Hmmn, I realized I’ve written some posts already about living in Cambodia but I have yet to write down some basic things you need to know about Cambodia. Most people conjure up images of Khmer Rouge, genocide and at times, Angkor Wat when the word Cambodia comes up.

But then, living here made me realize this country is awesome, unique and totally fascinating. And yes! There is more to Cambodia than just the Khmer Rouge and its horrible legacy. This country has a lot of natural beauty waiting to be explored, not only the magnificent Angkor Wat temples but its scenic countrysides, national parks, lovely beaches that is not “yet”so crowded, its cuisine, and its people. Cambodia has a lot to offer in terms of rich natural, cultural as well as historical heritage. It’s now also called the world’s newest and one of the most exotic travel destinations.

Here’s some basic facts about Cambodia:

Official Name: Kingdom of Cambodia.
Motto: Nation Religion King
Form of Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Capital City: Phnom Penh

Cambodia covers 181, 035 sq. km. It is located in Southeast Asia It is bordered by Laos on the northeast, Vietnam on the east and southwest, Thailand on the west and northwest and the Gulf of Thailand on the south.

Dominant features of Cambodia’s geography is the Mekong River as well as the Tonle Sap Lake. The Mekong one of Asia’s longest, flows from Tibet down to Laos, then to Cambodia, continuing to Southern Vietnam to the South China Sea. Because of this river, Cambodia has a very fertile agricultural lands. The Tonle Sap Lake is the largest lake in Southeast Asia and it is the main source of fish and irrigation for majority of Cambodia.

Moving to a new country requires one to undergo a lot of changes and adjust to it. Living here in Cambodia was not easy at first but we (daughter and me )  managed to adapt well. Looking back, the changes and challenges we have experienced really put a toll on me both physically and emotionally even if I was preparing for the move for quite sometime. I’m  well adjusted here already so I put this article together for those who are considering moving to Phnom Penh.

• Do some research before you go. It’s really a big help if you have an understanding of the Khmer culture. Adjusting to the place can be really difficult and stressful. When I say research, I mean an idea about the what types of food are available, what are main social do’s and dont’s.

• Be prepared for the changes. Psyche yourself up especially if you are making the move with your children. All routines will change and since you are unfamiliar with the place you are bound to make mistakes. Be prepared for being stressed and irritable. This could put a strain on your relationships. I remember my husband complaining I was always snapping at him ;P..

• Keep an open mind. At first, I developed a feeling of derision for all Cambodian things. Try to overcome this by acknowledging that it is natural. Spend some time mingling with the locals. Discover more about the culture. I found Cambodians to be naturally friendly and genuinely nice people.

• The language difference is another big adjustment. It is particularly difficult in moving around the city because majority of the people cannot speak English. Buying stuff in the markets also prove to be a challenge because of the language differences. Learn at least how to say hello, how to introduce yourself, how much, how to get there and here in Khmer. (I’m drafting a post on the basic Khmer, I promise to post that asap..)

• Food can be difficult particularly for those who are unused to eating Asian diet, which usually consists of rice, soup, fried meat mixed with vegetables, or fish. Don’t despair though, more and more supermarkets are opening up as well as Western fast food style restaurants around the city. Luckily both me and my daughter, being Pinoys, are rice eaters so the adjustment with regards to food was not much.

• The traffic as well as the transportation is another change. Moving around Phnom Penh has been a setback for us. People here usually go around with their own motorbikes or cars. If you don’t have your own transportation you can hire moto-dops, tuk-tuks or a taxi (which is t’lai or expensive) to bring you around. Negotiating the price with the drivers can be frustrating. Ask a local for the usual fares going to the places you frequent so you’ll have a bargaining ground.

• You will most definitely experience feelings of homesickness. I’ve somehow managed to keep homesickness at bay because I constantly keep in touch with my family and friends. Take advantage of the cheap international internet calls. You can find internet cafes offering VOIP services in almost all corners here in Phnom Penh. Calling to the US costs about 100 Riels/minute so you can chitchat for 40 minutes and pay only a dollar. The calling rates to other countries (about 200 Riels/minute for calls to the Philippines) vary but its still cheap so take advantage of this and stay constantly in touch with your family.

The transition period can be difficult but it is normal when you move to live in another country. Keep in mind that you are in a new place so don’t try to impose your own culture on others. You are in Cambodia, not in your country, so you have to adjust. That being said, do enjoy your stay and have a grand time in Phnom Penh.

Check out these interesting items about Phnom Penh…

Cambodians resemble Filipinos a lot in terms of physical features and that is hardly surprising since were both South East Asians. I think the difference between the two is the way we clothe ourselves. The weather here is same as in the Philippines and it could get really hot but Khmers veer towards the conservative side, prefering long sleeved shirts and long pants while most Pinoys I know her prefer casual clothing as in shirts and shorts.

So when I am here in Phnom Penh I don’t really want to be stared at so I stay away from tank tops and short shorts and I go for short sleeved T-shirts and pedal shorts so I am usually mistaken for a Khmer as long as I don’t speak. I know a smattering of Khmer but still when I speak its with an accent and they can’t understand me.

My husband on the other hand, is  of Chinese descent but was born and raised here in Phnom Penh so he is often mistaken for a Chinese, Korean or a Japanese tourist.

The other day we went to Tuol Tom Poung Market and we found it both so funny that the sellers there keep calling me “Bong” which means elder sister or “ate” in Tagalog. When they see my husband they would say, “Monsieur, can we help you?”. And they would end up laughing when my husband would respond to them in fluent Khmer.

And those incidents happen not only in markets, when hubby is driving, he has been stopped by the police several times asking to check his license, believing him to be a foreigner.

In Angkor Wat, foreigners have to pay for a visitor pass (about $20) while Cambodian nationals and holders of K1 visa can go in for free. The last time we visited, they asked to check his visitor’s pass and they didn’t bother checking for mine thinking I was Khmer and he was the foreigner. The same thing happened when he went there with a Filipina friend.

We both find it so amusing and I guess I have to learn to speak the language so I could play the part really well.