Houseboats Worldwide - Villas of Bali & Asia

Bali & Asia travel
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Cambodia
"Handy Info"

Your Visa A visa is required for all visits to Cambodia. A tourist visa for one month can be obtained on arrival at Phnom Penh or Siem Reap Airports - US$20.00 in cash and one photo. However, if many people are applying for visas on arrival, this will slow you down at the airport. A visa can be obtained in advance from the Embassy in Canberra - one form, 2 photos - A$45.00. San Michele service fee $5.00. Note though that Cambodian visas cannot be obtained when travelling overland at border crossings from Thailand, Vietnam or Laos. A photo is required for your Angkor temple permit.
	Departure Taxes Departure taxes ex Cambodia are not included on international tickets. Currently (May 2002) they are departing International Siem Reap Airport US$8.00, Phnom Penh Airport US$20.00 and domestic flights US$5.00.0. Weather The climate of Cambodia is governed by two monsoons. From November - March there is a cool dry monsoon that carries little rain. From May to October the monsoon can bring strong winds, hot temperatures, high humidity and heavy rains. Between these seasons the weather is transitional. Average temperatures year round range from 24-35 degrees Celsius. The coolest period is between November & January and the hottest from February to April.
Safety Cambodia has always been a political hotspot but, finally, things have calmed down. Former political enemies are shaking hands and getting on with the job of bringing Cambodia back to its former glory. Politics aside, there is still a degree of lawlessness and banditry throughout the country and on the streets of Phnom Penh after dark. It's best to leave passport, airline tickets, jewellery and the bulk of your money in the room safe or at the hotel reception. You are strongly advised to take licensed taxis only at night. It is not safe to walk the streets of Phnom Penh after dark as street lighting is poor and armed robberies have occurred. There is no risk posed to travellers by landmines or other residue of war providing you stick to the main tourist areas/attractions.
	Health Medical facilities are basic throughout the country - even in the capital Phnom Penh. We recommend you contact a travellers health clinic or your local doctor for the most up to date information on travellers' health considerations at least one month prior to travel. Innoculations usually suggested are typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A & B, tetanus and polio as well as anti-malarial protection.
Money The currency of Cambodia is called the "riel". U.S. dollars are accepted in many places and are used to pay for airport taxes, visa fees, hotel and restaurant bills. Banks are open Monday to Friday and Saturday morning, closing for lunch between 1030 and 1400. In Phnom Penh and Siem Reap there are "bureaux de change" and most hotels will change U.S. dollars although for other currencies it is usually necessary to visit a Bank. Travellers cheques can be exchanged at banks and some hotels but can be difficult to change outside of the major cities. Visa Card and Mastercard are now accepted in many hotels, restaurants and shops in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap however US dollars cash are still the most reliable form of money to carry. Click here for a current estimate of exchange rates.
	Language Cambodia's national language is called Khmer and unlike the other languages of the region is not a tonal language. The written script originated in southern India. As in other former French colonies, the educated older generation often speak very good French while the younger generation prefer English. Outside the major centres of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap most people speak only Khmer. Religion Buddhism was reinstated as the national religion in the 1980s having been banned, like all religions, under the reign of the Khmer Rouge. Nearly 95% of the population today are Buddhist with the remainder made up of Catholics, Muslims and Cao Dai followers.
Local Foods As in many Asian countries, the staple food of the Cambodian diet is rice. This is usually served with dried, salted fish, chicken, beef or pork. Fish is often fresh from Tonle Sap Lake and eaten with a spicy peanut sauce called "tuk trey". Popular dishes include sam chrui, a roll of sticky rice stuffed with soya bean and chopped pork and amok, a soup of boneless fish with coconut and spices. Shopping Cambodia is known for good silverware, textiles, wooden sculpture and stone carvings. The 2 main centres of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are the best places to look for souvenirs. A uniquely Cambodian souvenir that many visitors like to take home is the checked scarf made of cotton or silk called the krama.