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Anyway, I wish I'd known that before I went and I'd stayed for more than a week...because, although I've only been to Thailand of the other countries to compare with - I absolutely loved Cambodia too.
It was more laid back but yet more crazy, it was fun and the locals were so friendly and happy. It struck me immediately how many big smiles I saw on the locals faces. And it's sooooo beautiful and the food was gorgeous.
I plan to go back and explore more in the future, combined perhaps with Vietnam and or Laos.
Here is the post: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2264671
Edited by: Herbie47
"the more the people are being screwed by their govt . the happier they are" I've lived 16 years in Cambodia, many of them rurally. I can assure you that correlation is false.
My first visit: I arrived in Ha Noi at about 7pm on a Saturday. The big main road from airport to city was closed so we had to detour through much smaller roads with all the life that involved.
After I ate at the hotel I walked down through the Old Quarter passing what to me seemed like a surreal city with very narrow streets, a parade of motos and lots of smiling shopkeepers. It was also quite sticky hot. Then I reached Hoan Kiem and went into Legends. From there I watched the wild world of thousands of motorbikes going around the lake.
Those images stuck. Never having seen anything like it before VN became well and truly implanted.
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Everyone's fav...
Absolutely everyone I've met have rated Cambodia as their fav country in Asia (or East Asia). No doubt now we'll get a whole bunch of haters jumping on that statement :-)Anyway, I wish I'd known that before I went and I'd stayed for more than a week...because, although I've only been to Thailand of the other countries to compare with - I absolutely loved Cambodia too.
It was more laid back but yet more crazy, it was fun and the locals were so friendly and happy. It struck me immediately how many big smiles I saw on the locals faces. And it's sooooo beautiful and the food was gorgeous.
I plan to go back and explore more in the future, combined perhaps with Vietnam and or Laos.
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I first visited Cambodia ten years ago to work for a year and a colleague who met me at the airport said I arrived with a big smile and that smile became a permanent fixture for the duration of my stay. I made many friends during that first visit and since then have returned at least once each year and will be flying in on January 2nd for a 4 month stay and I am just excited now as I was ten years ago.3
Some people don't like Cambodia, there was a post a few weeks ago, but he only went for 6 days. Its a shame sp many folk go to Cambodia and Laos for a week each or less.Here is the post: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2264671
Edited by: Herbie47
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"I plan to go back and explore more in the future," I hope you don't wait too long. The things you love may disappear, including the smiles."the more the people are being screwed by their govt . the happier they are" I've lived 16 years in Cambodia, many of them rurally. I can assure you that correlation is false.
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I have not spent that much time in Cambodia but I have found that the whole of the mainland SE Asia to be almost magnetic. I keep returning and enjoy it greatly every time.12
Yes I would not say favourite among most people but them many go for less than a week, hardly enough time to judge a whole country IMHO. I liked Cambodia that is why I have been twice in the last 2 years. Not sure what my favourite country is now.13
I enjoy all SE Asia but VN remains my favourite but that was probably because it was the first country I visited in the area.My first visit: I arrived in Ha Noi at about 7pm on a Saturday. The big main road from airport to city was closed so we had to detour through much smaller roads with all the life that involved.
After I ate at the hotel I walked down through the Old Quarter passing what to me seemed like a surreal city with very narrow streets, a parade of motos and lots of smiling shopkeepers. It was also quite sticky hot. Then I reached Hoan Kiem and went into Legends. From there I watched the wild world of thousands of motorbikes going around the lake.
Those images stuck. Never having seen anything like it before VN became well and truly implanted.
14
Yes I remember going into the coffee shop that overlooks the lake from 2nd floor, great to watch the motorbikes and people crossing the road then great big thunderstorm. Hanoi one of my favourite cities but that was some years ago. First trip to Myanmar was probably my favourite. Philippines 22 years ago was a real culture shock for me.
