I'm arriving in PP on the 16th to do some research for my honours thesis. I'm going to be based in PP, but travelling around with an NGO, observing their work and interviewing people about their views on the KR trials.
I've booked my first couple of nights accommodation but I've no idea which area would be best for me to live in. I don't know which part of the address of where I'll be working tells you exactly where it is, but Sangkat Boeung Keng Kang 1, Khan Chamcar Mon is part of it. Can someone give me an idea of good areas to look in considering that I'll be there most days? Anyone got a spare room?
I'm a bit confused about what clothing will be appropriate. I live in singlets (tank tops) and 3/4 pants or skirts and thongs (flip flops) during summers here in Australia. I've been told that wearing shoestring strap tops is frowned on there, and that I should be covering my shoulders and knees. What do female expats tend to wear there? Will thongs be ok?
Will I be able to get clothes made for me easily? Most of my clothes are being shipped over on the slowest boat ever. I've been looking at the stuff in the shops here and I feel like I should wait 'til I get there, but when I did that with plans to buy up clothes in Chile I ended up wearing the same stuff for a year. Everything I liked was the same price as at home!
Anything else I should know?
Thanks for reading
a few questions...
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Well, dont think that will involve too much effort. Be prepared for sleep-ins, siestas, and early nights.elucida wrote: travelling around with an NGO, observing their work
You can tell people you work in Boeung Keng Kang 1 (BKK1). It's pretty much NGO land. Goodluck finding someone to share with... you should be OK. Im sure someone here will help you out.
This always begs the question, are you talking about footwear or underwear?Will thongs be ok?
Seriously though, youve got good advice. Short shorts and string tops are worn by prostitutes here, and are just not a good look. The only people youll see wearing them are backpackers who dont know any better. You will find plenty of clothes that you can buy cheaply here. Theres the new shop on Monivong (what's it called "shopping centre"? and Soriya have some good choices for women. Unless you are anything more than a size 12, in which case you are screwed.
Yes, I hope you are not fond of white male attention, because once you arrive here, you will become invisible to the white population, and a real fan of the Khmer male population. Should be something like you are a pop star.. unless your butt ugly, in which case nothing should change for you.Anything else I should know?
If you've got a map of the capital, that's the area east of Monivong Blvd and south of Sihanouk Blvd. The area also has many apartments above shophouses. The adjacent areas, BKK2 and BKK3, have similar accomodation. Often the rent is a bit cheaper. Ask a local moto driver, and he will criss-cross the area scanning the streets for "For Rent" signs and then take you around to look at a few places. You shouldn't have much trouble finding a flat near your office.elucida wrote:I've booked my first couple of nights accommodation but I've no idea which area would be best for me to live in. I don't know which part of the address of where I'll be working tells you exactly where it is, but Sangkat Boeung Keng Kang 1, Khan Chamcar Mon is part of it. Can someone give me an idea of good areas to look in considering that I'll be there most days? Anyone got a spare room?
Dr. S. is right about the singlets. But 3/4 pants, or even shorts, are less of a problem. The rule particularly applies in day to day situations. But if you're out at night, you could wear a singlet if it makes you feel comfortable.I'm a bit confused about what clothing will be appropriate. I live in singlets (tank tops) and 3/4 pants or skirts and thongs (flip flops) during summers here in Australia. I've been told that wearing shoestring strap tops is frowned on there, and that I should be covering my shoulders and knees. What do female expats tend to wear there? Will thongs be ok?
Clothes are very, very cheap here. Tops go for a couple dollars. Good quality jeans can be had for ten bucks. Just bring good shoes. As for having clothes made, that can be done easily. Tailors are everywhere.Will I be able to get clothes made for me easily? Most of my clothes are being shipped over on the slowest boat ever. I've been looking at the stuff in the shops here and I feel like I should wait 'til I get there, but when I did that with plans to buy up clothes in Chile I ended up wearing the same stuff for a year. Everything I liked was the same price as at home!
Hope that helps.
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clothes are cheap compared to europe, so I reckon also cheap in comparison to Australia.
Perhaps you will have trouble when you are really tall or fairly fat, I'm a guy and I'm 1.95m tall and was still able to buy jeans that fitted me for 15 dollars in the sorya shopping centre. Your favourite underwear might not be available though, and my wife complained once that it took her forever to find a bra that had the right size at the new market, since she claims to have greater than average khmer size breasts (they are nice but really not that big!).
If you wear mountainboots like me, you will not be able to find 2m long shoelaces, the longest available is 1.4 or 1.6m.
Sturdy socks are hard to find, but not necessary unless you wear mountain boots.
so if you are skinny with small or medium sized breasts you can do a whole lot of clothes shopping for very reasonable prices. If you are fat with breasts like Lolo-ferrari you might have a problem.
have fun.
Perhaps you will have trouble when you are really tall or fairly fat, I'm a guy and I'm 1.95m tall and was still able to buy jeans that fitted me for 15 dollars in the sorya shopping centre. Your favourite underwear might not be available though, and my wife complained once that it took her forever to find a bra that had the right size at the new market, since she claims to have greater than average khmer size breasts (they are nice but really not that big!).
If you wear mountainboots like me, you will not be able to find 2m long shoelaces, the longest available is 1.4 or 1.6m.
Sturdy socks are hard to find, but not necessary unless you wear mountain boots.
so if you are skinny with small or medium sized breasts you can do a whole lot of clothes shopping for very reasonable prices. If you are fat with breasts like Lolo-ferrari you might have a problem.
have fun.
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Don’t bring any clothes: rags are as cheap as chips and you'll have to get the obligatory death-n-terror/Angkor Wat t-shirts.
You’ll find that you can get around in whatever you want if you’re not working, as long as you’re willing to tolerate constant ogling. However, I expect that your NGO will be expecting you to dress conservatively for work (seriously).
As for accommodation, Boeung Keng Kang 1 (also known as BKK 1) is south-west of the Independence Monument (see a map). You’ll find plenty of accommodation in that area. If your trip is going to be short then you might consider asking colleagues if they know a someone who has a place going. Somebody usually does!
PS: Word is that you’ll be treading water. The KR shows are too sensitive for any genuine trial – there’s a whole lot of politics involved. Maybe you should read a book by Evan Gottessman called Cambodia After the Khmer Rouge: Inside the Politics of Nation Building (New Haven; Yale University Press, 2003). Gottessman is a lawyer and his book will give you some idea of the political sensitivities around the former Khmer Rouge cadres.
You’ll find that you can get around in whatever you want if you’re not working, as long as you’re willing to tolerate constant ogling. However, I expect that your NGO will be expecting you to dress conservatively for work (seriously).
As for accommodation, Boeung Keng Kang 1 (also known as BKK 1) is south-west of the Independence Monument (see a map). You’ll find plenty of accommodation in that area. If your trip is going to be short then you might consider asking colleagues if they know a someone who has a place going. Somebody usually does!
PS: Word is that you’ll be treading water. The KR shows are too sensitive for any genuine trial – there’s a whole lot of politics involved. Maybe you should read a book by Evan Gottessman called Cambodia After the Khmer Rouge: Inside the Politics of Nation Building (New Haven; Yale University Press, 2003). Gottessman is a lawyer and his book will give you some idea of the political sensitivities around the former Khmer Rouge cadres.
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