Cambodia

Cambodia, a country with a rich history, including the Angkor Wat temple complex, that has been overshadowed by the horrific events of 1975-1979. Pol Pot's Communist regime (Khmer Rouge - Red Army) murdered approximately 25% of Cambodia's population over a 5-year period. The Communist regime primarily targeted city folk, anyone with ties to the previous government, and the highly educated. Something whose consequences can still be seen today.

Phnom Penh

After the devastation of 45 years ago, Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, has been transformed into a vibrant city. A city where visiting S21 Prison and the Killing Fields will leave you with vivid memories of the Khmer Rouge era.

Siem Reap

If you want to visit the impressive Angkor Wat Temple complex, Siem Reap is the place to start. The town reminds me of the Vietnamese coastal town of Hoi An, with a cozy vibe, lots of nice stores, and fun lighting at night.

Preparing your visit to Angkor Wat: What you should know.

Visiting the Angkor Wat Temple complex is one of the highlights of your Cambodia trip. Given that the Angkor Wat Temple complex contains 298 temples, proper planning is essential. This will allow you to make the most of your visit to the magical temples.

Good to know

  1. Cambodia has two currencies: US Dollar and Cambodian Riel

Because the local currency (Cambodian Riel) is volatile, people rely on the US dollar as a safety net to maintain a more stable monetary policy. As a result, people charge a lot in dollars (especially at tourist attractions) and then give change in local currency. They use a ratio of about 4,100 Riel to 1 Dollar here.

     

    1. Withdrawing cash

    It is highly recommended to withdraw Cambodian Riel from an ATM. This way, you won't be stuck with two currencies in your wallet, which will make things much clearer for you. People also carefully examine the Dollars you pay with, which I interpret as a sign of skepticism about the currency's use. When I paid in Riel, the bills were not as thoroughly examined.

     

    1. Phone snatchers

    We were warned about phone snatchers, or phone thieves, from the start at Mad Monkey. Be cautious, especially late at night, if you want to explore the nightlife. The thieves ride scooters and are on the lookout for cell phones that tourists use to navigate. Another tip is to avoid showing TukTuk drivers your phone to show them where you want to go. As they say, "better safe than sorry"!

     

    1. SIM Card

    When it comes to purchasing mobile data, Cambodia differs from Vietnam and Thailand. In fact, prepaid SIM cards are used here, whereas unlimited data is available right away in Thailand and Vietnam.

     Go to a Cellcard, Smart, or phone store and request a SIM card with mobile data. A SIM card with mobile data costs $4 (approximately 16,400 Riel) in Cambodia. Then you get 5 GB of data, which is more than enough for me to last a week in Cambodia. Just use your Ho(s)tel's WiFi to check Instagram Stories / YouTube and you'll already save a lot of data.

     

    1. Don't buy from children

    Cambodia is far from being one of the most prosperous Asian countries due to its tragic history. Children will try to sell you something, especially at tourist attractions. Don't buy anything from a child who is supposed to be in school. This encourages the children to keep doing so.