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Holidays in Cambodia |
Useful
Information
Time
Differnce: GMT +7 Hours
Visas & Taxes
Please make sure your passport does not expire within six months of
your travel period. Cambodian visas are issued on arrival at all
crossings where foreigners can legally cross. You will need to bring
with you a passport size photo.
Visas cost US$20 for a
tourist visa and these last for a period of 30 days. If you are
looking to stay longer then ask for a Business visa US$25. A tourist
visa can be extended for one month, but business visas can be
extended indefinitely. You don’t have to have any special papers to
get a business visa, simply pay the extra five dollars. (For every
day you over stay your visa there is a $5 per day fine)
Please note that there is an airport departure tax that you have
to pay when leaving.
For domestic flights it will cost you $6 and for international
flights $25.
Money
The Cambodian riel is the official currency of Cambodia; however the
US dollar is the de-facto currency and is accepted pretty much
everywhere.
Bank notes in circulation are: 50, 100, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 and
10000 Riel.
Make sure if you do pay in US dollars that the notes are not torn or
marked in any way as these notes will not be accepted.
Because the Cambodian Riel used to be unstable and sustainable to
fluctuation, it was decided to bind the Cambodian Riel to the US
Dollar. Since that time, the Cambodian Riel has been a steady
currency and the exchange rate has constantly remained at about 1 US
Dollar = 4000 Riel.
Banking
There are several national banks where you can change or withdraw
money. Working hours are 8am-3.30pm, Monday to Friday. All banks
will accept travellers’ cheques at 2%-4% commission being the usual
charge. Most of the provincial and large towns now have ATM’s
however you should always double check before you leave for some of
the remote areas.
Credit Cards
Visa, JCB, Master Card and American Express credit cards are all
commonly accepted. You will sometimes need identification if using
your credit card to get cash.
Exchange Rate
(approximately)
1 US Dollar (USD) = 4000 riel
1 Pound (GBP) = 6644 riel
1 Euro (EUR) = 4897 riel
1 Hong Kong dollar (HKD) = 510 riel
1 Australian dollar (AUD) = 2863 riel
1 Canada dollar (CAN) = 2902 riel
When to Go:
Cambodia has two main seasons the green season and the dry season,
with a couple of what could be called sub-seasons in between where
it is slightly hotter or cooler.
Cambodia can be visited at any time of the year and has a mild
tropical climate. Travellers should not be put off by the myth of
South East Asia’s monsoon period or ‘Green Period’ as we like to
call it.
The ‘Green Season’ extends from May until October and is an
extremely good time to travel. The rain tends to come in short sharp
down pours and at this time the country is probably at its most
beautiful. The sights are also a lot less crowded and Angkor is
surrounded by lush foliage and the moats are all full of water,
perfect for that picture postcard photograph.
The ‘Dry Season’ is from November to April. The most pleasant time
to travel is from November to January when the weather is dry and
cool; the days are full of bright crisp autumn like days.
The weather is at its hottest and stickiest in late March and April,
where temperatures hover around thirty-five degrees centigrade.
Cambodia has something to offer at any time of the year and our
tours and tailor made itineraries will make sure you get the most
out of your trip whatever time of year you travel.
Khmer New Year
Cambodian New Year ‘Chol Chnam Thmey’ means “Enter the New Year”.
The holiday lasts for three days beginning on New Year’s Day, most
commonly April 13th but sometimes on the 12th or 14th in their
keeping with the lunar calendar. This time of the year is at the end
of the harvesting season. The farmers enjoy the fruits of their
harvest and relax before the rainy season begins.
Khmer New Year is also the time to prepare special dishes. One of
these is kralan, a cake made from steamed rice mixed with beans or
peas, grated coconut and coconut milk. The mixture is stuffed inside
a bamboo stick and slowly roasted.
Royal Ploughing Ceremony
The Royal Ploughing Ceremony is an ancient royal rite held in
Cambodia and Thailand to mark the traditional beginning of the
rice-growing season. In the Khmer language, it is called “Preah
Reach Pithi Chrot Preah Neangkol”
The date is usually in May, but varies as it is determined by Hora
(astrology)
Water Festival (Bonn Om Touk)
The Khmer Water Festival is celebrated in November with every town
and province joining in the celebrations but the best place to be is
Phnom Penh. For three days, workers from every province join with
the city’s residents to celebrate by night and day.
The river comes alive with fireworks and flotillas of over 300
brightly-lit boats propelled by precision-trained oarsmen who take
part in the annual boat race. It is not surprising that the city
takes on a carnival air during this period.
The full moon which coincides with the festival is worshipped by
many households as this good omen promises a bountiful harvest. The
highlight of the festival is a series of boat races. These take
place over three days and honour the twelfth century Khmer naval
victories achieved under King Jayavarman VII.
Bon Om Thook is an ancient festival having its roots in a time when
the Angkorian kings would test the fighting prowess of their
warriors by holding competitions. The races were a form of training
and a means by which the king could choose his champions. To this
end they were used in a similar way to jousting tournaments in
medieval Europe.Cambodian temple carvings at Bayon and Banteay Chmar
have numerous depictions of battles fought on water. Spiritually,
the festival provides a chance to give thanks to Buddha for the
year’s rice crop, to ask for sufficient rain in the coming year and
usher in the fishing season.
The Water Festival also marks a unique natural phenomenon – the
Tonle Sap river reverses the flow of its current. It is probably the
only waterway in the world which flows in opposite directions at
different times of the year. From November to May, the Tonle Sap
river runs into the Mekong just like any other tributary. But with
the arrival of the monsoon rains, there is such build-up of water in
the main stream that excess pours into the Tonle Sap river, forcing
it to change direction an flow back into the Tonle Sap lake.
Bon Phchom Ben (Khmer Festival of the Ancestors)
Bon Phchom Ben is the autumnal festival dedicated to the spirits of
the dead. During this 15 day period following the full moon, food
and money are offered to monks. On the 15th day of the festival the
new moon appears. This day is Bonn Phchom Ben (the collection of the
Bens, or offerings). It is believed that the souls of the dead will
not leave a place in the light of the full moon so the festival ends
when the night is at its darkest. It is also believed that dead
relatives will return to haunt their descendents if suitable
offerings are not made. Respect for ancestors and fear of ghosts (K’maoch)
are both strong elements in the Khmer belief system.
Culture
There are so many cultural differences; it’s very useful if you read
about some of them before you go.
Permission should be sought before taking pictures of people,
particularly monks. Avoid touching someone on the head as it is
considered the most sacred part of a person’s body. Women should
wear modest clothing, preferably a long skirt or loose-fitting
trousers. When visiting religious sites, shoes should be removed,
and shorts avoided. A traditional greeting in Cambodia is a bow,
bringing together the hands at chest level (similar to hand position
for prayer). With foreigners Cambodians sometimes convert to the
handshake. The simple rule is to respond with the same greeting you
were given.
Here are a few more points:
Don’t go topless unless you’re on a beach – men and women alike.
Do accept food when offered – it’s rude not to.
Don’t point your feet at any religious statue or shrine.
Do be prepared to be stared at like a zoo animal and be asked
personal questions.
Don’t touch monks if you’re female.
Do be open and talkative – most people are thrilled to welcome and
talk to you.
Do carry your own toilet paper if it matters to you – it’s a rare
commodity.
Don’t offer food or drinks with your left hand – this is your
hygiene hand in the absence of toilet paper.
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