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COUNTRY CODE
+81 (6)
CURRENCY
JPY100 = PHP52.33/US$1.23
TOUCHDOWN
Take the Nankai Express Rapit
from Kansai International Airport to Osaka (38
minutes to Namba station) and the JR Haruka
limited express (33 minutes to Tenno-ji, 51 minutes
to Shin-Osaka).
www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/access
BY DAY
Visit Osaka Castle; it’s one of the city’s
historical structures and was built in 1583. Then ride
the movies at Universal Studios Japan —
Jaws,
Shrek, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-man
and
Back to the Future
are just some of the attractions.
BY NIGHT
Visit Dotonbori for your nocturnal
fix of good food and plentiful shopping. Enjoy
walking through the streets filled with neon lights
and mechanized signs, like the famous Glico
Running Man.
SLEEP
Apa Hotel Group provides very reasonable
rates, clean rooms and a good location. In Osaka,
you can choose their 850-room APA Hotel Osaka-
Higobashi-Ekimae.
www.apahotel.com
JAPAN
OSAKA
Yukari
Onishi
check-instaff,
KansaiAirport
CAMBODIA
SIEMREAP
COUNTRY CODE
+84
CURRENCY
KHR100 = PHP1.06/US$.02
TOUCHDOWN
From the Siem Reap-Angkor
International Airport, hire a
tuk-tuk
for about US$5
(PHP212); it will take you 20 minutes to reach the
town proper. But most hotels offer a free pickup
service, so make sure to book in advance.
BY DAY
Visit the floating villages of Kompong
Pluk and Kompong Khleang for an authentic feel of
Cambodian life. Also check out artists’ studios like
Eric Raisina and Theam’s House near Wat Thmey,
aka Siem Reap’s Killing Fields.
BY NIGHT
Enjoy value-for-money meals at BBQ
Lover, Khmer Kitchen, Pho Yong or Moloppor. Have
drinks at ArtDeli, Miss Wong, Elephant Bar or Little
Pari, and then catch a show at the Apsara Terrace in
Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor.
SLEEP
For affordable accommodations, try
Hotel 1961
(the1961.com),
Angkor Home Hotel
(angkorhomehotel.com)
or Siem Reap Hostel.
Sojourn
(sojournsiemreap.com)
is more mid-range.
Loven
Ramos
owner,
Hotel 1961
BESTBREAKFAST
Start your day
with La Boulangerie’s croissant with
cherry tomato jam.
INSIDER TIP
Visit Phnom Bakheng
at sunrise; it’s too crowded at sunset. For a
good sunset at the temples, go to Pre Rup.
BESTSOUVENIRS
The elephants
from Theam’s House, Yuwan scarves from
Galerie Cambodge, and anything from
Prolung Khmer.
BEST BREAKFAST
Try
Yoshinoya’s rice with miso soup and
fried egg.
BESTBUYS
Go to the 100 Yen shop
for souvenirs, and Uniqlo for very cheap
but quality clothing.
MUST-TRY
Take the subway to get
around the city. And when people give out
free tissue packs with advertisements, why
not take one?