Korean Job Discussion Forums

[warren pease]

The ball and chain and myself are planning on going to Cambodia in September after our contract is completed. The thing is, we're planning on traveling with all of the luggage that we're taking home. Does anyone know if there is a place to store large suitcases at the airport, either PP or SR? And if so an approximate on the cost? I've done a bunch of internet searching but haven't come up with anything concrete.

Also, any tips on where to stay or advice on where to go (restaurants, whatever) or the conditions there in September (I know it's the rainy season) would be greatly appreciated.

thx

[sojourner1]

No luggage storage services to my knowledge and I wouldn't trust a Cambodian with it out of my sight anyhow. This is not to say all Cambodians are bad, but scams run rampant in this corrupt, but beautiful little old primitive country. You're going to wish you had some of that stuff shipped in a box as packing light is the only way to go to SE Asia. Because I only brought a large backpack, I was able to take the motorcycle taxis and get around with ease. It would had been so difficult to be ball and chained like you're talking. Often times such as in Thailand and when entering Cambodia, taking a motorcycle taxi was the only practical way to go and you sure won't be walking since you must use their motorcycle/tuk tuk transportation to get to your rooms from a bus or train station.

Mail some of that stuff home such as Winter clothes and other unnecessary things. This is a hot tropical place where you only need light Summer clothes, a good camera, and a hat.

Siem Reap is the crown of Cambodia tourism with Angkor Wat being a wonderful experience though the local kids will beg you to death for school money while women carrying babies will beg for milk and sales people will be the most high pressure you've ever seen. Just ignore when you don't want something and enjoy this adventure. Saying no only fuels the fire to rediculous behaviors and when you do purchase something, numerous sellers will argue with each other and demand to you that you seen them first. They act like little kids and many actually are...

Hire a tuk tuk for about $15 a day and give him water and lunch to take you to explore all the temple sites which takes 3 days.

As for rooms, there are plenty of $5 to $10 a night places in Siem Reap in and near that triangle shaped city center which is the tourist district offering delights like the Temple Club for live Apsara dancing and great food as well as happy pizza joints along with services like international calling where phones are placed on a table at the side of the street. In Pnom Penn, the river front north of the Royal Palace is the place to sleep and eat as it's the most civilized and safest offering great food and clean rooms though they run $25 on up. Don't take that stupid bicycle with a seat on the front as the driver will try to scam you and you will have a confrontation upon arrival on him over charging you. After paying him the agreed fair plus being generous to give him a big bottle of water on a hot day, he demanded more $ in an extremely rude and greedy manner. I got surly and aggressive and scared him off with him yelling 4 letter words and threats, but he left without any more of my money.

Know what you can before hand and be aggressive and very assertive when in Cambodia as they like to take advantage of passive push overs. Just a heads up.

I enjoyed Siem Reap much more than Pnom Penn, but Pnom Penn has more genuine souvenirs for sale at better prices.