Kammekor wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 4:21 pm

tcw57 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 3:30 pm

Jerry Atrick wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 2:41 pm Maybe my own bias against religion related organisations, and self perpetuating NGO's.

Who knows, perhaps it will be great for you.

Also not religious, but the conditions offered were decent, so thought I'd give it a go...

Just try. It's nice to live in a remote part, and you can always have a break in Siem Reap, and see the 1000 islands in Laos.

Be careful when you choose where to live. Floodings are no longer a once in a decade phenomenon, but have occurred yearly over the last few years. Also be careful with the mozzies. I know several foreigners who contacted dengue in Stung Treng, so prepare.

And about the pharmacy, hmmm.... Better bring three months of meds and see it yourself first.

Kammekor wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 5:21 pm

tcw57 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 5:15 pm

Kammekor wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 4:15 pm

explorer wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 2:52 pm

tcw57 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 2:28 pm Thanks for the input. Will definitely check out the western food shop from time to time. .. and making runs to SR and PP. Just out of curiosity, why do you think a Korean mission would be a terrible place to work? I've got my own ideas, but wouldn't mind hearing yours and others...

I would not do the trips to SR and PP unless you want to go there for another reason. It is too far.

I think with this place, or any other, work there and decide for yourself. You wont know before you go.

Siem Reap is only 4-5 hours now from Stun Treng, road is great. Would make a great weekend break.

Thanks for that suggestion. I've heard the road is quite good between ST and SR. Apparently there is a van/taxi service that makes the trip 2~3 times a day... or so I've heard anyway.

Yes, there's loads, and the road is new and good.

Ratanakiri is a nice weekend break as well, and so is Kratie, which are just 2 hours away. Sem Monorom is another.

So enjoy your explorations!

SternAAlbifrons wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:02 pm Enjoy Stung Treng tcw57. You are at the junction of three magnificent rivers and at the door step of an number of very fine forests.

My only local experience is on the Mekong south of town. Fab.
You can rent boats from the pubic ramp. Make sure you do your research re prices, make arrangements slowly over a couple of days, pick the right boatman - and you will be able to access places very few visitors get to see at an affordable price.

A weekend camping trip to the small sandy islands about 30 k's south of town would be a good first expedition. There is a dolphin site there too.
If you go to any islands on any of those three rivers, watch every footfall. A number of endangered birds breed on the sand/gravel during the dry season. Camouflaged eggs just sitting on the sand, please be careful.

Look out for the iconic River Tern, the next bird flagged to go extinct in cambodia/se asia.
Mythologically and ecologically entwined with the Irrawaddy dolphin.
Only about 100 left but quite easy to see along some stretches of these rivers in dry season.

And of course, please do not eat wild animals.
Enjoy, adventurer.

tcw57 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 5:29 pm

Kammekor wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 4:21 pm

tcw57 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 3:30 pm

Jerry Atrick wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 2:41 pm Maybe my own bias against religion related organisations, and self perpetuating NGO's.

Who knows, perhaps it will be great for you.

Also not religious, but the conditions offered were decent, so thought I'd give it a go...

Just try. It's nice to live in a remote part, and you can always have a break in Siem Reap, and see the 1000 islands in Laos.

Be careful when you choose where to live. Floodings are no longer a once in a decade phenomenon, but have occurred yearly over the last few years. Also be careful with the mozzies. I know several foreigners who contacted dengue in Stung Treng, so prepare.

And about the pharmacy, hmmm.... Better bring three months of meds and see it yourself first.

Thank you very much Kammekor for the encouragement. I saw some images of last year's flooding in ST and read how it affected over 800 families. Hopefully, it will not be so severe this year. I am looking forward to seeing different parts of Cambodia and the 1000 islands of Laos. Will have to make sure to bring a good supply of Deet and your suggestion of 3 months of meds is actually the exact amount I planned on bringing. Cheers...

tcw57 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 5:46 pm

Kammekor wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 5:21 pm

tcw57 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 5:15 pm

Kammekor wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 4:15 pm

explorer wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 2:52 pm

I would not do the trips to SR and PP unless you want to go there for another reason. It is too far.

I think with this place, or any other, work there and decide for yourself. You wont know before you go.

Siem Reap is only 4-5 hours now from Stun Treng, road is great. Would make a great weekend break.

Thanks for that suggestion. I've heard the road is quite good between ST and SR. Apparently there is a van/taxi service that makes the trip 2~3 times a day... or so I've heard anyway.

Yes, there's loads, and the road is new and good.

Ratanakiri is a nice weekend break as well, and so is Kratie, which are just 2 hours away. Sem Monorom is another.

So enjoy your explorations!

I certainly will, lots of road to cover!

John Bingham wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:45 pm

tcw57 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 3:10 pm

All in all, it sounds like a very interesting ( and peaceful ) area with a good mix of peoples from different cultures. I hope that we like the area and are able to acclimate well. Perhaps we might settle there if the conditions are right...

You should also be aware that it's the main entry point for narcotics, mostly methamphetamine and heroin and synthetic drugs from Myanmar and China. Like any border town it has a large black economy.

Kammekor wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 7:55 pm

tcw57 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 5:29 pm

Kammekor wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 4:21 pm

tcw57 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 3:30 pm

Jerry Atrick wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 2:41 pm Maybe my own bias against religion related organisations, and self perpetuating NGO's.

Who knows, perhaps it will be great for you.

Also not religious, but the conditions offered were decent, so thought I'd give it a go...

Just try. It's nice to live in a remote part, and you can always have a break in Siem Reap, and see the 1000 islands in Laos.

Be careful when you choose where to live. Floodings are no longer a once in a decade phenomenon, but have occurred yearly over the last few years. Also be careful with the mozzies. I know several foreigners who contacted dengue in Stung Treng, so prepare.

And about the pharmacy, hmmm.... Better bring three months of meds and see it yourself first.

Thank you very much Kammekor for the encouragement. I saw some images of last year's flooding in ST and read how it affected over 800 families. Hopefully, it will not be so severe this year. I am looking forward to seeing different parts of Cambodia and the 1000 islands of Laos. Will have to make sure to bring a good supply of Deet and your suggestion of 3 months of meds is actually the exact amount I planned on bringing. Cheers...

Yes, 2018 was exceptional because the dam in Laos collapsed, but floodings are common these days. Look for signs on the wall - literally, and if there's a fresh layer of paint ask around.