Explore Cambodia

Explore Cambodiahttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/southeast-asia/cambodiaExplore CambodiaVideo: Changing Lives Through Breakdancing in Cambodiahttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/transformation/changing-lives-through-breakdancing-in-cambodiaVideo: Changing Lives Through Breakdancing in CambodiaFri, 24 Apr 2020 23:30:52 GMThttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/transformation/changing-lives-through-breakdancing-in-cambodiahttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/amazing-nomads-zoe-eleftheriouThis is the true-claim story of World Nomads customer Zoe, who was badly burned by a petrol station explosion in Cambodia.2019-11-05T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/amazing-nomads-zoe-eleftheriouhttps://www.worldnomads.com<h2>Amazing Nomad: Zoe Eleftheriou</h2> When 22-year-old British backpacker Zoe was riding a scooter in Siem Reap, Cambodia the unexpected happened – a petrol station caught fire and exploded just as she rode past, resulting in burns to more than 30% of her body. Zoe’s American friend Abbey was also badly injured. <h2>What’s in the episode</h2> 01:45 How is Zoe going? 04:09 Zoe springs into action 07:15 The ambulance arrives 10:24 Abbey gets sent to a different hospital 12:51 The phone call to Mary 14:39 Mary keeps on signing 16:05 Zoe's immediate future 18:11 Sheree and Karen from the World Nomads EA department 24:00 Check your policy <h2>Quotes from the episode</h2> “I was a teacher with a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) qualification in Cambodia. My friend Abbey who teaches at the same school in Siem Reap was with me, and on this day we decided to go back to my place for lunch.” “What is crazy, is that something that is so routine, like something like brushing your teeth, like getting in the shower, going to work… just completely changed my life.”  “I want to travel again; I love to travel. I absolutely love it. There are so many places I still want to see. I want to go to Canada, I want to see the Taj Mahal in India, I want to go to Iceland.” <h2>Who is in the episode</h2> Zoe Eleftheriou, from Medway, Kent, and her American friend, 18-year-old Abbey Alexander, are lucky to be alive after suffering horrific injuries when a petrol station exploded in a street in Siem Reap in August 2019. Zoe received burns to more than 30% of her body and required airlifting to Thailand and then her home country, the UK. Podcast co-host Kim Napier was staying just half an hour away from Zoe in Kent and visited to hear her story and Zoe's message to travelers. <h2>Warning: Some readers may find the following images distressing.</h2> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/podcast/zoe.jpg" /> <figcaption>Photos Supplied/Zoe after admission – Zoe before discharge</figcaption></figure> The previous year Zoe survived the earthquake in Lombok which killed more than 500 people. Zoe is recovering from her injuries received in the blast and recently decided she can’t or won’t be able to travel for several years as her skin recovers. The moment she made that decision, a map given to Zoe by a friend to scratch off all the countries she visits, fell off the wall. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/podcast/zoemap.jpg" /> <figcaption>The space left where the map fell off the wall.</figcaption></figure> World Nomads Insurance paid for Zoe’s emergency assistance, medical expenses, repatriation to Thailand and the UK, at a cost of 200,000 pounds. While a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-with-abbeys-medical-bills-from-the-explosion">Go Fund Me</a> page was established to help Abbey who wasn’t insured. <h2>Want to Republish This Episode</h2>  <iframe src="https://webplayer.whooshkaa.com/episode/451690?theme=light" height="190" width="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay"></iframe> Next Episode: Ireland <h2>About World Nomads & the Podcast</h2> Explore your boundaries and discover your next adventure with The World Nomads Podcast. Hosted by Podcast Producer Kim Napier and World Nomads Phil Sylvester, each episode will take you around the world with insights into destinations from travelers and experts. They’ll share the latest in travel news, answer your travel questions and fill you in on what World Nomads is up to, including the latest scholarships and guides. <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/%22%20%5Ct%20%22_blank">World Nomads</a> is a fast-growing online travel company that provides inspiration, advice, safety tips and specialized travel insurance for independent, volunteer and student travelers traveling and studying most anywhere in the world. Our online global travel insurance covers travelers from more than 135 countries and allows you to buy and claim online, 24/7, even while already traveling. The World Nomads Podcast is not your usual travel Podcast. It’s everything for the adventurous, independent traveler. Don’t miss out. Subscribe today. You can get in touch with us by emailing <a href="mailto:podcast@worldnomads.com">podcast@worldnomads.com</a>. We use the <a href="https://www.rode.com/rodecasterpro">Rodecaster Pro</a> to record our episodes and interviews when in the studio, made possible with the kind support of Rode. <div class="AccordionSection nst-component nst-is-collapsed"><button class="AccordionSection-title nst-toggle">Full Transcript of the Episode</button> <div class="nst-content"> <div class="AccordionSection-inner"> Speaker 1: The World Nomads podcast bonus episode, hear amazing nomads sharing their knowledge, stories and experience of world travel. Kim: We have delivered you some special episodes highlighting our amazing nomads, Phil. They're the people that demonstrate discovery, connection, transformation, fear and love through travel. Now, this episode is particularly personal as 22-year-old English backpackers, Zoe shares her incredible story of survival after an illegal petrol station exploded in Cambodia. It was all over the news. Phil: If you don't believe in travel insurance, we have far too many, all too true stories of cases, our World Nomad 24/7 emergency assistance and claims teams have dealt with. Including Zoe, who by the way was also lucky to escape the earthquake in Lombok in 2018, that one terrible, killed 563 people and injured thousands more. And that time, Zoe was one of the lucky ones. Kim: Just lucky. She was in a restaurant and the wall of the restaurant almost collapsed on top of her. Phil: Wow. Kim: So look, natural disasters can and do happen but it is the unforeseen circumstances, which Zoe will touch on, that you cannot plan for. So Zoe and her friend Abbey, if you aren't aware of the story, we're both badly injured when they were riding past the petrol station during their lunch break. Right? Phil: Yep. Kim: So they just jumped on their scooters like they normally did, went for lunch and were heading back to a local school in Siem Reap in Cambodia. Now the statement at the time said, "The explosion was caused by an improper transfer of gas from the tanker to the main storage." Phil: You think? Kim: "Which led to a leak and subsequently an explosion." I was actually fortunate enough to interview Zoe and her mom, Mary, at their home in Kent in the UK to check in on how she's going. Zoe: I'm feeling really good. I'm back at home and I love being back at home because I can eat all the food I want. I've got friends and family coming to see me and that's great because they make me feel really happy and stuff, and that's always lovely. I'm more independent at home so I could do everything for myself and that's great. So now I'm feeling really, really good. Kim: Okay. So for those that aren't familiar with your story, take us through what happened in Cambodia. Zoe: So I was a teacher with my TEFL qualification in Cambodia, the country that I love the most. Me and my friend never teach at the same school, Abbey Alexander. She came to my house for lunch, so we taught in the morning and then it has that three-hour break. So she came to my house for lunch, we had lunch and then we're driving back to school for the afternoon classes, and the same route that I take every day. And as we drove around the corner, on my left I could see that this building was on fire and it's a petrol station. So I legit for, "Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit." And so obviously, unfortunately, it's not a major crossroad, so I couldn't just drive out straight cause if there was a car or another motorbike we'd crash. So I had to make sure it was clear. It was clear so that I could finally drive, and I was there and I was like, "Go, go, go, go, go." And unfortunately, it just went boom, right? So, unfortunately, the fire then went all the way in front of us and then it came back all the way behind us. Now I'm sitting on a motorbike and that has petrol inside it so I'm now thinking, "Is this thing going to explode on us?" So we got off the bike. Abbey, bless her, she's wearing leggings and the work T-shirt, so it's like a short-sleeved T-shirt and it's all caught on fire, all of it is caught on fire. So she's rolling around on the floor, I'm running away, and then she's screaming, "I'm on fire, I'm on fire." So I had to turn around, run back to Abbey, pat her down then be like, "You're not on fire anymore, it's fine we need to go." Because I was thinking it's going to explode again, or the motorbike is going to explode, and we're right next to it. We got up and we run, we run away from the site and we're going to Khmer people, so Cambodian people to be there. "Can you help us? You need to take us to the hospital or to the clinic," but unfortunately they're just taking their phones out to take photos or to take videos. So I was there and I was like, "We're going to need to continue on to school and they're going to help us. They're going to take us to where we need to go." So I wanted to run and she's there like, "I can't run, I can't run. Now, bless her, I'm looking at her and she's got skin hanging off of her, it's just dripping off her clothes, it all seems like everything's on show, bless her. And she's there and she's like, "What do I look like?" And I'm there and I'm like, "You must look like me." Now I can see that she hasn't got any eyebrows, she hasn't got any facial features anymore. Just her eyes and some lips but all her skin is peeling off. So I was presuming I looked exactly the same, so I was there and I was like, "You look like me." So anyway we walked on to school and I'm just there and I'm like, "I need ice." I was like, "I'm on fire," everything was just burning, it was just such intense pain, it was awful. I'm blessed so I couldn't run away, because she couldn't run, so I was there and I was like, "I'm just got to walk there, but I was there like, "Please walk fast." But unfortunately, as we're walking, everyone's got their phones out and taking videos of us walking to school. Because it's something, it's what they do, it's how they are. Anyway, we walked to school. Now her brother works at that school, so she's there screaming her brother's name. Now all the students, all the teachers are hanging around outside because they've heard the explosion. So they want to see like, "Oh what's that from?" So when they see us turning the corner, it was a bit of a huge shock. Do you know what I mean? It was a huge shock. I'm there screaming for teacher Tom, which is the receptionist, and she's there like, "Who's this?" I'm there like, "It's teacher Zoe." I'm there like, "It's teacher Zoe," I'm there like, "I need to go to the clinic." So then she's shouting at the receptionist to get in her car, to take us both to the clinic. Abbey's shouting at Tony to call her mom and dads, get them to meet them at the clinic. So Tony came with us, because that's Abbey's brother, and they drove us to the closest clinic, which was just down the road. Honestly, it's not that far away from the school so it's quite handy to have a clinic by the school. And I run inside and I was there like, "Right, I need ice," I was like, "I need a doctor," and I was like, "And I need painkillers." I was like, "I need it right now." So they took us into this room and they got these bins, and they filled them with water and they put the ice packet, do you know those ice packets or blocks of ice? And so unfortunately that we couldn't put our whole bodies in there, but I put my feet in there, and I put my hands in there and I was there and I was like, "My face is still burning." I was like, "You need ice on my face." Do you know what I mean? Abbey was like, "I'm in so much pain" and that they gave us pain because I was kind of just having to turn around and say to myself, "You're going to be fine, it's skin, skin grows back." I was there like, "You're going to be fine, your internal organs are fine," I was there like, "It's just skin," I was there like, "Skin grows back." So I had to continuously say in my head, "Abbey is, bless her, Abbey's a lot younger she's 18." So, bless her, she's freaking out and stuff, which is understandable because she can just see her skin hanging off and dripping off her. I then noticed that my jeans had split and my leg had massive blisters. I was there and I was like, "You're going to need to." So they was cutting off all the rest of her clothes and then, I was there and I was like, "You're going to need to cut my clothes." So I was there like, "Because I've got burned down my leg," and then they was like, "Oh damn," because I couldn't see it before. But my face started swelling up, my eyes and stuff were finding it hard to open up. Why? They was like, "Open little slits." This clinic is now filling up, it's the closest clinic to the explosion so all the Cambodians are now coming. There's too many people, obviously there's not enough doctors for the amount of people that are turning up. So they're there and they're like, "We're white, we need to go to Royal Angkor", which is like the expensive hospital. It's really expensive, it's like $90 to see a doctor and then $100 just to hear what he said. Anyway, the ambulance came for me, I've got to the hospital and I was there and I was like, "This is three grand." "Can we put it in your arm at this drip?" They was there like, "We need this drip it's $3000, can we put it in your arm?" I was there like, "Can we please just wait?" I was there like, "For my insurance company?" I was there like, "Because if they say no," I was there like, "We're working on a budget," and I was like, "The budget is what's ever in my purse." I was there like, "So you're going to do this all on a budget." Because even with my full teacher's wage, which is probably coming that Friday, it was not three grand. I was there like, "I wouldn't even have the three grand for this drip, with my wages as a teacher." Kim: From the start of the story, the whole time you're thinking about things. Now I can't believe that you would still have your wits about you basically. Zoe: Yeah, I knew that if I was freaking out in the clinic it just wouldn't have been... I had to sort of just calm myself so I didn't go into complete shock or something. Do you know what I mean? Kim: Is this the teacher in you? Zoe: Possibly. Possibly. I feel like maybe the earthquake situation the year before, when you sort of just like, "I know that feeling," when you just need to concentrate on breathing. It's one of the things that just concentrating on your breathing can solve. Just, I don't even know, your head just has to concentrate on one thing rather than all the things around them. Rather than the pain, rather than anything else. It's just got to concentrate on something as simple as breathing in and breathing out. Kim: And I'm sitting here in your lounge room and Mary, your mom's sitting over by the telly and quite emotional, [inaudible 00:08:32]. Zoe: What is crazy is that, something that is so routine, something like brushing your teeth, something like getting in the shower, going to work, just completely changed my life. Km: Well tell me about how it's affected you, and what injuries did you sustain? And ongoing, what effect is that going to have on you.? Zoe: So on the burns I had burns, I have burns on both of my feet. I was wearing jeans, okay? And now I have a beautiful jeans line all the way up to my left leg. So where the jeans split in the explosion with the pressure, is seen just kind of ripped open on my thigh. So at the top of my thigh and the bottom of my thigh, and actually the bottom of my leg is all just burnt. I have burns on my right thigh, burns on both of my hands because unfortunately they were out holding onto the handlebars, burns on my face and on my neck. So anything, any skin that was showing was burned. But unfortunately, my leg got completely burned, because the seam decided to split with the explosion on the left-hand side. So when I went to Thailand they were lancing away at the skin and stuff, all dead skin that I had. And that was for a couple of weeks and then I was finally ready to do the skin grafts. But then the insurance company took me to East Grinstead, which is back at home, and when East Grinstead looked at my injuries, they was there like, "It's great, your right foot and stuff has healed already, you're right thigh has healed, your face and your neck as healed." Because at the time they was probably thinking they needed to do skin grafts on all these areas, so your hands still need skin grafts, your legs still need skin grafts and your left foot needs skin grafts. So the whole left foot, left side, left leg need a skin grafts and so did my hands but nothing else, which was great. So it's that what was 35% and 39% burns, is now actually only 15% burns. And I was there like, "Fantastic. That sounds really, really good." I didn't look at myself at this time because I'm not particularly ready to look at my injuries. So I was blindfolded during all this. Kim: And you already knew what Abbey looked like? Zoe: I knew what she looked like originally but I had no idea what she was looking like after. When I got to Royal Angkor, we were separated for infection reasons and they was telling me that there's penar tube in her throat because she was swelling and they were worried that her throat would close up. She was being sent to Phnom Penh by ambulance and her bill just from where we was in Siem Reap or just in Royal Angkor was like $39,000. And I was already thinking, "Fuck, she has no insurance, how is she going to pay for this? Or how is the family going to pay for this?" They went to Phnom Penh and before she could even get into the hospital, they were demanding $10,000 at the door. Then they tried to go to another hospital, which was cheaper, but this hospital didn't even have the machine that keeps you breathing, so they was just expecting the mom and dad to pump. Her bill in the end was like $250,000 US dollars, and the American embassy got involved to pay for her to go back to America, because otherwise every day that she stayed in Cambodia, just the room itself that she would have been in, would have just made that cost go much more. KIm: So go back to when they were going to put the $3,000 dollar drip in, and you are going, "Hang on, don't know what sort of budget I'm working on here." At what point did World Nomads Insurance kind of kick in? Zoe: When I first arrived in Cambodia, the Cambodian family that I have, Nana, I send him my insurance details and I said, "If I die, this is who you call." I was like, "Call mom, let her know, call dad, let them know nicely." I was there like, "Don't put it on Facebook," I was real strict because that's what they do when someone dies then they're like, "Oh please pray for my dead friend," and it's a picture of the dead friend. I was like, "Please don't do that to me nana." I was there like, "England's not the same." I was like, "We don't do that, at all." But I sent him my insurance details, I was like, "If anything happens to me," I was like, "You need to call this number," I was there like, "They pay for everything for me," I was like, "That's what you need to do." So because my face was now all completely swollen I couldn't open my eyes, trying to get someone to go into my phone, open up the insurance, find the email, get the contact details, to then call them. But I remember I arrived into the hospital and straight away they was there like, "This drip costs $3,000, can we put it in?" I was there like, "No," I was there like, "Please wait," I was there like, "We're just going to contact the insurance company," I was there like, "If they say yes, fine." Kim: It's just bizarre that they even talk about cost, isn't it jut about saving your life? Zoe: Yeah, do you know what I mean? No, they were just there like, "$3000 can we put it in your arm?" Almost like it's sitting there like, "Oh, would you like this in your arm? No, please wait." So when the insurance company said yes, which wasn't even that long, people just kept on coming in like, "Oh, can we put this in you?" No, no I was like, "Have the insurance company said yes? Not yet? Just wait please." So, and then when they came back, I was there like, "Have the insurance company said yes?" They was there like, "Yes." I was like, "Give me everything," and I was like, "Do it all," I was like, "Give me the whole work." And I think I was just so relaxed, you know what I mean? I was just so Zen, so calm, you know? And it came to the time that I needed to call mom, Saneen got me, bless him, he put me on video call. Right? Right? So I turned around and she's driving and I'm there like, "Hi mom," I was there like, "There's been a minor accident, minor fucking explosion, but I'm all good." I was just so high, right? Really playing it down because I remember for the earthquake, when I called her, it was proper, "Oh my God, mom, I love you so much." I get so panicky, do you know what I mean? Never really freaked her out so I was like, "Let's be calm," I couldn't call dad so she told dad in the end and they was asking for photos and stuffs. So Nana had sent her the photos that he took in the hospital at the beginning, and here's there, "They're not nice, mom," he's like, "They're not nice at all." And she's there, "I need to see them." So I think when she saw the photo, she was like, "Right," and they're like, "Right, we talking about flights and stuff," and mom's there like, "I need to do one more day at work." Not that I knew this, no one told me this. She just sort of arrived, when I had a dream I was like, "I really need my mom," and then she sort of just arrived. I was there like, "Dreams do come true." It was like, "Mom's here," do you know what I mean? I was there like, "I thank God." Kim: you've sat here and listened to Zoe, go through her story and you were quite emotional at the beginning. How many heart attacks has she given you? Mary: Only two. Last year it was worse than this year. I think last year because it was a goodbye, this year it was a lot calmer, I'm okay. So first flight, you can get me tomorrow morning, get me out, I've got to go see my dad as I'm going to go back to work this afternoon, I'm going to finish work till midnight If I have to, to get away, if I need to get done, and then I'm going. And I've gone flying straight through the room, no gowns or nothing and they've literally just grabbed me and pulled me back and said, "No, you got to be gowned up," and I was like, "For goodness’ sake that's okay," [inaudible 00:14:17] the mask and these gloves that are too small, and this gown thing that you had to wrap around your entire palm 250 times, and then I was just like, "Zoe, I'm here." Yeah? And they're like, "You're mom?" I was like, "Yeah," "Can you sign these papers please?" "What? What are these for?" "For her treatment that we've done for the last two days." And I was like, "Is this covered by the insurance?" "It's all covered." I was signing loads, and I was just looking at these figures thinking, "Oh my God, can you sign the next 14 days worth? Can you sign the next 10 days' worth? Can you sign for this room?" So the first was to sign for her room, then it's to sign for the surgeon to do this, the Lancing. Then it's to sign for the Northeast test, then it's to sign for the nurses. Kim: Did you know at this point that World Nomads was covering all of this? Mary: I'd heard they were covering and I kept saying to them, "Is the insurance covering this? I don't want to be signing this and all of a sudden I'm picking the bill up." Kim: Because otherwise we're back to the budget. Mary: Yeah, yeah. I would.I mean okay [crosstalk 00:15:05], yeah, I bet I go and put my house on for sale at that back home. And they said, "No, no it's all covered." And you're like, "Okay." And to be honest, I'd have carried on signing out, I would have sold this house if I had to. I would have done anything and so would her dad. But at the same time you want to make sure that I haven't met my limit. And so I was, I was actually looking through her policy to actually see what she was insured. And when I spoke to one of your guys, I said, "Am I near our limit?" And they went, "You're nowhere near your limit, just keep going, just keep signing, it's covered." And once you've got that reassurance that you don't have to worry about that side, I just had to then keep her positive. Kim: Will you travel again? Zoe: I want to, I love to travel, I absolutely love it. There's so many places I still want to see, I want to go to Canada, I want to see the Taj Mahal in India, I want to go to Iceland, there are so many places I still want to see. Do it the local way, you know what I mean? Just proper going the local route, that's what I absolutely love, and someone will tell me about a place they've been to and it's never even been on my radar before, but it sounds awesome. And then I'm like, "You know what, I'd love to go there also." Do you know what I mean? So it's stuff like that. So I do. I'd love to travel again, but unfortunately, the doctors have turned around and said because of my skin, and now how sensitive it is to the sun, if I burn it, that's going to be bad. And also it's chance of staining or pigmentation, so that's what I'm worried about, is my skin. I don't do anything more to damage it, but then at the same time they're there and they're talking 2-5 years. Kim: The biggest issue now is just getting yourself right? Zoe: Yeah. It is yeah, that is the bit that I have to worry about. I mean, I'd love to go back to Cambodia, plus everyone over there, the Canadian family, they're like, "Are you going to come back?" And it breaks my heart that I'm there and I'm like, "It's possible that I won't be able to go to you guys for a long time." Because I'd love to. Kim: You're a remarkable woman and an incredible story. 2018 the earthquake, 2019 the explosion. Zoe: Let's just leave it there. Kim: Will we stop there? Zoe: We will stop there. Kim: Okay. Zoe: I sweat a lot. Honestly, I'm there and I'm like, "It's fine," after the earthquake I was there like, "That's it," the most traumatic thing in my life is done, right? And someone up there was there like, "Ha, we're just kidding, you haven't seen nothing yet." Kim: What's your message to people about travel insurance? Zoe: Oh my goodness, do it. I was a teacher and I would complain to my mom about buying travel insurance. I was like, "The worst thing I'm going to get is a paper cut." I was there like, "Why do I need to get travel insurance? I'm just going to school." I was like, "Unless a kid physically beats me up." I was like, "I shouldn't have any worries," but do it because I would not have the money that it took, just for Thailand, I did not know Thailand's bill because we saw it at the end and I was curious, and that was 179,000 pounds. I bought the thing, I think I bought the travel insurance for like 350 pounds. Come on now, it's just such an obvious, such an obvious. And anything can happen, I was just going to work, something so simple, something in your routine, do you know what I mean? Anything can happen, just have it. Kim: She is remarkable, as I said, what do you think of your daughter? Mary: I think she's inspirational. All the way through this, she's been worried about other people rather than herself, but I do I think she's absolutely. Kim: So as you heard, we trailed off there into a group hug and lots of tears, it was very emotional Phil. But let's hear from Sheree and Karen from our emergencies, this department who were just so fantastic as you heard Zoe's mom mentioned, and the role that they play during and posts Zoe's accident. So firstly, Sheree, what was your role? Sheree So yeah, I'm a case coordinator for the emergency assistance team. I was first called from the hospital in regards to Zoe's case. And I guess we escalated it to our medical team. Kim: This was the clinic she was in, in Siem Reap? Sheree Correct. Yeah, yeah, in Cambodia. Kim: Right. And I mean, did they explain how bad it was? Sheree Yeah, I guess I'm not medical, but it was burns. So that's kind of a bit of a rare case for us to get burns so, and because of the location, Cambodia, that's kind of a low risk location, oh sorry, high risk location for us. So I kind of knew, okay, we need to escalate to the medical team so Karen. And that's why Karen stepped in. Speaker 2: Ah, this nurse Karen, Karen what was your role? Karen: So I'm one of the registered nurses that works for emergency assistance and I unfortunately, or fortunately, I work remotely from the office. So you just get these surprise calls because often if you're in the office, you can hear what's going on behind you. And then Sharee, just rang and she said, "Oh look, I've got this case in Cambodia of a young girl who's been," I think she actually told me she was 37% or 35% burns, which is actually quite significant. And she said that it was around her neck and some of her face. And that is really, really alarming to hear because any burn is alarming, but any burn around a neck and face is really alarming because it could actually be inhalation burns as well, which means that they could also have burning on the inside of their esophagus, which could swell and completely covered their airway and basically they can die from that airway obstruction. So I said to Sharee, I think this will be an urgent, we need to get this girl out of the area that she's in. And we were really lucky, we got some photos as well that came from the hospital and at that point we were able to talk to her as well. So I think I rang the doctor and then we spoke to Zoe. The doctor was very keen to get her out of the hospital, which is fair enough, he's worried about the resources and the availability that they've got, to what they could do to treat her. Speaker 2: She must have been running on adrenaline though, because before she got to Sharee and before she got to you, she's having to these decisions on whether or not she should have a drip or pain relief, because they talk about the cost of it and she says, "Well, I don't know, I don't know if my travel insurance is going to cover it otherwise is," he is always saying, "We're going to work off a budget here." So, it's almost like once you guys kicked in, she was able to give in to what had happened to her, pass it onto her mom, and Sharee were you the one that was dealing with Mary? Sheree No. I didn't deal with Mary but when you're talking about Zoe and speaking to her initially, I was actually quite surprised speaking to her, how calm she was. She's just been through this horrific incident and we get some travelers that call through and they might have had a paper cut as Zoe said, and they're distraught and they're panicking, and you've got to really calm them down. I was really surprised with her condition, that in her incident she just happened, how calm she was. Speaker 2: Yeah she was. Sheree Yeah. Speaker 2: And I wouldn't think. Were you dealing with Mary then? Because she was- Karen: No, no, no. I actually didn't speak to Mary until a week or so down the track. I spoke to Zoe's father probably first that night, I think it was that night I spoke to him and told him what we're doing. Speaker 2: Well, whoever was speaking to Zoe's mom, she was very, very grateful because they were just shoving pieces of paper, as you can imagine, the different types of treatment, and as a registered nurse, Karen, you'd understand, they was shoving pieces of paper under her nose to sign for every single thing that she is doing. Karen: Oh yeah. Yeah. Speaker 2: So whoever was dealing with her from Emergency Assist was really holding her hand and made her feel quite comfortable, and just like Zoe was able to kind of give into what happened to her, then she was able to become the mom and to worry about her daughter and not worry about the insurance claim. So you guys do an incredible job. Karen: Thank you. Speaker 3: But It must be quite satisfied to find out that somebody is as grateful as Zoe, and her mom, and her family have been as well. Karen: It certainly was because you often don't have that chance of following up with people. So it was really nice to hear that she's actually ended up as well as she has been, and it was actually a real surprise to see her, listen to her because I don't think we really got to speak to her that much, because mom was involved and she was often on a ventilator so, in the first couple of weeks. So yeah, it was nice, it was really good. Speaker 3: All power to you guys, that's great, fantastic for your involvement in helping out Zoe as well, so well done. Karen: Thanks for allowing us to give you updates and do this sort of thing. Kim: Incredible story. I looked, there's plenty of dashcam vision and people have captured some of the vision on their phone cameras as well, so you can find that pretty easy if you have a look and it will really help you appreciate how miraculous it is that Zoe and Abby managed to survive that. Kim: Yeah, wrong place, wrong time. Now, well I was lucky enough to share a couple of hours in Zoe's home. One of the only reasons why she agreed to chat, to what she sees in the media. Look, it's an interview for a podcast, it's available for public consumption, even though Worlds Nomads was the insurance, insurer rather. It was to reiterate the importance of traveling insurance. Phil: Yeah. But look, just because Zoe was covered by World Nomads, it doesn't necessarily mean that you would be covered as well because there are other circumstances that may be involved in a claim that you put in. So always check your policy wording and check with your insurer about your, things such as you going to make sure that you're licensed to ride a motorcycle and things like that. So very complicated, because she was covered it doesn't mean you automatically are. Kim: Check the policy wording. Phil: Okay. Kim: Bye. Speaker 1: Amazing Nomads, be inspired.     </div> </div> </div>Fern Bayliss. Kim with Zoe and her mum Mary at their home in the UK. 0

The Dust Town | Cambodia Travel Storyhttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/discovery/the-dust-townThe Dust Town | Cambodia Travel StoryMon, 29 Jul 2019 20:16:04 GMThttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/discovery/the-dust-townThree Days of Joy: Khmer New Year in Cambodia | Photoshttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/discovery/khmer-new-year-in-cambodiaThree Days of Joy: Khmer New Year in Cambodia | PhotosWed, 08 Aug 2018 20:53:54 GMThttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/discovery/khmer-new-year-in-cambodiahttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/top-things-to-do-in-northwest-cambodia-from-siem-reap-to-battambangExplore Cambodia’s northwest beyond Siem Reap to find ancient temples in the jungle, crumbling ruins, colorful lakeside villages, vibrant floating markets, and scenic waterfalls.2018-07-18T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/top-things-to-do-in-northwest-cambodia-from-siem-reap-to-battambanghttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#siemreap"> Siem Reap and beyond </a></li> <li><a href="#battambang"> Battambang </a></li> <li><a href="#banteaychhmar"> Banteay Chhmar </a></li> <li><a href="#prasatpreahvihear"> Prasat Preah Vihear </a></li> <li><a href="#phnomkulen"> Phnom Kulen National Park </a></li> <li><a href="#kompongthom"> Kompong Thom </a></li> <li><a href="#skuon"> Skuon </a></li> </ul> <h2 id="siemreap">Siem Reap and beyond</h2> The <a href="/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/top-things-to-do-in-siem-reap">thriving city of Siem Reap</a> is home to a lot <a href="/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/alternative-ancient-historical-sites-of-cambodia-beyond-angkor-wat">more than the temples of Angkor Wat</a>. It is often the jump-off spot for most visitors to the Kingdom, who use the city as a home base to explore the nearby city of Battambang or to take a day trip to visit the stilted villages and floating markets on Tonle Sap. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/cambodia/monk-angkor-wat-kellybeckta.jpg" /> <figcaption>A monk at Angkor Wat. Photo credit: Kelly Beckta</figcaption></figure> There are also several other Angkorian temple complexes nearby, including Koh Ker and Beng Mealea, where the ancient ruins lie shrouded in lush jungle. Although you may have to hire a car or Tuk Tuk to get out of the city, once you’re there you can explore these long-abandoned temples in peace, walking in the footsteps of great kings from years gone by. In Siem Reap, try a cooking class, many of which include exploring the vibrant food section of the central market and learning more about the unique ingredients and flavors that make up Cambodian’s most well-known dishes, such as amok and <g class="gr_ gr_168 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="168" data-gr-id="168">lok</g>-<g class="gr_ gr_169 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="169" data-gr-id="169">lak</g>. If cooking and eating is your jam, check out the local food tours, where you go on a night-time culinary adventure through the city and sample an array of traditional and local delicacies. There are also plenty of cycling tours available through the countryside and city, which take in the beautiful French-era architecture, rice paddies, and rural villages, and you can learn about local industries, including palm wine and basket weaving. You can organize these locally, or just rent bikes for the day and go on a self-navigated adventure. If that’s not exciting enough, no visit to Siem Reap would be complete without a trip to the Phare Cambodian Circus, the kingdom’s breathtaking and gravity-defying take on Cirque du Soleil. <h2 id="battambang">Battambang</h2> Three hours southwest of Siem Reap, Battambang is a laid-back riverside city with plenty of preserved historical buildings, where French villas meet Art Deco and traditional Chinese shop houses, and a vibrant art and food scene. The artistic capital is home to a wealth of art galleries and studios, and a variety of unique and inspired social enterprise cafes, bars, and restaurants. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/cambodia/wat-ek-phnom-temple-near-battambang-kellybeckta.jpg" /> <figcaption>Wat Ek Phnom temple near Battambang. Photo credit: Kelly Beckta</figcaption></figure> For many visitors, the city’s highlights lie outside its walls. The fertile countryside is perfect for exploring on two wheels, or hurtling through on the rustic bamboo train; a small bamboo platform attached to a go-kart engine that speeds along a specially built railway track through the rice paddies. Other highlights include a visit to Wat Banan, a small but picturesque Angkorian-era temple at the top of a seemingly-endless flight of stairs, and Phnom Sampeau, a mountain-top temple that sits alongside the Killing Caves, the former Khmer Rouge execution site that offers a chilling reminder of the country’s dark past. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/cambodia/killing-caves-shrine-battambang-cassiewilkins.jpg" /> <figcaption>Killing caves shrine in Battambang. Photo credit: Cassie Wilkins</figcaption></figure> <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/hiking-travel-insurance">Hiking</a> up the mountain is well worth it for some of the best vistas in the region. On the way back down, don’t miss the Bat Caves, where every day at dusk thousands of bats fly out of the caves, forming unique patterns in the sky. It’s easy to get to Battambang by bus from Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, or even from Bangkok, where you can grab a taxi or <a href="/explore/southeast-asia/logistics-of-travel-between-vietnam-cambodia-and-laos">hop on a different bus once you cross the border</a>. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/cambodia/battambang-bat-caves-kellybeckta.jpg" /> <figcaption>Battambang Bat Caves. Photo credit: Kelly Beckta</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="banteaychhmar">Banteay Chhmar</h2> Deep in the heart of northwest Cambodia’s jungles, the ruined temples of Banteay Chhmar are slowly being overgrown by strangler figs and forest. An ancient city with carvings that once rivaled that of Bayon and Angkor Wat, Banteay Chhmar is one of the country’s least explored and most fascinating historical sites, but its relatively inaccessible location means only the most intrepid explorers might capture a glimpse of this mysterious temple complex for themselves. To get there, you can hire a taxi from Siem Reap for around <g class="gr_ gr_110 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="110" data-gr-id="110">US</g> $50, or you can take a bus to Sisophon from Battambang or Siem Reap, and then hire a shared taxi from there. Accommodation options are limited, but simple village homestays are available. You can organize these in advance by contacting the Banteay Chhmar Community-Based Tourism group and checking out their <a href="https://www.visitbanteaychhmar.org/">website</a>. <h2 id="prasatpreahvihear">Prasat Preah Vihear</h2> One of the most unique and beautiful Angkor-era temples in the region, the previously remote Prasat Preah Vihear (the temple in the clouds) is now just a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Siem Reap. Built atop a rocky cliff face, this unique temple has been the sight of active skirmishes between the Thais and the Cambodians since the early 20th century and is now home to an entire army encampment, who <g class="gr_ gr_102 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="102" data-gr-id="102">live</g> up at the top of the mountain to protect the ancient memorial from invasion. Due to escalating violence from 2008 to 2011, you can no longer stay around the temple, but accommodation can be found in nearby Sra’Aem, a small military town about 18 miles (30km) away. <h2 id="phnomkulen">Phnom Kulen National Park</h2> Located in the Cardamom Mountains between Prasat Preah Vihear and Siem Reap, Phnom Kulen National Park is a sight of historical importance as the place where Jayavarman II (founder of the Khmer Empire) declared himself King of Kings in 802 AD. There are several uniquely fascinating ruins, including the Terrace of Sdach Kamlung – a small brick temple which was once covered in lava – several Buddha statues dating from the 16th century, and an ancient carved riverbed known as the ‘Valley of a Thousand Lingas’. For those looking to escape the heat of Siem Reap, the national park is also home to some of the region’s most picturesque falls – such as Phnom Kulen Waterfalls, and crystal clear rivers that are perfect for cooling off in the middle of the jungle. Best of all? Even though it’s only an hour out of Siem Reap, it’s still not really on the radar of tourists, so you’re likely to have most of this spectacular national park all to yourself. <h2 id="kompongthom">Kompong Thom</h2> About halfway between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, Kompong Thom is a slightly dusty and unassuming provincial capital, and the jump-off point to one of the most interesting historical sites in the country, Sambor Prei Kuk. Just a 45 minutes’ drive from the city, Sambor Prei Kuk is the ancient capital of the Chenla Kingdom, pre-dating Angkor Wat by 400 years. I’d recommend hiring a local guide to explore this fascinating temple field so you can see the best temples, as many of the most picturesque and interesting ones are hidden by vines and set back in the jungle. There are a variety of good accommodation and transport options in Kompong Thom, and those looking to stay a few days can also take boat trips along the Stung Sen river or go on a motorbike tour through the local villages, where you’ll see ox carts and fishermen going about their day, unchanged for centuries. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/cambodia/monks-near-battambang-kellybeckta.jpg" /> <figcaption>Monks near Battambang. Photo credit: Kelly Beckta</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="skuon">Skuon</h2> Following the road from Cambodia’s northwest back into Phnom Penh, you can also choose to jump off at the highway crossroads town of Skuon to sample one of the kingdom’s more unusual delicacies, a-ping (deep-fried tarantulas). It is thought that people originally started eating the spiders out of necessity during the Khmer Rouge era, but that over the years they have become more of a treat, and are now bred in holes in the ground and foraged from nearby forests.  There is a little market where the roads converge. Here you can find many stalls specializing in a-ping (palm-sized spiders tossed in MSG, sugar, salt, and crushed garlic and then fried until crispy), along with a myriad of other insects, like grubs and scorpions fried with chili and other local herbs, and a variety of slightly more palatable options like fresh fruits and fried noodles.Kelly Beckta - World Nomads Travel Photography Scholarship 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/top-destinations-in-northeast-cambodiaDiscover some of the Kingdom’s most spectacular landscapes and its elusive wildlife.2018-07-18T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/top-destinations-in-northeast-cambodiahttps://www.worldnomads.comCambodia’s wild east conjures up images of <a href="/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/alternative-ancient-historical-sites-of-cambodia-beyond-angkor-wat">undiscovered temples</a>, hill tribes, turquoise lakes in ancient volcanic craters, cascading waterfalls and flooded forests. Here’s how you can see and do it all. <ul> <li><a href="#kampongcham"> Kampong Cham </a></li> <li><a href="#kratie"> Kratie </a></li> <li><a href="#mondulkiri"> Mondulkiri and Sen Monorom </a></li> <li><a href="#banlung"> Ban Lung and Ratanakiri </a></li> <li><a href="#virachey"> Virachey National Park and Hill Tribe Villages </a></li> <li><a href="#stungtreng"> Stung Treng </a></li> <li><a href="#preahrumkoul"> Preah Rumkoul </a></li> </ul> <h2 id="kampongcham">Kampong Cham</h2> Your first stop on the drive northeast from <a href="/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/an-insiders-guide-to-phnom-penh">Phnom Penh</a> is the sleepy riverside city of Kampong Cham. Home of the famed Bamboo Bridge, which is rebuilt annually to link the city to the small Mekong River island of Koh Paen, Kampong Cham isn’t high on the list for most visitors to the Kingdom, but there are plenty of interesting places to visit.  Top of the itinerary is Wat Nokor, an Angkor-era temple set among rice paddies, and Phnom Pros and Phnom Srey (Man Temple and Woman Temple). A short drive from the city, the site features several intricate pagodas built on adjacent hills and offers good vantage points of the surrounding countryside. During the Khmer Rouge era, the valley between the hills was used as a place of torture, and now there is a small shrine to all the lives that were lost. Nearby, there is also an old American ATC tower and runway that was used during the Vietnam War. These days, the site is quite underwhelming, but history buffs might enjoy it. Back in the city, the famous Kizuna Bridge was the first to span the Mekong. Prior to its opening in 2001, ferries and rafts were the only way to traverse east and west and cross the country. Crossing the bridge to Tbong Khmum feels like taking a step back in time. Adventurous souls will get a kick out of the rickety ladders and great vistas from the top of the 19th-century French Tower, while others might just want to explore the local stilted Cham Muslim villages, with their traditional wooden houses and unusual-looking mosques. The best way to cram everything in is by hiring a Tuk Tuk or renting a scooter or bicycle for the day. There are plenty of accommodation and restaurant options available in the town itself, but check out the guesthouses on the riverbank for spectacular sunrise views. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/cambodia/sunrise-kampong-cham-cassiewilkins.jpg" /> <figcaption>Sunrise from Kampong Cham. Photo credit: Cassie Wilkins</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="kratie">Kratie</h2> Following the <g class="gr_ gr_187 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="187" data-gr-id="187">Mekong</g> north leads to Kratie, once famous for being the home of the Irrawaddy River Dolphin. A good jump off point between northern and eastern Cambodia, this laidback town is a pleasant place to hang out for a few days and break up the long drive to Banlung or Stung Treng. It’s also one of the best places to sit and take in the sunset over the river while the town’s faded colonial streets come to life with food stalls and families out for an evening stroll. Historically, Kratie’s most popular activity was <a href="/create/learn/photography/how-to-photograph-wildlife-ethically">dolphin-spotting</a> on the Mekong from Kampi, a few miles north, these days the Irrawaddy dolphins are so elusive that it can be hit or miss. Once common across Asia, these blunt-headed unusual-looking dolphins are closely related to the killer whale. They live on the Mekong between Cambodia and Laos, where legend goes that they are reincarnations of their ancestors. However, with the rise of fishing in the region, especially using explosives, and a conflict of opinion between Vietnamese and Khmer fishermen who believe the dolphin to be sacred and the Khmer-Islam fishermen who see them as food, there has been a huge decrease in their population. If you don’t feel like taking the gamble, there are plenty of other activities around Kratie. You can rent bicycles and go exploring the nearby countryside and head out to Phnom Sombok, a modern pagoda 6mi (10km) north of the city, worth visiting for its colorful paintings depicting what happens to those who choose not to live a virtuous life. Alternatively, you can hop on a boat to the nearby Koh Trong Island and rent a bicycle. Check out the Vietnamese Wat and the floating village before heading to the beach for sunset views and a swim – for those brave enough to embrace the murky waters of the Mekong! Tour companies also offer overnight kayaking trips up the river. There are plenty of transport and accommodation options in the city and around the riverbank. Tourist buses are available to destinations all over Cambodia and even Laos. <h2 id="mondulkiri">Mondulkiri and Sen Monorom</h2> A few hours east of Kampong Cham lies Mondulkiri, one of Cambodia’s most untouched and beautiful regions. This wild province is as famous for its rolling hills dotted with pine forests, waterfalls, tribal villages, and lush jungle as it is for its sustainable elephant sanctuaries. Here you can learn all about these remarkable creatures and the wonderful work that local groups, like the <a href="http://www.mondulkiriproject.org/">Mondulkiri Project</a> and the <a href="http://www.elephantvalleyproject.org/">Elephant Valley Project</a>, are doing to help care for injured animals and rehabilitate and retire working elephants in their natural habitat. While Mondulkiri is perfect for lovers of hiking, coffee, nature, and wildlife, including several species of endangered primates like the black-shanked doucs, thrill-seekers can also go on multi-day treks and camp out in the jungle, go wild swimming, and even zip line over one of Cambodia’s most spectacular waterfalls, the double-tiered Bousra. A variety of accommodation options can be found in the capital, Sen Monorom, which is about a five-hour drive from <a href="/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/an-insiders-guide-to-phnom-penh">Phnom Penh</a>. From Sen Monorom, it’s a beautiful drive to Ratanakiri up the old ‘Death Highway’, which is now fully paved (and far less deadly). It takes three-and-a-half to four hours to drive by minibus, but you can also hire a <a href="/travel-safety/southeast-asia/do-i-need-a-license-to-ride-a-motorbike">motorbike</a> or a bicycle if you want to take your time exploring these beautiful off-the-grid regions. <h2 id="banlung">Ban Lung and Ratanakiri</h2> In the far northeastern reaches of Cambodia lies the remote Ratanakiri province, with vibrant green hills and plateaus, thick jungle, crater lakes, rivers, and mountains. The capital of Ratanakiri, Banlung, is a small yet interesting city, with cool eateries and interesting accommodation, especially around the lake. These days the new highways have made transport links much easier, and you can now get from Banlung to the 4,000 Islands (in Laos) via Stung Treng, or even cross the local border into Vietnam, as long as you organize your visa in advance. This far-away province is also the adventure hub of Cambodia, where you can go on rafting and camping trips, trek through jungle and lava forests, and visit remote waterfalls, gem-mining quarries, and off-the-grid coffee plantations. Just outside of Banlung, you can also visit the magical Yeak Loam crater lake and swim in the turquoise waters of a volcano that has been extinct for 700,000 years. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/cambodia/volcanic-crater-lake-ratanakiri-cassiewilkins.jpg" /> <figcaption>Volcanic crater lake in Ratanakiri province. Photo credit: Cassie Wilkins</figcaption></figure> One of the most interesting things about Ratanakiri, however, is its tragic history, especially when it comes to its tribal villages and ethnic minorities. For more than 1,000 years, Ratanakiri has been home to the tribal Khmer Loeu people, who have long been persecuted, initially by being sold and traded as slaves to neighboring empires, and then as part of a forced ‘Khmerization’ campaign beginning in the ‘50s. Many traditional villages were destroyed when the area was heavily bombed by the US during the Vietnamese War. During the civil war, the Khmer Rouge took control of the area and attempted to stamp out the traditions of the Khmer Loeu, forbidding them from speaking native languages or practicing their religious traditions. There were ethnic purges and many indigenous people were killed. In recent years, the opening up of the region has led to an influx of Khmers, increased land prices and political corruption which has threatened their way of life even more. These days, it feels like the young people in the villages are more interested in mobile phones and the outside world than continuing the traditions of their ancestors, leaving their future in jeopardy. One of the ways the local communities are counteracting this is by working as tour guides, sharing their traditions and opening up their villages to sustainable tourism, including homestays and opportunities to view their unique way of life. <h2 id="virachey">Virachey National Park and hill tribe villages</h2> Despite the challenges facing them, Ratanakiri is still home to 12 of the kingdom’s most unique ethnic minority groups, most of whom still live like they always have, in remote semi-nomadic tribal villages around the forests of Virachey National Park. One of the Kingdom’s premier wildlife spotting destinations, the 1,283mi² (3,325 km²) national park is also the home of the incredibly <a href="/create/learn/photography/tips-for-mastering-wildlife-photography">rare northern yellow-cheeked gibbon</a>. Whether you do a short tour to the tribal villages or a multi-day tour into the depths of the beautiful Virachey National Park, book your trip with a local organization and ensure the profits go to those who need them. The tribal village tours are all led by indigenous guides to villages and fascinating forest cemeteries with elaborately carved memorials. They share with you their unique traditions and ways of life, that have barely changed over the last thousand years. Photographs are permitted, but ask first and be as respectful as possible. Longer treks can also include nature walks through the jungle, bamboo river rafting and visiting hidden waterfalls deep in the Virachey National Park. Trips lasting from one to seven days can be easily organized in Banlung, including a guide, transport, food, accommodation, and fees to the national park and nature preserves. <h2 id="stungtreng">Stung Treng</h2> Historically, Stung Treng has been nothing more than a jump-off town on the way to Laos or Banlung, but these days it’s becoming an attraction, with a new bridge connecting it to western Cambodia, and community-focused eco-villages popping up along the banks of the river. Although the city itself is rather uninspiring, there is still a surprising amount to do, including kayaking through flooded forests, cycling through the countryside, and dolphin spotting on the border with Laos. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/cambodia/floating-forests-outside-stung-treng-cassiewilkins.jpg" /> <figcaption>On a boat trip to see the floating forests outside of Stung Treng. Photo credit: Cassie Wilkins</figcaption></figure> From Stung Treng, you can easily take a boat all the way up to the 4,000 Islands, where you can capture a glimpse of the mighty Sopheakmit Waterfall, and check out the remnants of the 19th-century French-built boat docking station. Here, boats were lifted onto train carriages to transport them across the islands, bypassing the waterfall, and continuing up the Mekong to China. From Stung Treng, you can also visit Thala Barivat, a pre-Angkorian site with ruins dating back to the 7th century. <h2 id="preahrumkoul">Preah Rumkoul</h2> About 37mi (60km) to the west of Stung Treng, Preah Rumkoul is an eco-tourism site on the southern border of Laos. To get here you can either take a Tuk Tuk to O’Svay and hire a shallow canoe to take you across the river past the flooded forests, or hire a bike or a moto-dop in Stung Treng and ride the 40-odd miles (60 km) around the river. The ride is one of the most beautiful in Cambodia, passing limestone karsts, fossilized trees, and isolated backwater villages. Those who brave the journey will be rewarded with local homestays and family-cooked meals in a beautiful location, with birdwatching, swimming, cycling, and beautiful waterfalls. This is also one of the only spots in Cambodia where you can capture a glimpse of the river dolphin from the shore, with a specially built platform that is also perfect for drinking an ice cold beer and watching the days go by. From here, you can head back the way you came, and continue onto Laos, carry on toward Prasat Preah Vihear, or head down to <a href="/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/top-things-to-do-in-siem-reap">Siem Reap</a>.Cassie Wilkins 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/top-things-to-do-in-siem-reapExplore nearby national parks, catch sunrise at Angkor Wat or check out the markets and local pottery in town. Marissa shows us the best of Siem Reap.2018-07-12T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/top-things-to-do-in-siem-reaphttps://www.worldnomads.comAs the gateway to Angkor, Siem Reap is at the top of many travelers' lists. However, the quaint but bustling town and surrounding countryside is home to a host of activities that delve into Cambodia’s rich culture and heritage, making it a destination that I never tire of, despite having traded the UK for the Kingdom of Wonder almost six years ago. From pristine countryside home to warm and welcoming faces, to sacred mountains, floating villages, <a href="/explore/southeast-asia/food-in-vietnam-cambodia-and-laos">markets <g class="gr_ gr_103 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="103" data-gr-id="103">and</g> food</a>, Siem Reap has it all. <ul> <li><a href="#sunrise"> Catch Sunrise at Angkor Archaeological Park </a></li> <li><a href="#waterfalls"> Refresh in Gushing Waterfalls </a></li> <li><a href="#village"> Visit a Floating Village </a></li> <li><a href="#markets"> Put on Your Haggling Hat </a></li> <li><a href="#homestays"> Homestays </a></li> <li><a href="#pottery"> Making Artisan Pottery </a></li> <li><a href="#dragonfruit"> Pick Fresh Dragon Fruit </a></li> <li><a href="#landmines"> Learn About Landmines </a></li> <li><a href="#streetfood"> Sample the Delights of Street Food </a></li> <li><a href="#circus"> See the Circus </a></li> </ul> <h2 id="sunrise">Catch Sunrise at Angkor Archaeological Park</h2> Start your day at <a href="/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/alternative-ancient-historical-sites-of-cambodia-beyond-angkor-wat">Angkor Wat</a>, the world’s largest religious monument, watching the sun peek from behind the 12th-century temple’s iconic towers. While it’s hard to avoid the thousands of people who flock there to capture photographs at sunrise, this is one of those moments that makes jostling the crowds well worth it. Spend the rest of the day exploring impressive Bayon temple marveling at more than 2,000 giant faces carved into its 54 towers, and root-riddled Ta Prohm – famous for providing the backdrop to Angelina Jolie’s 2001 Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. Keep an eye out for the mysterious stegosaurus etched into Ta Prohm’s walls, which have left historians baffled. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/cambodia/traveler-at-angkor-wat-cambodia-kellybeckta.jpg" /> <figcaption> Angkor Wat just after sunrise. Photo credit: Kelly Beckta </figcaption></figure> <h2 id="waterfalls">Refresh in Gushing Waterfalls</h2> Phnom Kulen National Park, about 31mi (50km) from Siem Reap, is Cambodia’s most <a href="/make-a-difference/responsible-travel/planet/top-10-tips-for-environmentally-friendly-travel">sacred mountain</a> and a place of pilgrimage. On weekends and religious holidays, locals descend on the holy site to pray and leave offerings at the temple that sits atop the mountain. This is the spot where Khmer Empire founder Jayavarman II declared himself a <g class="gr_ gr_99 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="99" data-gr-id="99">devaraja</g> (god-king) at its 1,400ft (427m) peak in 802AD. A short walk from the temple – which also houses one of the country’s largest reclining Buddhas – you’ll find two waterfalls and swimming spots, with plenty of picnic spots lining the edge of the water. Take a break and refreshing dip before strolling to the nearby River of a Thousand Lingas, where 1,000 carvings of Hindu gods and symbols, believed to date back to the 11th-century reign of King Udayadityavarman, are etched into the stone riverbed. <h2 id="village">Visit a Floating Village</h2> The Tonle Sap Lake, southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake, is home to <a href="/create/learn/photography/how-to-photograph-wildlife-ethically">rare fish and endangered birds</a>, such as painted storks, greater adjutants <g class="gr_ gr_197 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="197" data-gr-id="197">and</g> grey-headed fish eagles, as well as hundreds of people who live in lakeside villages with schools, homes and shops. Visitors love the village of Kampong Phluk, but for a more off-the-beaten-track experience, head a little further out of town to Kampong Khleang, where villagers offer boat tours, sunset cruises, fishing trips and the chance to spend a night at one of the family’s basic floating homes. Organized tours operate in the area, or you can catch a Tuk Tuk and arrange activities on arrival. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/cambodia/floating-village-cambodia-john-magas.jpg" /> <figcaption> Floating village in Cambodia. Photo credit: John Magas </figcaption></figure> <h2 id="markets">Put on Your Haggling Hat</h2> Markets form an integral part of life in Cambodia, with residents heading to them at the crack of dawn to snap up the freshest ingredients for the day. Phsar Chas is in the center of town and is Siem Reap’s largest market. While it is more geared towards tourists, it offers an insight into market <g class="gr_ gr_235 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="235" data-gr-id="235">life,</g> and is packed with fruit and vegetables, swinging slabs of meat, flapping fish as well as <a href="/make-a-difference/responsible-travel/participation/the-ethical-traveler-s-guide-to-souvenir-shopping">souvenirs</a>. It’s a great place to have some fun with the stallholders and barter hard for a bargain. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/cambodia/streets-of-siem-reap-kelly-beckta.jpg" /> <figcaption> Streets of Siem Reap. Photo credit: Kelly Beckta </figcaption></figure> <h2 id="homestays">Homestays</h2> Head out of town to Banteay Srei, the embodiment of rural Cambodia, where rice paddies and wooden stilted houses dominate the landscape, with clusters of sugar palms offering shade to grazing buffalo. In 2016, the Visit Banteay Srei campaign launched a number of <a href="/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/responsible-hospitality-in-cambodia">homestays</a>, ranging from private villas to a mattress on the floor of a local family home. Here, you can help with daily chores, cycle through the pristine countryside or learn more about the livelihood of villagers. Banteay Srei is about 21 miles (35km) from Siem <g class="gr_ gr_109 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="109" data-gr-id="109">Reap,</g> and can be accessed by Tuk Tuk or taxi. <h2 id="pottery">Making Artisan Pottery</h2> The intricate artisanal crafts used to build the temples at Angkor Wat Archaeological Park have inspired a wealth of workshops that showcase these traditional techniques. Learn the ancient art and learn the craft of Khmer pottery at a class. Khmer Ceramics holds daily lessons where visitors can learn how to create an Angkorian bowl from a local artisan, using a traditional wheel. The bowls are polished off by adding Khmer carvings before being fired and glazed, ready to take home the next day. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/cambodia/new-year-angkor-wat-preparations-kellybeckta.jpg" /> <figcaption> New Year festival preparations at Angkor Wat. Photo credit: Kelly Beckta </figcaption></figure> <h2 id="dragonfruit">Pick Fresh Dragon Fruit</h2> Gorge on the deliciously sweet, pink superfood at Happy Dragon Farm. The organic farm in Banteay Srei is home to hectares of the cactus-like plants, which produce the sweet and slightly tangy fruit, and welcomes visitors to sample its delights. After exploring the farm, guests can spend the night and get a home-cooked meal. While this is basic living, nothing quite beats watching the sun melt into the horizon, casting its warm hue across the Cambodian countryside, or waking up to uninterrupted vistas of emerald rice paddies and stretches of farmland. <h2 id="landmines">Learn About Landmines</h2> The Cambodian Landmine Museum serves up a sobering reminder of the country’s bitter past. Operated by curator and deminer Aki Ra, the small museum features displays that highlight the devastating impacts the deadly explosives continue to have on the country. At its center, sits a large case of mortars, mines and other recovered unexploded ordnance (UXO). Visitors can also attempt to locate deactivated mines at the mock minefield, and view information about the ongoing efforts to rid Cambodia of UXOs. Standing as the most land-mined country in the world, remote areas of Cambodia – especially along the border with Thailand – remain littered by mines leftover from years of civil war and Khmer Rouge reign, which ended as recently as 1979. <h2 id="streetfood">Sample the Delights of Street Food</h2> The many street food vendors that line the streets of Siem Reap serve a selection of local bites, from grilled seafood to pork and rice or noodle dishes. While the town center is dotted with food carts, step off the tourist trail and eat with locals, who from 5.30pm gather at Road 60, on the outskirts of town. Here you’ll find a long stretch of food stalls offering every kind of local treat. More adventurous foodies can tuck into deep-fried tarantulas, stuffed frogs, crickets and other bugs. A must-try meal is the popular Cambodian dish of num <g class="gr_ gr_102 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="102" data-gr-id="102">banh</g> <g class="gr_ gr_101 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="101" data-gr-id="101">chok</g> (Khmer noodles), and with the scent of barbecued meat hanging heavy in the air, make sure to try the sweet marinated pork.  <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/cambodia/fish-on-stick-cambodia-street-food-kelly-beckta.jpg" /> <figcaption> Fish on a stick in Siem Reap. Photo credit: Kelly Beckta </figcaption></figure> <h2 id="circus">See the Circus</h2> No trip to Siem Reap is complete without catching a performance of Phare, the Cambodian Circus. Every evening at <g class="gr_ gr_117 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Style multiReplace" id="117" data-gr-id="117">8pm</g>, crowds gather at the big top to watch the talented troupe. Run by NGO Phare Ponleu Selpak, which teaches art forms to underprivileged youngsters, the shows retell ancient Khmer folktales using acrobatics, contortionists, clowns, jugglers and trapeze artists.Kelly Beckta - World Nomads Travel Photography Scholarship 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/alternative-ancient-historical-sites-of-cambodia-beyond-angkor-watCassie Wilkins goes beyond Angkor Wat to discover Cambodia’s most off-the-beaten-track historic sites.2018-07-12T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/alternative-ancient-historical-sites-of-cambodia-beyond-angkor-wathttps://www.worldnomads.comAs the former religous and political center of the ancient Khmer empire, Angkor Wat is deservedly famous. But there are many other temples and sites worth visiting in Cambodia, offering insights into centuries of rich history. <ul> <li><a href="#phnomkulen"> Phnom Kulen </a></li> <li><a href="#preahkhan"> Preah Khan of Kampong Svay </a></li> <li><a href="#bengmealea"> Beng Mealea </a></li> <li><a href="#kohker"> The ancient city of Koh Ker </a></li> <li><a href="#banteaychhmar"> Banteay Chhmar </a></li> <li><a href="#prasatpreahvihear"> Prasat Preah Vihear </a></li> <li><a href="#kompongthom"> Kompong Thom: Sambor Prei Kuk </a></li> <li><a href="#oudong"> Oudong </a></li> <li><a href="#kampot"> Kampot and Kep </a></li> <li><a href="#bokor"> Bokor National Park </a></li> </ul> <h2 id="phnomkulen">Phnom Kulen: The beginning of the Khmer Empire</h2> Just 29mi (48km) from <a href="/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/top-things-to-do-in-siem-reap">Siem Reap</a>, the little-known historic site of Phnom Kulen is considered the birthplace of the Khmer Empire, where Jayavarman II declared himself the chakravartin, or ‘King of Kings’, in 802 AD. Lacking the grandeur of the ruined <a href="/travel-safety/southeast-asia/cambodia/guide-to-scams-at-angkor-wat">temples of Angkor Wat</a>, this site is interesting for its varied historical sights and <a href="/make-a-difference/responsible-travel/planet/top-10-tips-for-environmentally-friendly-travel">natural beauty</a>, including the fascinating carved River of a Thousand Lingas at Kbal Spean; a 1,000-year old sandstone riverbed containing thousands of intricate etchings of fertility symbols and Hindu Gods. It is said that the water flowing over the sacred lingas is ‘blessed’ before it continues on its journey to Angkor and the nearby rice fields before eventually flowing into the Tonle Sap. In the nearby Phnom Kulen National Park, you’ll also find Cambodia’s largest reclining Buddha, dating back to the 16th century, and an array of small temple ruins, including the Terrace of Sdach Kamlung, a small brick temple that was at one point buried beneath the lava from a nearby volcano. <h2 id="preahkhan">Preah Khan of Kampong Svay</h2> Step into the shoes of French explorer Louis Delaporte, who is credited with the 1873 rediscovery of this fascinating temple, 62mi (100km) east of Angkor Wat. Unlike Angkor, not much has really changed since then. There has been some looting, but the site itself is still draped in jungle, with trees growing through the ancient ruins, and the beautiful sandstone bas-reliefs worn by time. Preah Khan of Kampong Svay is the largest temple built during the Angkorian era, with its exterior walls spanning an impressive 1.95m2 (5km2). Thought to have been built in the 11th century, this impressive temple complex includes a 49ft high (15m) pyramid featuring statues of two giant stone elephants, and a Bayon-style four-faced central tower. <h2 id="bengmealea">Beng Mealea</h2> Located 47mi (77km) away from Siem Reap, on an old road linking Angkor Thom and Preah Khan of Kampong Svay, Beng Mealea is the perfect spot to break up the journey from <a href="/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/top-things-to-do-in-northwest-cambodia-from-siem-reap-to-battambang">Siem Reap</a> and enjoy a Tomb-Raider-esque hidden-temple-in-the-jungle-experience.  While you’re free to wander yourself, the best way to explore (and not get lost) is to pay a few dollars to a local guide who will take you on an incredible tour through the jungle and around the ruined city, which was built in the 11th century by Suryavarman II, the builder of Angkor Wat. <h2 id="kohker">The ancient city of Koh Ker</h2> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/cambodia/koh-ker-portrait-cambodia-kellybeckta.jpg" alt="The ancient city of Koh Ker in Cambodia." /> <figcaption> Koh Ker. Photo credit: Kelly Beckta </figcaption></figure> A little further out of the way, but equally worth visiting, Koh Ker was the capital of the Angkor Empire from 928–944 AD and was once home to more than 10,000 people. This forgotten city has long been overgrown by jungle, but that just adds to its mysterious charm. It’s surprisingly easy to lose a day here, exploring all the different sanctuaries, but the highlight is climbing the 131ft-high (40m), seven-tiered pyramid to see the true scope of this mysterious ancient city. <h2 id="banteaychhmar">Banteay Chhmar</h2> Closer to the Thai border, the remote and beautiful temple complex of Banteay Chhmar was yet another project of Jayavarman VII – arguably the most famous of the Angkorian kings – and the builder of the empire’s most impressive temples, including Bayon, Angkor Thom, and Ta Prohm. Banteay Chhmar is most well-known for its spectacular carvings and bas-reliefs, telling the story of the Angkor empire, the princes who came before him, and the historical battles that were won and lost. Although it’s possible to travel from Siem Reap to Banteay Chhmar and back in a day, it’s a long drive so it might be worth breaking up the drive by visiting some of the aforementioned temple sites or heading northeast to Prasat Preah Vihear and staying the night in Sra’Aem. <h2 id="prasatpreahvihear">Prasat Preah Vihear</h2> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/cambodia/prasat-preah-vihear-cassiewilkins.jpg" alt="Elaborate carvings at the ancient temple of Prasat Preah Vihear in Cambodia." /> <figcaption> Prasat Preah Vihear, Cambodia. Photo credit: Cassie Wilkins </figcaption></figure> Located at the top of an impressive 1,722ft high (525m) cliff face along the Thai/Cambodian border, the Angkorian-era temple of Prasat Preah Vihear is a sight to behold. From the ticket office, you can either hike or opt for a ride on the back of a motorbike or a 4x4 up the mountain, where you will be greeted with beautiful ancient carvings and breathtaking views of the valley and the ancient barays (square-shaped Khmer reservoirs) below. However, it’s not just the unusual location that makes this temple so unique; Prasat Preah Vihear has also been at the center of a bitter land dispute between Thailand and Cambodia for more than a century. You can see evidence of the skirmishes on the temple itself, with bullet holes in the sandstone and military trenches stretching underneath the ancient ruins. You can find simple guesthouses 18mi (30km) away in Sra’Aem. The best way to get to Prasat Preah Vihear is to take a taxi from Siem Reap (3.5hrs each way), but you can also join group tours and day trips. <h2 id="kompongthom">Kompong Thom: Sambor Prei Kuk</h2> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/cambodia/sambor-prei-kuk-cambodia-cassiewilkins.jpg" alt="Sambor Prei Kuk, the old capital of the ancient Chenla empire in Cambodia." /> <figcaption> Sambor Prei Kuk, Cambodia. Photo credit: Cassie Wilkins </figcaption></figure> Prior to the Angkorian era, before 400BC, Cambodia was part of the Funan Empire, before becoming part of the Chenla Empire later in the 6th century. Some of the ancient cities and temples that exist from this time are even more fascinating than those of the Angkorian era, such as Sambor Prei Kuk, the old capital of King Isanarvaman I. Only recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, these 7th-century ruins are located just outside of Kompong Thom, on the far eastern bank of the Tonle Sap lake. There are more than 150 temples, overrun by jungle and surrounded by craters from extensive American bombing raids. Despite this, there is still plenty to explore, including brick and sandstone sanctuaries with intricate detailing carvings, like those on the enigmatic Kda Ouk Temple which are believed by many to depict mysterious western-looking men with curly hair and mustaches. Just one of the many mysteries surrounding this ancient site, no one truly knows who they are and how their likenesses ended up on the walls of a small temple buried in the jungle. <h2 id="oudong">Oudong</h2> Following the disintegration of Angkor in the 14th century, the capital of Cambodia was moved to Longvek, and finally in 1618, to Oudong, where it remained for more than 250 years until King Norodom moved to <a href="/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/an-insiders-guide-to-phnom-penh">Phnom Penh</a> in 1866. An easy trip from the modern capital, the abandoned royal city of Oudong is a place of pilgrimage, visited by many Khmers who go to pay their respects to the intricate tombs of former kings and marvel at the beautiful gold stupas. Although this historic site was extensively damaged during the Khmer Rouge era, it is still well worth a visit, especially for those craving a taste of the real history of the kingdom, far from the tourist trail. <h2 id="kampot">Kampot and Kep</h2> In 1863, Cambodia became a protectorate of France, which ruled over the kingdom as a colonie du exploitation until 1953. Although there are many lasting influences all across the country, one of the most visual is the architecture, especially in the <a href="/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/best-beaches-and-islands-in-cambodia">southern cities of Kampot and Kep</a>. The beautiful colonial riverside streets of Kampot are the perfect place to go to relax and unwind. Nearby Kep, a previously thriving French vacation destination, now has a sleepy, beachside village vibe, but dig a little deeper and you’ll notice crumbling 19th-century mansions and ruins where all that remains of this corner of the French Empire are the elaborate floor tiles and the picture-perfect views. <h2 id="bokor">Bokor National Park</h2> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/cambodia/bokor-palace-hotel-outside-kampot-cassiewilkins.jpg" alt="Bokor Palace Hotel, outside Kampot, Cambodia, prior to remodeling." /> <figcaption> Bokor Palace Hotel, outside Kampot, prior to remodeling. Photo credit: Cassie Wilkins </figcaption></figure> A little way outside of Kampot lies Bokor National Park, where a beautiful drive up to the top of a mountain leads you to an old French town, where wealthy French holidaymakers used to come to escape the heat. Although the old Bokor Palace Hotel and Casino has recently been renovated to its former glory, there is still a fascinating Catholic church nearby – which was one of the last hideouts of the Khmer Rouge – along with the old holiday home of King Norodom Sihanouk, and the remains of an old cinema and post office.Kelly Beckta 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/voluntourism-in-cambodia-what-to-consider-before-goingWeighing up your options for volunteering in Cambodia? Here are 6 questions to ask yourself before you go, and a few other things to consider.2011-02-15T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/voluntourism-in-cambodia-what-to-consider-before-goinghttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#voluntourism"> Cambodian Volunteer Tourism </a></li> <li><a href="#considerations"> Things to Consider </a></li> <li><a href="#impacts"> The Impacts </a></li> <li><a href="#questions"> Ask Yourself these Questions Before You Go </a></li> </ul> <h2 id="voluntourism">Cambodian Volunteer Tourism</h2> ‘<a href="/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/how-to-be-a-responsible-traveller-in-cambodia" target="_blank">Voluntourism</a>’ has sprung into action over the last few years and Cambodia is no exception. <a href="/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/responsible-hospitality-in-cambodia" target="_blank">Siem Reap</a> in particular is host to a number of trendy volunteer hang-outs which have blossomed alongside the growth of volunteer experiences on offer. The term ‘voluntourism’ is a clever play on words that has both positive and negative connotations. Some love the concept that whilst on holiday you can offer some time to give something back to the communities you are visiting. Others, however, recoil in its distaste that volunteers should pay for giving up their time and expertise to help those in need. Despite your personal choice of words to depict volunteering whilst away from home, the growth of volunteer tourism has exploded during recent troublesome economic times allowing for individual life enrichment, CV cultivation and an opportunity to take time out to contemplate their role in the world. <h2 id="considerations">The Considerations</h2> Whether volunteering is meeting up with fellow ‘volunteers’ every night on Siem Reap’s popular Bar Street to share personal experiences or really providing something of significance to the local communities is only something the individual can answer. It is, however, really up to the individual and the host organization to provide a win-win-win situation to fulfill and satisfy the individual’s own needs to volunteer and to really benefit and strengthen the long term needs of the project you are supporting. In my opinion, this can be achieved, but only with careful consideration, screening and application. And, yes, perhaps you even want to pay an organization to provide you with the relevant information you need to make informed choices of where your expertise will be best suited. It is, of course, possible to arrange your own volunteer placement and many organizations are crying out for help and assistance, but without considerate research - can you really be sure the organization you are assisting really is benefitting from your presence? Have they asked enough relevant information about you? Did you provide them with a current and up to date CV and police checks? Have they asked you to sign child protection policies and clearly outlined what they expect from you? One piece of advice is to use a bit of common sense and relate this scenario back to your home country and whether you as complete stranger would be allowed into a children’s home to hug children or walk into a school and hand out books. Beneficial volunteering requires organization, time and commitment to one project where your skills can enhance an organization and not pull on all their resources over a short time frame. Ideally, long-term volunteer stints should commit to a least 6 months or a year and at a minimum of three months. Anything shorter and one should question the actual impact on the organization and, more importantly, especially kids attachments. Only specialist volunteers should consider short-term placement where the exchange of knowledge is key. If you really want to help, you might want to consider whether spending your time fundraising and creating awareness for an established, well functioning organization can assist better in the long-term rather than a few days teaching English. In our experience, it often takes a couple of weeks to settle in to the culture and get into the swing of things. For unskilled, short-term volunteers, by the time they are comfortable with what they are doing they are off home again - which brings up the question if it is really fair to put extra work and pressure on the project managers as they continually would have to train new short term volunteers before they leave back home? It is also important to ask what help can really be done? And realistically what can be achieved? <h2 id="impacts">The Impacts</h2> The term voluntourism has recently come under extreme criticism. It has been linked with the demand for orphanage tourism and this has significantly contributed to the number of children going into institutionalized care. Some package tours include afternoons at a local orphanage or school promoting this as worthwhile for the children. This is in general discouraged and whilst playing with little children and teaching English at a local school perhaps springs to mind when discussing the term voluntourism – there are areas in genuine need such as basic healthcare, advanced exchange of knowledge and skills, teacher training, marketing, business management, IT which are skills that are key in a developing country. It’s also important NOT to take away jobs from locals when employment is high in demand and rather pass on skills and knowledge where it is needed. However, in my opinion skilled volunteering can and will offer a rewarding travel experience and if managed well benefit individuals and projects in the long term. In responsible tourism terms, voluntourism does encourage guests to stay longer, stay locally and interact with communities. <h2 id="questions">Keen to Volunteer in Cambodia? Ask Yourself these Questions Before You Go:</h2> <ul> <li>How much will this organization benefit?</li> <li>Is this just satisfying my needs?</li> <li>Are the kids well looked after?</li> <li>Has the organization just let you (a stranger with no official paper work) walk straight into an environment with vulnerable at risk children without asking for references or police checks?</li> <li>What contact have you been given?</li> <li>If you pay for it – how much actually goes to the project you have worked at?</li> </ul> About the Author Jo Owen works for <a href="http://angkorhotels.org/" target="_blank">Angkor Hotels</a> and  is passionate about responsible tourism and highlighting places that get it right. Working in Siem Reap she constantly weighs up how double-edged tourism can make giant positive steps in impacting the local economy and communities, but equally can leave large negative footprint on the environment if not managed properly.iStock/Yongyuan Dai 0547404780 iStock Local students having English lessons at their school. The school named New Bridge for Cambodia is a organization that offers students free education. Students whose families are not rich can get free lessons on fundamental curriculums.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/how-to-be-a-responsible-traveller-in-cambodiaFind out how you can be a responsible traveler in Cambodia with these 8 tips.2011-02-02T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/how-to-be-a-responsible-traveller-in-cambodiahttps://www.worldnomads.comThe country still remains one of the lesser developed countries in the world in terms of economy, access to food, education, health and medical services. Stark poverty is evident throughout the country and the gateway to the temples and main tourist hub of Siem Reap is no exception. <ul> <li><a href="#negatives"> Negative Impact of Tourism </a></li> <li><a href="#spending"> Spend Your Money Within the Local Communities of Cambodia </a></li> <li><a href="#stay-on-the-path"> Don't Wander Off the Path </a></li> <li><a href="#electricity"> Shorten Those Showers! </a></li> <li><a href="#cover-up"> Cover Up </a></li> <li><a href="#feet"> Watch Your Feet </a></li> <li><a href="#beggars"> What About the Beggars? </a></li> <li><a href="#guilt"> Ways to ‘Offset’ the Guilt </a></li> </ul> <h2 id="negatives">Negative Impact of Tourism</h2> Tourism can trigger many positive contributions to the local economy and communities, but sadly many negative impacts too. Not only negative impacts on the environment, but on society. A few years back, <a href="/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/responsible-hospitality-in-cambodia" target="_blank">Cambodia</a> was flagged on BBC World News as one of two countries highlighted for attracting the wrong type of tourists. Those tourists that come specifically to exploit the young and vulnerable and purposely those working in the sex trade. <h2 id="spending">Spend Your Money Within the Local Communities of Cambodia</h2> So, how can tourists minimise negative impacts and, at the same time, generate positive economic benefits for local people and ultimately create better places for people to live in and for people to visit? Simply by <a href="/explore/southeast-asia/cambodia/responsible-hospitality-in-cambodia" target="_blank">staying and eating at locally owned</a> and socially aware establishments, your money stays within and supports the local economy, as does buying from local markets and roadside vendors. The International Center for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) maintain that these simple acts can generate greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well- being of host communities and improve working conditions. In addition, it is encouraged to stay in establishments that consider the community and support local organisations committed to helping the underprivileged and places that promote the safety of children. Look out for hotels that support the ‘Child Safe’ network* who have specifically trained hotel staff to work within and respect childsafe guidelines. <h2 id="stay-on-the-path">Don't Wander Off the Path</h2> Being responsible also encourages positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage and minimise negative environmental impacts. Whilst out and about the Angkor temples try to avoid the crowds, but follow restrictions. You will see well trodden paths which have been sectioned off to allow the re- growth of grass in places. Time has been taken to start protecting the monuments hence the no entry signs, these were put there to protect the temples and not to aggravate over enthusiastic tourists. Avoid touching and clambering, or brushing your backpacks against the ancient sand stone carvings and bas reliefs - they have been there for thousands of years and hopefully they can continue to remain. Think about going further afield and visiting lesser seen temples – Koh Ker, Beng Melela and Bantay Chamar. <h2 id="electricity">Shorten Those Showers!</h2> Consider too when leaving guest rooms to turn off lights and air-conditioning units, minimise the use of water and follow the hotels’ green policies. Rumours abound heighten the concern that the subsequent high water usage in town threaten the very existence of the temples. As the water table beneath disappears so may the temples above? <h2 id="cover-up">Cover Up</h2> Unique experiences can be made through meaningful connections with local people, and through a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues. Be considerate and respectful of Cambodian ways and be culturally sensitive to them. Chatting with locals and getting off the beaten track is an alternative experience to find the real Cambodia, but remember, as in the temples, cover up. Cambodians aren’t used to exposed shoulders and knees or public displays of affection. An active display of social customs is much appreciated and will often be welcomed with a big welcoming Cambodian smile. When meeting a monk or someone older than you, your host or someone important place your hands in prayer position at face level to show your respect. <h2 id="feet">Watch Your Feet</h2> The feet are seen as the lowliest part of one’s body and, the head the most important. Therefore, do not touch heads or point feet – especially not towards monks or Buddha images the higher the body part, the higher the respect. When visiting somebody’s home, it’s always polite to take off one’s shoes. Many restaurants, bars and shops also adopt this habit so you will find an array of shoes outside - just remember to take the right ones, after. <h2 id="beggars">What About the Beggars?</h2> It’s often difficult to actually know what do to when approached by beggars or street children. A couple of dollars to make oneself feel good or an awkward shake of the head followed by an afternoon of guilt could be two options. It is, however, worthwhile to remember that many people struggle to earn a dollar per day and, thus, will make more by taking their children out of school and sending them off to the streets to beg from tourists. By not giving, it hopefully discourages them from staying on the street and motivates them to continue their education and find alternative employment. <h2 id="guilt">Ways to ‘Offset’ the Guilt:</h2> • Buy books from physically challenged individuals who often have a good price, an interesting story to tell and no other means to earn a living. • Leave behind old clothes that are weighing you down and donate to organisations. • Leave books and pens, bought locally, for school children and donate directly to an organisation who support local school projects. • Leave toothbrushes or simple hygiene products, bought locally, for street kid projects or orphanages. • Do not visit schools and orphanages without prior consent. It is not acceptable in our own countries so why should it be acceptable in theirs? • Leave money in the local economy by purchasing locally produced handicrafts, stay at locally owned guesthouses and hotels or eat at locally owned restaurants. • Leave smiles and jovial conversation for the street children and beggars, money only convinces them to stay on the street. • Leave with seeing more than ‘just’ the temples, stay longer. • Leave with good memories and intentions to give something back. For more information on Responsible Tourism guidelines as outlined in the Cape Town declaration, please visit <a href="http://www.icrtourism.org" target="_blank">ICR Tourism</a>. About the Author Jo Owen works for <a href="http://angkorhotels.org/" target="_blank">Angkor Hotels</a> and is passionate about responsible tourism and highlighting places that get it right. Working in Siem Reap she constantly weighs up how double-edged tourism can make giant positive steps in impacting the local economy and communities, but equally can leave large negative footprint on the environment if not managed properly.iStock/Onfokus 0503132338 iStock Man Explorer at Angkor Wat, Cambodia