I'll do a comparison to Thailand now as I do with all the Asian countries I visit ...
The People
Similar to the Burmese, Khmer people are very friendly and curious of other cultures and people. They are not as pretentious as Thais and nowhere near as nationalistic though they are not very fond of their immediate neighbours. Due to extreme poverty and a very hard life Phnom Penh can be violent if you venture down darkened alleys, robberies are commonplace so you need to be on your guard. Elsewhere in the kingdom is pretty safe and welcoming.
The Motoring
Thailand is practically civilized compared to Cambodia though the condition of the roads is rapidly catching up. Motoring in the city is absolute mayhem though nothing seems to go fast enough to cause anywhere near the number of accidents that happen in Thailand. Cops are friendly towards foreigners (at least the ones I met) and are not lurking behind bushes trying to nab tourists or raiding bars asking for tea money.
The Prices
Cambodia is at least half the price of Thailand for pretty much everything, tuktuks and taxis are a couple of dollars instead of 300 baht, basic accommodation is a lot cheaper though you can pay for flash rooms if you want them. Street food is cheaper but the standard is nowhere near as good as Thailand, the opposite can be said for farang food though, you'll get a good western feed for 5-6 bucks. Drinking is less than half the price, a tin of Thai beer in a shop is 15 baht, a pitcher of beer in a bar is 60 baht and you can buy bottles of any spirits duty free pretty much every where for about 30% of the cost of the same in Thailand.
The Environment
The plastic generation is in full swing here, I have yet to go to an Asian country (except maybe Malaysia) that isnt strewn with plastic bags and bottles. Piles of it can be found on corners in the cities though they do have refuse collection that comes out at 2am to clean up. There are very few soi dogs, I was told they're sent to Vietnam where they go on the menu.
The Tourism
The hospitality industry for a poor country is impressive, service is prompt and people are helpful. You dont get "mai mee" in Cambodia, if they dont have what you want they'll find someone that does. Getting into attractions such as National Parks costs a dollar, not 400 baht.
Visas are a breeze compare to Thailand and its constant clampdowns, tourists get 28 days on arrival (after a bit of dicking around). For $35 you can get a visa on arrival that is extendable for an additional $200 or so for a year and includes a work permit. There is no looking at your bank account, no maps to your house, no photos of your wife, no house books, no tax documents, no company invite letters, no embassy paperwork, and no money under the table. You can work where you like doing what you like - it is Thailand 20 years ago.
Eating and Drinking
Khmer food isnt the best though the standard of western food is impressive (maybe because farangs can actually work there without fear). The colonial influence also means you can get good bread everywhere for virtually nothing and cheese and meats are widely available at a fraction of the price of Thailand. Small restaurants serve good cheap food all over the country. Bars and restaurants can open 24/7, serve what they like when they like, play what music they like, and employ who they like - pretty much the total opposite of here.
The Shopping
Cambodia has yet to be polluted by chains of fattening western fast food, hence the people are all thinner. There are small convenience stores all over the place though to get your dailies. There are a couple of shiny malls in the capital though nothing on the scale of Bangkok.
Would I live there?
Yes. Though not in Phnom Penh, big cities are a little too full on for me, I would probably choose Kampot as a base. Rent is pretty cheap, you can get a decent apartment for 100-200 bucks (try doing that in Hua Hin) and life is hassle free, your money goes a lot further in Cambodia. An estimated 80% of expats currently living in Cambodia have moved over from Thailand having given up on the bullshit and incessant clampdowns in favour of a more relaxed life without the insecurity of moving goal posts and ever shifting sands of Thai bureaucracy and anti-foreigner sentiment.
Thanks for reading and please feel free to post any questions on Cambodia, I'll try to answer. All photos and the full reports are on
http://www.ontheroadasia.com
