After my post about alternatives to Thailand, where I gathered approximate schemes how to travel to different countries on quite a long time for wintering (or just to change the situation), one of our friends, readers, programmer doctor wanted to share its recent travel experience in cambodia. Eugene went there a couple months ago on exploration.
Trip to Cambodia. Intelligence for the upcoming (possibly) wintering. The situation with visas to Thailand has changed, many are looking for alternatives, I no exception, the comparison of Cambodia will be with Thailand, specifically with Samui Travel time – June 2014.
Well, let’s go – We flew more precisely, daughter for 2 weeks in the camp, one it’s boring to practice, let me think exploring Cambodia (this is all against visa policy changes in Tae). Tickets managed to buy good, Aeroflot regular flight – to Bangkok and back, the price for everything – a little more than 20,000 rubles. Regular flight is not a charter (completely clogged), a lot of foreigners, a lot of free places, near there were no passengers with me, a freebie, in one word. Flew in Bangkok, I spent a few hours in some sort of dreary guesthouse and airport to siem reap. Still at home, I took tickets from AirAsia Bangkok- Siem Reap, at the campaign held at a cost of 1600 rubles per one end (taxi to Sheremetyevo airport is more expensive :)).
The content of the article
- 1 In Siem Reap
- 2 A trip to Sihanoukville by bus (horror)
- 3 In Sihanoukville
- 4 trip back
- 5 UPDATE1. About security
- 6 Video sketches
Contents
In Siem Reap
Except for Tay from Asia, he was nowhere; he was a little fussed in the plane, like it is there with a visa (although about the process of obtaining and the necessary actions on forums carefully read). It turned out easier and faster even than in Tae stamp put, filled a couple of cards (arrival, departure and the type of statement “give a visa”) – almost the same, as in Tae, photo taken from the house attached. Upon arrival in Siem Reap – the airport is small, basically there is nowhere to get lost, I got up the only place to ask if she had visas … More you give what you filled up, a photo and 20 bucks. And you become with the other end of the line, where names are shouted (and sometimes just Names) of those people who made a visa. Next to the border guard – get a couple of stamps and everything … no adventures. Border guard only now he was alerted, no, he did not try to somehow breed me or something like that, he was just pointing with his fingers and something muttered smiling, then I did not understand (I understand on departure) that he generally wanted to. Showed him on the rack with officials issuing visa, explained how he could, they say there paid if anything, everything is “ok” and went yourself on.
Then I bought a local SIM card, SMART provider – immediately in the airport in the cell shop, the seller set up an internet for me, the cost Sims 10 bucks, with this provider calls to Russia, a little more than from Russia itself (just kidding of course, but close to that), recruit it is possible without being perverted with ip-telephony, just + 7 and_further_number.
I leave the airport, it’s the tenth hour of the night in the yard, it’s dark in Asia … Immediately meet one of the most frequent phrases in Cambodia – “TUK-TUK SIR “(as one person joked on the forum – after the next such cry, Pol Pot began his reforms :)). All the treacherously conspired tuk-tukers, they offer to take to the city for a terrible price of 5 bucks, and if you agree, in their eyes there is a full satisfaction, guessed the expression of the face of Moscow bombilla, You have three times the price of the metro. Well, I think so walk walk-
Gestah didn’t book any of them in advance, is it really possible to spend the night in Asia There is no place, and if there is no place for me to see such Asia :). Opened on the phone application, toli “booking”, toli “agoda”, looked the card – showed tuker – say, let’s try the opposite of the city side, there is a pond and probably beautiful … beautiful or not, did not understand there were no lampposts in the opposite side of the city, darkness, hostesses in a guest house by the pond came out in nightgowns (really – the eleventh hour, and you are hanging around here).
Let’s go to the city limits, the situation is the same – everyone is sleeping, but worse Moreover, I began to want to sleep. It is fraught with a lack of strength on detailed searches and trades, therefore collapsed somewhere to sleep for 20 bucks in day, room, condo, shower – well, everything is as usual, even breakfast is included (I overslept him the truth).
In the morning, the other guest, for hearty, took off for 15 bucks a day, in the very city, but the number is much better than in the first, even the pool was (bathed). The order of prices for guest houses in Siem Reap I think is understandable from 5 bucks (apparently with a fan :)), after 10 – numbers start with kondeyami, everything is clean, normal.
Further targets were as follows: see how much it costs to rent a house. (payment per month, utilities, etc.), conditions for working on an Internet (actually read – the quality and cost of Ineta), what’s on nutrition – shops + eatery, well, and not unimportant point – where we will be with daughter boxing and fizuhoy engage. Egyptian pyramids, Angkor, temples-sights and everything like that doesn’t interest at all, I would not go even if they paid extra. Although all taxi drivers-guides they strive to take you exactly to Angkor (and for a long time they raise their eyebrows, when they hear that it is NOT INTERESTING).
I got acquainted with the tuker, he called me Mr. Cobra (well, well) – took me to eat, at the same time and see what, how much, in short, I ate I myself fed Tuker, I didn’t eat a huge omelet with vegetables, I gave for everything 10 bucks (okay, I think you can live). In the remaining helms institutions rates plus or minus one and a half times, in general, and for 3 A dollar can be eaten easily; I usually take fried rice with chicken, plus that fruit and vegetable thread and drink. Maybe all the cheapness is still exacerbated by the month of June (low season). Ate – you can at home look for.
With houses is not quite simple, as in Thailand Samui, there is no mass Signs “House for rent”, you need to find out, search, in short spend a lot more power than in Tae (maybe it seemed so only to me). For intelligence and taxi drivers get off, Cobra took in the first found house, two bedrooms, a disproportionately huge kitchen (size as in the rest of the house hmm …), well, in general, how usually, without any bargaining, they voiced the price of 500 bucks a month.
The following two options turned out to be huge villas, with huge the amount of heavy mahogany furniture, 3 floors, more than 10 rooms. What did he take me there I did not understand, the price range I He called, but for this fortress they were asked for 1600 bucks a month, and so where is it to us :), with the 10th rooms? The remaining options that looked basically similar.
The taxi driver really insisted – “they say you will arrive in September, give me know in advance for a month, I’ll pick you up here … just don’t knew you were coming and didn’t have time to prepare, “okay, phones exchanged. In principle, as the further trip will show in Sihanoukville – the situation with the houses is the same – less than the “middle class” – either expensive villas (not for the beggars :)), or completely bad. No, there are medium options too, just again I repeat – it is more difficult to find them than in Tae.
I liked the prices for transport services :), so cheap not yet seen. I went to another tuker – say “they want to say ride, just like that (in Angkor is not necessary), I want the terrain look, like what … “- asks in response, so how much time you want to ride when you hear that somewhere around 3 o’clock, calls the price at 10 bucks. 10 bucks for 3 hours ride! – well, great because Russia for such money will not even be sent where necessary (asked to add :)). According to the results of pokatushek – in Siem Reap it seemed to me dirty, on the streets just a pile of garbage, evenly distributed on the sidewalks. By the way there are sidewalks, they are better than on Samui, if who are interested. Climate, how to say, more “steppe” of some kind, “green” less. During the walk I found a big gym, everything there are no people except the administrator, it costs 1 dollar per workout !!! Damn, even stay.
There are no such supermarkets as Samui, shops are much less, prices and range, in principle, as in the Thai 7-11, but here is someone who needs it, for me so what to do.
The season was apparently really low, in the evening a lot of streets with massage pleasures look just empty. Picture funny enough, empty street, I come to the third from the beginning “massage salon”, each has 15-20 seats for massage legs and other parts, the staff in full force (well, people of 6-10 in each), and on the street (I’m not lying) I alone. Even, somehow awkward you feel yourself … I come up with a laugh – I say, “that the season is completely low? “, they say that they say yes, quite, well, and offer foot massage – 1 hour 1 dollar !!!, they make of course handicraft, but for 1 dollar, in general Free massage in the teeth … But the general massage, duration half an hour, will cost as much as 4 bucks. It’s all without sex, of course. Immediately after going out with a massage, in fifth on the same street “saloon”, offer ischu, I say – they say is good, then (not appeased girl) maybe you HAPPY MASSAGE, no say, medical insurance This will not cover :).
Bus ride to Sihanoukville (horror)
He bought the ticket during his walk in Siem Reap; some ticketing office, in his words “the best.” Give, I say, a ticket to Sihanoukville, well, what would vip and all that, well they say, let’s get 20 bucks and go on a sleeping night bus.
From the guest house I took, included in these 20 bucks, transfer knock knock and drove to the bus station. There, too, quickly, give a ticket – get on the bus. In the bus surprise, I think most It is our Russian reserved seat shelf in the car, its dimensions in particular, so here’s a sleeping bus implies lack of seating, but only the presence of such shelves in 2 tiers, each regiment is as wide as one and a half of our reserved seats (not two exactly). Well, I think, okay, I’ll switch over, no matter how.
It leads to the shelf with the number as in the ticket – it says your pier place, climb (2 tier). I raise my eyes, there is a blonde, 25 years is sitting. I say – there is a type of busy, where are you putting me … Politely make it clear that they say this one-and-a-half reserved seat shelf for two !!! N-yes, it is very convenient … Apologizing to the girl (the German turned out to be), that they say nothing personal, climb on the shelf, my place is closer to the aisle. Of course, it’s not possible for two of us on this shelf to do anything; extend completely (even with my not long growth), in width generally keep quiet. I can not sleep either, do not you sleep with an unfamiliar girl, but you never know what a dream, plus the sleepy German, in a dream, periodically hustled, squeezing me into the passage—
The bus has 4-5 stops all the way to “go to the toilet.” At the bus stop in Phnom Penh (they have such a capital), the German goes out – damn arrived, already dawn, I was delighted, they say one will go on, I sit on the shelf, mastering the space, yeah SCHAS. Comes to a stop the other, already from England, is about 25 years old, it looks like a typical downshifter, Well, this is all in baubles, a specific outfit, etc. With her the truth better :), talked, talked, slept quietly – not pushed. To study somewhere, travels all the time and all the time, as I understand, for pennies (what to take with downshiftera :)). Full time bus around 12 o’clock, if interested.
During a sleepless night, I thought of a way to go back. I thought to buy 2 tickets and occupy the entire half-and-a-half shelf, but the wife who was at home, quickly dug infu on the forums that this With great probability it is useless – you will buy 2 tickets, but not the fact that on the same shelf (in general, someone else will of course tell you thank you very much 
). Well, after a trip with two females sex at hand, the wife strongly recommended to buy a ticket to plane from Sihanoukville to Siem Reap. All done with the bus – I do not advise anyone unless there is a goal with different “hippie-Germans” meet.
In Sihanoukville
A nice Englishwoman suggested a guest, according to her downshifting notions. quite good. I go – the price is 6 bucks a night, an Englishwoman nods approvingly and remains, I ask to provide the same, but with kondeem – “ok” they say, then 10 bucks. Agreed number normal, for a couple of days what to do. From it actually did raids with the same objectives as Siem Reap.
In Sihanoukville, in my opinion, it turned out to be much cleaner garbage (at least in such a quantity) not detected, climate – it feels softer – the sea makes itself felt, well, the “greens” a huge amount – in fact does not differ from Samui, which is only then on the other side of the bay.
About the beaches I will not say in detail, I’m not particularly interested, really on the ocean will not find where to swim :), on the beaches and so a lot reviews and holivar, but I think the problems with this will not be accurate.
As for the salmon cods, the same as in Siem Reap (and, probably, in all of Cambodia), even in the famous “Snake House” is not so expensive as thought.
Super stores, a la “Tesco” or “Big C” is still not, There are four main supermarkets, but the size of the largest – like a few 7-11 combined, well, there is no such assortment Of course, well, here “who is without something bad.” Store intelligence was conducted exclusively on the orders of his wife – to understand what opportunities for cooking at home, etc. Prices, approximately, as in Samui “Tesco”. It is said in Phnom Penh with this much better, but there is no was—
Found-visited four major sport points, prices are also acceptable. there is 1 bucks training, there are 10 bucks – “super local elite club”, but even in it, if you take a subscription for a month – then 50 bucks for without limit visits with sauna and swimming pool – well, one fig penny. Also, that for me is not unimportant, except for boxing and a hall with glands, There were 2 points where they play table tennis, and special room, the wind does not interfere, the tables are new, partners heap, price … well, as usual, 1 hour – 1 dollar. Walked, played but local, constantly engaged Khmers, “carried out” as a child: (, moreover, they managed to pay for me :), that’s why 0 bucks per hour.
About home. Since Sihanoukville liked overall more Siem Reap, then watched more options. Initially, as usual with tuker, came to a cottage village, with a hundred houses – from the fact that they offered – I liked the 3-storey house, on each floor has a bedroom, a bathroom – the price is 500 bucks a month. Also houses modest 350-400 bucks, with two bedrooms. Manager It seemed strange, what kind of manager if in English not a word? It turned out later (compatriot told) – that this is the head protection – therefore, the prices could be called inflated, the most necessary live :), well, I do not claim – it was important for me to “scout”.
The next day, having phoned a Russian-speaking agent by Name of Catherine (in several forums in Cambodia, it is recommended) – made a trip with her. There certainly was much more interesting, Catherine is an assistant to the head of the Russian diaspora; a lot of it, ride, looked more options – in general, for 350 dollars per month – it’s really possible to rent a two-bedroom house. But, they rent everywhere, usually for a period of around six months, a deposit take for 2 months, of course, if everything is “ok” returned. Utility payments – again, in general, as in Tae.
I liked the house very close to the sea, but An American woman living there (granny) didn’t know exactly when going back home, the house is excellent, already drooled, 350 bucks in a month, the American herself said she paid 300 each, but it was with its entrance, almost a year ago and for a period of “almost a year” respectively – it turns out sort of like without cheating – hmm great.
The Internet – from 3G was used only by the SMART operator – and in Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, speed in the region of 2-3 megabits per jump, but here it is worth making a reservation about stability, sagging and other adverse factors – here all this is much more 3G at least this operator), often slows down, falls off and etc. According to all the measurements and pure sensations from trying do the usual work – well, 3 times worse than on Samui. But maybe here you need to try several providers, in the same Tae, 3G It began to arrange only after the transition to DTAC. Mobile prices Inet – again comparable with Thai, at some tariffs cheaper, at some slightly more expensive. WiFi in guest houses – well, so-so (well as elsewhere in general :)), but multi-threaded loading allows squeeze up to 1.5 megabytes per second when jumping from any file hosting or torrent. According to Catherine, hold a dedicated line to a rented house, not a problem here, cost maybe about 50 bucks a month (big plus or minus depending from needs for speed and traffic) – stability and speed speaks much better – in one room, children watch online the film, with another husband shakes something, in the third she is on Skype with a video communicates – and everything is fine says.
Trip back
Having received a strict instruction from my wife to fly by plane, I bought a ticket from Sihanoukville to Siem Reap, price 80 bucks, only one flies the company, only local flights from Sihanoukville, you want to Phnom Penh, you want in Siem Reap.
To the airport I decided to save on a taxi, bargained, did not take into account, that it is located much further from the city than in Siem Reap and for a long time I wondered why they didn’t want to carry as much as 5 bucks, but asked for as many as 9 :), but it’s already interesting how much they can sink in the price taxi drivers But I did find one, let’s talk for 5, but on Motobike (that’s why I agreed). For $ 5, he decided to cut the road as soon as possible (and even as it is impossible), drove for some slums, dirt all around, huge bumps, a bike rides like a goat, I back without a helmet – HORROR, at some site I got down and walked about 200 meters behind him on foot (life is more expensive), then hysterical laughter began – I think the slightest drift – I’m on the ground, while in the hospital, while insurance, pre-purchased tickets will disappear, behind a backpack in which poppy worth more than 100 thousand rubles, well, damn saved 4 bucks (fool :)).
After the slums there was a continuation, with a speedy exit – dashing tuker cut more than 100 km per hour and the second part began trips. Upon arrival at the airport – my hands ached from the tension, the heart pounded – in a word, as it is not very state (it is soft).
At the airport, I found myself in a situation in which few people were – I was the only passenger at that time, the airport is completely empty (none of the passengers at all), just me and the staff on the racks, registration speak in half an hour. I waited, the people pulled up, turboprop aircraft, small, one third filled passengers – and everything, back – Siem Reap, Bangkok, Russia.
UPDATE1. About security
About the Khmer Rouge – well, sort of you can forget – although yes, someone says that in the north in the jungle they saw one, two, etc. and etc. – of course a coup is not planned and it is precisely them who are afraid to I don’t need to be at all, just as no one is afraid of the former NKVD employees, all this is terrible only with the appropriate political order, but he is no longer “red” :).
Probably the problem of theft is more relevant, in Thai Samui I I could often leave a bike near a store with keys, like me told, rolling bikes are not hijacking, in principle, where to put them from the island. In Cambodia, in general, they tell differently, they steal, strongly, whites are even stronger :), forums are often discussed anti-theft chains and other devices. Theft in homes I understand the phenomenon is also more common, very often surrendering houses are surrounded by a fence, often with barbed wire – that in itself, as it were, says – “protection is done for some reason—”, on the same Samui – at home behind the fence, and even with a thorn, “incredibility”
Walking the streets at night and in Sihanoukville and Siem Reap – was like in crowded, and almost deserted places – like no problem (in I would be more afraid of Russia :)).
Video sketches
Life hacking 1 – how to buy a good insurance
Choosing insurance is now unrealistically difficult, therefore, to help everyone travelers, I make a rating. To do this, constantly monitor forums, I study insurance contracts and use insurance by myself.
Insurance Rating
Life hacking 2 – how to find a hotel 20% cheaper
First, choose a hotel on Booking. They have a good base offers, but the prices are NOT the best! The same hotel is often possible find 20% cheaper in other systems through the RoomGuru service.
Discount hotels
