Thanks for the tip I've heard about the Thailand "Saving face" rule.

Do you mind expounding a little more upon Cambodia? We've got some family that has been to Thailand and we can get a little more information from them. I'd really like to visit Cambodia as well though (Vietnam too, but I don't believe we'll have enough time and we'd have to sacrifice some of the Thailand and Cambodia trip).

Was Cambodia a huge hassle? Any bad experiences? Is it difficult to navigate?

We decided just the other night this is where we'd like to go. So, we haven't researched the two that much. Prior, we were looking at Tokyo or Hong Kong. However, aside from flights, Thailand and Cambodia are substantially cheaper and we both have a dual-interest in these countries.

This post was edited on 6/20/16 at 10:27 am

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Posted by Teddy Ruxpin

Member since Oct 2006

39606 posts

Posted on 6/20/16 at 12:58 pm to 12Pence

quote:
Was Cambodia a huge hassle? Any bad experiences? Is it difficult to navigate?

How much of it are you planning to do?

Siem Reap isn't a problem at all. Thailand is more developed and tourist friendly, as it has been visited heavily by Europeans for decades. Cambodia didn't really open up until the last 15 years. A lot of it reminded me of India development wise for a city its size.

Flying into Siem Reap, you can get a flat rate cab ride from the airport for $7.

Actually, now that I'm on the subject, the most ridiculous problem you'll have is passport control at the Siem Reap airport. It is hilarious in its 3rd world absurdity. Be prepared to wait longer than you should.

Examples:
Passports were just put in stacks to officers at a long counter, another officer would pick up the stacks and then try to pronounce names for people from all over the globe. He did his best, and handed, sorry, THREW the passport to whomever said that was them which seemed risky. You then go from waiting for your passport getting the VISA to the passport control lines, which is another good wait.

My wife got held up because the guy thought the passport photo didn't look like her, she was younger and had a fuller face in the photo, but not by much. He asked her to "show me your teeth"

Depending on how much time you have, you may be interested in going out to Phnom Kulen park, which is a mountain an hour outside town. Not much to do there but there is a Buddhist temple with a good view, Lingas all over the river bed if you are a history nerd, communist party HQs (you'd think they would have dropped that after the Khmer Rouge), and a waterfall you can get into. If you watch Expedition Unknown, a lot of the Cambodia episode takes place on Phnom Kulen.

This is also the area I believe they have recently found more signs of an ancient city. There are some statues up in the woods you can get a guy to ride you up there on a motorbike.

First small waterfall, I tried to get fancy with the long exposure: