Originally Posted by
kquill
Hi,
One or two mentioned the Cambodian visa and I can only describe my personal experience.
VISA
There is a t visa available for one month with the possibility of extending by another month. After that, you must leave the Country. The visa I requested was an e visa for business at $25. This visa is valid for a month but can then be extended up to ONE YEAR MULTIPLE ENTRY by going to a travel shop and allowing them to do it for you, and yes, unlike Thailand, this is acceptable practice. It can be extended ad infinitum.
I didn't. After making friends with an immigration officer, he explained he had to go to Phnom Penn the following day and would be prepared to do it for me personally, with a donation to pay for his transport. He duly arrived at my hotel and I handed the photos to him and $300 dollars. I have seen websites where this visa is available at $250 but most people who live here say they pay about $275 using an agent. I am perfectly satisfied therefore not to be interested in $25 dollars for the officers personal assistance and cutting through long queues and whatever red tape there is. This is all legal by the way!
I find immigration authorities here inobtrusive, pleasant and polite and not surly and greedy as in some other Countries. You are not stopped or asked to produce your passport anywhere except for obvious things such as cashing travellers cheques. I cashed some at the airport booth and was charged a commission which I couldn't figure out why.
TIPPING
This practice is NOT expected for every small service as it is in Pattaya and Bangkok such as bringing your luggage down from the room or opening a bloody door! They are actually slightly embarrased by it and as I left a tip after a couple of beers in a bar, she left it in the change pot and ignored it until I had vacated. Most people I have observed leave about a $1 or $2 dollar tip but there is certainly not any hard and fast rule or whispers of them being a tightwad if they don't!
BEGGARS.
The goverment has removed 95% of beggars. There are a few in number, but children try to sell you books on the genocide or flowers, saying they have no parents. A bit of a scam and a minor irritation. Visitors are recommended not to encourage them by giving to the correctly labelled recognised charities here, if they wish to help the Country. It is best not to sit at tables very nearly on the sidewalk in Cafes as these are the hot spots for you and the prime spots for the beggars. There are quite a few land mine victims but they are trying to sell their goods not beg for money.
NIGHT MARKET
Don't buy things at VASTLY inflated prices in the museums, who don't allow you to take photographs in there either. In fact, don't buy anything until you have been to the night market with goods at fabulous prices and good/reasonable quality for what you are paying. It's a great pleasurable experience.
WALKING AROUND
This is safe but I wouldn't go off the beaten track or in the many unlit areas late night. You wouldn't do it at home! The people are great but there are bound to be bad apples and opportunists in a tourist town like Siem Reap.
MONEYBOYS
After the initial surge in interest and OTT behaviour, they seem to have calmed down in the bars after a couple of days and can then actually be quite useful for information and pleasant to talk to. They do, by and large, accept NO for an answer. THEY USUALLY START AT $50 EXPECTING YOU TO BEAT THEM DOWN TO $30!
TWO DRAGONS.
For those on a limited or tight budget there is the Two Dragons guest house in Wat Bo. It's a tuk tuk into town but very cheap place to stay and recommended on trip advisor. However, the main reason I am telling you is the fact they serve good beer and specialise in THAI food. I love ISSARN food which they serve as the owners wife is Thai. There were a few mixed couples on my visit of Thai/farang. Please do not get the idea it is a GAY guesthouse, it isn't. It's a budget guesthouse.
TUK TUKS
A fair price for them is $12 a DAY waiting around for you at temples ans sightseeing. They are offering afternoon deals at the moment for $5 in the low season. You can't complain at that rate!
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