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Cambodia - Bush Tucker? No, that's breakfast 

Worth a Wander

Worth a Wander

Angkor Wat

 

It has become the symbol of Cambodia, it even appears on their flag.  Doe's anyone else have a monument on theirs?  In your face pyramids.  Originally a Hindu temple to the god Vishnu, Angkor Wat transferred over to Buddhism for an undisclosed fee.   I mean, who could blame them for this marque signing?  It's the best preserved temple at the site and has remained a significant religious temple since it's foundation.   First impressions are important in travel, and Angkor Wat takes a golden star on this.  Invariably it will be sunrise over the reflecting pond, as the sun reveals the wonder of the world everyone around you will watch in silence.  In no way do I promote cracking out a fart to spoil the ambience of this spectacle.  Stop it. After this you can try your hand at getting the best shot of the Wat from the waters reflection, this was when I knew photography wasn't for me.  I did try to redeem myself with pictures of devetas in the temple complex, tremendous bosoms. 

 

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Choeung Ek Genocide Center

 

The recent history of the Khmer Rouge is a lot to take in and get your head around.  When you hear that a conservative estimate of 1.5 million Cambodians or 20% of the population lost their lives through overwork, starvation, disease, or execution your mind can't compute.  The Cheung Ek Genocide Center does this with a monument full of skulls to bring the this horror into reality.  Choeung Ek is not finished with the reality check yet, the infamous killing fields are situated on this site (one of the them).  Be aware that the ground throughout the genocide centre is uneven, you may trip on the floor assuming a rock.. It's bones, the ground is covered with them.  

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Tuol Sleung Genocide Museum 

 

From a genocide centre to a museum, both are situated in Phnom Penh, so I recommend playing with a puppy between and being really nice to as many Cambodians as possible to bring your mood back up.  Tuol Sleung Genocide Museum was the Communist Party’s interrogation centre in Phnom Penh. Code named “S-21,” this centre was the site of more than 15,000 executions of men and women, even those who had served the party faithfully for years were victims. Let's be honest, your not going to feel great about this, but it's a valuable lesson in how shit the Cambodians had it.

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Ta Prohm 

 

You'll know Ta Prohm from images of trees and temples interwoven within each other.  Ta prohm gained infamy from Tomb Raider,and the tree used in the Jolie film.  If you thought you could rein act climbing over the damaged galleries and fighting pretend bad guys.  Well many people have done that before and damaged the ruins.  So, it is now prohibited to do this to protect both you and the temple.  It's another contender for can I climb it? And the it's a strong no on this.  I should really do a current score on what you can and can't climb.  Ta Prohm in Siem Reap, is in much the same condition in which it was found.  The winning combo of jungle surrounding and photogenic ruins have made it one of Angkor's most popular temples. Stop it, I see you eyeing up that tree vine. Bad tourist.

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Battambang Bat Caves

 

As the sun sets to another Cambodian night, you'll look into this cave and wonder if you too could be Batman.  I mean he build a cave with lot's of them to save Goth.. oh god there so many of them! Let's count, 1,2,3 millions. With that questions out of your mind you can enjoy the endless stream of bats rise from their slumber to invade the air space of Battambang’s Phnom Sampeou.  As this mass bat exodus can last for an hour why not pick up a tasty treat from the street sellers enjoying watching the tourists.  Oh, crickets! My favourite.  

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Can I Come In Please?

Can I Come In Please?

As with everywhere 2021 travel is the closest time to visit. A visa of less than 30 days can be completed online, if you would like to travel for longer then a visit to the London embassy is required.  Routine Vaccinations for Cambodia are MMR, Diphtheria ,TyphoidHepatitis A and extra homework vaccinations are Hepatitis BRabiesCholera and Japanese Encephalitis.  Check with your GP.  

How Much Is It?

How Much Is It?

Currency Exchange - £1 - $1.28 US Dollar

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Restaurants

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Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant $1.50-7.00

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, $15.00-35.00

McMeal at McDonalds $5.00-7.00

Domestic Beer (0.5 litre draught) $0.50-2.00

Imported Beer (0.33 litre bottle)$1.00-3.00

Cappuccino $1.00-3.00

Coke/Pepsi (0.33 litre bottle)$0.50-1.50

Water (0.33 litre bottle)$0.25-1.00

 

Markets

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Milk (regular),(1 litre)$1.70-3.00

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)$0.75-2.20

Eggs (regular) (12)$1.20-2.00

Cheese (1kg)$7.00-50.00

Chicken (1kg) $2.50-7.50

Beef (1kg) $5.00-15.00

Apples (1kg)$2.00-5.50

Banana (1kg)$0.50-3.00

Water (1.5 litre bottle)$0.50-1.00

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)$7.00-13.00

Domestic Beer (0.5 litre bottle)$0.50-1.21

Imported Beer (0.33 litre bottle)$1.00-2.50

Cigarettes 20 Pack $1.20-2.00

 

Transportation

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One-way Ticket (Local Transport)$0.40-2.00

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)$0.75-2.00

Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)$0.50-2.00

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Us here at Cheeky Finance recommend a 'Going Rogue' pot of money. This is set aside from the daily budget for the unknown eg. A night that has gone from zero to ten, or a sudden urge create steak with a rocket launcher.

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* Cost of living quoted from www.numbeo.com

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A word of warning, the budget killer that is south east Asian haggling has entered the scene.  Here's some friendly advice. You pay, they smile, you've paid way too much.  They look sad, you've paid too much.  You've given any money, anywhere, you've paid over the odds.  Check with your hotel/hostel/friends beforehand on what is 'reasonable' on anything from tours to clothes to taxis.  You'll not get mates rates, you're a tourist. Just decide what's the right price for you, and if it's not walk away, I'd recommend a strong confident walk, if I had to choose.  More often than not, you'll get shouted at the last price. Take it or leave it.  In some places I've been haggling for days, built up a relationship with the person and given them alternatives to money to pay for things.  I mean, who can resist my top ten willy jokes?  

What's The Weather Like?

What's The Weather Like?

Cambodia, like the rest of the countries around south east Asia, can be hit by typhoons. But unlike other countries in the area, they are quite rare.  This is because Cambodia like to hand them off to neighbouring countries like Northern Vietnam and Laos. Cambodia is essentially the typhoon assist king.  You will get heavy rain, but, the typhoons has released the bulk of their energy over the coasts of Southern Vietnam. The typhoon 'season' is between June and December. 

Tropical Plants

Tropical

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Warm year round - 31C

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Monsoon - May/Oct

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Drier less humid - Nov/Mar

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Typhoon- June/Dec

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Will I Get Into Trouble?

Will I Get Into Trouble?

Your stomach has a high percentage of getting into trouble based on Cambodia weird and wonderful diet.  The delicacies available for you start with friend spiders/tarantulas.  These eight legged treats have been bred in holes or foraged from the local countryside (Which is great to hear). Now, for your first tasting notes you will discover that it's bland, crispy on the outside soft on the inside. Not interested it's fine, well go on to the next food vendor what are they selling?  Ah, crickets!  Deep fried until crisp and seasoned to perfection Cambodia next treat is a great snack on the go.  The Cambodians saw the swarms of crickets on the plains and... got hungry. Ok, well we could try balut? Sounds yummy, take a bite. Hmm what is it? It's exotic. Ok you need the full list of ingredients, well it's a fertilized duck embryo that is boiled alive and eaten in the shell. Why are you dry heaving?

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Optional Extras

Optional Extras

Rumours of this place start as soon as you go into Asia.  There's the eternal question. Can you blow up a cow with a rocket launcher in Cambodia? Well, in the Phkor Lan Club shooting range, it seems the rumours were true. The possibility to shoot guns like the AK47s  for US$20 seems believable, but it seems they have a magical door where the targets and the guns get more ridiculous.  Ok, so you've fired an AK47, why not try a rocket launcher?  How much? Well, it's US $200.  Image holding the rocket launcher, and the shop owner turning to you to say 'For an extra US$200, you could shoot a rocket launcher at a cow'. Steak and a show?

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