Air Travel:
the only operative airports in Cambodia are in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, even if the opening of SIhanoukville ( Preah Sihanouk) airport has been rumored as imminent.
An airport tax of 25 Dollars is applied for International departures, while the domestic ones are taxed with 6 dollars.
A new national flag is operating some domestic and international flights, here is the link to their website: http://www.cambodiaangkorair.com
Accomodation:
Accomodation standards in Cambodia are getting better year after year, thus the prices tend to rise, also.
Compared to your country's prices, the cost of a 4-5 star hotel room here is a steal. Enjoy a splurge!
Annoiances:
Cambodia is a developing country, so no wonder there are still a lot of beggars around the main tourist spots. A good thing for the wise traveler is to ignore them, especially if they are children.They ought to be at school, not on the streets or beaches.
Given the fact that the educated class and professionals left the country or were killed during the KR era, you can't expect great IQs, here, at least for the time being. If you are just entering your hotel or a bank and a moto-taxi calls you and offers you a ride, don't get pissed off, a good laugh is said to prolong life.
Children ( yours) :
Khmer people adore kids.If you bring your babies here, surely they will be hugged and kissed by virtually everyone you meet. They will have a good time in Cambodia, although we don't suggest to bring them into remote rural areas, as sanitation there could be less than basic, mosquito-borne diseases are common and landmines could be around.
Children ( local):
As said before, begging kids are an eyesore that we all hope it will disappear soon, but for the time being is a big problem. As many kids are encouraged or forced by their families to roam the streets and the popular beaches, we suggest you to completely ignore them. A courteous smile and the phrase "a-tay!"( no) will keep beggars and vendors at bay.
Climate:
Cambodia is a tropical country, so it is warm all year round. Jungles and rain forests abound here, so expect it to be an humid affair, too. If you can, wash your clothes immediately with very warm water after use, and put them to dry beneath the sun, as skin infections, mildew and fungus are common, alternatively bring them to a laundry which uses a washing machine with warm water.Laundries are quite cheap in Cambodia.
Condoms: Use them. Although Cambodia has officially the lowest rate of HIV/AIDS infection in South East Asia, we suggest to take precautions as you would do in your own country.
Customs:
Khmers are one of the most tolerant people in the world, but it does not mean you can treat them as you would treat a fellow countryman of yours.
Face is everything here, and losing face is amongst the worst things that could happen to a Khmer.
Shouting offense at a Cambodian in public could result in a strong reaction. This is absolutely a behavior to avoid.
Be patient and cool, whatever the situation.
Touching somebody's head and pointing a foot to somebody is considered rude.
Dangers:
Cambodia is a much safer place now than just ten years ago, and the majority of Cambodians are really honest people. Anyhow the country has its share of thugs, as every country has.
Avoid traveling in rural areas after dusk, avoid dark streets in the main towns, avoid over-friendly types, but don't get paranoid, relax and try to stay in populated or tourist areas as much as possible.
Landmines and UXO are still getting their death toll amongst farmers and villagers in rural Cambodia. Walk on well-beaten paths and look for the signs with the skull and crossbones. No, they ain't pirates !
Driving: While in Cambodia, you will be tempted to rent a motorbike to drive around. Well, make sure you have a valid accident insurance policy, an international driving license, wear an helmet and watch out for the obiquitous Khmer bikers going wrong way ! Road accidents are the major cause of death in this country.
Drugs:
Drugs are illegal in Cambodia, even ganja, so try to stay out of trouble, and, in some backpackers areas, if offered a spliff, kindly refuse it. Eyes are around you even if you don't notice it, and making a little cash out of you could be a way to make ends meet for some uniformed guy. Local people consider ganja as a kind of vegetable, and they are more used to eat it in the chicken soup than smoke it.
Drugs are a problem amongst youngsters, please give them a good example staying away from them.
For the fix aficionados, please do remember that the stuff you could find here is 100 times purer of the stuff you could find at home, so the overdose's risk are pretty high. Avoid it.
Food:
Khmer food is pretty spiced and hot, take precaution if you are not used to fiery chillies. Sanitation and hygiene are concepts still a bit far from the minds of the rural population of the Kingdom, so try to eat only well-cooked food, avoid places with no customers ( it means their food quality is low), peel all fruits and drink bottled water. Avoid ice if you are in doubt it comes not from a reputable source.
Insurance:
it is worth having one, as in case of emergency you could be med-evacuated to Bangkok or Saigon, and it will cost thousands of bucks. Medical care in Cambodia is becoming much better than the past, but severe illnesses or trauma cases are still being treated in the neighboring countries.
Internet:
Internet cafés abound in the main tourist spots, you are likely to be charged around 3000 riels per hour
( 0.75 dollars) , and VOIP calls are cheap and reliable. Use on-screen keyboard if you are doing any e-banking transaction, as most of the computers are malware-ridden.
Money :
The national currency is the Khmer Riel. 4150 Riels is the exchange rate for one dollar, at the time of writing. Banks are open from monday to friday, some even on saturday morning, and quite a lot of ATMs are around the main tourist towns.You will notice that the greenback is accepted everywhere, kind of an unofficial-official currency.
Oddities:
Fancy a fried tarantula or a grilled lizard for lunch? Well, you got in the right place here in Cambodia.
Shopping:
Phnom Penh central market, the Russian market and O'Russey market are quite popular amongst travelers, and in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap there are also some big, modern shopping malls.You can find quite everything in those places , a little bargaining is suggested while buying.
Snakes:
Being a local delicacy, snakes are usually busy hiding themselves from gourmand farmers.There are 32 dangerous species out of the 35 species living in the territory of Cambodia.Should you meet one of them, it is better not to spend your time figuring out which species they belong, just run away like hell !
Transportation:
Motodop ( moto-taxi) is the most popular way to get around the towns : there are everywhere, just walk on and they will stop asking you if you fancy a ride. Fares must be negotiated beforehand.Remember that most of the time the drivers will not have even the faintest idea of where you are heading to, as showing them a map or a business card means nothing for them. Try to learn some local names of the places you are intend to visit.
Tuk Tuk is also popular and somehow safer, especially after dusk; it is a trailer pulled by a Chinese-made motorbile. Fares are slightly higher than motodop, but during the rainy season it is worth to pay a little more and stay dry. Modern, metered taxis are becoming surprisingly a common sight in Phnom Penh.
Inter-provincial buses are still the best way to travel in Cambodia, as the derelict railways are under reconstruction.
Shared taxis can be a good and cheap alternative if you don't mind being squeezed amidst fat housewives and farting kids, traveling with no air-con and stopping virtually every kilometer.
Tourism (a responsible one) :
Keep in mind that being a foreigner you will be likely to be carefully observed, while traveling in Cambodia.That means that the locals, especially the youngsters,will repute whatever thing you do as 'cool' and will try to imitate you their way. Hence, you have to set an example for them, so don't litter around, don't go into dope, be sober and behave as you would do in front of your own kids.
Being a poor country, Cambodia hosts a number of volunteering projects, orphanages, schools, managed by local and international NGOs. Do visit some of them, if you can.
Wat:
Wat's that? A Wat is a Buddhist Temple, the hearth of every rural Cambodian village and town. Generally wats have not that serious-looking and gloom atmosphere of the Christian churches we are used to, wats arethe living example of the buddhist doctrine of no separation between the sacred and the mundane. Families having picnics, kids playing noisily around, food stalls and shops, monkeys roaming around ,even the odd drunk snoring under a tre, are a common sight in a Cambodian temple, together with magnificent stupas, saffron-robed monks and Buddha statues.
Should you ( and you must) visit one local temple, remember to dress properly and to give a small donation.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzz:
You will be surprised by how quickly the Khmer fell asleep, and you will also find amazing WHERE they sleep. Being it an hammock or the seat of a Daelim motorbike, locals can sleep quite everywhere. One of the favorite Cambodian pastimes, sleeping will also catch you over here, so lay back and enjoy it.....zzzzzzz...
We hope you will enjoy our beautiful Country ! We wish you a nice trip !
