|
ABOUT CAMBODIA
There’s a magic about
Cambodia that casts a spell over you. It's a very popular destination in
South-East Asia and an exciting place to do a voluntary placement where
you can get to know the local people in a deep and rich non-tourist
way.
Cambodia has 275 miles of coastline
on the Gulf of Thailand and is bordered by Thailand to the north and
west, Laos to the northeast, and Vietnam to the east and southeast. Our
projects are located in two areas, glorious Sihanoukville and on
the nearby island of Koh Rong Samloem.
"I loved
Cambodia, it felt like something you might have seen in adventure movie.
They say Cambodia is about 20 years behind Thailand so not too swamped
by tourists. There is certainly plenty to see and do. I found the people
easy going, friendly and relaxed. Also Cambodia as a country is
stunning. The Temples are like something out of The Jungle Book and the
beaches are wonderful (even during the rainy season)." Andrew
Kemp
Although Cambodia has gone through some
very difficult times, the feeling is that it is on the right track and
aiming to take on the tourism market from Thailand and other Asian
countries. There is a lot of major construction work happening in the
main cities, like new hotels and other holiday resorts. Last year there
were nearly two million tourists who visited the country, with the
stunning temples and beautiful beaches being among the most popular
places to see. Quaint provincial capitals, such as Battambang
and Kampot, are just now being discovered by travelers and all offer
unique glimpses of ‘unspoiled’ Cambodia.
The Khmer people, who make up more than 95% of Cambodia's population, are
said to be some of the friendliest, happiest and most gentle people with
lovely hospitality and openness. Also Cambodia is really cheap. At time
of writing, a box of 200 cigarettes in a supermarket was only $3 and a
meal in a good restaurant cost about $5 (a normal meal is about $2).
You should visit the incredible
temple of Angkor Wat, a spectacular fusion of symbolism, symmetry and
spirituality. It's a 1,000 year old temple
complex, covering dozens of square kilometers in the jungle.
But just as Angkor is more than its Wat, so, too, is Cambodia more than its
temples. There is so much to do and see that you should add to your
itinerary:
-
The charismatic capital of Phnom Penh.
Situated on the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers, this city of
over a million people is growing every day.
-
The
revitalised city of Siem Reap which has a gorgeous riverside location, a
cultural renaissance, and a dining and drinking scene to rival the best
in the region.
-
The
relaxing seaside town of Kampot and trekking in the nearby Bokor National Park
-
Riding
an elephant in the jungles of Mondulkiri Province
-
The
Mekong dolphins at Kratie are a delight to see
-
And don't forget
the glorious beaches near Sihanoukville
where our projects are based.
MONEY - COST OF LIVING (at time of
writing):
Currency: US Dollars and Cambodian riel (r)
• Can of Coke – 40p (US$0.60)
• Beer at a bar – 75p (US$1.00)
• DVDs – £1.00 (US$1.50)
• Pack of local cigarettes – 15p (US$0.23), with imported cigarettes at 60p
(US$0.90)
• Reasonably good local meal (fried noodles with beef and egg, with iced
tea) - around £1.00 (US$1.50)
• A meal at a tourist restaurant in Sihanoukville - £1.30 to £3.00
(US$2.00 to $4.50) (with no
drinks)
• Suggested pocket money: £160 per month (US$250)
SEASONS:
Cambodia can be visited at any time of year. The ideal months are
December and January, when humidity levels are relatively low and a
cooling breeze whips across the land, but this is also peak season when
the majority of visitors descend on the country.
From early February temperatures keep rising until April, when it can
exceed 40°C. Some time in May or June, the southwestern monsoon brings
rain and high humidity, which can make it difficult and sweaty for
visitors. The wet season, which lasts until October, is when the rain tends to come in short, sharp downpours.
SIHANOUKVILLE is amazing! It has everything you could want as a
location for your placement: Stunning beaches and a laid back town that
has lots to do. It is also known as Kampong Som and is a port
city in southern Cambodia on the Gulf of Thailand, 185 kilometres
southwest of Phnom Penh. You can take water taxis to the nearby islands
for diving, snorkeling, and game fishing. The town centre is located on
a hill roughly in the centre of the peninsula.
Sihanoukville is a spread-out tourist
town for both foreigners and local people from all over the country.
Three sides of the town are bordered by tropical beaches and islands.
Filled with empty beaches, crowded beaches, seafood, restaurants, bars,
Buddhist Temples, casinos, hotels, and more beaches. At several hundred
places, English is spoken; and many French speakers are here as well.
Prime time in SihanoukVille is between
the beginning of November and the end of February. Cooler weather, sunny
every day, and not a worry in the world. Winter in SihanoukVille is the
best! Low season is between the beginning of August until the end of
October. Lots of rain. March to June starts to get hotter and more
humid, but not too much rain. October sees a little rain everyday, which
cools things down. Local transport consists of
Motorbike taxis (motodups) - the pricing for foreigners can vary and is
often confusing! As a rough guide of cost to get to any of the beaches
from Downtown during the day should be around $1 for 1 person and as is
the case in most countries, you should agree prices in advance. Another
popular form of transport in South-East Asia is the Tuk-Tuk (cart pulled
by a bicycle). Tuk-Tuk prices vary depending on destination and the
number of passengers. Cars or mini-bus taxis are not widely used but can
be arranged and bicycles & electric bicycles are available for daily
hire. KOH
RONG SAMLOEM ISLAND lies in the Gulf of
Thailand, at about 40km off the coast of Sihanoukville. It is the
proverbial paradise island! The growth is lush, the sand sparkling white
and the water is a tempting turquoise. The island is relatively
deserted, undeveloped and untouched, but is currently being developed
into Cambodia's jewel tourist destination. A stunningly beautiful bay on
the island is called Waterfall Bay and stretches for several kilometres.
North West Bay is probably one of the most beautiful beaches in the
whole of Cambodia. The centre of the island is a jungle with thousands
of coconut palms and waterfalls.
The island has no firm roads as of yet and 'roads'
are simply sandy tracks. There are two bars on the island (one with a
pool table) and plenty of shops where you can buy drinks, cigarettes,
etc. The locals are super-friendly and very pleased to have volunteers
on their island. Koh Rong Samloem is, in fact, the only island that is fully and
actively protected by the government. |
|
. |
Teach Deserving Children in
Beautiful Sihanoukville Work with children from 3 years old upwards.
You'll also be providing 3 very poor children with FREE education! An
excellent and very rewarding project. No qualifications required.
Teach Deserving Children on Koh
Rong Samloem Island: Help children from 4 to 16 in this outstanding paradise
location. No qualifications required.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
OPTIONAL ADD-ONS
|
.
