mrdome

Still, spidermike, a. imho they cannot go back to the same level of iron grip they held before and b. if you wait till you can be 100% sure you've waited too long in most scenarios as others have moved in already.

Regarding, Cuba, yes it's not a good situation now, my comment was based on an eventual end of the Castro era and loosening of restrictions.

I believe they stamp the passport. Otherwise, if you lost the printed e-visa, nobody would know when you had arrived in Cambodia.

This is 100% correct. You will save the full page where the visa would have gone but you still need some space for the entry & exit stamps.

Well let me add this to the list of reasons I cancelled my FarceBook account, sad story that happened over Silly facebook

Yeah right, blame FB. After all, such tragedies never happened before FB appeared, right? R.I.P. to the deceased. Jai ron is truly a bad thing and bringing a weapon is as well.

Still, Christopher, the world has a hunger and curiosity about the place and I don't feel that for many other countries right now. As I had expressed and agreeing with you, opportunities for outsiders will probably be limited.

Here's a clip showing the unpredicatability of an elephant.

Probably hated his shorts...

Another vote for Myanmar / Burma from me. The question is rather what type of businesses you as a non-connected foreigner could legally start, imho.

Regarding North Korea? What's changed? They certainly have not by much if at all and won't for a long time. Cuba would have been a better long term reply but it's not in Asia, of course.

If you're using dollars in Cambodia (like nearly everybody), you're already getting hosed on the exchange rate, which is unofficially/practically 4000 riel/dollar. The REAL exchange rate is always upward of 4080 riel/dollar. And prices in riel are the norm at major retail outlets...

And if you are going to the bank and exchanging your currency for Riel, you are not (getting hosed)?

The difference you mention is 2%, while for many currency transactions it is 5% at least when using your bank card and you will probably get a rate worse than this (depending where you exchange, if they charge a commission, etc). At least the difference is not widening as it has been for many Western currencies as the baht kept strengthening.

One overlooked factor is that if you already have US$, there is no exchange rate risk and that alone would make Cambodia plenty cheaper. In addition, there is no need to exchange and keep 800K THB in a bank account for the 50+ crowd. Now, that's a big saving...

Your actual cost of living will depend very much where you live and what kind of lifestyle you lead. It is impossible to make a general comment.

As they are a business and the seats are theirs, I cannot fault them for this move. Doesn't matter if they have free wifi or not or if their beverages are not good/overpriced, etc.

I thought I would want to live in PP once I stop working but after having visited now many times and having a vision how the city will develop, I have to say, it is not for me (despite my eye doctor and fabulous dentist being there). Just walking around on foot has always been a nuisance there and with increasing traffic and "power to those with the cash & connections" it's not going to get better. I need a smaller city, less opportunities for city amenities, I fully understand that but so be it.

I guess one concern could be that since there are so few "white" tourists in this area that you will not get much peace on the mainland at least.

Serious question - if you have never been and just want to say how you would never go in a million years - please spare me (us).

Looking for general impressions, tips, etc.

Preferably organic stuff but that represents a tiny portion of the market.

Cockroaches teach us something about our inner attitude towards "the ugly/disgusting". They came up through the shower drain at night and even walked on me while I was sleeping when I still lived in Bangkok (there was no open food out! So, that is not needed) The thorns on the legs really hurt when you try to brush them away. But I can honestly say I have not killed one on purpose and will try to keep that up.

Sadly, in SE-Asia such an all inclusive deal often means you will pay more and move at their speed. Getting to the border from BKK has no rip-off potential unless you take a Khao San bus, of course. In Poipet, go inside the bus terminal and ask the bus staff directly which bus is leaving soon. Ignore people outside the bus terminal wanting to sell you an overpriced ticket and also the ticket window inside (asking THB 300 to just get to Battambang). $3 to Battambang and $8 to PP is what I used to pay.

If you have a reason or reasons to be and like it in Sihanoukville, it will work for you and the same goes for Samui. Without having even been several times, it is really not possible to answer this question IMHO. I'd rather shoot myself in the head than spend evening after evening in bars with girls that have had about 6 years of schooling but to each their own.

If yu think Khmer food is not delish, you just have not eaten in the right places. Agreed on the bad state of some of the foreigners you can run into in Cambodia but that's a ghost from the past "anything goes" days and perhaps also a downside to the relaxed visa rules.

I believe what is needed is a website rating medical clinics & practitioners that foreigners can go to, kind of like tripadvisor rates hotels & restaurants.

During my last visit to Bangkok this April, I thought the water coming out of the shower in the hotel smelled "men" - but not so in Phnom Penh.

Some people should perhaps consider tying a string from their arm/hand to the bag they cannot afford to lose - hide it under a long shirt and make it long enough so you can still use both hands. I'm serious too.

I always felt that Pete wore his drug habit and bad behavior like some high priced haute couture piece of clothing. A sober and well mannered Pete Doherty? What would be left?

Have veggies from the simple markets like Klong Toey ever been tested?

i've yet to find a good dentist that actually does things properly in Bangkok. almost every dentist I tried has been sloppy (in one area or another)..

I swear by my dentist in Phnom Penh (it's not close to BKK, I know) and so did and do all the foreigners that recommended him. He is the best dentist I have ever encountered including all Western dentists I've ever been to and a totally kind, gentle and thorough person who charges extremely reasonable fees. PM me if interested.

"They suspect the attack was either a robbery attempt or a personal conflict with someone onboard or a reckless act to shoot at a random vehicle."

And then people wonder that the police is unable to clear any case!

Obviously "unable to clear any case" is plain wrong and slander. Unlike you guys they do not wish to jump to conclusions. I see nothing wrong with the above sentence at all, by the way, nor would it hamper the investigations to say it might have been either of these scenarios but I guess you'd have found the culprits within hours...

..... and form now on im at the back of the bus near the smelly toilet and i will be happy to be there!!!!!

I don't recommend that. Remember the 3 young men from the UK who sat in last row and died when their night bus was rammed by another from behind.

I really suggest everyone in Thailand planning to use a bus or minivan to first double check all tires!

I'd suggest taking the train as much as possible. ... R.I.P.