Basic Questions

Ask us anything. Cambodia Expats Online has a huge community of long-term expats that can answer any question you may have about life in Cambodia. Have some questions you want to ask before you move to Cambodia? Ask them here. Our community can also answer any questions you have about how to find a job or what kind of work is available for expats in Cambodia, whether you're looking for info about Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, or anywhere else in the Kingdom. You're also welcome to ask about visa and work permit questions as well, as the immigration rules change often, especially since COVID-19. Don't be shy, ask CEO's community anything!
User avatar
WildA
Expatriate
Posts: 500
Joined: Wed Feb 22, 2017 2:38 am
Reputation: 212
Location: Siem Reap
United States of America

Basic Questions

Post by WildA »

I have some basic quuestions and yes I RFF:

1. ATMs spit out 20s. Transactionally, I assume you just get the small bills at stores. I assume never hand a Tuk Tuk driver a $20?

2. I see a lot of apartments with huge, huge balconies? Are those private or shared?

3. Is there a high level of Burglaries? I assume there is a need to stash the cash and documents at your home? Do the partments usually have security?

4. From the view on the ground, how is the present stae of food safety?

5. Are snatch and grabs common all the time, or just at night?
Naturam expelles furca, tamen usque recurret. Horace
Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they arent out to get you. Pynchon
User avatar
Username Taken
Raven
Posts: 13897
Joined: Mon May 19, 2014 6:53 pm
Reputation: 5962
Cambodia

Re: Basic Questions

Post by Username Taken »

1. The ATM that I use (ANZ) also spits out 20,000 riel notes (=$5). But even then, many tuk tuks can't change it. Always easier to have the exact change to pay the tuk tuk or moto driver.

2. Not sure where you see them. Most balconies are 4m x 1m, however there are some places where the balcony goes deeper into the front of the house and could be 4m x 4m. An apartment like that will usually be advertised as having a huge/large balconey. On the other hand, some could be shared. You need to ask when you inspect the apartment.

3. Rarely hear of burglaries, as in break and enter. In the wee hours of the night, like 3 AM, you'll hear dogs barking. They are usually barking at robbers who will use a long stick through an open window to retrieve whatever they see of value. Keep your doors and windows closed. If you have a rooftop, be sure to keep that door locked as well, and nothing of value lying around on the roof.

4. Street food in Cambodia can be a gamble. Food is usually prepared on the floor by hands that probably haven't been washed. My meat and vege is bought in the local markets - sometimes the meat smells a bit off, and green leafy vege can be covered with chemicals. If you want safer food, you should buy your meat and vege from a supermarket like Lucky Supermarket. (No guarantee that the vege is any cleaner though).
Getting stomach pains from eating tarnished food is quite common. Food poisoning will happen once or twice a year, depending on what and where you eat.

5. I would say that there are less snatch and grabs now than, for example, 10 years ago. Daytime or nighttime.
User avatar
hanno
Expatriate
Posts: 6774
Joined: Fri May 16, 2014 12:37 pm
Reputation: 3142
Location: Phnom Penh
Contact:
Germany

Re: Basic Questions

Post by hanno »

Not sure about less snatching, FB pages are full of it. Just this week, the wife of the Crocodile River in Temple Town got pulled off her bike.
User avatar
Jamie_Lambo
The Cool Boxing Guy
Posts: 15039
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2015 10:34 am
Reputation: 3132
Location: ลพบุรี
Great Britain

Re: Basic Questions

Post by Jamie_Lambo »

WildA wrote: Sat Mar 04, 2017 12:37 am I have some basic quuestions and yes I RFF:

1. ATMs spit out 20s. Transactionally, I assume you just get the small bills at stores. I assume never hand a Tuk Tuk driver a $20?

2. I see a lot of apartments with huge, huge balconies? Are those private or shared?

3. Is there a high level of Burglaries? I assume there is a need to stash the cash and documents at your home? Do the partments usually have security?

4. From the view on the ground, how is the present stae of food safety?

5. Are snatch and grabs common all the time, or just at night?
1. tuk tuks wont change a $20 just go to a shop and buy something straight after you been to an ATM,
ABA bank you can get your money out in Khmer Riel, it dishes it all out in 10,000r notes, $2.50

2. maybe the balconies you see are the walkway in front of your front door that get advertised as balconies sometimes, its sort of a balcony, but its not private as its the walkway, cant say ive seen any huge huge balconies out here

3. some apartments have security, our gate is double padlocked and the landladies husband usually is on guard everytime the gates opened to check whos coming in/out, my mates apartment has on site security, break-ins arent something i hear a lot about/ if at all, ive heard stories, but none through my vast circle of friends

4. all depends on your stomach, i can eat the local grub, with little to no problems, ive also had friends who cant stomach it and get the squits, food higine isnt the best here, if youre worried stick to the restaurants, even then though you still dont know, i do a lot of cooking at home

5. dont think it makes much difference day or night from what i see on the news, just keep your whits about ya
:tophat: Mean Dtuk Mean Trei, Mean Loy Mean Srey
Punchy McShortstacks School of Hard Knocks :x
User avatar
John Bingham
Expatriate
Posts: 13674
Joined: Sun Dec 07, 2014 11:26 pm
Reputation: 8892
Cambodia

Re: Basic Questions

Post by John Bingham »

1. The ATMs I use (Cambodia Public Bank) give out 10,000 Riel notes, as well as $10/$20/$50/$100.
2. I've had places with big balconies, the place I have now doesn't have a big one (it's only about 1.5 meters wide, but it wraps around 2 sides of the house. Any I have had have been private.
3. I was burgled once, when I accidentally left a balcony door open and had assumed it was too difficult to climb up to.
Silence, exile, and cunning.
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Cooldude, Joakim, Newinkow, orichá, phuketrichard, steevee, truffledog, yongchi and 298 guests