18
In Thailand, there's a superstition that wai'ing someone younger than yourself takes a year (maybe years?) off of their life.
A couple of times when I have wai'ed Thai friends that were noticeably younger than me, I was chided (mostly jokingly) that I had shortened their life.
17
First, requests like this are very often scams by people impersonating relatives, so make absolutely sure it's actually your son contacting you. If he has access to email, that means he also has access to a mobile/computer that can do a quick Skype call so you can verify it's him. (Yes, Cambodia has tons of Internet cafes and good mobile coverage.)
If it ...
16
I discovered this method last year when I was in Asia, possibly when I was already in Cambodia. At that time I found multiple threads of various forums discussing it but I'll answer now off the top of my head and try to come back and add some links afterward.
You can't do this on a tourist visa, but
It's just as easy to get a business visa for Cambodia as a ...
14
Most typical Thai food is very flavorful. There is certainly a fare share of spicy dishes but there are also plenty of other flavors, herbal, fragrant, salty and sweet. Obviously, the difficult part is knowing which is which!
Many of the dishes are not so spicy or salty themselves. Instead, restaurant tables come with small bowls of Nam Pla with chopped ...
14
In case of USA, it seems that you would need to be re-tested if your flight is late and has fallen outside the window of X hours. This is what I found on the U.S. Embassy website in The Czech Republic.
Q: What happens if my flight is delayed on my way to the United States and the 3 day time frame expires? Will I need to retest?
A: If your flight is delayed ...
13
I walked from the hostel zone near the Independence Monument to the immigration office, opposite the airport (a long way, not recommended for people less crazy than me).
Apparently a tuk-tuk would be about $9/$10 but we discovered there is a comfortable air-conditioned city bus to the airport for KHR 1,500 (37 and a half cents!) which runs along ...
13
This is the temporary shack on the Cambodian side. You can see the elaborate roof of the bigger newer building hiding behind the welcome sign. This was January 2015. The new building may be open by now.
The Lao side at the time looked more substantial. I don't recall an ATM or a bank. Maybe but I kinda don't think there was.
I would get US dollars before ...
12
Here's a recent article from the Phnom Penh Post:
Dealing in turtles is mostly illegal in Cambodia, where six of the 14
turtle species are endangered, some critically. The only legitimate
options are to import them or buy from the single licensed farm. But a
thriving trade that stretches from small provincial restaurants in
Cambodia to Hong Kong ...
12
I'll post as an answer but this is more of an update to @hippietrail answer.
I actually crossed the border today (Laos -> Cambodia). The tenporary shack is still there, still in use. No sign of an atm directly at the border (on either side of it).
In Stung Treng (Cambodian side, kilometres away) there are some atms (with US dollars). At the bus station of ...
12
Vietnamese Pho (most variants anyway- iirc Hue type is already spicy) noodle soup have the spice optionally added by the end user. Similarly the rice and vermicelli dishes are not inherently spicy (the fish sauce may not be to their liking but again that's typically on the side). The little baguettes (banh mi) are typically a bit spicy and include stuff like ...
11
I hacked up a basic version of such an app as a single-page of HTML with Javascript.
Then MeNoTalk came along and made it pretty!
When you edit any of the fields in the "price" or "paid" sections, all the other fields update. Not as you type but when you hit enter after editing. The bottom section tells you how much change you should get.
It's doesn't ...
11
NO IT IS NOT OPEN TO FOREIGNERS!
My suspicions this time turned out to be warranted. I arrived at the Chrey Thum border checkpoint at 5.30pm yesterday afternoon.
Even though I intended to spend a night in a guesthouse and cross today I thought it prudent to wander down and talk to the guards.
There was a language barrier but they nonetheless made it quite ...
10
Cheapest option is to take a train from Bangkok to Aryanaprathet (town on the thai side of the border), then go to the immigration office, then cross the border, then get to cambodian side (Poi Pet).
Now you just have to avoid scammers, don't trust anyone who don't have a police or immigration uniform. Buy your visa at cambodian immigration office, then pass ...
10
Wow I got a reply from the consular section of the Russian Embassy to Cambodia already!
For all types of visa for Australian citizens:
Single Entry Visa
100 USD 7 business days processing
200 USD 3 business days processing
Double Entry Visa
200 USD 7 business days processing
335 USD 3 business days processing
Multiple Entry Visa
...
9
I'm pretty sure you don't have to see a doctor to get penicillin in Cambodia, I got some antibiotics from a nurse on Koh Rong. And pharmacy staff will definitely understand "penicillin".
Still, it might be a good idea to see a doctor anyway instead of self-diagnosing and self-medicating.
Best ask your hotel/hostel's staff, they should know a doctor who ...
9
Surface crossing from Vietnam into Cambodia is much more convenient than from Thailand into Cambodia. From Thailand, you feel like you are in a John Burdett novel -- it's a maelstrom of corrupt officials, scammers, and heat. From Vietnam, you feel like you are in Joseph Conrad novel -- it's a little compound of white-washed shacks hidden in the jungle.
...
9
Thailand-specific advice here from someone who doesn’t tolerate any spice at all.
In my experience, in Thailand there’s a huge number of small low-key local shops serving basic meals like rice/noodles + chicken/beef 100% bland by default, with spices available on tables.
My go-to option in an unfamiliar location would be a chicken rice. It’d generally be a ...
9
I can't answer the general question, but for your specific case, at last check Cambodia does not require proof of onward travel at all.
9
The rules for various countries are subtly different. Some require a test within x hours of departure, others within x hours of (scheduled) arrival, with or without provisions for unforeseen events. If the rules do not allow for exceptions, carriers would presumably have to deny boarding.
As an example, the Netherlands requires a PCR test within 72 hours of ...
8
While not exactly casual, there's an organization called "Learn Khmer Language - Siem Reap" that's specialized in teaching the Khmer language to foreigners. The organization seems to be active as of late 2016. Their fees per hour are:
4$ with a group of 3-4 people
5$ with a group of 2 people
8$ for individual
I believe $4 would be small enough ...
8
Fly. Thai AirAsia has direct flights from Bangkok (Don Mueang) to both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, and promotional fares can be less than 1000 baht all in - cheaper than any land transport option, and much faster, safer and more comfortable. Immigration at the airports is also virtually hassle-free.
The caveat is that regular/last minute fares are not ...
7
It is difficult to answer accurately as I do not know exactly what level of accommodation is required. Also the definition of a "settled place" place is unclear to me. However I will give it a go and provide different options.
The highest place with a proper hotel accommodation is the Bokor Hill in Kampot province, altitude a bit over 1 km. The hotel is ...
7
10 April 2015.
The Immigration / Visa office quoted me the following extension rates:
1 month - $30
3 months - $60
6 months - $100
They were very particular in wanting to see my rental contract and would not give me a visa that extended past it.
Also my wait time is 3 weeks due to Khmer New Year
7
In some places it is rude to wai someone significantly younger than yourself. This may have been a factor as you describe a 'girl'.
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