Cambodia Archives - Foreign policy

10 Tips For Planning a Trip To Cambodia in 2020

Published on November 5, 2020

For many of us, this has not been our year. Many people certainly had plans for traveling that have fallen through due to Covid-19. But not every country is equally affected by the pandemic, and traveling to Cambodia is still a viable and safe option. Some may think that Cambodia is not a usual tourist destination. But the truth is that natural beauties, cultural sites, and people themselves have made Cambodia a very popular destination for anyone with an adventurous spirit. So if you have a desire to experience something new and different from an ordinary touristic trip, Cambodia is a good choice for everybody. However, while being something new and distinctive is their main selling point, it is also a reason why some preparation is necessary before traveling. Their culture and the country itself may have rules that are not the same as from where you are coming. But worry not, here are ten tips for you if you decide to go on this journey.

1. Concerning the Visa

So first thing first, the initial issue that concerns tourists is the visa. There will be a need for a passport size picture and around 40 dollars. The picture doesn’t even need to be a recent one, although it is a good idea. A bit more expensive would be to apply and pay online right away. But that would be less than 10 dollars more expensive, so don’t worry. When landing at their airport, just go to the right queue, and the process will be uncomplicated and productive. If your choice was to apply over the internet, the best idea is to go over their principal website and to do it a week before going. It is always a good idea to check every single information possible when this topic is concerned, so maybe check out cambodiaonlinevisa.com to be sure about every single detail.

2. Dollars will be more useful than Riels

When it comes to currencies they use, there are two of them. The official one would be Cambodian riel (KHR), but because the country is becoming such a tourist hotspot, the US dollar ($USD) is maybe even more dominant. So it would be best to plan accordingly to that and exchange most of your money for dollars and some for riels. To be honest, the locals will prefer the dollars, but it would not hurt to have a few riels as well, maybe to keep them as a souvenir if nothing else.

3. Angkor Wat

The Angkor Wat temple complex is an absolute must if you are visiting Cambodia. There is more to a vacation than drinking beer and relaxing on a warm beach. And while that is something you can and should do while visiting, visiting their most famous cultural site should be a priority as well. Nevertheless, it is impossible to underestimate the size of the Angkor Wat temple complex. There are over 20 temples in an area of around 250 square miles.

4. The time

Traveling around this beautiful country will require a lot of public transport, and too many of us, there could be something different about it. The main difference we are talking about is time. When visiting Cambodia, there are things you can expect from buses, boats, trains, etc. They will not arrive on time. They will not leave on time. The time listed as their travel time is an estimate. So make sure not to make plans that are too precise. There will be a need for “space” between your connection times. In short, the Cambodian transportation system is not a well-oiled machine. It is an adventure.

5. Tuk-tuk drivers

As in any big tourist destination, caution is crucial. Be aware of potential scams, and whatever you do, don’t pay tuk-tuk drivers in advance. They might ask that you do, they might insist, but don’t. It will be quite likely they will only take you a part of the way, or they even might simply leave. They could also ask for more money once reaching the final destination. That is why it is best to pay once you arrived.

6. The children on the streets

When it comes to scams, children are often involved in them. Naturally, we don’t blame them, but it is an unfortunate fact that adults are using them for their gains. It is only reasonable to want to help the poor children, but when buying their postcards, or even food, you will not help anyone. There is a cycle of crime and poverty that is repeating itself here, so if you can’t be a part of the solution, don’t be part of the problem.

7. Respect their religion

The vast majority of the country is Buddhist, and they have certain customs regarding clothes, especially for women. So while visiting their home, there is no need to insult them by wearing revealing outfits. It could cause a few problems and glances, but we are mostly doing that from respect. If they are good hosts, we should be equally fine guests.

8. Avoid tap water

Some people already have this custom from their country, but in Cambodia, it is much better to buy bottled water. A filtering water bottle is also an option, but whatever is the choice, don’t drink tap water. Amount of problems that are an option if you do is not small and is not pleasant to discuss. It will not be too serious, but it could ruin the vacation.

9. The weather

In Cambodia, the weather can be quite hot, sunny, and humid. Therefore, be conscious of that when packing luggage. Sunscreen is vital – pack a lot of it. When you finish with sunscreen, pack more of it, it will be essential. Other than that, a bandana or a light scarf to cover the shoulders is also a good idea. Remember, we have to cover ourselves, even in that weather.

10. Raining seasons

When it comes to the weather, everyone is afraid of rainy seasons. To be honest, there is no need for that, since the rains only last a short period, and then there is a clear day. For some, that might be even a better option, since the crowds will be much smaller. In the end, it really comes down to individual preferences, so make a decision yourself.

There are many more tips that could help a tourist in the amazing adventure that is visiting Cambodia. But part of the experience is discovering them by yourself. What we can vouch for is that the country has so much to offer to the world, and it is never too late to go and find out what makes Cambodia unique.

Cambodia – Tourist guide

Published on August 30, 2019

Travel

Unfortunately, it is a fact that due to its size, Cambodia is underrated by tourists. When planning a trip to Asia, people usually opt for Thailand or Vietnam, completely forgetting that there is another gem worth their time and attention. In the following text, we are going to tell you about some places you must visit and things you must experience, and prove to you that this beautiful country has so much to offer.

Obviously, the most popular tourist attraction is the Temples of Angkor. This complex was built in the twelfth century as the center of the Khmer empire, and nowadays it is Cambodia’s number one tourist destination. It consists of many temples such as Ta Promh which is a feature in “Tomb Raider” movie or the Bayon temple built by King Jayavarman VII which incorporates 200 stone faces. And definitely, you cannot miss Angkor Wat, the world’s biggest religious monument. Here, you can go on a tour with a local guide that will introduce you to this marvelous place or rent bicycles or hire a tuk-tuk driver that will take you around.

Similarly, another temple that will take your breath away is Preah Vihear temple which is located near the Thai border. It is built atop a 525-meter cliff in the Dângrêk Mountains. Here you will have the opportunity to explore the site at your own pace since you will not be crowded by hundreds of tourists. Because of its remote location, the temple is well preserved and once you pass five ceremonial gates, you will instantly be transported into another time.

If you are an animal lover, then you should definitely visit Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center. This center was founded in 1995 and up to this day it has remained Cambodia’s larges zoo. There are over 1200 rescued animals from over 100 species. You can pay for the guided tour and you will have the chance to see many animals, some of which are endangered such as Siamese crocodile, Asian elephants, tigers, Malayan sun bears, and so on. The park is located about 40km from Phnom Penh, which makes it easily accessible and a great way to spend an entire day exploring nature.

One of the best ways to explore the surroundings of Siem Reap is by a bike tour. On this trip, you will get a chance to explore this place without crowds of people and tourist buses, meet the rats that were trained to sniff landmines, and maybe even join locals in making souvenirs that will forever remind you of this journey.

Lastly, if you want to learn about history, then you should visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Cambodia’s capital city, Phnom Penh. This building served as a high school, but between 1975 and 1978 it was used as a place where 17,000 people were tortured and murdered by Khmer Rouge forces. Today, this is a museum where you will learn about this dark part of the country’s history.

If we have awakened your interest, and you are considering Cambodia as a destination where you want to spend your next vacation, then you have to get informed about regulations regarding visa and other documentation. You can find all the information you seek on https://go-cambodia-online.com/.

To sum up, in this text we have only listed some tourist destination that you should incorporate into your trip. You should also visit Kampot, Koh Rong Sanloem Island and relax on its wonderful beaches, a clearly try some local cuisine.

GPS Trackers Reveal Electronics Recycling Scam

Published on July 5, 2019

Technology

Up until a few days ago, we didn’t really think about what happens to our old electronic devices like mobile phones, computers, TVs, etc. Mostly, people are throwing that kind of garbage out or preserve it, which is strange as it is, but it happens. However, certain independent people decided that they want to know more about this recycling.

So, in the past two years, these people have undergone a certain project of tracking where the e-junk goes after we throw it out of our houses. They came to a shocking conclusion, that our e-junk is not recycled, instead, it is shipped from the United States to countries like Hong Kong, Cambodia, China, Mexico, UAE, Kenya, Togo, Thailand, etc.

So the companies who are working in this line of work, are picking up all the electronic junk from America and sells it into other countries. As we all know, people rarely pay these companies to pick up their junk, but our country is obliged to do so. So, they are taking advantage of this and earning money on just picking up our junk and selling it throughout the world.

A certain team who worked on this unraveling for more than two years used GPS trackers, which were placed into the junk. It is not known which types of GPS trackers they used, but we are certain that they were of the highest quality possible. Just imagine the signal which is still strong even when it crossed hundreds and thousands of miles.

You can choose from a wide array of quality GPS trackers available on the market. In order to see some of them visit TrackingSystemDirect.com. So, now we are back at the controversy. So, the companies are selling junk to the third-world countries, who use low-salary workers who pick the bones, literally. They are digging out the few components who still work or are worth something and can be sold.

A recently conducted study from MIT and Basel Action Network explains how this works.The participants of this research were insiders, experts, people who pick e-junk in Canada, for example, etc. All of them are saying the same thing that the e-recycling industry is full of companies who are scamming the government, and in the end, the people.

If everything in the industry was done by the book, a resident or a company would need to pay e-waste company to come and take e-junk from their home or offices. We were shocked when we saw how it costs to recycle certain electronic devices. For example, the price of recycling the whole computer ranges from 0.22 to 2.32. Just imagine that, so, it is no surprise that they are making so much money out of it.

In the end, we will give you a few more information. GPS tracking chips were placed into 205 e-junk containers or 152 “donations” as they are calling them. They found out that 40% of 152 donations ended up in third-world countries. The other 60% ended up recycled like it was sup