General Tips on Visiting Cambodia

General Tips:

Eat:

  • A nice experience would be to have a Cambodian breakfast at around 7 or 8am. Tell any motodup driver you want to eat “kuh-teaw” Khmer noodle soup for breakfast (7am). Or to be on the safe side, you can go to the Phnom Penh Hotel  for this, probably more hygienic.


Be wary of:

  • Cambodian Thai relations – there have been anti-thai riots in the past, and (non-related) friends have gotten stuck in Bangkok because of political riots and changes in Thailand. Right now there are intense relations at the border over the UNESCO temple. Some have been killed and both countries do not seem to be toning down their aggressive stance. However, the conflict will probably be contained at the site (probably more than 12 hours away from Phnom Penh by car). I posted some interesting articles and diagrams on my blog at http://kanthelpme.com/tagged/temple if you’re interested. But Cambodia and Thailand have a very long history of tension even though its people enjoy strong friendship. 
  • Tuk tuk drivers who tell you they know where they are going – best have a map!  You can pick free “visiting Phnom Penh” “Visiting Siem Reap” etc. guides at many restaurants like the FCC. (Btw a tuk tuk is a carriage attached to a motorcycle type thing – you will see what I’m talking about when you go.)
  • Pick-pockets are still around. Especially when you are travelling on a tuk tuk or a motorbike, keep your bags and purse close to your body/hidden. If you are travelling with a girl, tell her not to wear long necklaces or big earrings. Nothing has ever happened to me, but I know many people who have had things stolen from them. I guess it goes without saying, not to bring all of your money or to wear it at least on a money belt inside your clothes. This is important because ultimately if you are in a bad situation (rare, but I just want to warn you) you will almost always be better off giving up the purse and staying safe/unhurt). That being said, late hours are relatively safe, especially if you travel in twos and stay on the main, lit streets.

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