Travel Tips

Customs
Cambodia is a Buddhist country and certain customs should be followed out of courtesy and respect for religious beliefs. Visitors should remove their shoes before entering a temple, private home and some shops- if you see a stack of shoes at the door- then take yours off too!

To avoid drawing attention visitors should dress modestly and avoid displays of affection in public. Wearing expensive jewelry is not advisable for security reasons. When visiting temples, it shows respect to wear pants or skirts below the knee and shirts with sleeves. The worst thing a woman in Cambodia can do is touch a monk! Women should avoid all physical contact with monks, including their robes. The head is considered the most sacred part of the body; avoid touching people or statues of Buddha on the head.

Electricity
Cambodia electricity is 220volt, 50 Hertz. Blackouts occur frequently across the country, daily in some areas, less frequently in Phnom Penh. A torch might be handy, but most hotels and restaurants have back-up generators so when the power goes out, sit tight and you will hear the generator being started and the lights are back on in no time.

Communications
Global roaming from your mobile phone is possible in Cambodia but could be expensive. If you are making a lot of calls, a local Sim card will be the cheaper option. Pay phones are available near hotels and restaurants; the easiest way to make calls is from internet cafes via Skype or regular telephone. The postal service from Cambodia is slow and unreliable. Things are known to go missing. Send valuable items by courier, or post them from Thailand or Vietnam.

Internet access is easily available at most towns throughout the country. Many internet cafes are set up with headphones for making calls via Skype- which is usually the most affordable way to call home.

If you are taking a laptop you can plug it straight into the wall- no adapter is required but you might want to bring a surge protector.

Photography
It is polity to ask before taking someone’s photographs- many tourists don’t, just because nobody says anything doesn’t mean it is ok- Cambodian’s will often be too polite to complain about tourist’s behavior. If you ask nicely most people will agree. The best light for photography is 20 minutes after sunrise and for the next one to two hours- usually around 6-8am, and late afternoon from around 4.30 to sunset. During the day the light is bright and harsh. The wet season offers some great photo opportunities- lush green rice fields- lakes and mossy temples.

Begging is common in Cambodia; child or adult beggars are a regular sight at tourist stops around Phnom Penh, the temples of Angkor and on the beaches of Sihanoukville. Many are land mine victims or amputees who have lost limbs in war. There is no social security system in Cambodia, so begging is often the only option for amputees or those unable to work or find work.

It is customary for Buddhists to give to those less fortunate and giving to beggars is believed to improve your position in your next life. It is up to each individual whether or not to give, and some child beggars are made to beg by an adult who takes all the money. One solution is to give children food or drink instead of money. If you can’t finish your meal ask for it to be wraped up and you can usually find someone outside wants it.

Try to offer small amounts to beggars, keep in mind that after you have given to one- another- or several will soon appear. If you wish to help further, visit a charity who will ensure that your donation is used for the maximum benefit of those who need it.