Cambodia

From our own experience:

Accommodation: Very easy along the road the circles around the lake. In smaller towns there is a 50% chance of finding a guesthouse so keep asking. Expect basic conditions and the village electricity is mostly turned off between 23:00-4:00.

Money: The Cambodian currency is Riel but we were first surprised by seeing Thai Baht and US Dollars as well. You can use three different currencies to pay everywhere in the country but expect to receive three currencies as change as well. Excellent brain exercise!

Food: In smaller villages you can choose in restaurants between different dishes presented in large pot and pans. Don't be scared away by the idea that the food has been stored in the pots for hours and hours, we never got sick and the locals eat this as well. In the touristy cities you can eat whatever western food you like.

Water: you can buy 1 liter water bottles anywhere that fit exactly in your water bottle holder, 6 liter is cheaper. Ice cubes are clean since they are made from purified water and transported to the local (even the smallest) shops in Cambodia. The shop owners keep the ice cold in large coolboxes since it is simply too expensive to buy a refrigirator (and thus to make ice themselves).

Safety: Safe to cycle.

Visa: It is nessecary to arrange a visa before you enter the country but this is easy to obtain in the bordering countries and most guesthouses will take care of it for a small fee.

People: You will notice that the average age of Cambodians is low. Unlike China, there aren't many elderly. Please visit at least the Khmer prison and the killing fields to have an understanding of what the Cambodians have gone through. People are very nice and like to try their english with you.

Language: Khmer/Cambodian is the language but english is also well spoken.

Clothing: dress properly to prevent people staring at you for ages. 3/4 pants are okay and short sleeved t-shirts as well.

Vaccinations: Malaria and all standard tropical stuff.

Road conditions: The southern route nr 5 along the Tonle Sap lake is mostly paved but there are parts where you would like to cover as much of your body as possible to prevent getting white (from the white dust) or red (from the red dust). The northern route nr 6 is worse but nicer to cycle. There is less trafic than on the southern route but it is also less paved. Some parts are clearly bombed and so there is little asphalt left between the potholes.

Map: We had brought the Lonely Planet road map of this area (it covers Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand) but this map is realy wrong at some points. Alternative we bought a map in Phnom Phen.

Traffic behaviour: Various. Trucks will keep a large distant and can't speed up at the gravel parts. Lots of motorcycles that carry just about everything you can think of.

Bicycle parts/shops: Wouldn’t count on it. Take your spare parts from home.

Post/Internet: Postcards did arrive in The Netherlands. Internet is available in the tourist cities but is slow.

From the World Factbook (2002):

Background: "Following a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh in 1975 and ordered the evacuation of all cities and towns; over 1 million displaced people died from execution or enforced hardships. A 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside and touched off 13 years of fighting. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of normalcy, as did the rapid diminishment of the Khmer Rouge in the mid-1990s. A coalition government, formed after national elections in 1998, brought renewed political stability and the surrender of remaining Khmer Rouge forces."

Geographical facts: Bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. 181,040 square kilometers, mostly low, flat plains with mountains in southwest and north. Lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m. Highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m

Population: Population size is 12,775,324. Growth rate: 2.24% (2002 est.). Ethnics: Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%. Religions: Theravada Buddhist 95%. Population below poverty line: 36% (1997 est.)

Government and economy: Country name, local short form: Kampuchea. Country name, local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea. Country name, former: Khmer Republic, Kampuchea Republic. Government type is multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy established in September 1993. Independence since 9 November 1953 (from France). "Cambodia's economy slowed dramatically in 1997-98 due to the regional economic crisis, civil violence, and political infighting. Foreign investment and tourism fell off. In 1999, the first full year of peace in 30 years, progress was made on economic reforms and growth resumed at 5%. GDP growth for 2000 had been projected to reach 5.5%, but the worst flooding in 70 years severely damaged agricultural crops, and high oil prices hurt industrial production, and growth for the year is estimated at only 4%. In 2001, severe floods damaged an estimated 15% of the area devoted to rice. Tourism now is Cambodia's fastest growing industry, with arrivals up 34% in 2000 and up another 40% in 2001 before the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US. The long-term development of the economy after decades of war remains a daunting challenge. The population lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from an almost total lack of basic infrastructure. Fear of renewed political instability and corruption within the government discourage foreign investment and delay foreign aid. On the brighter side, the government is addressing these issues with assistance from bilateral and multilateral donors."

Climate: Tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation

Links

Introduction: The Unique Revolution
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The Banyan Tree: Untangling Cambodian History
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Cambodia and the Media: Opposing Viewpoints
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This page is last updated: April 2004