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Official Name:
Kingdom of Cambodia
Motto: Nation- Religion – King
Government: Constitutional
Monarchy.
HM Preah
Bat Samdech preah Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia. Samdech
Hun Sen the Prime Minister.
Capital City: Phnom Penh
Major Cities: Siem Reap,
Shihanoukville, Battambang, Kompong Cham.
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| Geography
Cambodia covers 181,035 sq km (a
little over half the size of Vietnam). The country’s maximum
extent is about 580 km east west and 450 km north south. It is
bound on the west by Thailand, on the north by Thailand and
Laos, on the east by Vietnam and to the south by the Gulf of
Thailand. |
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Climate
The
climate of Cambodia is governed by two monsoons that set the
rhythm of rural life. The cool, dry, northeastern monsoon, which
carries little rain, blows from about November to April, From
May to October, the southwestern monsoon bring strong winds,
high humidity and heavy rains Even during the web season, in
rarely rains in the morning, and even then only sporadically. Over the
year temperatures average 27.5 degrees centigrade.
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-Hot Season: March-May.
-Rainy
Season: June-October
-Cool
Season: November-February
-Clothing:
Take cool casual clothes. It is preferable for women to
cover their arms and legs, particularly when visiting a temple.
-Time: Cambodia is seven
hours ahead of GMT. When it is midday in Cambodia is the
previous evening in San Francisco, 1 AM in New York, 5 AM in
London, 6 AM in France and 3 PM in Sydney. |
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Population: 13,094,442 estimation
of 2001 (11.5 millions, National Population Census 1998)
-Ethnic groups: Khmer 90%, Khmer
Islam, Vietnamese, Chinese, Hill tribe’s represent 10%. |
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Religion: The official religion is
Theravada Buddhism and almost 90% of the population is of this
faith. The rest are Muslims Christians and others.
Language: The
official language is Khmer while the second language (spoken by
educated people) is French. However, in recent years English has
gained popularity. Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese are used
frequently, too. |
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Electricity: Electricity in
Cambodia is 220 volts electric power sockets are round two pin
varieties. Three pin plug adapters can be bought at the markets.
Money: Though Riel is the
official currency, almost every business set their price in us
dollars and can be exchanged into Riel at any sidewalk money
changers at the price of USD1--= 4000 Riels (at the publication
date October 2004) |
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Credit
Card: Visa, JCB,
MasterCard and American Express are the most widely accepted
especially at the major hotels and restaurant in Phnom Penh,
Siem Reap & Shihanoukville.
Traveler
Checks: traveler
checks can be changed only at a limit number of banks in Phnom
Penh, Siem Reap, Shihanoukville, Battambang, and Kompong Cham.
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How to make a
phone call
There are
two different type of telephone use in Cambodia:
-Hand phone: the first 3-digit prefix of a hand phone telephone number
designates the hand phone system.
-Stationary
Telephone: The first
3-dugit prefix of a stationary telephone number is an area code,
which designates the province has its own unique 3-digit prefix.
All telephone number listed in this diary with 023 prefix unless
otherwise noted (855 000 000 000) country calling 3-digit
prefix/area code 6-digit phone number.
-When dialing within a system or
province it is only necessary to dial the 6-digit telephone
number.
-When dialing between systems of
province it is necessary to dial the 3-digit prefix and the
6-digit telephone number.
-When dialing from Cambodia to
oversea: 001 + country code + city code + telephone number.
-When dialing from oversea to
Cambodia use the 855 country calling code, omit 0 from the
3-digit prefix, dial the 6-digit, telephone number.
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Customs: passengers fill out a form
declaring jewelry, camera, equipment and other valuables.
Antique objects are subject to inspection and seizure by customs
authorities with no compensation made to travelers. Like any
other countries Cambodia doest not allow revelers to to import
weapons, explosives or narcotics, cocaine’s and drugs.
Health: Avoid unbottled
water, ice and raw vegetables, peel vegetables and fruits
Vaccinations are not required, except for cholera, typhoid and
hepatitis for a visitor coming from infected areas. Malaria
drugs are advisable, if traveling out of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap
or Shihanoukville. |
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| Business
hours: Government offices open from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm on
weekday. The lunch breakfast is from 12:00 am to 2:00 pm. Most
of restaurants, food and business hours are from 7:30 am or 8:00
am to 11:30 or 12:00 Noon and 2:00 pm to 5:30 or 6:00 pm and some places are open
till 11:00 pm. |
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| Postal Service: The main post office is located
on the corner of streets 102 and 13 to the east of Wat Phnom.
From here you can send parcels, telegrams and faxes. You can
also make phone calls. Open daily 6:30 am to 5:00 pm.
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Greeting: The Cambodian traditionally
greets each other with the “sompiah”, which involves pressing the
hands together in prayer and bowing. In general the higher the
hands and the lower the bow the more respect is shown. In recent
decades this custom has been partially replaced by the western
practice of shaking hands with each other, women usually use the
traditional greeting with both men and women.
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