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Mad About Malaysia |
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Mad About Asia |
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Cambodia |
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Banteay
Meanchey
I
Battambang
I
Kampot
I
Kandal
I
Kep
City
I
Koh
Kong
I
Kratie |
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Kampong
Cham
I Kampong
Chhang I
Kampong
Speu
I
Kampong
Thom
I
Mondulkiri |
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Oddor
Meanchey
I
Pailin
City
I
Preah
Vihear
I
Pursat
I
Prey
Veng
I
Phnom
Penh |
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Ratanakiri
I
Sihanoukville
I
Stung
Treng
I
Svay
Rieng
I
Siem
Reap
I
Takeo |
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Cambodia
has
a
land
area
of
181,035
square
kilometers
in
the
southwestern
part
of
the
Indochina
peninsula,
about
20
percent
of
which
is
used
for
agriculture.
It
lies
completely
within
the
tropics
with
its
southern
most
points
slightly
more
than
10°
above
the
Equator.
The
country
capital
city
is
Phnom
Penh.
International
borders
are
shared
with
Thailand
and
the
Lao
People’s
Democratic
Republic
on
the
West
and
the
North,
and
the
Social
Republic
of
Viet
Nam
on
the
East
and
the
Southeast.
The
country
is
bounded
on
the
Southeast
by
the
Gulf
of
Thailand.
In
comparison
with
neighbors,
Cambodia
is a
geographical
contact
country
administratively
composed
of
20
provinces,
three
of
which
have
relatively
short
maritime
boundaries,
2
municipalities,
172
districts,
and
1,547
communes.
The
country
has
a
coastline
of
435
km
and
extensive
mangrove
stands,
some
of
which
are
relatively
undisturbed. |
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The
dominant
features
of
the
Cambodian
landscape
are
the
large,
almost
generally
located,
Tonle
Sap
(Great
Lake)
and
the
Bassac
River
Systems
and
the
Mekong
River,
which
crosses
the
country
from
North
to
South.
Surrounding
the
Central
Plains
which
covered
three
quarters
of
the
country’s
area
are
the
more
densely
forested
and
sparsely
populated
highlands,
comprising:
the
Elephant
Mountains
and
Cardamom
Mountain
of
the
southwest
and
western
regions;
the
Dangrek
Mountains
of
the
North
adjoining
of
the
Korat
Plateau
of
Thailand;
and
Rattanakiri
Plateau
and
Chhlong
highlands
on
the
east
merging
with
the
Central
Highlands
of
Viet
Nam. |
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The
Tonle
Sap
Basin-Mekong
Lowlands
region
consists
mainly
of
plains
with
elevations
generally
of
less
than
100
meters.
As
the
elevation
increases,
the
terrain
becomes
more
rolling
and
dissected.
The
Cardamom
Mountains
in
the
southwest
rise
to
more
than
1,500
meters
and
is
oriented
generally
in a
northwest-southeast
direction.
The
highest
mountain
in
Cambodia
–Phnom
Aural,
at
1.771meters
– is
in
the
eastern
part
of
this
range. |
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The
Elephant
Range,
an
extension
of
Cardamom
Mountains,
runs
towards
the
south
and
the
southeast
and
rises
to
elevations
of
between
500
and
1,000
meters.
These
two
range
are
bordered
on
the
west
are
narrow
coastal
plain
facing
the
gulf
of
Thailand
that
contains
Kampong
Som
Bay.
The
Dangrek
Mountains
at
the
northern
rim
of
Tonle
Sap
Basin,
consisting
of a
steep
escarpment
on
the
southern
edge
of
the
Korat
Plateau
in
Thailand,
marks
the
boundary
between
Thailand
and
Cambodia.
The
average
elevation
of
about
500
meters
with
the
highest
points
reaching
more
than
700
meters.
Between
the
northern
part
of
the
Cardamom
ranges
and
the
western
part
of
the
Dangrek,
lies
and
extension
of
the
Tonle
Sap
Basin
that
merges
into
the
plains
in
Thailand,
allowing
easy
accesses
from
the
border
of
Bangkok. |
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The
Mekong
River
Cambodia’s
largest
river,
dominates
the
hydrology
of
the
country.
The
river
originates
in
mainland
China,
flows
through
Myanmar,
Laos,
Thailand
before
entering
Cambodia.
At
Phnom
Penh,
with
alternative
arms,
the
Bassak
River
from
the
south,
and
the
Tonle
Sap
River
linking
with
the
"
Great
Lake
"
itself
–Tonle
Sap
–
form
northwest.
It
continues
further
southeastward
to
its
lower
delta
in
Viet
Nam
and
to
the
South
China
Sea.
UNESCO
World
Heritage
Sites |
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Entertainment |
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Cinemas |
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Since
the
encouragement
from
the
Ministry
of
Fine
Arts
and
Culture
and
the
Cambodian
people
strongly
support
to
the
Khmer
films,
most
abandoned
cinemas
have
been
re-open. Recently,
the
Khmer
films
is
very
popular
for
Cambodian
people
not
only
in
city
but
also
provinces. The
Khmer
movies
can
be
seen
around
the
city
at
the
main
street
-
such
as
Kirirom
Cinema
-
Sihanouk
blvd.,
Luxe
Cinema
-
Norodom
blvd.,
Vimean
Tip
-
Monivong
blvd... |
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Movie
Houses |
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English
language
movies
shown
in
private
viewing
rooms
at
Movie
Street
Video
Center,
#116,
Sihanouk
blvd.,
The
French
Cultural
Center
(Street
184)
hosts
French
films
at
6:30PM
every
few
days.
The
Russian
Market
(Toul
Tom
Pong)
carries
the
most
recent
movies
CDs. |
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Nightclubs |
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Phnom
Penh
is
the
place
for
disco
nightlife.
There
are
several
clubs
that
see
a
good
mix
of
locals
and
foreigners,
like
Rock,
Spark,
U2... Nightlife
in
Phnom
Penh
tends
to
begin
fairly
late
- an
9 pm
start
is
usual,
after
a
leisurely
meal
and
some
drinks
at a
bar.
Drink
prices
can
be
steep,
but
you
can
always
pop
outside
and
get
a
swift
half
from
a
street
seller.
Outside
Phnom
Penh,
nightlife
is
dominated
by
Khmer
nightclubs.
These
are
basically
'hostess
clubs'
aimed
at
men,
but
it
is
no
problem
for
foreign
women
to
enter.
They
have
a
live
band
and
are
a
good
place
to
learn
a
bit
about
Khmer
dancing. |
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Traditional
Dance |
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Public
performances
of
Khmer
traditional
dance
are
few
and
far
between.
The
places
to
find
are
at
few
hotel
in
Phnom
Penh
and
most
local
restaurants
in
Siem
Reap.
Check
the
local
English-language
newspapers
for
news
of
upcoming
events. |
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Pubs
&
Bars |
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Phnom
Penh
and
Siem
Reap
is
best
place
for
pubs
and
bars.
Elsewhere
around
Cambodia,
drinking
takes
places
at
street
stalls,
in
restaurants
and
in
nightclubs. |
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Communications |
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The advent of mobile phones has dramatically improved communications between the main towns. That said, many of the landlines destroyed during the Khmer Rouge era have yet to be replaced, and the lack of phone lines not only hinders ordinary business but also keeps Internet access costs high everywhere except Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. It's only been a few years since mail destined for Cambodia had to be collected in Bangkok, but the postal service is now reasonably reliable, although inbound letter that attract the attention of staff-there's no rhyme or reason to this-often get pilfered. |
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Mail |
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All Cambodia's mail is consolidated in Phnom Penh. Sending mail from provincial cities seems as reliable as posting from the capital, though it costs a little more as you'll be charged for your mail to go to Phnom Penh first. Within the capital itself, only the main post office is geared up to accept mail bound for abroad.
Mail to Europe, Australasian and North America takes between five and ten days to arrive, leaving Phnom Penh for major international destinations around twice a week the specific days can be checked at the main post office. Stamps for postcards sent from the capital cost 1800 Riel to Europe and Australia, 2100 Riel to America (add 300 Riel if posting from the provinces).
Parcels can only be posted in Phnom Penh, though at a whopping $17 for a one kilogramme parcel going abroad, it's worth deferring the task if you are subsequently heading to Thailand. You'll be charge 3000 Riel for the the customs form, detailing the contents and their value, to be completed, but it isn't necessary to leave the package open for checking. Post offices sell mailing boxes if you need them. |
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Phones |
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You can make domestic and international calls at post offices or telecom offices in most towns. The government telecommunications network; Camintel (W) (www.camintel.com) usually runs these services, which along with the Australian firm Telstra, also runs public call boxes in Phnom Penh. To use these, you'll need a phone card, available in denominations ranging from $2 to $50; look for shops displaying the phone cards can't be used in each other's facilities, but with a Tele 2 phone card, you can make international calls from any call box by dialing the access code (T) 007 (instead of the usual (T) 001), then the country code and number as usual. With any of these options, making international calls is expensive at around $3 per minute, so It's worth looking out for deals offered by internet shops, guesthouses and travel agents, which can as much as halve the cost.
For domestic calls only, the cut-price glass-sided booths, payable to the attendant. The booths vary in their coverage of Cambodia's various networks: accessible numbers will be written on the side of the booths (usually (T) 012 MobiTel numbers - see below - plus the local area code and sometimes other mobile providers).
Faxing is extortionate in Cambodia, at $3-$6 per page. If you really must send a fax, the hotel business central and internet shops are the most reliable place to do so. |
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Mobile Phones |
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There are three mobile phone service providers in Cambodia: Samart code (T) 011, MobiTel (T) 012 and Shinawatra (T) 015&016. MobiTel is the most widely used network and has transmitters in all major towns, although reception is still limited to within the town boundaries. Mobile phones can be rented in the arrivals hall at Pochentong International Airport for around $28 per week. Usage is by pre-paid phone card, available in values from $5 to $100; in most towns, you'll find outlets displaying the logos of the various providers. When you get your card, scratch off the panel on the back to reveal your PIN, then call up the top-up number-also given on the card-and enter the number to activate the card. Call rates are around $0.20 per minute within the same mobile network number or out to a local landline. |
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Internet Access |
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If you want to get online, do it in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap - here you're never far from an Internet shop or café and rates are under $1 per hour. In the provinces it's a different matter: even in Battambang and Sihanoukville access is limited, and expensive at around $3 per hour. One of the best ways to keep in touch while traveling is to sign up for a free email address that can be accessed from anywhere, for example Yahoo Mail or Hotmail. Once you've set up and send mail from any Internet Café, or from a hotel with Internet access. |
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Information & Photos Courtesy of Tourism of Cambodia |
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