TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1 (January 2011)
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-Cambodia - An Introduction
-A short history
-Politics
-Economy
-Language
-Religion
-Daily life-etiquette
-Habitat for Humanity in Cambodia
Chapter 2 (February 2011)
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-Trip preparation
-Getting to Cambodia
-Baggage
-Clothing
-Packing list
Chapter 3 (March 2011)
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-Climate
-Health and medical precautions
-Food and drinks
-Money and shopping
Chapter 4 (April 2011)
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-Itinerary and accommodation
-Construction
-Safety tips
-Free time
Chapter 5 (May 2011)
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-Trip abroad registration
-Contact information
-Gift giving policy
-Team meetings
-Conclusions
CHAPTER 1
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The name “Cambodia ” derives from the French “Cambodge”, which in turn comes from the Khmer word “Kampuchea Cambodia Cambodia
Geographically, Cambodia lies between Thailand and Vietnam in mainland Southeast Asia, with a smaller stretch of the northern border adjoining Laos Great Lake Mekong River Cambodia has a coastline on the Gulf of Thailand
In the past more than 70% of the land was covered by forests and woodlands. That figure has been reduced to 40% because of rampant logging. Deforestation has increased the floods’ severity.
Administratively, Cambodia
A SHORT HISTORY
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The area that is present-day Cambodia came under Khmer rule around the 6th century. The Khmer, who were Hindus, did not establish an empire in a modern sense of the word, rather they extended their influence based on the strength of the various kings who belonged to the dynasty. As a result of that, at different times the Khmer empire ruled large parts of what is now Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. The rise of Siam (now Thailand) as a nation and the expansion of Vietnam gradually decreased Khmer territory and led to a period when Cambodia was dominated by those kingdoms.
It is generally accepted that if Cambodia had not been colonized by France, it would have been swallowed by its neighbors. A true Cambodian national identity was created during the French colonial period that started in 1863. The French fixed boundaries, systematized the government bureaucracy, promoted the country image, introduced secular education, and encouraged a ceremonial role for the king. The French presence in Cambodia lasted until 1946 when the country was granted the independence within the French Union. At that time the king of Cambodia was Sihanouk.
Cambodia abandoned the French Union in 1953 and become fully independent. Sihanouk abdicated in 1955 in favor of his parents, but remained the head of government. When the conflict in Vietnam erupted, he sought a guarantee of Cambodian neutrality. However, North Vietnamese and Vietcong troops had started using eastern Cambodia as a safe haven from which to attack South Vietnam, and an indigenous communist guerrilla movement known as Khmer Rouge began to put pressure on the Phnom Pen government. In 1970, during a visit abroad, Sihanouk was overthrown by Lon Nol, a general backed by the US.
The monarchy was abolished, a republic was declared, and Cambodia was renamed Khmer Republic. The republic lasted until 1975 when the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, seized control of Phnom Penh and overthrew the Lon Nol government.
The country was renamed Democratic Kampuchea, and a terrible national tragedy started. The entire population of the urban areas was forced to move to rural places and to work in agriculture. About one and a half million people were executed in the next four years, and an attempt was made to eradicate the national culture. During those years most of the country’s vehicles and machines were destroyed because they were considered a sign of westernization.
While all of this was in progress, the Democratic Kampuchea’s relations with Vietnam and Thailand were rapidly worsening as a result of border clashes and ideological differences. This situation brought the Vietnamese forces to launch a full invasion of Cambodia in 1978. Phnom Penh was occupied and in January 1979 the Vietnamese installed a new head of State (Heng Samrin) and renamed the country one more time. The People’s Republic of Kampuchea or PRK was born.
The Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia lasted until 1989. On that year Vietnam withdrew its army from Cambodia and under the United Nations auspices an international conference was held in Paris to negotiate a country settlement. In 1991 a peace treaty was signed by all parties, included the Khmer Rouge, and the country regained the name of Cambodia.
The year 1993 represented a turning point for the country: the first ever election was held, a new constitution was enacted, the monarchy was reestablished, and Sihanouk was proclaimed king of Cambodia. Sihanouk abdicated in 2004. The new king who presently reigns is his son Norodom Sihamoni.
POLITICS
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The Cambodian Prime Minister is officially the Head of Government. He or she is appointed by the King. Upon entry into office, the Prime Minister appoints a Council of Ministers. Prime Minister and Ministers make up Cambodia
The legislative branch of Cambodia
ECONOMY
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The predominance of agriculture and the neglect of an industrial development have traditionally characterized Cambodia Cambodia Kampuchea Cambodia
LANGUAGE
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The Khmer language or just Khmer or Cambodian, is the official language of the country. It is the second most widely spoken language in the region after Vietnamese, with speakers in tens of millions. As a result of geographic proximity, the Khmer language was influenced, and also influenced by Thai, Lao, and Vietnamese. Khmer writing is derived from Indian systems. It may have begun as early as the third century A.D. A scarcity of written material resulting from the colonial dominance of French and later of the political turmoil, had left the population highly dependent on second languages, and in urban areas there is a great desire to learn English or French. Despite efforts of France
http://www.cambodiatips.com/general_info/language.htm
Below is a list of Khmer words that could prove to be useful:
Below is a list of Khmer words that could prove to be useful:
Introduction to Basic Vocabulary – Survival Khmer
Useful words & phrases
English | Cambodian pronunciation |
Hello | Chum Reap Suor |
Good bye | Chum Reap Lear |
Yes (Male/female) | Bart/Cha |
No (thank you) | At-tee (Or Kun) |
Please | Soum |
Thank you | Or Kun |
How much is this | Th-lai Pon-mane? |
I don’t understand | Khyom Min Yul Te |
Please say that again | Soum Niyeay M-dorng Teat |
Please turn left | Soum Bot Chhveng |
Please turn right | Soum Bot Sdam |
Please go straight | Soum T-hoo Trong |
Please stop here | Soum Chhop |
Go | T-hoo |
Greetings
English | Cambodian pronunciation |
How are you? | |
I’m Very well thank you, and you? | khyom sok sop bay, Chos Neak Ving |
My name is ……, and you? | Khyom Chmuos….., Chos Neak Ving |
How old are you? | Ar Yu Ponmane ? |
I come from… | Khyom Mork Pee Prortes |
Eating & Drinking
English | Cambodian pronunciation |
Can I see the menu please | soam merl data-raang m’hoap bon-dtehj |
I would like………. | soam merl data-raang m’hoap bon-dtehj |
Bottled water | Teuk sot |
No ice please | Ot yok tik kork te |
I didn’t order this | k’nyom meun bann-how aahh nih te |
Khmer food is marvelous | M-hop Khmer oshjar |
May I have the bill please | Seaum kith luy |
Numbers
English | Cambodian pronunciation |
1 | Muoy |
2 | Pee |
3 | Bey |
4 | Buon |
5 | Pram |
6 | Pram Muoy |
7 | Pram Pee |
8 | Pram Bey |
9 | Pram Buon |
10 | Dopt |
Sickness
English | Cambodian pronunciation |
It Hurts here | Chheu Nov Ti Nis |
I have a Headache | Khyom Chheu Kbarl |
I have a Stomachache | Khyom Chheu Puos |
I have Diarrhea | Khyom Reak |
I have a sore throat | Khyom Chheu Bompong kor |
I feel Dizzy | Khyom Veul much |
Construction terms
English | Cambodian pronunciation |
Cement | Simong |
Gravel and sand | Thmor ning Ksach |
Trowel | Slap Prear Bai Or |
Shovel | Pell |
Gloves | Srorm Dai |
Concrete pail | Thung Bai Or |
Pliers | Dang Kapp |
Roof | Dom Bol |
Stone | Thmor |
Steel | Dek |
Hammer | Gnor Gnour |
Drill | Dek khourng |
Door | Thvear |
Bucket | Thung |
Nails | Dek Kol |
Shopping:
English | Cambodian pronunciation |
How much is it? | Te vear thlai pon marn? |
That’s too expensive | Vear thlai nass |
If you make it cheaper, I will buy it | Be neak chors thlai born tek kgnorm ning tegn |
Can you show me some more? | Te Neak arch bang hagn kngom teart ban te? |
May I have the receipt? | Te tve vikeyabart oy kngom ban te? |
RELIGION
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Theravada Buddhism (please check http://www.theravadabuddhism.org should you want to learn something about it) spread in the later years of the Khmer Empire. It is traditionally considered the religion of the ethnic Khmer. The Buddhist temple complexes (vott) are central to community life, as is the calendar of Buddhist holidays, which is linked to the seasons and the agricultural cycles. The period around the end of the rainy season, before the rice harvest takes place, includes two major holidays: one in honor of the spirit of the dead (Pchum Ben) and the other for the ceremonial presentation of monk’s robes (Kathin). Animist practices are also part of the culture and are deeply intermingled with the everyday practice of Buddhism. They are not considered separate religions but part of the choices for dealing with moral, physical and spiritual needs. The main difference is that Buddhism is a national tradition with its rules and structure, while animism is a tradition passed from one person to the other rather than a formal institution. Pol Pot’s regime destroyed the outer vestiges of Buddhism and the People’s Republic of Kampuchea
DAILY LIFE – ETIQUETTE
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Greetings
Cambodians greet by placing both hands together in a prayer position at chest level without touching the body. The higher the hands are held-but not over the nose level- the greater the sign of respect. This gesture that is called “sompiah” is accompanied by a slight bow. With foreigners, Cambodians have adopted the western practice of shaking hands. Women may still use the traditional Cambodian greeting. Indeed an attempt to handshake a woman could embarrass her. The simple rule is to respond with the greeting you are given. When handshaking be careful of not being too firm as this may be considered an aggressive attitude. Although there are many greeting phrases, one common greeting is “Sok sebai?” (How are you?)
Gestures
Rules governing gestures come from Buddhism. While sitting, one should not point the soles of the feet toward a Buddha image or any people. One does not touch another person’s head, even a child’s since according to Buddhism the head is the most sacred part of the body. Shoes should be removed before entering a temple or a house. Something else to be avoided is to sit on a level more elevated than that of an older person or to raise one’s voice. Speaking of gestures, something we should avoid because it is considered not appropriate is for men and women to touch each other in public or to show affection like kissing and hugging.
The concept of “face”
As with other countries in the region, the concept of face governs social interactions at all levels. “Face” is a combination of honor, dignity, and personal reputation. Face can be gained, lost and must be always protected. It is gained when a compliment is given publicly to somebody for a work well done, for hospitality, for the smart solution of a problem and so on. Face is lost when someone is criticized, or embarrassed in public. To maintain face, people tend to not show emotions, especially negative ones like anger, impatience, or frustrations that lead to loss of face. Cambodians often smile in situations westerners would not expect to do so. A smile in Cambodia Cambodia
Table manners
Cambodians eat with chopsticks, spoons, and their fingers, depending on the food and family custom. In rural homes, family members gather around a mat and eat from a common platter. Rice is eaten in balls with the right hand. Meat and vegetables are already cut into bite-sized pieces.
The oldest person is usually seated first and starts eating before others.
All the above having been said…
Cambodians are friendly and warm people. They will understand that we come from a different culture and will be patient if we make minor mistakes, so do not worry there. However they will also appreciate an effort to understand some aspects of their culture and some simple words of their language. Finally: if unconfident with the dos and don’ts, simply ask the locals or just follow what they do.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY IN CAMBODIA
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The work of Habitat for Humanity started in Cambodia in 2002 with an initial project in Phnom Penh
The first international team arrived there from Australia US , New Zealand , Singapore , Korea and Australia Cambodia
In November 2009, the Jimmy & Rosalyn Carter Work Project brought together more than 250 local and international volunteers to work with Habitat home partners in Oudong. They started in its vicinity the construction of a new village.
Notes:
A final recommendation: do not bring valuables, especially jewelry. The security of those items cannot necessarily be assured.
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 2
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TRIP PREPARATION
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I highly recommend that you look on the web for anything you can find on Cambodia. Some of the websites that I found particularly interesting are:
http://www.bing.com/search?q=cambodia&FORM=Z7FD (in my opinion this one is one of the most complete sources of information), http://www.cambodia.org/, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambodia, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2732.htm
There are numerous travel books on Cambodia. You can find a large selection of them at http://www.amazon.com, when there, go to the section “Books” and type “Cambodia travel books” on the bar at the top of the screen. A good book is the one published by Lonely Planet. An advantage offered by Lonely Planet when compared to other publications is that you can choose one or more specific chapters of a book, order and pay for them online. You can then download what you bought as soon as the payment has gone through. To make this purchase you should go first to http://lonelyplanet.com, type Cambodia in the search bar, choose the book and click on “Buy by chapter”.
Those who would like to stay posted on Cambodia’s news could access the English online edition of The Phnom Penh Post at http://www.phnompenhpost.com/
GETTING INTO CAMBODIA
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To enter Cambodia you will need: passport valid six months after the intended arrival in the country, a tourist visa, and a return ticket
The passport: please check the expiration date of your passport and apply for a new one if its validity does not match the requirements of the Cambodian authorities. US citizens who need a new passport could go to the following website for getting a new document: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
The visa: it can be obtained before leaving or at the airport of Phnom Penh or Siem Reap.
I quote here what Kewin wrote about his visa when he went to Cambodia in June 2010.
“I got my visa to enter Cambodia before I left. This is not necessary but will save some time when you land in either Siem Reap or Phnom Penh. You can get the visa (called E-Visa) at: http://mfaic.gov.kh/evisa/ online and it was $25 and was done in only a few minutes. This should be the only website that you get the e-visa from, all other websites are fake and will just take your money and won’t send the e-visa. Getting through customs was very easy and only took about 10 minutes. It might take another 10-15 minutes if you don’t have the e-visa.
Before you apply for your E-Visa, here’s some helpful tips: (these were given to me on my last trip).
1) You should have your flight arrival information. If you don’t, you can still apply, but you will need to put an approximate date and time you will arrive and a flight number. Then later, when you have your flight confirmed, you will have to go back in and change the application. It will be a lot easier if you have your flight confirmed before you apply for the e-visa.
2) Have your visa photo ready. It should be a regular color passport-sized photo. You need to scan it and save it on your computer. When you go online to apply for the visa it is going to ask you to browse for that photo. If you don’t have a scanner at home or work, you can ask someone else to scan it and they can send it to you in an email. Then you just need to save that scan on your computer. Make sure you get the original photo back or have an extra copy of it to use later.
3) When you are filling out your travel information it will ask you for where you are staying. Write “ Goldiana Hotel, Phnom Penh”
4) It will also want the name of any group travel. Leave it blank.
5) It will also want “Organization, persons to”. Leave it blank.
Remember: you are traveling on a “Tourist” visa, not as a group, and you are
not associated with an organization.
6) Have your passport information ready to fill in as well. And your credit card information.”
Those who would prefer to obtain the visa on arrival, should visit the following website: http://www.embassy.org/cambodia/faq.html
Needless to say, when filling out the visa form at the airport you should follow the same Kevin guidelines for the E-Visa.
Regardless of how way we will obtain our visas, all of us will have to fill out an “immigration form” at arrival. Please keep in mind that when filling out this form we will have to be consistent with the information provided for obtaining the visa.
Finally: please remember that there is a departure tax (US$25.00) to be paid when leaving the country. This payment has to be done in cash and will be done before going through security.
Now let’s discuss the return ticket.
An ideal solution would be to travel together to Cambodia. This kind of arrangement would allow us to start knowing each other. It would also facilitate the task of the local Habitat representative who will meet the larger group of us at our arrival in Phnom Penh on Monday, June 20. (The standard journey would start on Saturday, June 18. One day –Friday 19- would be spent in transit. Please note that according to some airlines timetables and/or the location you will depart, Phnom Penh could be reached the day after the departure. That means that in some instances the departure could be Sunday, June 19 instead of Saturday, June 18. In any event this project will start on Monday, June 20). Since we will arrive from different places and different countries, each of us will make a personal travel plan. I just ask you to keep me posted on your plan when it will be available. I will need it for organizing our first meeting, and our first day in Cambodia. Based on his previous experience, maybe Kevin could provide some suggestions to those who will travel from the US. Generally speaking when organizing your travel you could get in touch with a travel agent or check the web for buying your tickets there. I personally choose a travel agency whose name is Golden Rule Travel, which is specialized in these “mission” trips. If you’re interested in it, the website of this agency is http://goldenruletravel.com/ The travel agent there who organized my last June Habitat trip to India is Eldon Wagler. His email address: wagler@goldrule.net, his Kansas telephone number is (620) 665-5058.
Some suggestions and recommendations concerning your travel:
-Book your domestic flight(s) to arrive with plenty of time at the airport where you will start your international flight. In the US we are required to arrive not less than 3 hours prior to an international departure. I presume that similar regulations exist in other countries. Please note that sometimes the flights are oversold and you may not get aboard of your plane if you arrive late, even if you are the holder of a valid ticket.
-If you miss your flight to Cambodia, you should go to the desk of the airline company that issued your ticket and request that they make the necessary arrangements for putting you on another flight. Once you have the new flight details, if possible, you should contact by email my coordinator in Cambodia (I will provide details at the section “Contact Information” on Chapter 5).
-Make a copy of your ticket(s). Keep that copy separated from the original.
-Leave a copy of your travel itinerary with your family/friends.
-Keep all of your boarding passes for the entire trip. If your luggage is lost you may need to provide the airline a photocopy of all of them.
BAGGAGE
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The lighter you travel, the better. I suggest that you access the following websites that offer some ideas on packing: http://www.travellerspoint.com/packing-tips.cfm
Should you plan to buy a baggage or travel accessories, you could visit the following website: http://www.packinglight.net/
Based on my experience, I suggest that you take some baggage with wheels, and that you do not mind damaging. Old duffel bags are the best. I suggest as well that the baggage that you will carry is mainly utilized for a change of clothing and any items you cannot do without in case baggage that you checked through should not arrive with you.
I urge you to lock your baggage. Those departing from the US should utilize a special combination lock that has been approved by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Those approved locks can be opened by the airport screener and re-locked once the content has been checked. Some models of these “TSA luggage locks” can be found at: http://www.safeskieslocks.com/index.html Moreover I suggest you visit the TSA site (www.tsa.gov/) at the time of packing. When on the site, go to “For travelers” and click on “Things that you should know”.
Finally: the address that you should write on your luggage tag is the following:
Goldiana Hotel
10+12, St.282, Sangkat Boeung Keng Kang I
Khan Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Tel: (855-23) 219-558
CLOTHING
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Generally speaking we will need a mix of work clothing and regular daily clothing, the latter to be worn when visiting places and spending our free time. Working clothing should include durable, simple, lightweight items which are ideally not white in color items, and not of sentimental value to you. On the working site the recommended dress for women are t-shirts and pants that cover the knees. Recommended dress for men on the working site are short pants (not too short) or regular pants and t-shirts. Long pants and T-shirts or shirts with collars should be the clothing for men when not at the working site. Women should dress conservatively. Short tops, short skirts, and the like should be avoided.
Make sure that clothes are not too tight or body-revealing. Please remember that when visiting places of worship everybody should be fully clothed (and remove their footwear before entering any religious place).
When in Cambodia we could consider to buying a “krama”. The krama is a cotton scarf that can be wrapped around the head or the neck. It can be useful in the hot and sometimes dusty Cambodia. Besides using it as a scarf, Cambodians use it in a number of ways for carrying almost everything and for decoration purposes.
In addition to the items already mentioned, women and men should wear the following clothing when at the build site: study shoes, working gloves, and a broad rimmed hat.
PACKING LIST
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The Packing List that follows should help you when collecting and organizing the items that you intend to bring with you. It is based on my personal experience.
Some items are marked by a number. Those numbers connect the items to notes that can be found at the bottom of the list.
Documents and financial means
___________________________
-Passport
-Airline tickets (and a copy to keep separated from them) (1)
-A copy of your prescriptions (if any)
-A copy of the itinerary (leave another copy with family/friends)
-A copy of your own packing list
-A copy of the Short Term Mission Manual that you should have received from Habitat
-The team biographies and pictures
-Cash (1)
-Credit Card (1) A part of your trip fee covers the cost of a very comprehensive overseas health insurance plan. This includes emergency medical treatment. I recommend carrying a credit card as expenses are usually paid upfront and then reimbursed.
Clothing and related items
____________________________
-Daily work clothes: T-shirts , underwear, slacks, sturdy work gloves, hat, bandana, socks, sturdy shoes.
-Evening/free time outfit: shirts, underwear, pants, socks shoes, a fleece or a wool sweatshirt
-Other: pajamas, “flip flops”/sandals, windbreaker/poncho, light weight jacket, handkerchiefs, sun hat.
Toiletries and health care items
______________________________
-Toothpaste, (2) toothbrush, dental floss, toothpicks
-Shampoo (avoid floral and herbal ones. They can attract insects. Head & Shoulder is recommended) (2)
-A comb
-Nail clippers, tweezers, a pocket knife (optional)
-Insect repellent, disinfecting spray (2)
-Hand sanitizer (2)
-Sun screen, (2) sun glasses
-Contact lens supply and reading glasses (if needed)
-A simple first aid kit (for its contents, please refer to the next section)
-Ladies: feminine hygiene items
-Gentlemen: razors and shaving cream (2) Do not bring aftershave, since like floral and herbal shampoo, it could attract insects.
Personal Items
____________
-Guidebook, information on the country
-Family/friend addresses (e-mail, snail mail, telephone numbers)
-Journal/notebook, pens, pencils
-Games, cards, paperbacks
-Camera, memory cards, and batteries (1)
-Picture of your place, your family and so on
-A knapsack or a bag to carry items to the building site
Tools
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The Affiliate should have all the tools needed to support the work of the team. On the other hand it would be acceptable if we would like to bring our own tools to use and/or donate to the Affiliate before returning home. Please note that we are under no obligation to bring any tools. Should we decide to bring some, this is a list of typical tools that an Affiliate could use and that will be easy to pack:
- -tape measures
- -working gloves
- -carpenter pencils
- -small trowel
- -levels (any size that is small enough to pack)
- -squares
Notes:
(1) Bring some zip-lock bags to protect cameras, valuable papers (cash, airline tickets, credit card, passport and so on), and any other items that are valuable and perishable
(2) Pack leaky items (toiletries, etc.) in zip-lock bags and tighten their caps
A final recommendation: do not bring valuables, especially jewelry. The security of those items cannot necessarily be assured.
CHAPTER 3
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CLIMATE
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Cambodia is located in a tropical zone, just 10-13 degrees north of the equator. Like most of Southeast Asia, Cambodia is warm to hot year round and the climate is dominated by the annual monsoon cycle with alternating wet and dry seasons. The monsoon cycle responsible for the wet season is driven by air pressure changes over central Asia. As the pressure drops during the summer months (June to October), moist air is drawn landward from the ocean bringing the southwest monsoon rains to Cambodia and most of Southeast Asia. Monsoon rains are fairly predictable. They do not last very long, and generally occur during the afternoon or at night. Chances are that we will experience very little rain, if any since June is a transitional month between the dry and the wet season, generally marked by some difference in humidity level, and a little change in temperature. According to Kevin who was in Cambodia last June, both temperature and humidity were very high at the worksite.
I suggest that before departure you check weather conditions in Phnom Penh at: http://weather.weatherbug.com/Cambodia/Phnom Penh-weather.html
Through this website you can obtain a seven day forecast.
HEALTH AND MEDICAL PRECAUTIONS
_________________________
Before departing for a trip like this it is advisable to get a medical examination, and to check your routine shots (measles, mumps, rubella and so on). If you are not updated with your shots you should discuss your situation with your doctor. It is advisable that you make an appointment with your doctor one-two months before the departure because some shots cannot be taken together, while others may need several weeks in between.
There are not specific vaccinations required for Cambodia but tetanus/diphtheria booster and Hepatitis A immunizations should be considered. Another risk in South East Asia is malaria, a mosquito-borne illness that is spread through mosquito bites. Malaria is a remote risk but it is in the range of possibilities. To prevent any unpleasant surprises, I suggest that you discuss this topic with your doctor and bring with you any malaria medications that should be prescribed to you. Malaria pills are not the only line of defense: there is something else that you can do to protect yourselves. I refer here to the use of insect repellents that should be sprayed particularly in the morning and at dusk on your part of body not covered by clothing and on the clothing themselves (insects tend to bite through clothing too). Ankles, arms and the neck are the favorite targets of mosquitoes. The insect repellent must have at lest 25-30% DEET to be effective. To reduce the mosquitos’ interest in your body you should wear, whenever possible, colored clothing with long sleeves, and full-length pants. Another disease carried by mosquitoes is the dengue fever. Unfortunately there is no vaccine to prevent this disease.
A good source of information on the medical recommendations for Cambodia can be found at: http://www.mekong.net/cambodia/med_recs.htm According to this site some precautions are intended for those who stay for a long term in the country. Just do not forget to inform your doctor of your trip duration and follow his/her guidelines.
Apart from making an appointment with your doctor, there is something else that you should do before departing. You should make a photocopy of your vaccination record book and of any medical record that you may have. You should also prepare a medical kit which should include any prescription medicine that you frequently take or that your doctor recommends that you take with you. Your kit should also include at least the following items: band aids, treatment for upset stomach and anti-diarrhea drugs, Tylenol or aspirin, antibiotics, and antibiotic ointment. I will bring a first aid kit to complement the supply that you will bring along with you.
When in Cambodia you will have to keep in mind that the health hazards there are mainly related to the tropical climate where bacteria and germs breed rapidly and in large quantity. A simple effective method of protecting yourselves from possible germs is to keep your hands clean. Since water and soap will not always be available when needed, I suggest that you always have handy a supply of hand sanitizers.
Tropical climate has a blessing that can turn harmful: the sun. It can cause severe sunburn or sunstroke. You should have with you a supply of sunscreen, and to use it.
Let me discuss now some possible health hazards at the build site and the way to keep them at an arm length
-Our work there could bring with it occasional cuts and scrapes. Should that occur, we should keep the area clean and apply an antibacterial ointment on it.
-We should drink a lot of water even if we will not feel particularly thirsty. The reason: we will be involved in manual work and the temperature will be high. In those conditions a massive loss of body water through perspiration is the norm. If that water is not replaced we could run the risk of dehydrating.
-We should have our heads protected against the sun by a hat, and our necks protected by a bandana.
When back home it would be advisable to have a check-up. Please note that some diseases have a period of incubation and their symptoms can show up days or weeks after your arrival. Do not forget to mention your trip to your doctor should you do not feel well and make an appointment for a visit.
FOOD AND DRINKS
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Cambodian food has been heavily influenced by its neighbors, China to the north, Thailand to the west, and Vietnam to the east. Even the French colonists’ cuisine is represented in the Cambodia food. The Chinese influence can be seen in the fried rice and fried noodles. Fried noodles are usually enjoyed as a bed on which fried beef and vegetables are laid, and then a topping of scrambled eggs is added. Vietnam shows up in dishes like “loc lac” wich is marinated, cubed beef fried with a soy sauce. The French influence shows up in the baguettes with pate’. Needless to say, rice is ubiquitous. The main meat source is freshwater fish from the many country waterways, and seafood from the Gulf of Thailand. Other meats such as beef, pork, chicken, and duck are widely available. Popular Cambodian dishes include rice noodles, often served with coconut sauce, and “amok try” which is fish in a thick coconut curry sauce, wrapped in banana leaves and steamed. Most meals are accompanied by a soup, served not at the start of the meal but rather as part of the main dish. Cambodians are particularly fond of grilled and barbecued food. Grilled fish is common along with any kind of meat. Grilled food is served with either noodles or rice. Fruit is widely available and after a careful clean or peel, very healthy. Just for you to know, Cambodians eat almost everything. The list of food that they consider delicious includes insects, field rodents, and snakes. You could occasionally see these “delicacies” in the markets, and on the streets stalls.
Something on drinks. It will always be advisable to drink bottled water and to be aware of ice from unknown provenance. Soft drinks manufactured by international known companies are available everywhere, as is canned and bottled beer. International beers include, among the others, Heineken, Carlsberg, Tiger, and Foster. Local brands include Angkor, Angkor Stout, and Bayon. Imported wine-a legacy of the Cambodia’s colonial past-is available in major towns. Speaking of alcoholic beverages, I want to remind you that they are not part of the trip cost. Hence if you order them, you will need to pay for them. Coffee and tea are generally available throughout the country. On the food and drink in Cambodia I suggest: http://www.mekong.com/cambodia/food.htm
MONEY AND SHOPPING
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The Cambodian currency is called Riel (KHR). The Riel notes come in 50, 100, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 50,000, 100,000 denominations. Coins are not used in Cambodia.
Do not be impressed by those large denominations. Just consider that a 100,000 Riel note is worth approx US$25. If you arrive in Cambodia with US Dollar banknotes you will need not change them into Riel since the US Dollar is the country the facto currency. Prices are quoted in both Riels and US Dollars so it is possible to pay with one of the two currencies or with a mix of both. When a payment is made in US Dollars the change can be in either US Dollars (for the part greater than $1) and Riels (for the part smaller than $1). E.g. if a $5 bill is given to buy an item whose cost is $1.50, the change will be $3 and the remaining in Riel. There is in Cambodia a double standard as far as the condition of the banknotes is concerned. Marred Riels are the norm, whereas small denomination US Dollars banknotes must have no marks or tears, and larger banknotes, from $20 up, must not have the tiniest tear to be accepted by banks, moneychangers, and other businesses. Those who prefer to not carry cash or just decide to buy something and need extra cash, could get money at a ATM. There are ATMs with international access in Phnom Penh and in Siem Reap. Some of the financial institutions that offer that service are ANZ Royal Bank, Canadia and SBC banks. Credit cards are not widely accepted as a form of payment since the Cambodian economy is still largely cash-based. Debit cards may be used at ATMs. Inflation tends to be quite steep in Cambodia, so that it is better to check the Riel/Dollar exchange rate before to go. This could be done at http://www.oanda.com/convert/cheatsheet
A question that I sometimes am asked is how much money we should bring with us.
Since team money covers food, accommodation, and transportation costs, each of us will only need to carry a small amount needed for some shopping, to pay for alcohol beverages, for the “airport tax” (US$25), and of course for the expenses to be incurred if staying in the country when the Habitat project is over. According to my coordinator in Cambodia, US$150-200 should be more than sufficient to buy some souvenirs. It would be up to us to determine the actual amount based on our propensity to shop, and the amount of the other expenses that I mentioned.
Speaking of shopping, both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap offer a good range and variety of shopping opportunities and products. Traditional Cambodian souvenirs include hand-loomed silk, Buddhist themed carvings and statues, silverworks, basketry, colored gems, and the most traditional souvenir, the krama- a checkered scarf unique to the Khmer people (I mentioned it at Chapter 2, section “Clothing”). To get the most from your shopping trip it would be essential to bargain. Just remember that vendors have two prices, one for the local and another for the tourists. You could perplex and surprise a vendor if you accept the first price quoted. The key to a successful haggling is doing it in good humor with a smile on your face.
The best market in Phnom Penh (a place that we will visit) is the Russian Market (It was the foreigners market during the 80’s when most of the foreigners were Russians hence the name). This market offers a very large and a varied selection of souvenirs, curios and other items of interest to visitors.
Siem Reap is another excellent place to buy Cambodian souvenirs, silks, handicrafts, textiles and contemporary art. One of the largest traditional markets is Phsar Chas (the Old Market). It offers the largest selection of souvenirs under one roof in town. I am told that it is a “must visit” in itself for the unique, colorful, local shopping experience.
Bottom line: better to depart with some room in the luggage. Chances are that on the way back home that room will be occupied by souvenirs bought in Cambodia.
CHAPTER 4
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ITINERARY AND ACCOMMODATIONS---------------------------------------------------
While writing this Chapter, I have not yet received all your travel itineraries. At present I know that some of you will already be in Phnom Penh on Monday, June 20 and that others will arrive on that day. This is the plan for Monday, June 20, based the present available information:
- Those who will already be in Phnom Penh should go to the Goldiana Hotel where the team will stay. Our accommodations will be double occupancy “deluxe” rooms. The website of the hotel is: www.goldiana.com
-The check-in at the hotel is at 1pm. At around that time, once our luggage is in our rooms, we will gather at the restaurant for a lunch. I should be there since I am scheduled to arrive at 10.30.
-Those who arrive at the airport on June 20, either in the morning or in the afternoon, will have a chance to be picked up at the airport by a hotel vehicle. To that end, I will need to know your arrival schedule (airline name, flight number, and arrival time) for informing the hotel accordingly.
-We will have a free time for resting or anything else until 4.30pm. At that time we will meet the Habitat Representative (his name is Samvitey Kong) who will take care of us during our stay in Phnom Penh. We will meet him in the lobby of the Hotel, and will go with him to a nearby restaurant. At around 5.00 we will have an Orientation Session there. During the orientation we will learn about Habitat’s activity in Cambodia, and will be informed of some Cambodian culture issues. We will also have a chance to ask questions on the project and on any other topics related to our trip. The orientation will be followed by the dinner.
On the following day (June 21), once we reach the build site, we will have a second Orientation Session. It will be more specific than the first one since it will be focused on the build site, and the surrounding area. On that occasion we will meet the future home owners, the skilled workers, and some Habitat staff. The construction supervisor will give us some information on the build and some advice on security. Please note that before our arrival Habitat staff will have already met the community where we will built the house for informing them on who we are and what we will be doing there.
Once this second orientation is over, we will start working (some details on our work can be found at the next section of this Chapter).
A typical working day will start with a breakfast at the hotel at about 7.00am. We will depart to the build site around 8.00am. The trip should take 20-30 minutes. There will be a stop of the work at 10.30am for a 15 minutes break. A lunch will be served at noon, and we will resume our work at about 1.00pm. Our working day will finish around 4.15pm. After a tools and site cleaning, we will start our return to the hotel at about 4.30. Back at the hotel, we will have time for a shower and for relaxing before having a dinner at a nearby restaurant between 7 and 7.30pm. After dinner we will have a team meeting at the Hotel. (A specific section on the team meetings will be posted next month at Chapter 5). This will be our daily routine from Tuesday, June 21 to Friday, June 24, and from Monday June 27 to Wednesday, June 29. I will discuss the weekend’s (June 25-26) activities in the “Free Time” section of this Chapter.
Based on the build progress, we could take half a day off for visiting some places of interest. In the morning of Thursday, June 30, we will have the House dedication and then a Farewell party. The afternoon will be free.
House dedication is a time to celebrate a family’s new home. You may find that this is a touching time for the team, the homeowners, and the community.
The farewell party is usually for the team and the homeowners. On this occasion Habitat could present to each of us a certificate of appreciation.
CONSTRUCTION
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There are dozens of places around Phnom Penh where Habitat plans to build houses. These locations are some 20-30 minutes away from our hotel. We will build in one of those locations. At present Habitat Cambodia has not yet decided which one will be our destination. I will keep you posted once I have been informed. Regardless of the place, on the first working day as soon as the short orientation from the Habitat person in charge for the construction will be over, everybody should have a basic understanding of what to do and how to do it. At that point we will most likely be grouped into separate units in charge of specific tasks. The tasks could include digging, mixing and pouring cement, carrying material, laying blocks, etc. We will occasionally be in contact with the Construction Supervisor to check our work, and will occasionally change our task based on the various stages of the build. In general the Habitat Construction Supervisor and all Habitat field staff have a good command of English. A Habitat representative will be with us at the build site for helping in various circumstances including those that would require a translation. Since the homeowners and the other local people won’t speak English, you may want to make a copy of the basic Khmer words that you will find in Chapter 1, and bring that copy with you. Chances are that it could be a little hard for them to understand us but I am sure that they would appreciate our efforts. We in turn could have fun when trying to say something in Khmer.
There will not be running water at the site and the water that we will drink will be bottled. Since it will not be possible to wash our hands, it would be advisable to bring some hand sanitizer. There will be basic outdoor toilets at the site.
Some information on the house that we will build: it will have walls made of fired bricks with a reinforced concrete posts. It will consist of a living room, a bedroom, a kitchen, and a toilet. Partner families repay their mortgages over a maximum time of six years. They make monthly payments from US$22-25. This means that the house will cost to them between US$ 1,585 and 1,800.
SAFETY TIPS
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Apart from some very minor incidents that were fixed by way of a band-aid, I do not recollect anything serious that happened to the teams that I led in the past. This does not mean that risks do not exist. It means that the team members acted responsibly and that they followed the instructions that they had received. Those instructions can be summarized into being constantly alert in spotting and avoiding potentially dangerous situations, and using sound judgment in any circumstances. More specifically, these are some safety tips based on my experience. I ask you to keep them in mind when we are on the build site:
-We will operate in a tropical country. Fluid will be lost in larger quantity than we are used to at home. To replace the lost liquid we will have to drink frequently, even if we don’t feel thirsty.
-Scaffolding: before using them we should ask the construction supervisor or the person in charge of the team to make a stability and weight-supporting check. Use solid material for their construction. Put a support in the middle of the scaffolding when its length necessitates it. Do not climb scaffoldings if you do not feel comfortable working on them. Descend immediately if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
-Ladders: before using one, be sure that it is solid, on a leveled ground, and that it can support your weight and that of the material that you carry. Be sure that it is positioned in a way of not presenting an obstacle to other people. Do not make the mistake of extending your body too much out of the ladder frame; move the ladder with your work.
-The area surrounding you: be always attentive to what happens around, above, and below you for being sure of not representing a threat to others, and that the others are not in a spot where they could hurt you. Some examples could clarify my point: those who move material in areas where other people are working could hurt somebody, and those who operate above others could accidentally drop tools.
Keep the building area clean from unnecessary material, tools, and scraps.
-Should you feel tired, stop working and take a rest. You should not feel guilty if others continue to work while you rest. We are not all built the same way. Besides, the time for the others to rest will come sooner or later.
-Chances are that we will experience some minor cuts and scratches. In those events we should stop working, wash the cut/scratch with bottled water, and to contact the person who has the first aid kit for the necessary action.
-Dressing appropriately for working is important. Please do not arrive at the build site wearing sandals or open-toe shoes. Wear comfortable clothes, bring and use working gloves, wear a cap, and keep a bandana handy.
-Last but not least: concentrate on what you are doing. Distraction and overconfidence are responsible when something goes wrong.
FREE TIME
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I will discuss here the free time that we will have during the weekend of June 25 and 26. As for the Siem Reap-Angkor free time, I sent the participants a write-up on February 1. In consultation with Kevin who is working on this project, I will update my writing and will let you have a copy of the new version the end of April.
The plan for the activity during the weekend is the following:
-Saturday, June 25: in the morning we will visit an orphanage in the Phnom Penh area.
We will have there a chance to interact with the children, do writing and coloring activities and play with them. After that we will have a full immersion into the cruelty of recent Cambodian history. The place that we will visit is called Choeung Ek Memorial, also known as a “killing field”. It is approximately a 30 minute drive from Pnhom Penh. During Pol Pot’s regime, more than 2.5 million Cambodian perished and ended in various “killing fields” across the country. Choeung Ek is one of those places. It is estimated that some 17,000 people were executed there. This is a place that almost all the tourists to Cambodia visit. On Choeung Ek there is a website that you could see:
For the sake of historical contest, we will visit in the afternoon the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum that is located in Phnom Penh. Prior to 1975, Toul Sleng was a high school. When the Khmer Rouge came to power it was converted into the “S-21” prison, and interrogation facility. The building now serves as a museum, a memorial, and a testament to the madness of the Khmer Rouge regime. On Toul Sleng you could check the following website: http://www.tuolslengmuseum.com/index.htm
Our free time will take quite a different turn on the afternoon of Saturday, June 25. We will visit in Phnom Penh the Pha Tuol Tum market, better known as the Russian Market because it was popular among Russian visitors in the ’80s. We will have a chance there to do some shopping for items that could include low cost signature clothes, ethnic items and everything else in between. Bargaining will be the way of doing shopping there. To that end, please see Chapter 3, section “Money and shopping”.
On the Russian Market you could find something at the following website:
-Sunday, June 26: in the morning we will stay in Phnom Penh and will visit the Royal Palace, the Silver pagoda, and the National Museum. The Royal Palace and the Silver pagoda are located one next to the other, and display a collection of priceless historical objects. The National Museum, in turn, displays over 5,000 objects including Angkorian era statues and other artifacts. There is also a good collection of pieces from later periods, including a special exhibition of post Angkorian Buddha figures. I found an interesting website on the Royal Palace and the Silver pagoda. It is the following:
As for the National Museum I suggest that you visit the following websites:
After lunch we will travel to Oudong for sightseeing. Oudong, established in the 7th century and former Cambodia capital, is located 24 miles (some 40 Kilometers) north-west of Phnom Penh. Our destination will be quite interesting as you can easily find out by looking into various websites on this subject. My favorite website on Oudong is: http://www.leisurecambodia.com/Leisure_Cambodia/No.11/oudong.htm
CHAPTER 5
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TRIP ABROAD REGISTRATION
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I suggest that those of you who are not US citizens check if their Countries have in place a registration system for those who travel abroad. Should that system exist, I invite them to register themselves. Those who are US citizens should spend a few minutes to fill out the “travel registration” fields of the following US Department of State website:
CONTACT INFORMATION
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Let me provide here some basic information for those who will want to contact you by phone. When dialing Cambodia from outside, it is necessary to first dial the international access code (011 if calling from US or Canada) followed by 855 (which is the Cambodian country code), the two digit area code (22 for Phnom Penh, 63 for Siem Reap), and then the local six digit phone number. Before making a call to Cambodia it would be better to check the current time there. This can be accomplished by accessing: http://www.worldtimeserver.com/current_time_in_KH.aspx
Speaking of phone numbers, that of Goldiana Hotel in Phnom Penh is for (855-23) 219-558. That number can be dialed for sending a fax too.
Should you plan instead to call home from Cambodia, you should first identify which phone system you will use. Based on that, you should dial first 001 for Telecom Cambodia (MPTC), 007 for Royal Telecom International, and 008 for VolP. That access code should be followed by your country international access code (1 if calling US or Canada). After that you should dial the area code and the local number. An alternative way to communicate is email. I am told by Habitat Cambodia that internet service is widely available throughout the country, though we should be prepared for slow speed and frequently interruptions. I was told as well that many internet cafés offer international phone calls at reasonable prices.
Having discussed the ways to communicate, let me introduce the Habitat people in Cambodia and in the US who are responsible for our project. The person who will be our contact in Cambodia is Kong Samvitey (AKA Raymond), Program Assistant.
His email address is vpc@habitatcambodia.org Raymond’s boss is Prom Kumleakhena (AKA Leak), Program Manager. Her email address is: kp_leakhena@habitatcambodia.org
In the US, my coordinator in Americus, GA is Patrick Ettampola. His email address is: pettampola@habitat.org, his direct phone number is (229) 410-7575. Patrick’s assistant is Katie Evans. Her email address is: KEvans@habitat.org, her direct phone number is (229) 410-7670.
Finally, let me report Habitat Cambodia’s policy concerning communications when on the field: “The Team Leader is the overall leader of the team. All questions and directions should be channeled through him or her. From the first contact all team members should communicate directly with the Team Leader. This applies throughout the whole period of the trip. Even on the building site look to the Team Leader for directions. The Team Leader will be receiving advice and instructions from Habitat staff”.
I would very much appreciate your keeping in mind this policy for avoiding unnecessary confusion and possible misunderstandings.
GIFT-GIVING POLICY
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The gift giving policy of Habitat Cambodia can be summarized as follows: donations and gifts should be channeled through Habitat and not given directly to the members of the community. To that end, if we wish, we could collect some items like clothes, tools school supplies and so on the last day of the project and present them to the Habitat representative for a distribution to the community. An exception to this policy can be made at the farewell ceremony. On that occasion we could give a gift to the homeowners provided that consent is obtained from the local Habitat coordinator. This Habitat policy is based on the assumption that our gifts could create a sense of dependency, and some potential frictions between the recipients of the gifts and the others. Somebody at Habitat summarized this concept as follows: “Teams come and go, and they can possibly leave behind some major problems for Habitat without realizing it”.
Finally, sometimes teammates ask me if they can bring their tools to use and possibly donate them before going home. Habitat Cambodia would love to have some tools but as would be the case with other items, they emphasized that we are under no obligation of donating anything. Just for your guideline, the typical tools that the any Affiliate could put in use and that should be easy to pack are: metric and non-metric tape measures, “claw” hammers, working gloves, levels of any size, tool belts, carpenter pencils, small trowels, and hand saws.
TEAM MEETINGS
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Unless they are cancelled for some reason, we will have evening meetings at the end of each build day. These meetings will take place after dinner. They will offer a chance for everybody to discuss our experience, to plan our work, to make suggestions, to clear possible problems, and in the process to get to know each other better. Once the meeting is over, it will be time for reading a book, writing, talking and so on. If you want you can bring your favorite games. At the end of the week, on the occasion of the last meeting, we will have time to discuss our experience, and I will collect ideas and suggestions for future trips. On the occasion of this last meeting I will provide you with a Global Village web contact that will allow you to inform Habitat of your experience.
CONCLUSIONS
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Let me remind you that this is our project, not just mine. While you should expect that the local Habitat Affiliate and I do our best for the success of this trip, I expect that you approach it with an open mind, an open heart, maturity, flexibility, good sense of humor, and respect for everybody. On these conditions your reward should be an amazing experience, hopefully one of the best you’ve ever had.
Thank you.