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Will be in Cambodia for a month in May. Purpose is to get better at Khmer and party, of course. Question I have is where should I get a place? In PP or further out in the country somewhere?

I read the sticky here regarding how to find a place but I'd like to have a place already lined when I hit the ground since it is just a month. I checked that Elevatedrealty company site and they have some excellent units but they don't do less than 3 months. I checked some other places like Airbnb but the prices are ridiculous for what's offered especially after seeing Elevatedrealty's selection and much cheaper prices. I don't want to be in a totally English expat environment but I still would like to have a nice place and don't mind paying for it.

1. Any ideas on where to select as a good place for me where Khmer is everywhere and English is pretty much non-existent (markets, uni scene, nightclubs, library, etc.)
2. Lastly, any ideas on who to do business with in regards to question number one that is extremely reliable, preferably someone or company Western or trustworthy among the expat community. (or local too, I guess)

PS - In case you wondering what I plan to do during the day to immerse myself in the language and get better, I have a couple of ideas. First is sports if I can find it (pickup soccer at Olympic Stadium). Second, is get daily work done at the library. I'm still working on other normal local things I can do daily using Khmer...

can learn Khmer from his track here.

There are no areas that are "totally English expats". Even areas like BKK1 that have large numbers of foreigners are mainly populated by locals.

yeah just avoid the riverside and you will be fine, nearly all the local markets in cambodia they speak khmer and 0-5% english, there are local clubs and bars about,

go to svay Rieng

Uni scene? Library? I think you got the wrong place buddy.

Khmer is spoken all over. Want to talk to a Cambodian in their language? Just talk to them in their language. Don't have to go anywhere special to initiate conversation.

If you're after ultimate adventurer immersion, with electricity, rent a house in Kampong Chhnang. Otherwise go live up in Oddar Meanchey and hang around the village coffee/rice/kickboxinf shop shooting the shit.

Thank you for the suggestions so far. Any particular reason for these provinces? I have looked into both of them and aside from the probably out-of-date statistic that Svay Rieng has 93% girls I am not seeing the draw to these particular areas..

As for PP, any recommendations for companies to work with in securing a place for a month?

This is totally off-topic but:
@epidemiks - We have Khmer graduate students at my uni working as TAs. We get a new one every academic year. Why do you feel there is no uni scene?

^^ He didn't say there wasn't a uni scene. Perhaps you should read your original question. #1 to be specific.

Khmer_mutt wrote:Thank you for the suggestions so far. Any particular reason for these provinces? I have looked into both of them and aside from the probably out-of-date statistic that Svay Rieng has 93% girls I am not seeing the draw to these particular areas..

Didn't you say you wanted an area without many English speakers?
In those locations you won't find many foreign interlopers trying to speak the English. The odd missionary and crazy goat farmer, sure, but otherwise you'll have the whole district pretty much barang-free.

As for PP, any recommendations for companies to work with in securing a place for a month?

This is totally off-topic but:
@epidemiks - We have Khmer graduate students at my uni working as TAs. We get a new one every academic year. Why do you feel there is no uni scene?

Because there isn't much of one. Nor are there public libraries. There are universities, and there are students. Is there a scene? If so the two uni students I live with aren't scenesters. If you want to meet uni aged people, I guess the browns coffees and milk tea places near universities would be a good place to start.

Re accommodation, find a guesthouse for the month. Easier, cheaper, and there'll probably be a restaurant near the front door for pork and rice discussion.

Techno guesthouse behind Royal University of Phnom Penh is about 10 bucks a night, so close to the university crowd and a decent hike from the tourist zones.

http://www.booking.com/hotel/kh/techno- ... oCEULw_wcB

Ah ok, I misread that, excuse me. I just wanted to get in the thick of it because I assume that expat areas are different than the local areas. Some have asked what I plan on doing in a country like Cambodia for so long and that I may be very disappointed but I am keeping my hopes very high. From my travels to other places (Philippines, Korea, etc), it's always the local scene and people that make the trip for me.

Just saw your most recent post. I do want an English free environment but I assume there would be many throughout the country outside of PP. i could randomly pick a city, I suppose. I just was wondering if there were any particularly special places really worthy of a month's stay.