Cambodia
The CouchSurfing Wiki, an informal workspace which anyone can edit.
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About Cambodia
Cambodia is a small country in South East Asia that borders Vietnam, Thailand and Laos. It is a country of beauty and warmth. Cambodia's history is tragic, with nearly 2 million Cambodians lossing their life during the Khmer Rougue from 1975-1979, which was followed by a long civil war. Although Cambodia still has many problems, it is a now stable place. Tourism is taking off in Cambodia and the standard of living is improving. It is a popular stop on the South East Asia backpackers trail. The main draw to Cambodia are the temples of Angkar in Siem Reap, there are nothing like them in the world. But what makes Cambodia truley unique is the warmth of the Khmer people.
CS in Cambodia
The couch surfing scene in Cambodia is not very active. One of the main reasons is that internet access in Cambodia is limited. Very few people I know have internet access in their homes. Most people need to use internet cafes of wifi hotspots to check their emails.
There also seems to be way more surfers passing throug Cambodia than hosts. But hopefully as Cambodia developes, so will it's CS scene!
Ambassadors
Ambassador is the ear and eyes of the community, include us as a member, they are here to help and guide us in our CS experiences and cultures of their representative places. Do reach them for any assistance and help need. City ambassador
- City ambassador Phnom Penh : Greg
Getting a Host in Cambodia
There is a very small CS community in Cambodia. Right now there are less that 120 listed surfers in Cambodia. Of those 120 only 20 of them can host, and of those 20 only half of them have profile pictures, and the combinded reply rate is about 50%. Also keep in mind that thousands of Backpackers go through Cambodia each week. There are also probably about twice as many surfers looking for hosts then available couches at any given time. When I was hosting in Cambodia it wasn't uncommon to get 5 different requests for 1 night So in all honesty your likelyhood of finding a host in Cambodia is quite low. But here are some reccomendations.
1.Send your Couch Request early. A lot of people don't check their CS or even email account daily in Cambodia so I would reccomend making your request a week in advance
2. Be safe. Use common sense, don't stay with someone that has no picture, references or information on their profile just to save 5 dollars.
If you can't find a host
If you can't find a host there are plenty of cheap guesthouses in Cambodia. A simple room(with a fan and bathroom) should cost about $5 dollars.
Since there are probably more CSers looking for hosts use the Cambodia board to find travel partners who you could share a room with.
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capitol of Cambodia. It isn't the most beautiful city in SE Asia but it definitely has a lot of character (and characters). Most people that go through Cambodia generally spend a day or 2 in Phnom Penh whether they want to or not. Many people come away finding it a very unappealing city, it takes a while but the city can really grow on you. There really isn't a whole lot to see in the city, and if you are strapped for time you can see all the major tourist attractions in 2 days.
Things to see
S-21 Genocide Museum- Former interigation/torture center for the Khmer Rougue. Gives you an idea of Cambodia's horrific past, but ultimately makes it harder to understand how and why it happened. Located centrally in the city.
The Kiling Fields- About 20 kms outside of the city. It is where many of the people who were interigated at S-21 were killed. Many mass graves have been dug up and a Pagada Shrine with thousands of skulls was built as a tribute to the victims.
Royal Palace- Wher the King lives. Lots of gold and fancy stuff.
Wat Phnom- A small hill with a temple on it. There are also lots of Monkeys there, watch out they bite!
Things to do
Hash House Harriers- Phnom Penhs drinking club with a running problem. Don't worry if you don't drink or run, it is still a lot of fun. It is a good way to get out of the city and see some of the country side. For more info check their website P2H3.com
Places to Drink
There are no shortage of bars in the city, but I recommend Revolution Bar on St. 51, Wat Lanka because it is owned by a fellow CSer.
FAQs
1. What is the visa situation?
You can get a tourist visa on arrival at the airport for $25, which is god for 30 days. A tourist visa can be extended for another 30 days without leaving the country. If you think you might be staying longer than 60 days get a business visa for an extra $5 which can be extended indefinetly.
2. What is the currency?
The official currency is the Reil the unofficial currency is the the US Dollar. If you are comming to the Country it is a good idea to bring USDs (you will need them to get you visa). Dollars are accepted everywhere. 1USD=4,000 reil. I typically only used reil for moto taxis and things that cost less that 2 dollars.
3. Are there volunteer opportunities?
Yes, there are lots of them. It's hard to find good opportunities online though. The best option is to come to the country and ask around about volunteer opportunities if you are looking for short term volunteer work.
If you are looking for a longer term volunteer comitment(3 months) one organization that I volunteered with and enjoyed is CWF
