Where in Cambodia will I be?
You will be based in Siem Reap while on project and you will be working in a village that is a 30 minute tuk-tuk ride from Siem Reap.
Siem Reap is an amazing city with French, Khmer and Chinese-influenced architecture. The Old French Quarter boasts local and international restaurants and cafes, while the vibrant Old Market, known for its spectacular food stands, offers everything from spices to clothes to housewares and electronics.
You will be right beside the remains of the ancient UNESCO listed Angkor Wat complex.
About the village I will be working in.
Some of the happiest people you could ever meet, live in these villages of Cambodia.
Yet, most villagers earn less than $1.25 per day and malnutrition among children is all too common.
In the western world we live with the idea that having more is the path to happiness, but the Cambodian villagers can show you that this is not always so.
What will I be doing in Cambodia?
When you are not working you will be based in Siem Reap, Camvodia. During you time on project you will be based at a community that is a 30 minute tuk-tuk ride from Seam Reap.
You will work to improve the lives of the villagers and sometime around the mid-point of your program you may find yourself gazing out over sun drenched fields of rice, working alongside parents, teachers, kids, grandparents, welcomed with open arms in the local community and happier than you ever imagined; it’s an experience like no other.
You will make a huge change in someone else’s life and change your own while you are doing it.
Activities in Siem Reap
- Trek the ancient temples of the Angkor Wat complex.
- Relax on a cruise to the floating villages of Tonle Sap.
- Go to a local festival and then a Cambodian Circus.
- Discover the amazing local day and night markets that Siem Reap has to offer.
There is so much you can do in and around Siem Reap. Make sure you get to view the temples of Angkor; for example Ta Prohm (featured in Tomb Raider) and Bayon (famous for its 37 free-standing towers).
You can enroll in a Khmer language class, see Aspara dancing, visit local temples and much more!
The flat central plain makes it an ideal place to explore on foot . Children will run out to meet you on the village roads, and their parents may even practice their English on you!
There are carnival style rides including a Ferris wheel and roller coaster if you're brave!
Did you know that fried tarantula is a specialty of Cambodia? Will you be game to try one? When in Cambodia…!!!!
Cambodia. A very brief history!
The majority of Cambodians are Khmer and descend from the Khmer Empire that once extended over much of Southeast Asia and reached its peak between the 10th and 13th centuries.
Cambodia became a French protectorate in 1863. After 1887 it was part of French Indochina. Following the Japanese occupation during World War II, Cambodia gained full independence from France in 1953. The Killing Fields
In April 1975, after a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh and evacuated all cities and towns. During the Khmer Rouge regime, under the dictatorship Pol Pot, at least 1.5 million Cambodians — one-eighth of the population — died from forced hardships, starvation, or execution (many in the mass graves that became known as the Killing Fields). In December 1978 the Vietnamese invaded Cambodia and drove the Khmer Rouge into the jungle.
The Vietnamese occupation lasted for 10 years and was followed by 13 years of civil war.
The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated democratic elections and a ceasefire, which was not fully respected by the Khmer Rouge. In 1993 the United Nations sponsored elections that helped to restore some semblance of normality under a coalition government. Factional fighting in 1997 ended the first government, but a second round of elections in 1998 led to political stability.
The remaining elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in early 1999, and several high- ranking members have been tried for genocide.
FAQ’s
- Will there be mosquito nets?
Yes.
May I wear singlets (tank tops), shorts, and bikinis?
In the city areas you can dress as you would at home but the villagers are very conservative so girls must dress modestly, no singlets, tank tops, bikinis or short shorts.
Do I need bedding?
No
Do I need vaccinations?
Check with your doctor, we cannot give you medical advice.
Do I need insurance?
Yes.
May I bring a suitcase?
We recommend a backpack.
Will I be met at the airport?
We will collect you on the day you arrive (provided you have given us your arrival time and flight number!)
Do I need to arrange transport for my departure flight?
We will drop you off at the airport on the day of departure.
Will there be wifi?
Not all the time.
Will I have electricity and adaptors?
Not all the time, but often enough to charge your cameras, phones, and iPods.
Is Cambodia dangerous?
Cambodia (a predominantly Buddhist country) has very little civil unrest.
Will there be big insects or dangerous animals?
You will be in rural Cambodia, so there will be some insects. Mosquito nets are provided.
Safety
Every aspect of your program has safety as its highest priority. We organize your program from start to finish. If you arrive at the airport on the day the program commences, there will be a Tribe representative to meet you. You will be living in a shared, clean, hygienic, and safe accommodation. You will have constant access to safe drinking water.
What To Bring
Critical Items: Pack these items in your carry on luggage
- Passport with at least 6 months validity from date of return
- Copy of your travel insurance policy, showing your name as policy holder, the policy number and the 24/7 emergency contact number
- 30+ sunscreen and lip-balm
Suggested Items
- Government issued ID (such as driver’s license)
- Heavy duty insect repellant (with highest DEET content available in your home country)
- International contact number for your Travel / Credit card provider if you are bringing a travel card with you.
Medical
- All required medications (pack in hand luggage)
- Immodium or similar medication for upset stomachs
- Basic pain killers
Critical Items: Pack these items in your carry on luggage
- Females are asked not to wear singlets, low-cut tops or short shorts. Spaghetti strap tops are also unacceptable. You will be working in a rural village where cultural sensitivities have to be respected. You may be asked to leave the project site if your dress is not acceptable
- Knee length shorts
- A hat to protect your head and face from the sun
- Working gloves – western hands are often soft and not used to construction work or handling vegetation.
- Lightweight waterproof jacket or poncho
- A sweater / hoodie for the evenings
- Long-sleeved top and long pants to avoid insect bites during the evenings
- Wellington/gum boots for May-August, when conditions can be muddy (not essential)
- Comfortable walking or hiking shoes, waterproof if possible but runners / sneakers are acceptable
- Swimsuit
- Sandals or flip-flops for relaxing of a night
- Laundry for around $1 per kilo
Flights
If you would like assistance choosing the right flight, flying into the correct airport and having a Tribe member meeting you at the airport with a mobile phone for you to use and keep click here:If your flights are delayed and you miss connecting flights – please keep us informed as best you can by contacting your Team Leader via phone, sms, or contact the office via facebook or email.
Travel Insurance
In the unlikely event that you need emergency treatment, no western hospital in the countries where we operate will treat you unless you show a copy of a valid travel insurance policy in your name, matching the name on your passport. Without admission to a western hospital you will be treated in a local hospital. We work in developing countries and medical training, hygiene and conditions at local hospitals is generally of a low standard. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.You can purchase travel insurance that will provide the basic cover that we recommend here:
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