About Cambodia

GEOGRAPHY

Cambodia lies between Thailand to the east, Vietnam to the west and Laos to the north. The mighty Mekong river flows through on its way to the delta in southern Vietnam and connects to the Tonle Sap lake just outside the capital Phnom Penh. At the north west corner of the lake lie the temples of Angkor Wat built Eight hundred years ago by the ancient Khmer civilization that at the time ruled over most of the region.

The largest geographical feature is the Tonle Sap lake, which is connected to the Mekong river. The Tonle Sap is said to be the worlds most furtile inland waterway, and the river of the same name that connects it to the Mekong river just outside Phnom Penh is the largest river in the world to change direction. This happens twice a year as the level of the Mekong drops. During the wet season the Mekong fills the lake and in the dry season as the river level drops rapidly the Tonle Sap reverses direction to feed the Mekong.

The best time to visit is between the months of October and April, avoiding the monsoon season. The country is subtropical with two distinct seasons - hot and wet. During the months of November, December and January the days are pleasantly and the evenings comfortably cool, but rarely dropping below 25 degrees Celsius except in the upland areas. It is virtually unknown for it to rain during these months.

CURRENCY

The local currency is the called the Riel but the US dollar and Thai Baht are widely accepted and easily exchanged across the country. Goods and services are often priced in dollars and there is a little need to buy riel except when traveling into remore areas. In remote rural areas small transactions, such as purchasing refreshment are quoted in riel, whereas larger ones, such as accommodation, will be in dollars. US Dollar Traveler's cheque's can be changed at most banks in Phnom Penh and major tourist destinations. Credit card facilities are limited to some major hotels. It is best to carry US$ in cash in small denominations. Exchange rate: 1 $US = 4250 Riel (January 2005)

POPULATION, RELIGION AND LANGUAGE

Cambodia has a population of around 12.5 million people, about 1.5 million of whom live in the capital Phnom Penh and in total about 90% are ethnic Khmers. There are several minorities, such as Chams (who are Muslim), Vietnamese and Chinese. The official religion is Theravada Buddhism, which is also practiced in Thailand, Burma, Laos and Sri Lanka. About ninety percent of Khmers are Buddhist. There are thought to be around a half million Muslims and 60,000 practising Christians.

The official language is Khmer. Khmer has roots in the Mon-Khmer dialects, but has also been heavily influenced by Indian, Pali and Sanskrit as well as Thai and French. The second language is officially French, but in recent years, English has gained a great popularity and there are plenty of English Language schools in Phnom Penh and the countryside. French was widely spoken by the educated classes before 1975 and is still spoken by a few older-generation Cambodians.

COMMUNICATIONS

As the Cambodian currency has no coins, there are no coin-operated phones in Cambodia. There are several mobile phone systems. The international is Country Code: +855. Internet Cafes have enjoyed a surge in popularity in recent years and can easily be found in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Cambodia is 7 Hours ahead of GMT, (with one hour variations for Daylight Saving Hours).

CLIMATE

Cambodia's climate is tropical and basically has two seasons - wet and dry. The Northeast Monsoon which brings little rain and is from November to April, with temperatures reaching over 40 degrees Celcius in April. From May to October, the southwest Monsoon brings heavy rain and humidity. During the early stages of the monsoon season, the rain is limited to one or two downpours a day, which by August can produce heavy, if temporary, street flooding.

CLOTHING

Lightweight, loose-fitting, cotton clothing is recommended for sight seeing, and professional motocross equipment (boots, jeans, shirt, shoulder and elbow protectors) is invaluable while out on the tour. Most specialist equipment is best brought from your home country, but more and more, high-quality gear is becoming available in Phnom Penh.

FOOD

While Khmer cuisine is not as spicy as that of it's neighbours, it is also not as exciting. Street food is very, very basic, but there are a wealth of international restaurants catering to all tastes in both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh including Chinese, Korean, Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese, Russian and even Australian. The typical Khmer dishes are rice, fish, curries and soups with beef, pork, poultry. Purified bottle water is available everywhere; tap water is technically okay, but at pennies a bottle, purified is usually the best bet. All the major international brands of soft and alcoholic drinks are widely available as well as locally brewed and imported beers.

ELECTRICITY

220 volts/50 Hz. It is available in most cities for 24 hours, but in the countryside (and not totally unknown in the cities!) power cuts are possible during the night and it is recommended to carry a flash light.

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

International flights to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap can be made by any professional travel agent.

IMMIGRATION

All foreign nationals entering Cambodia are required to have a visa, which is issued on arrival at Pochentong International airport in Phnom Penh and at Siem Reap airport. Two passport photos are needed. The price for a tourist visa is US$20 & business id US$25. For arrival overland, a visa can be issued by one of the Cambodian embassies outside Cambodia, or at any of the land border crossings. The tourist visa is valid for one month and can be extended for up to three months.

AIRPORT TAX

• International flight from Phnom Penh - US$ 20
• International flight from Siem Reap - US$ 8
• Domestic flight from Phnom Penh - US$ 10
• Domestic flight from all other airports - US$ 4

OPENING HOURS

Government offices:
Monday to Friday: 07:30 - 11:30 & 14:00 - 17:00
Banks: Monday to Friday 08:00 - 15:30.
Closed on public holidays.
General offices:
Private companies are usually open from 07:30 - 20:00 every day.
- National Museum, Silver Pagoda, Kings Palace, Tuol Sleng Museum & Killing Fields:
08:00 - 11:00 & 14:00 - 17:00.
The National Museum is closed on Monday and public holidays

HEALTH

Hospitals with international facilities are only available in Phnom Penh, although pharmacies and GPs are available in most cities. Major tourist destinations, such as Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, are said to be free of Malaria, but other more remote areas of the country that tours visit are not and the old addage applies 'prevention is better than cure.' In the evenings it is prudent to wear long sleeve shirts and trousers and to apply insect repellant to avoid mosquito bites. Always drink bottled water. Although Phnom Penh pharmacies are very well stocked, always bring prescription medications in sufficent quantities for the entire duration of the trip. Anyone with special medical requirements, such as diabetics should always inform their tour leader before commencing a tour.

GENERAL TRAVEL ADVICE

For visiting temples or pagodas, shorts and T-shirts are acceptable. However, for visiting the Silver Pagoda and the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, visitors are asked to dress more formally. Films, such as Kodak or Fuji, are widely available. Although there are many camera shops available, specialized photo equipment should be brought from outside the country.