time to research via the internet). So you can get the guide to Cambodia by Footprint for RM54.95.
» Many foreigners visit Siem Reap via their own planning instead of following tours. I even saw girls travelling/cycling alone without a guide. One thing about tour groups- they rush you all the time and tend to bring you to tourist shops which sell things so expensively.
» Plan your itenenary first before going, especially if you are on your own/not following tour groups. This is because you may find you would not be taken to enough places if you do not even know where or what you want to see. Go to internet and research the history of the places you wish to go. It will make your trip more meaningful.

For mid to highend, you can eat at Pub Street- the entire road literally consists of restaurant, bar and pubs offering lots of Western, Thai and even Indian food. Expect to spend about USD5- 7 for dinner (excluding liquor).
So far, the lowest priced in Pub Street area is Angkor Famous restaurant (generally with more people there compared to other restaurant). No guide book wrote about this place but we are quite happy with the place. Gives free pop corn (after you order and wait for the food), free water and free fruits.
Warning- avoid ice as it may cause you stomach problems (it did to me). If you are worried about sensative stomach, then you may not want to have hawker food. Still, I have seen many foreigners having hawker food.
Mandalay Inn is also have good selection of food at reasonable price. For instance, breakfast cost USD1.50 consists of 1. (either scrambled eggs, or tomato ommelet, or two boiled eggs) + 2 long pieces of bread with butter and jam + Tea or Coffee.
To a Westerner, the prizes are cheap but to us Malaysians, because everythin
g is quoted in USD or its equivalent value, one meal can easily cost you between RM10 to RM20, probably slightly lower than the prize of ordering a meal and a cup of coffee from Coffee Bean or Secret Recipe here.

» Light coloured TShirts and lightweight cotton pants.
» T shirts are also sold at very low price. Best place to get them is at the Angkor temple areas- mostly women or small kids will peddle it. Lowest prize offered to us: USD5 for 3 shirts.
» I do not encourage singlets, revealing clothes, shorts – because if you visit temples, it is not so appropriate. Polyester blouses also make the wearer extremely uncomfortable especially if drenched in sweat.