About Cambodia

Life in Cambodia

AIESEC in Cambodia

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Step 1.

Step 1. Did you know that the population of Cambodia is 13.4 million?

Did you know that 1/5 of population is foreigners in Cambodia?

Did you know that Cambodia’s GDP growth is 7.6% last year?

Did you know that there are 60,000 monks are in Cambodia?

Did you know that over 2 million tourists are visiting Cambodia per year?

Did you know that Cambodia was colonized by French for 90 years?

Did you know that there were 1,386,734 victims of execution

during the communist Khmer Rouge regime?

LEARN MORE ABOUT CAMBODIA !

Location Cambodia is located on mainland Southeast Asia between

Thailand to the west and north and Vietnam to the east and

southeast. It shares a land border with Laos in the northeast.

Living in Cambodia is easy­going. The people are very friendly

and the public transportation in Cambodia is easy to access with

taxi, tuk-tuk or motor taxi. Making impact in this country is a

lifetime experience. Cambodia is full of temples, natural sites as

well as eco-tourism sites. This country has over 1,000 ancient

temples across the country. Also Cambodia is famous for its

beautiful beach in the south and its world heritage Angkor Wat.

About

Cambodia

History People have been living within the area covered by the present-day country of

Cambodia at least since the 5th millennium BC. The ancient Kingdom of Funan

occupied a wider area, and it was during that period that the culture became

heavily influenced by Hinduism. The state of Chenla then arose. The Khmer

Empire had its golden age in the 9th to the 13th centuries, when huge temple

complexes were built, most notably Angkor Wat. Spanish and Portuguese

missionaries visited from the 16th century, and Cambodia became a protectorate of France in the 19th century,

being ruled as part of French Indochina.

Cambodia became an independent kingdom

in 1953 under Norodom Sihanouk. The

Vietnam War extended into Cambodia,

giving rise to the Khmer Rouge, which took

Phnom Penh in 1975 and carried out a

campaign of mass killing. Following an

invasion by Vietnam, the Khmer Rouge were

deposed and the People's Republic of

Kampuchea was established. After years of

isolation, the war-ravaged nation was

reunited under the monarchy in 1993 and

has seen rapid economic progress while rebuilding from decades of civil war

About

Cambodia

About

Cambodia

Religion Thearavada Buddhism is the official religion in Cambodia which is

practiced by 95 percent of the population-- just like that of

Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka. Buddhism originated in what are now

north India and Nepal during the sixth century B.C. Theravada

Buddhism is a tolerant, non-prescriptive religion that does not

require belief in a supreme being. However, Christianity and Cham

Muslim are being active and popular among a large number of

population as well in the capital and provinces, showing a sign of

growth. Daoism and Confuism are also commonly practiced

among the Chinese people. Buddhist monks are highly disciplined

and must follow 227 rules in addition to the ten basic precepts of

being a good Buddhist. Monks cannot take part in entertainment.

They lead simple lives dedicated to Buddhism and the temple.

Culture

Throughout Cambodia's long history, religion has been a major source

of cultural inspiration. Over nearly two millennia, Cambodians have

developed a unique Khmer belief from the syncreticism of indigenous

animistic beliefs and the Indian religions of Buddhism and Hinduism.

Indian culture and civilization, including its languages and arts

reached mainland Southeast Asia around the 1st century AD. It is

generally believed that seafaring merchants brought Indian customs

and culture to ports along the Gulf of Thailand and the Pacific en route

to trade with China. The Kingdom of Funan was most probably the

first Khmer state to benefit from this influx of Indian ideas.

In Khmer culture a person's head is believed to contain the person's soul—therefore

making it taboo to touch or point one's feet at it. It is also considered to be extremely

disrespectful to use the feet to point out a person, or to sit or sleep with the soles of the feet

pointing at a person, as the feet are the lowest part of the body and are considered to be

impure. When greeting people or to show respect in Cambodia people do the "sampeah"

gesture, identical to the Indian Namaste and Thai wai. Customary Cambodian teachings

are laid out in verse form in long works from the 14th to 18th centuries collectively called

Chhbap ("rules" or "codes"). These were traditionally learned by rote. Works such as the

Chhbap Pros ("Boy's Code"), Chhbap Srey ("Girl's Code") and Chhbap Peak Chas ("Code

of Ancient Words") gave such advice as: a person that does not wake up before sunrise is

lazy; a child must tell parents or elders where they go and what time they will return home;

always close doors gently, otherwise a bad temper will be assumed; sit in a chair with the

legs straight down and not crossed (crossing the legs is a mark of an impolite person); and

always let the other person do more talking. In Cambodia it is not polite to make eye

contact with someone who is older or someone who is considered a superior.

About

Cambodia

Step 2.

LIFE

in Cambodia

Cambodia is one of the world's newest and most exciting travel destinations. After years of isolation under

the Khmer Rouge Regime, Cambodia's stable political economy meant that tourist numbers have increased

every year since. you can discover the mother of all temples, Angkor Wat, a wonder of the world near

Siem Reap; the cultural attractions of Phnom Penh; and the beaches of Sihanoukville. Phnom Penh's

chaotic yet charismatic culture is rich and interesting; with the Royal Palace, the National Museum and the

Killing Fields to learn about as well as with many art shops, cinemas, bookshops, galleries, and casinos to

visit. Shopping in Phnom Penh is a must – you can find plenty malls and markets that sell all sorts of

electronics, silk material, crafts & furniture, fashion &accessories –this is a great opportunity to use your

bargaining skills. Note that you can probably end up paying a third less than the original price given.

Main City

LIFE IN

CAMBODIA

Independence Monument, Phnom Penh Koh Rong Island Battambang, Siem Reap

Food Cambodian cuisine includes noodles, soups, grills, stir-fried, curries,

salads, desserts, lots of vegetables, tropical fruits, and of course rice

which is the staple food for Cambodians. Cambodian culinary secrets

are rarely written down; the recipes were instead handed down from

mother to daughter. From an ancient origin has come a traditional

cuisine of unsuspected treasures: a unique blend of flavors and colors

that enhance the natural ingredients used. Cambodians perfected the

art of blending spice paste using many ingredients like cloves,

cinnamon, star anise, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger and turmeric. They

add other native ingredients like galangal, garlic, shallots, lemongrass,

cilantro, and kaffir lime leaves to these spices to make a rather

distinctive and complex spice blend known as “kroeung”. Although

noodles are also popular, almost every meal includes a bowl of rice. A

wide range of curries, soups and stir fried are usually served with rice.

Being in a country that produces many rice varieties, tourists can enjoy

the best aromatic grains and various types of glutinous rice. The latter is

more commonly served with a salad or in desserts with fruits. There are

two other unique ingredients that give Cambodian cuisines their

fabulous typical flavour. One is a pungent fermented fish paste known

as pra-hok and the other, the kapi, a fermented prawn paste. These

require an acquired taste for most but they are beloved by some who

used them in many dishes or even taken as a dipping sauce.

Collectively, these ingredients have become an important aromatic

combination commonly used in Cambodian cuisines. There are two

other unique ingredients that give Cambodian cuisines their fabulous

typical flavour. One is a pungent fermented fish paste known as pra-

hok and the other, the kapi, a fermented prawn paste. These require

an acquired taste for most but they are beloved by some who used

them in many dishes or even taken as a dipping sauce. Collectively,

these ingredients have become an important aromatic combination commonly used in Cambodian cuisines.

LIFE IN

CAMBODIA

Food

Prahok Kties is a delicious staple

dish of Cambodian cuisine. Prahok,

which means fermented fish, is GOLD to

Cambodian cuisine, and can take up

different shapes of flavor, depending on

the recipe. Prahok Kties is fried with

pork taken from the belly sides of the

hog, which accentuates the flavor,

particularly with the amazing quality of

pork (sakchru) that Cambodia produces.

It leaves you with an amazing taste in your palates.

Machu Kroung (soup), a healthy,

fulfilling, flavorful sweet and sour soup

that is incredibly wholesome. The fried

peanuts accentuate the soup. The

lemongrass (slak krai) and the saffron

truly complement each other and to

top it off, the decorative local grown

chili flakes (matey) make this quite an

appealing site to the eye. This is in fact

more towards a curry than it is the

s o u p t h a t m o s t f o r e i g n e r s thought it to be.

Korko, the hearty traditional gravy is

truly quite delightful; its base ingredient

is actually toasted rice pounded and

tu rned in to a t as ty base and

complimented by prahok, pork and

pumpkin, which together add a

delicious warmth and texture to the

palate. Korko, is one of those great

fusions of traditional ingredients cooked to perfection.

LIFE IN

CAMBODIA

Transportation The public transportation in Cambodia is easy to access with taxi,

tuk-tuk or motor taxi. For both motor taxi and tuk-tuk, you can bargain

the price and the price depends on the distance. Generally, Tuk-Tuk

i s mo r e ex pens iv e b u t ch eape r when w i t h f r i ends .

It is also very inexpensive to live and travel within Cambodia.

Flight prices rise dramatically over Christmas and the summer,

and dropping significantly during lax periods of business like

February, June and October. It is possible to use buses to cross

into Cambodia from Thailand or Vietnam. The most popular way

to/from Vietnam is a cheap $6 bus via Bavet (Cambodian side)

and Moc Bai (Vietnam). From Thailand, many travellers take the

fun $14 ‘scam bus’ from Bangkok to Siem Reap via the Poipet–

Aranya Prathet border crossing. It costs around $10-$15 to travel

from Phnom Penh to other cities like Siem Reap (Angkok Wat).

The best way to see Phnom Penh or other cities is to jump and get

a ride in a Tuk-Tuk.

Turn right – bot s’dam

Turn left – bot ch’wayng

Go straight – dtou dtrong

Turn back – dtou grao-ee

Stop - chop

Basic Khmer for Direction

Tuk - Tuk

LIFE IN

CAMBODIA

Currency Cambodia uses both US dollar and its own currency called KHR (Cambodian Riels).

1 US dollar = 4,000 KHR Example of common living expenses in Phnom Penh Lunch or Dinner_ 1~3 USD Public Transportation_ Around 7USD per week Laundry Service_ 3~6 USD per week Smartphone Internet Fee_5USD per 2.5GB Sports Club Single Entrance_ 0.25~5 USD Bus Ticket to Shinoukville Beach_ 5hours, 4 USD Bangkok_ 10 hours, 13 USD Ho Chi Minh City_ 6 hours, 8 USD

LIFE IN

CAMBODIA

Language Khmer is the official language of Cambodia. The Cambodian language is

derived from the Mon-Khmer (Austro-Asiatic) language family. Khmer is

renowned for possessing one of the largest sets of alphabets; it consists of

33 consonants, 23 vowels and 12 independent vowels. While tourists may

wish to learn a few spoken phrases before or when visiting Cambodia,

English is widely spoken and understood. French and Mandarin are also

spoken frequently in the country; most elderly Cambodians speak French and

many people in the Khmer-Chinese population speak Mandarin.

Hello Sur Sdey

Thank you Orkun

How much? Maan?

Beef Sach ko

Pork Sach Jruk

Chicken Sach Moan

Rice Bye

Noodle Mee

Soup Soup

Basic Khmer

LIFE IN

CAMBODIA

Festivals and Holidays The Kingdom of Cambodia has a wealth of traditional and

cultural festivals dated according to the Cambodian lunar

calendar. All of these festivals are influenced by the

concepts of Buddhism, Hinduism, and royal cultures. The

festivals, which serve as a source of great joy, merriment

and Cambodia’s national colors, play a major role in

influencing tourists’ opinions, behaviors, and options. Most

of these are a time of great rejoicing for the predominantly

urban and the rural populace. Nowadays the whole nation

unites in understanding its cultural values and traditions.

On these pages, are some of the important celebrations

organized during the year.

You can find all the Khmer Holidays here.

Water Festival in Phnom Penh

LIFE IN

CAMBODIA

Water Festival The Water Festival, a spectacle to behold, is probably the

most exorbitant festival held each year in November. It is

usually celebrated for three days, i.e. the 14th and 15th of

the waxing moon and the 1st of the waning moon of the

month of Kadek. The 15th of the waxing moon is the last

full moon day.

The festival ushers in the fishing season, marks a change

in the flow of the Tonlé Sap and the ebbing-water season,

and is seen as thanksgiving to the Mekong River for

providing the country with fertile land and abundant fish.

LIFE IN

CAMBODIA

Khmer New Year The Khmer New Year, or 'Bon Chol Chhnam Thmei' in the

Khmer language, is commonly celebrated on 13th April

each year although sometimes the holiday may fall on the

14th April in keeping with the Cambodian lunar calendar.

This marks the end of the harvest season when farmers

enjoy the fruits of their labor and relax before the start of

the rainy season. During this time, people engage in

traditional Khmer games; they paly such games as the Bas

Angkunh 'seed throwing', Chaol Chhoung 'twisted-scarf

throwing', Leak Kanséng 'twisted-scarf hide', tug of war,

shuttlecock kicking, etc.

LIFE IN

CAMBODIA

Royal Ploughing

Ceremony The Royal Ploughing Ceremony, or 'Bon Chroat Preah Nongkoal' in the Khmer

language, is solemnly celebrated at the beginning of the sowing and planting

season. Every year in May, this cultural ceremony takes place at the park in

front of the National Museum (next to the Royal Palace). Cambodia has deep

connection with earth and farming. There is a deep astrological belief that royal

oxen known in Khmer as Usapheak Reach, have an instrumental role in

determining the fate of the agricultural harvest each year.

The field is ceremoniously ploughed three times around. The royal servants

then drive the royal oxen to seven golden trays containing rice, corn, sesame

seeds, beans, grass, water, and wine to feed. The royal soothsayers interpret

what the oxen have eaten and predict a series of events including epidemics,

floods, good harvests, and excessive rainfall. At this festival, both men and

women wear brightly colored Khmer traditional costume.

LIFE IN

CAMBODIA

Step 3.

Structure

AIESEC IFL

AIESEC LUCT

AIESEC WatPhnom

AIESEC PP

NATIONAL OFFICE

AIESEC in

Cambodia

I have had the opportunity to travel to two

provinces for work, and I attended an

international forum in Thailand on behalf of

CfD. I have worked with the Executive

Director to make organization-wide decisions;

designing market research for a school-based

sanitation project; preparing final reports; I

have learned a great deal about not only

development work but a lso cul tura l

awareness and sensitivity, and I have fallen in

love with. Its rich culture, tragic history, and

hot climate make it a fantastic place for

p e r s o n a l g r o w t h , w o r k , a n d p l a y.

“

”

Kathryn Moore AIESEC UBC, Vancouver, Canada

My Cambodian experience is absolutely brilliant.

After 6 years of waiting to do my exchange,

Cambodia has exceeded all my expectations! It

was love from the first sight! People are so

friendly, and I feel welcomed and appreciated

everywhere! I can get great massages for US $5,

mediate with Buddhist monks in temple, drive

anywhere with my own motorbike under clear

blue skies, and explore the amazing countryside

that hides real treasures… AIESECers around

have created a great social circle, which is just

incredible. You would never expect how great

Cambodia really is. Don’t hesitate, just come!

“

”

Konrad Plechowski, AIESEC Torun UMK, Poland

Step 4.

PREPARE

VISA

For all incoming Exchange Participants to Cambodia, we are suggesting

you to apply for Business Visa. This visa can be applied on arrival at

Cambodia airport (Phnom Penh and Siem Reap). Getting a visa for

Cambodia is very hassle-free and quick for nearly all nationalities. Tourist

visas are now available online, go to http://evisa.mfaic.gov.kh/e-

visa/vindex.aspx. You can also buy your visa on arrival in Phnom Penh's

airport and at all the land crossings with Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. A

tourist visa costs $20 and a business visa $25. So, it's very easy to

come to Cambodia! Visa can be prolonged up to 1 year.

VISA 1. Find visa application counter at the airport.

2. Fill the visa application form (Notes: in the application form there’s no option for business visa,

please choose ordinary visa).

3. In the form they are going to ask where you are

staying in Cambodia, please ask your TN manager

(responsible LC or MC) about the address of your

accommodation. (You can put one of AIESEC members’s house address if you still

don’t know the address of your accommodation. Or, you may write

the office address of AIESEC Cambodia: #55, Street 180, Sangkat

Boeung Raing, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh )

4. Submit 1 copy of your photograph (4x6 cm,

passport size).

5. Ordinary/Business visa will cost you USD 25.

* For invitation letter, the immigration counter usually does not ask you to submit this, however just in

case you can ask your TN manager to give this letter to you before your departure to Cambodia. **

Step 5.

Alladi Ruthvik

MCVP IGIP ruthviik.gupta@aiesec.net

Rothkeo Norm

MCVP IGCDP rothkeo.norm@aiesec.net