australian business volunteers cambodia ......abv cambodia country brief 4 country profile land...

ABV Cambodia Country Brief 1

AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS VOLUNTEERS

CAMBODIA COUNTRY BRIEF

Contents

Purpose ................................................................................................................................................... 2

Contacts .................................................................................................................................................. 2

Country Profile ........................................................................................................................................ 4

A Brief History ......................................................................................................................................... 5

Cultural Considerations ........................................................................................................................... 6

Security Risks and Personal Safety ........................................................................................................ 8

Health and Medical ................................................................................................................................. 8

Transport and Accommodation ............................................................................................................... 9

Daily Life................................................................................................................................................ 12

Previous Volunteer Contacts ................................................................................................................ 14

Further Information ................................................................................................................................ 15

AVID Program Supplement ................................................................................................................... 16


Purpose

The purpose of this Country Brief is to provide information to volunteers across all Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) programs that will assist in the safe and successful completion of volunteer assignments in Cambodia. The Brief provides information on important contacts, country background and history, cultural considerations, security guidelines, health and medical issues, transport, and other information for daily living in Cambodia.

Contacts

Australian Embassy

16B, National Assembly Street,

Sangkat Tonle Bassac, Khan Chamkamon,

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Tel: +855 (0)23 213 470

Fax: +855 (0)23 213 413

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://cambodia.embassy.gov.au/penh/home.html

Embassy Opening Hours:

Monday to Thursday - 08:00 to 12:00 (Morning) and 13:30 to 17:00 (Afternoon)

Friday - 08:00 to 12:00 (Morning) and 13:30 to 16:15 (Afternoon)

Consular and Passport Section opening hours

Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 12:00 (Morning) and 13:30 to 15:00 (Afternoon).

Consular and Passport Section can be contacted on:


Phone: +855 23 213 470

After hours assistance can be found at:

Phone: +61 2 6261 3305

SMS: +61 421 269 080

Emergency Numbers

Police (24hr)

Call from Stationary Telephones 117

S.O.S Police 023 366 841 or 023 720 235

Traffic Police 023 722 067

Fire (24hr)

Call from Stationary Telephone 118

Toul Sleng Fire Department 023 723 555

mailto:[email protected]



Ambulance & Hospitals (24hr)

Ambulance (S.A.M.U) 119

Call from Stationary Telephones 023 724 891

AHI Assist:

24/7 Emergency Hotline: +61 2 9978 6666

Australian Business Volunteers, Policy No: 0032089

For other contacts specific to your program please see supplement page at the end of this document.


Country Profile

Land Area: 181 035 km2

Population: 15.53 million (2014)

People: 94% ethnic Khmer, 4% ethnic Chinese and 1% Vietnamese

Language: The official language of Cambodia is Khmer. French is spoken by some older Cambodians and by the educated elite, especially in government circles. English is now more widely used than French, particularly amongst younger people.

Time: Cambodia is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which is three hours behind Eastern Australia in winter, and 4 hours behind in summer.

Climate: Tropical monsoonal – dry season (November - March), wet season (May - October); temperatures mid-20s (January) to mid-30s (April)

Religion: Predominately Theravada Buddhist, minorities of Islam and Christianity

Government: Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy. The King is the Head of State, but does not exercise executive power over the Kingdom. Cambodia has a bicameral parliament - the Prime Minister is appointed by the King from the representatives of the party winning the elections. The lower house - the National Assembly - is made up of 120 members elected from 24 provinces and municipalities. The Senate is made up of 61 appointed members. Cambodia has a three tier judicial system: the trial court, the appeals court and the Supreme Court.

The Prime Minister: Hun Sen (since1998)

King: His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni (since 2004)

Queen: Her Majesty Norodom Monineath Sihanouk (since 2004)

GDP: 16.78 billion (2014 current US$)

GDP per capita: 1,094 (2014 current US$)


Currency: Cambodian Riel (KHR) is the official currency and is divided into 100 sen. US dollars and Thai Baht are accepted, although smaller transactions are usually done in riel. Current exchange rates can be found at: http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/

Most transactions require cash, however, ATMs are widely available and credit cards can be used

Economy: The country relies on agriculture and produces rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, tapioca and silk. Cambodia exports timber, garments, rubber, rice and fish and has tourism, garment, rice milling, fishing, construction, rubber, cement and wood industries, however, industries are expanding, as is outlined below.

Cambodia’s economy has grown rapidly since the economic downturn, with a sustained growth rate of 7.9% from 2000 – 2015. It is expected that the garments, tourism, services, agribusiness and construction sectors to drive economic growth in 2016 and 2017. The Asian Development Bank has noted that Cambodia needs to create more jobs and raise incomes by further diversifying the economy.

A Brief History

Very little is known about prehistoric Cambodia. Much of the southeast was a vast, shallow gulf that was progressively silted up by the mouths of the Mekong, leaving pancake-flat, mineral-rich land ideal for farming. Evidence of cave-dwellers has been found in the northwest of Cambodia. Carbon dating on ceramic pots found in the area shows that they were made around 4200 BC, but a direct relationship between these cave-dwelling pot makers and contemporary Khmers has never been established. Examinations of bones dating back to around 1500 BC, however, suggest that the people living in Cambodia at that time resembled the Cambodians of today.

Modern-day Cambodia ("Kampuchea" or "Proteh Kmai") is the successor state of the mighty Khmer empire, which ruled much of what is now Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand during the Angkorian period (9th to 14th centuries). Following the decline of the empire, Khmer history was dominated for about a century and a half by dynastic rivalries and warfare with the Vietnamese and the Thais.

French hegemony was imposed in 1863 until 1953. In 1941, the French Governor-General of Indochina placed Prince Sihanouk on the Cambodian throne, believing the young monarch would be easily manipulated. To the surprise of the French, King Sihanouk dissolved the national parliament in January 1953, declared martial law and embarked on gaining international support for his country's independence. Cambodia's independence was eventually proclaimed on 9 November 1953 and recognised by the Geneva Conference of May 1954.

In March 1955, Sihanouk abdicated in favour of his father, Norodom Suramarit, in order to pursue a career as a politician. Sihanouk dominated Cambodian politics for the next 15 years. In May 1965, Sihanouk broke diplomatic relations with Washington, favouring closer ties with North Vietnam and China and seeking to establish neutrality for Cambodia which would help protect it from what he saw as the inevitability of a communist victory in Vietnam. As the war in Vietnam intensified in 1969, the United States began a secret program of bombing suspected Viet Cong base camps in Cambodia. During this period, the Cambodian guerrilla movement, the Khmer Rouge, gained in strength and gradually assumed control over large parts of the countryside. In March 1970, General Lon Nol instigated a coup d'etat with strong US support and established a republic. Prince Sihanouk moved to Beijing where he established a government in exile.

On 17 April 1975, two weeks before the fall of Saigon, Phnom Penh surrendered to the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot (Saloth Sar). On coming to power, the Khmer Rouge implemented a radical and brutal policy of restructuring society. The country was renamed "Democratic Kampuchea" and the advent of Khmer Rouge rule was proclaimed "Year Zero". Currency was abolished and the cities were emptied. It is now thought that up to one quarter of the Cambodian population at the time died as a direct result of the policies of the Khmer Rouge Government. Sihanouk was permitted by the Khmer Rouge to return to Phnom Penh in December 1975. He presided over the promulgation of a new constitution in 1976 but then resigned his position as Chief of State. He was confined within the royal palace throughout the Pol Pot years. During this time many members of his family were killed.


On 7 January 1979, Vietnamese soldiers entered Phnom Penh and toppled the Pol Pot Government. The Vietnamese installed the People's Republic of Kampuchea (PRK), led by former Khmer Rouge officer Heng Samrin, who had fled to Vietnam in 1978, and Pen Sovan, until the latter's downfall in 1981. Hun Sen, a regimental commander when he fled to Vietnam in 1977, was made Foreign Minister. The ousted Khmer Rouge forces continued to resist the Vietnamese installed regime from bases along the Thai border. In 1982, they united with other elements opposing the PRK to form a government in exile, known as the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea (CGDK). This included the Party of Democratic Kampuchea, the Khmer People's National Liberation Front and the royalist-led United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC). In response to a renewed attack on rebel bases in Cambodia in 1985, the Khmer Rouge retreated into Thailand. The Khmer Rouge, and to a lesser extent the other two factions, continued to wage a guerrilla war on Phnom Penh throughout the 1980s, sustained by external support from countries opposed to the Vietnamese-backed Government in Phnom Penh.

In 1985, at the age of 33, Hun Sen became Prime Minister. In April 1989 the People's Republic of Kampuchea (PRK) was renamed the State of Cambodia (SOC), in which Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP) held power. In September 1989 Vietnam withdrew its troops from Cambodia under international pressure.

In May 1991, the warring Cambodian factions finally agreed on a voluntary ceasefire. On 23 October 1991, a Peace Agreement was signed in Paris, establishing the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC).

Royal Government of Cambodia (1993 to present)

The May 1993 elections conducted under the auspices of UNTAC were generally regarded as an outstanding success, with over 90% of the 4.5 million electors turning out to vote. FUNCINPEC gained 58 seats in the 120-seat National Assembly, and the CPP 51 (with two minor parties providing the remaining 11). Subsequently a coalition was formed, led jointly by FUNCINPEC leader Prince Ranariddh and CPP leader Hun Sen.

A new constitution was promulgated on 24 September 1993, transforming Cambodia into a Constitutional Monarchy under King Sihanouk. The coalition structure of the provisional government was maintained, with Prince Ranariddh assuming the position of "First" Prime Minister and Hun Sen "Second" Prime Minister. There have been a number of elections since then.

Cultural Considerations

Cambodian culture and tradition have had a rich varied history dating back many centuries. Over the years, the people of Cambodia developed a set of unique tradition from the syncretism of indigenous Buddhism and Hinduism. Cambodians have been raised to respect their culture and are very traditional in their way of life. Tourists will see the well-mannered Cambodian expressing a friendly “Chumreap Suor” when they meet one. This involves pressing the palms together before the chest with a slight bow and greeting with a polite ‘Chumreap Suor’. Customarily, the higher the hands are held and the lower the bow, the more respect is conveyed. Except when meeting elderly people or government officials, between men, this custom has been partially replaced by the handshake. The simple rule is to respond with the same greeting you were given.

The majority of Cambodians follow Theravada Buddhism. Originating in India, the religion teaches that life and death in this world are intertwined through the concept of reincarnation. Every person lives a life as a worldly being and depending on their behaviour will come back in their next life as a higher or lower being. "Karma" is the term used to describe this - i.e. if you do good you will have good karma. A rough translation of this is, "you reap what you sow." Theravada Buddhism has the following principles: have the right thoughts; have the right goals; speak the right words; perform the right deeds; earn a living in the right way; make the right effort; be intellectually alert and meditate. Buddhism also reinforces a sense of hierarchy within society. Interpersonal communication is built on the relationship between those involved. Common hierarchical guidelines are that parents are superior to children, teachers to students and managers to subordinates. Monks will even walk in rank order, highest in front and most junior at the rear. As a foreigner you may find that people ask personal questions - this is a means to identify your 'rank' rather than being nosy. They may change


the way they communicate depending on your status. Cambodia is a collective society - individuals take second place to the group whether this is the family, neighbourhood or company. In such societies, etiquette and protocol guidelines are used to maintain a sense of common harmony - for example subtle communication styles are employed in order to minimize the chances of causing offense to others. The concept of face also ties in with this collective outlook. Protecting both one's own and other's face is extremely important. Face can roughly be translated as a combination of honour, dignity and public reputation that is attributed to a person. Face can be lost, given and accrued. Foreigners in Cambodia need to be aware of the mechanics of face to ensure they do not cause anyone to lose face as a result of unintentional actions. Face is lost when someone is criticized, embarrassed or exposed in public. It can be given by complimenting someone publicly, i.e. for their business acumen or hospitality.

Dress and Appearance

Everywhere in Cambodia, travellers will gain more respect if they are well dressed. Dress is conservative, but formal business suits will be out of place in the tropical heat; lightweight suits can be worn for formal meetings. Cambodians themselves dress modestly, men usually wearing long trousers and a shirt. Many women wear blouses rather than T-shirts, and sampots (sarongs) or knee-length skirts, but many also wear trousers or jeans, and younger girls in larger cities can increasingly be seen in the kind of short skirts and strappy tops favoured by their Western counterparts. Even so, as a general rule it’s best to avoid skimpy clothes and shorts unless you’re at the beach.

When visiting temples it’s important to wear clothes that keep your shoulders and legs covered. Hats should be removed when passing through the temple gate and shoes taken off before you go into any of the buildings (shoes are also removed before entering a Cambodian home).

Personal Behaviour

Cambodians are reserved people and find public displays of affection offensive; people in the provinces are particularly conservative. Holding hands or linking arms in public, though quite a common sign of friendship between two men or two women, is considered unacceptable if it involves a member of the opposite sex; even married couples won’t touch each other in public. Traditionally, Cambodian women would not have gone out drinking or have been seen with a man who was not her fiancé or husband. Times are changing, however, and a more cosmopolitan attitude is gaining ground in the towns, where you’ll see groups of girls and boys out together.


It is considered rude to point your feet, and particularly the soles of your feet, towards a person or thing, so try to avoid doing so when sitting opposite anyone. Tuck your feet away under your body when sitting on the floor or on a chair. Do not use your foot to show anything to anyone; rather use your hand instead. Losing your temper, especially in public, is frowned upon and will get you nowhere. Public displays of anger are regarded as impolite and a poor reflection on you.

Permission should be sought before taking pictures of people, particularly monks. Monks are not allowed to touch women, so women should take care when walking near monks, and avoid sitting next to them on public transport. Avoid touching someone on the head as it is considered the most sacred part of a person's body.

Security Risks and Personal Safety

The DFAT Smart Traveller website has up-to-date information regarding travelling in Cambodia and current risks to personal safety, and is available at:

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Cambodia

ABV volunteers should read this information prior to departure to Cambodia and check it regularly while in country [subscription to email updates to this page is available on the above link]. Australian citizens should register with Smart Traveller prior to departure – link to do so is also available on this web page. ABV volunteers are also advised to monitor local media reports while in country to keep abreast of any potential security risks.

As of 10 May 2016, the Smart Traveller website advises travellers to Cambodia to exercise normal safety precautions, as outlined below.

Please take note of the following advice for personal safety while in country:

don’t increase your vulnerability by excess alcohol drinking;

as most crime is opportunistic, consider carrying fewer personal possessions in public, including cash and expensive jewellery/watches;

be aware of your personal possessions when walking – hold bags and mobile phones close – as theft from passing motorcycle passengers is common

avoid political gatherings, protests and demonstrations as they may turn violent, and local police and security have on occasion responded with force. Foreigners involved may face arrest and be deported.

The Smart Traveller website link above also has further information which it is useful to become familiar with prior to travel – especially the ‘Safety and Security’, ‘Local Travel’, and ‘Laws’ tabs.

Health and Medical

Water-borne, food-borne, parasitic are common, as are and infectious diseases such as dengue fever, hepatitis, tuberculosis, typhoid and rabies.

You may find that health facilities outside of Phnom Penh are well below the standards you are used to in Australia. Doctors and hospitals usually require a cash payment prior to being treated. For an up-to-date list of medical facilities throughout the country, please see: http://cambodia.embassy.gov.au/penh/MedicalServiceProviders.html

The Smart Traveller website link referenced above has a ‘Health’ Tab which details the Australian government’s latest health advice for citizens travelling in Cambodia.

In an emergency situation, swift contact with your ICM is highly recommended, or for Emergency Medical Assistance contact AHI Assist (details above).


Transport and Accommodation

You need a visa to enter Cambodia which can be obtained upon arrival. Your Project Manager will provide you with visa instructions including costs, the requirement to have two passport size photos and the type of visa you should apply for on arrival. ABV will reimburse the costs of your initial visa and renewal – please forward receipts to your Project Manager. Please note that your passport must be valid at least 6 months from the date of departure from Cambodia.

Flying and Airport Information

Cambodia has two international airports. Phnom Penh’s, Pochentong International Airport and Siem Reap International Airport which serves visitors to Angkor Wat.

Phnom Penh International Airport is situated six miles (10km) west of Phnom Penh. For timetables, landings and departures, see www.cambodia-airports.com

On arrival, taxis and motorcycle taxis (motodups) can be hired just outside the arrival lobby. Taxis cost $7.00 for the 20-30 minute ride into the city centre. Cheaper, slower and less comfortable, motorcycle taxis can be hired for $2.00 into town. A usual taxi to the airport from town costs about $5-$7. Allow a minimum of 30-40 minutes to get to the airport, as you might get into some traffic jams during the rush hour. Please note that if you are on an AVID assignment you will be met on arrival and transport will be provided.

Depending on your ticket, you may need to pay a departure tax. The rates from Phnom Penh are: International flights: US$25 (adults), US$13 (children under 12); Domestic flights: US$6. The rates from Siem Reap are: International flights: US$15; Domestic flights: US$5.

Taxis and Public Transport

Meter Taxis have just begun service (Global Taxis) in Phnom Penh and cost around 3000r per kilometre. It is best to phone for a taxi, due to the demand. Most common taxis however, are unmetered, unmarked taxis, which can be arranged through your hotel, and can also be found outside hotels along the Monivong Blvd, near Kampuchea Krom. A car plus driver costs you approx $20-$30/day. Shorter jaunts, coast a minimum of $2-$3. 4WD vehicles will give you a ride for $60/day and up.

The main form of transport in Phnom Penh is the tuk tuk, a motorcycle towing a 4 seater carriage. It's a very pleasant way to travel and cost decreases if you have more than one passenger. Also tuk tuks


are safer at night than a moto, which may be cheaper, but which could be anyone on a motorcycle who doesn't necessarily know his way around town.

The humble cyclo can be a romantic and practical form of transport though not as safe as a car or fast as a motor. Cyclos are easier than motors and during a rain they offer a drier ride. They often charge twice as much as a motos and are notorious for overcharging tourists, but keep in mind that’s physical work.

A few guesthouses, (e.g. Capitol Guesthouse) have bicycles for rent for around $1-1.5/day. Bicycle stores are clustered near the intersection of Streets 182 and 107. They do not rent bikes, but a used bike can be bought for about $30-40 and resold for around $20.

Ho Wah Genting offers bus service to nearby destinations using modern air-conditioned buses. Get off or on at any point along the line. Buses depart every 15 minutes to one hour, daily from 6am-6pm. 1200R-12000R. The station is at the corner of the Central Market. Route #1: Koki, Kien Svay, Neak Luong; Route #2: Takhmao, Takeo; Route #4: Kampong Speu, Sihanoukville; Route #5: Oudong, Kampong Chhnang; Route #6: Raw Kakong, Kampong Cham.

Also near the central market (Southwest corner) you may find the biggest bus station in town. Sorya Bus Company takes you almost everywhere in the country where a paved road is available. The buses are a little bit older than from some other companies, but still featuring air-con and usual seats. The prices are reasonable (approx. $1 for 70-80km).

ABV strongly recommends against volunteers driving private vehicles while in Cambodia.

Work Travel

All volunteers must advise their Project Manager/ICM of any work/leisure travel in a timely manner, and ensure that any required travel forms are completed prior to the trip. Information required may include:

• date of travel;

• destination and route;

• details of any travel companions; and

• contact details whilst travelling (e.g. travel accommodation telephone numbers and mobile telephone details).

Host organisations are expected to provide transport to and from any field trips.


Accommodation

ABV volunteers may be accommodated in a hotel, a furnished apartment or a furnished house. All accommodation has been security reviewed against a standard set by ABV (DFAT for AVID volunteers). In all cases accommodation will be secure, clean and waterproof with sound walls and floors. The following items are the standard volunteers can expect from their accommodation at their assignment location unless otherwise advised by the ICM or Project Manager:

Beds with mattress, pillows, sheets and towels;

Bathroom with running water in the shower or bath and a toilet;

Air conditioning or ceiling fans;

Lockable windows with insect screens and curtains;

Some form of electricity (which you may have to pay for separately)

A small refrigerator;

Table and chair;

Cooking facilities where available;

Personal charges such as international telephone calls, mini bar or room service are the responsibility of the volunteer.

You should be aware of the difference in living standards between a country like Australia and a developing country like Cambodia. Through our ICM teams, we ensure that accommodation provided is secure and clean, however many facilities taken for granted in Australia – air conditioning, hot water, television, western food - are not a given. You will also notice different standards of road and footpath surfaces to what you may be used to.


Daily Life

Major Banks in Cambodia are:

ANZ Royal Bank - https://www.anzroyal.com

Cambodia Asia Bank - www.cab.com.kh

Cambodia Commercial Bank - www.ccb.com.kh

Canadia Bank -- www.canadiabank.com.kh

Union Commercial Bank - https://www.ucb.com.kh

Phnom Penh has dozens of ATMs located all across town. Easily spotted, the distinctive blue ANZ Royal Bank ATMs accept Cirrus, Plus, Maestro, Visa, MasterCard and ANZ Cards. All ATMs dispenses US dollars.

Credit cards are generally not accepted at any businesses outside of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville and the casinos in Poipet. Visa, MasterCard (MC) and JCB cards are the most widely accepted credit cards in Cambodia. AMEX is coming into wider use, as well as the new ANZ Bluespot card. Diners Club (DC) is accepted at very few places. Most businesses charge a 2%-4% fee to accept credit cards.

It is recommended that you inform your bank when you will be traveling overseas, and:

activate internet banking to facilitate transfer of funds between savings and credit card accounts; and

check on any extra charges associated with withdrawing funds from accounts whilst overseas.

Using your Australian ATM card can be extremely expensive in Cambodia due to bank fees. As the US dollar is a widely accepted currency, it is recommended that you investigate the use of a multi-currently cash card, and load it with US dollars. These cards can be used in ATM machines. You can also check balances, view transaction history and load additional funds onto your card using Bank Transfer or BPAY and move funds online. These cards are widely available in Australia – an example is at www.travelex.com.au for more information.

http://www.cab.com.kh/

http://www.canadiabank.com.kh/

https://www.ucb.com.kh/


Tipping is not expected, but is welcomed and goes a long way, due to the low wages received by locals. Hotels often add a 10% service charge to the bill. Small tips for personal services are appreciated, as salaries in the country are low. Tour guides and drivers should be tipped.

It is considered to be good custom to make a small donation at the end of a visit to a Wat, with most Wat’s having a tip box. It is especially accepted to provide a tip if a monk has shown you around the Wat.

Business hours are:

Government offices: 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday

Business offices: 08:00 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday

Shops: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 7 days a week

Banks: 8:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday

Markets: 6:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. 7 days a week.

National Public Holidays are listed here: http://www.officeholidays.com/countries/cambodia/2016.php

Electricity is 220 volts, 50Hz. Electric power sockets are generally of the round two pin variety. Multiple adaptors can be bought cheaply at markets around the country.

Please be aware that power cuts are frequent, power is in short supply in the provinces and power cuts are frequent. Hotels and restaurants have their own generators usually but in rural areas expect to be without electricity for long periods each day. Some form of surge protection is highly recommended for valuable electrical equipment and computers.

For phone calls, the international access code to call from outside Cambodia is +855. Cambodia has two outgoing dial out codes. The outgoing code is 001 and or 007 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 00144 for the United Kingdom). Phnom Penh's area code is (0)23; Siem Reap is (0)63; Battambang is (0)53; Kampot (0)33;

Domestic and international calls can be made at post offices or telecom offices in most towns. Mobile phone operators cover Phnom Penh and other major cities. The country uses GSM networks. Local SIM cards are readily available – your ICM will assist you in organising this upon arrival if you are undertaking an AVID assignment.

The cheapest way to call internationally is by Internet phone. Internet phones are available in some Internet cafes and provide a cheaper alternative for international calls. Internet cafes provide a fast and inexpensive service in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and other main towns. Calls cost between 1000r to 2000r per minute. While the costs are cheaper there is often a delay on the phone.

Telephoning from Battambang and the West of Cambodia is cheaper and the lines are much clearer than in other parts of the country.

Food. Favourite Cambodian vegetables include beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, celery, lettuce, onions, peas, potatoes, and sweet corn. Vegetables are commonly eaten during the main part of a meal. They may be served raw in a salad, cooked and served with a sauce, or added to a soup. Cambodia food is closely related to the cuisines of neighbouring Thailand and Laos and, to a lesser extent, Vietnam, but there are some distinct local dishes. The overall consensus is that Khmer cooking is like Thai without spice. Curries, stir fried vegetable, rice, noodles and soups are staples of the Khmer diet. Cambodia is well known in the region for its Prahok, a strong, fermented fish paste used in a variety of traditional dishes. A lot of fresh fish is available from the Mekong.

Popular local fruits are rambutans (sao mao), jackfruits (khnau), mangoes (svay), durians (Touraine), pineapples (menoa), coconut (duong) and bananas (chek) - fruit smoothies are popular (Tukalok).

Few Khmer people understand the concept of strict vegetarianism, so many may say that something is vegetarian when in fact it isn’t. If you can cope with fish sauces and the like you should have few problems.

Local meals and street eats will cost around US$1 – 3, with a local restaurant costing between US$5 – 10.


Coffee is sold in most restaurants, either black or with condensed milk. Chinese tea is popular and often appears at your table for no extra charge.

Drinking Tap water must be avoided as it is rarely purified and can cause stomach problems. Bottled water is readily available. Also be cautious of ‘tuk kak’ ice. Large blocks of ice are transported to vendors by dragging along the ground.

Beer Lao appears in Cambodia and is a very mild tasting, refreshing beer and one of the cheapest around. However the local beer is Angkor and other brands to be found include Stella Artois, Fosters, Carlsberg, Tiger and Grolsch.

What to bring. You should consider bringing enough supplies of toiletries and sunscreen for your entire stay as all brands may not be available in Cambodia. Also bring good strength insect repellent to last for your entire assignment. Consider bringing books, hobbies, music devices or laptop computer to fill in any spare time you have as you may not have access to what Australians consider usual forms of entertainment. It is also recommended that you bring a surge protection device for any electronic devices you bring.

ABV Volunteer Hal Judge on assignment with the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority

Previous Volunteer Contacts

The following is a list of volunteers who have recently been on an ABV assignment to Cambodia and who have agreed to be contacted to provide information to other volunteers. You should feel free to contact any of these people as first hand practical advice will no doubt assist you in your preparation for your assignment as well as for the country.

Volunteer Contact Email

Liane Arno [email protected]

Matthew Stone [email protected]

Henry (Hal) Judge [email protected]


Philip Tremethick [email protected]

Boronia Foley [email protected]

Beatrice Duffield [email protected]

Gregory Whitbourne [email protected]

Further Information

The following websites may be useful sources of more information, including tourist information:

http://dfat.gov.au/geo/cambodia/Pages/cambodia.aspx

http://www.embassyofcambodia.org.nz/au.htm

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/cambodia

http://www.cambodia-travel.com/

http://dfat.gov.au/geo/cambodia/Pages/cambodia.aspx

http://www.embassyofcambodia.org.nz/au.htm

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/cambodia

http://www.cambodia-travel.com/


AVID Program Supplement

In Country Management Team

Mr Song Kim Hour (Hour)

Street 62R

Sangkat Toui Sangke

Phnom Penh

Cambodia

P: +855 23 864 345

M: +855 12 706 699


ABV Program Associate

Ms Kem ‘Bom’ Sovanney

P: +855 12 525 673


ABV

Canberra Office: +61 2 6151 9999

Project Manager: Pip Chan +61 2 6151 9908, [email protected]

Travel Policy

Please see additional procedures for travel at ‘AVID Program Travel Guidelines for ABV Volunteers’

Security Plan

ABV volunteers undertaking assignments under the AVID program are required to complete a ‘Personal Safety and Security Plan’ upon arrival in country. Details of this plan, including the proforma are available in Scope Global’s Cambodia Country Safety and Security Plan.


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