Author: jmaurizi
Siem Reap
I was a bit surprised by Siem Reap. Maybe because all my research focused on Angkor. There is quite an extensive night life going on. Between the Pub Street and all the night markets, there is plenty to do in the evening. During the day, most people visiting the area head into Angkor Archeological Park. I like to go into the park in the early morning, then return to Siem Reap late morning and relax for lunch then return to the park late afternoon. This is a great way to avoid the big crowds and also beat the heat of the day.
May 2015
Siem Reap hadn’t changed much from last year. With the exception of my first night when Pub Street was as wild as I have ever seen it. It changed drastically after that for the better and the rest of my stay was quiet for the most part. I explored some new restaurants like Khmer Touch Cuisine and Nest Angkor Cafe. I didn’t have as much luck this trip with the Tuk Tuk driver my hotel arranged. He seemed reluctant to much of anything. The hotel though, Reaksmey Chanreas Hotel, was very nice.
Author: jmaurizi
Cambodia
Author: jmaurizi
Porcupine Rim
If you are an avid mountain bike rider you probably heard of the Porcupine Rim. This is an advanced level trail and you should only attempt if you have a lot of experiences with technical downhill riding. When making the arrangements for a shuttle, be sure they take you to the start of the Kokopelli trail and not the access from Sand Flats. Kokopelli is more down hill. Sand Flats has a long up hill. No need for that.
The trail is well maintained with beautiful scenery the entire way. I highly recommend.
Equipment: This is a very long difficult trail with a lot of exposure to the sun and cliff edges. Be sure to bring plenty of water and some food. Also, if you are renting a bike from a store in Moab, be sure to check the repair kit. Some items could be old and you want to make sure you have more than a few patches. I also recommend you bring your own air pump that you ride with from home. The one that comes with the repair kit is so small and cannot fill the tube properly.
Author: jmaurizi
Fisher Tower Trail
This is a fairly easy hike located a little over 20 miles east of Moab. Very few people venture this far out but it is a good hike to do in the morning to avoid the day time heat, especially if you are camping out in this area. There is a camp ground here but no running water. The hike is just over two miles long and is an in and out hike. Hike in the early morning during the summer and bring plenty of water. If you have a filter, Onion creek in one mile before and you can filter or just bring enough from Moab.
Directions: 21 miles east of Moab on Rt 128. Make sure you pass the La Sal Mountain Loop road.