welcome to Siem Reap transportation
Cambodia is a kingdom of wonder. It has many beautiful places to visit such as ancient temples, and natural resources. Angkor Professional Tour Guides briefs the geography, climate… for its tourists and readers to vision about Cambodia exactly. Angkor Professional Tour Guide informs a lot about Cambodia that is relating to the Khmer Tradition, culture, and civilization. If you want to know more information, please feel free to contact our Angkor Professional Tour Guides “APTG”, Thank you.
• Geography
Cambodia is comprising an area of 181 035 square kilometers, the kingdom of Cambodia was apart of ancient kingdom of Funan, Chenla and Angkor. Being the oldest Indianized state in the Southeast Asia, its religion was Hinduism. Today, Theravada Buddhism is the dominant religion. The Mekong River which flows through the country and the Tonle Sap (Great Lake) is the lifeline of the people who live along the waterways. The Tonle Sap is one of UNESCO Treasure since 1995, and one of richest resources of freshwater fish in the world. There are three mountain ranges the Cardamom Mountain in the south- west, the Dangrek Mountains in the north and the Eastern Mountains in the northeast.
•Climate
Cambodia has a tropical climate, warm and humid. In the monsoon season, abundant rain allows for the cultivation of a wide variety of crops. The year-round tropical climate makes Cambodia ideal for developing tourism. Travelers need not to fear natural disasters such as erupting volcanoes or earthquakes, and the country is not directly affected by tropical storms because of surrounding high land and mountains.
The coverage temperature is about 27 degrees Celsius; the minimum temperature is about 16 degrees. December and January are the coolest months, whereas the hottest is April, the temperature is about 35-37 degrees.
•Population and people
Of 14 million people, about 90% of them are ethnic Khmers. There are several minorities such as the Chams (Khmer Islam), Vietnamese and Chinese. Hill tribes such as The Pnoung, Stieng, Kuoy, Kroeng and Tom Pun dominate the country’s mountain regions.
• Religion
The official religion is Theravada Buddhism and almost 90% of population is of this faith. The rest are Muslim and Christians.
•Economy
About 80% of population works on their rice fields. Cambodia is rich in hardwood (teak and Mahogany) and gems which are found in the north-west. The economy operates on free Market principles. Cambodia has adopted one of the most liberal investment laws for foreign investors.
•Language
The official language is Khmer while the second language (spoken by the educated older Cambodian) is French. However nowadays, English has gained popularity.
•Transportation
The best most inexpensive way to take sights of Siem Reap is by Roe Mok (Motor cycle trailer or Tuk Tuk so-called today). Cars, Van, Mini buses, buses. We do not have any Metros, Trains, Taxis and City buses in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.
•Time
Cambodia has one time zone and seven hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
•Currency
Riel is country’s currency. However the US dollar is second currency in Cambodia, too. Travelers Cheques in Us dollar, Visa card and Maestro cards etc, can be changed in ANZ Royal Bank in Siem Reap.
•Entry requirement
Avalid Passport and visa are required for entry. Your visas can be obtained at Pocheng Airport, Siem Reap airport, Boi Bet border, Voen Kam border, Anlong Veng and Bor Vet border as well on arrival. You have to bring two passport-size Photos and fill up the forms. A one month special Visa costs 20 US $ and a Business Visa costs 25 US $. Renew visas through a Angkor Advisor Travel Guides (AATG) or the Immigration Department located opposite the Phnom Penh International airport. For Airport tax, you have to pay 25 US $ for International and 6$ for domestic fight.
•Business hour
Government offices open from 7.30 am to 11.30 am and 2.30 pm to 5 pm on weekdays only. Travel agents, banks and other business open at 8 am 12 am and 2 pm to 5 pm.
•Electricity
All electric appliances use 220 volts.
•Communications
Mobile phones have become a necessity in Cambodia and almost everyone carries a mobile in this country. Mobile number start with 010, 012, 013, 05, 016, 017, 018, 092, 093, 097, 089, 098. and 090.
•Clothings
Most Cambodian are casual in their dressing except when they are attending formal events or business meetings . It’s not unusual to see both men and women wearing the krama, a long, narrow checked cotton cloth round their neck. The women like wearing Sampot at their home stay and they go somewhere else they wear the trousers or jeans. For the party they the traditional dresses like Hol and Pamoung…, the Krama is a versatile piece of cloth.
•Public holiday and events
01 January International New Year’s Day.
07 January Victory day over the Khmer Rouge.
30 January Meak Bochhea Day
08 March International Women’s Day.
14-15-16 April Cambodian New Year, “Bonn Chol Chhnam Khmer”.
01 May International Labor’s Day.
28 May Bonn Visaka Bochea “The Birthday of Buddha”.
12 May Royal Ploughing ceremony “Bonn Chroat Preah Nongkaol”.
13-14-15 May His Majesty king Seihamuni’s birthday.
01 June International Children’s Day.
18 June Samdech Preah Mohesey Norodom Monineath Sihanouk’s Birthday.
24 September Constitutional Day.
7-8-9 October Bonn Pchum Ben.
23 October Paris Peace Agreement on Cambodia.
29 October Coronation Day of His Majesty King Norodom Seihamuni
31 His Majesty Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk’s Birthday.
09 November Independence Day.
20-21-22 November Water & Moon Festival.
10 December International Human Rights
•Classical dance
An understanding of the meaning behind the intricate movements in classical dance results only from considerable study. But no study is necessary to be enthralled by seemingly effortless performance, the rich costumes, the complete involvement of performers in the story that they are dancing and the way in which dancer and music are one. The most popular dance drama epic of Ramayana. Besides this we have the coconut shell, peak cock, and fishing dances.
•Music
The music of Khmer, performed on traditional instrument plays an important part in the lives of the people, and companies all of the dancers, rituals and ceremonies.