The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
Deleted
Andrew_Jay
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
-
Andrew_Jay on
0
Posts
I can tell you that, generally, price-wise your dollars will go a fairly long way there, if you spend them wisely and aren't afraid to bargain. If you're not too picky, it's possible to find a hotel room for $4 a day in Phnom Penh, and I imagine with an extended stay you could haggle a further discount. That's really the bare-bones, though, and I imagine you might want something a little more comfortable (and with more facilities; there was a bucket shower, but nothing like a stove or anything to cook for yourself) if you're going to be living in it for a few months. There are plenty of western cafes catering to the backpacker crowd if you're in need of comfort food; I can't speak from experience, but imagine cooking for yourself or finding local Khmer eateries would be cheaper. I got around fine without speaking any of the local language, but I was mostly dealing with members of the tourist economy.
For flights, I recommend the price aggregator Kayak.com. I don't know about your departure/return dates, but I found some flights around $1700 that take you through to Phnom Penh. Scams abound on the route from Bangkok to Siem Reap / Angkor Wat, which you would pass through first before reaching Phnom Penh, so if you decide to go overland, you might want to read up here (those Bangkok->Cambodia air tickets are not overpriced by chance).
Also: it will be hot and humid. Prepare yourself.
Don't know how much this helps, but hopefully it's a start.
My aunt currently lives in Phnom Penh so sometime soon I will ask her about what it's like living there.
As far as expenses go I lived easily off of $500/month in Thailand and the Thai people I worked with lived easily off $200/month. I wouldn't call my apartment a luxurious villa or anything, but after a week or two I got used to it. Also I spent a lot more money than was necessary. Traveling on the weekends, going to restaurants almost every day... etc. I even bought a motorbike (highly recommended) It's just a different kind of living. For me, when I first got to where I was living I was constantly worried people would be cheating me, but once you're a little off the beaten tourist path or even are regularly seen you'll be probably be treated the same as everyone else. Also, keep in mind that while an extra $0.50 to you doesn't really matter its a day's food for someone in Cambodia, so try to keep things in perspective.
One thing I would suggest before you go is finding some sort of Health Insurance. While it's unlikely you'll have serious problems while there it's always nice to know that in case of emergency someone will airlift you to Bangkok, Or Singapore, or Tokyo, or Home if need be. Also, who knows what kind of lasting blood parasites and the like you can get once there and it would suck to have them defined as a 'pre-existing condition.' I had health insurance for a year I spent in Asia and never needed it, but that $120/month sure made me feel better. Of course, you're Canadian so I don't know if/how that changes anything.
GET HEALTH INSURANCE. If you get injured, considering going to Thailand for medical aid. It's a third world country. Remember that. Life works differently and you are going to have to adjust.
If you like creature comforts, you ain't going to be getting any besides the bare essentials (that is, the rooms in a decent place will be clean), so prepare yourself for that as well.
Ok, that was the bad stuff. Now the good stuff: It's dirt, dirt cheap. Like really cheap, like live for a few dollars a day cheap.
Go to Siem Riep when you get the chance to see Angkor Wat. It also has a surprisingly good set of cafes on "bar street" (streets don't have names).
The place is still fairly rough around the edges, but that is part of it's charm - Siem Nuk (not sure of the name, but it's the seaside "town" to the SW of Phnom Pen) is a really nice place to sit on the beach. You will also meet interesting people, and have the chance to visit other countries in the area.
I believe (as with many things in Asia) rampant corruption is the cause of expensive airfares. When I was there, rumour had it that most of your airfare going into Phnom Penh or Siem Reap goes pretty much straight to Hun Sen's pockets. As well as Bangkok, you may be able to fly from Ho Chi Minh City.
Can't offer any advice on living there as I was just travelling through. Oh, I went overland from Siem Reap to Bangkok and the road is extremely fucking terrible (dirt, giant potholes whole way through, some interesting delays to be had), but I'd heard it was marked for repairs.
I didn't leave with a good impression of Siem Reap besides the temples, and while there you should take the time to see Wat Bo, however I thought Phnom Penh was actually pretty nice.
http://newnations.bandcamp.com