With the situation for travel to China worsening the State Department Of The United States has issued a Level 4 travel advisory to China for it's citizens. To put this into context Level 4 is the same warning for a country that is at war. For Canada, Australia, and the U.K. the advisories are similar in that all non-essential travel to Mainland China is discouraged with a no travel warning to Hubei province, where the virus is believed to have first broke out. If you have travel plans for China in the coming months it might be a good time to reconsider. The response to the situation is quite remarkable in China with hospitals that will be up and running soon completely built from scratch to deal with the cornavirus.
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How this slipped by me I still don't know but I found out just this week that Vietnam is amending their visa rules as of July 1st, 2020 and it's possible you could be affected. Although I still haven't seen official documentation on this particular change yet many people are commenting on forums about the new rule for tourist visas where you will have to leave the country every 30 daynin order to validate your visa. Currently if you have a 90 visa you can stay in the country for the full term. Now according to some sources you will need to exit every 30 days, and possibly for Americans this would be required for a 1 year tourist visa. I will keep you up posted as more details become available. It's of course possible that there could be certain countries exempted from exiting every 30 days as well as some kind of service fee or official stamp validating a 90 day or longer tourist visa while staying in the country.
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Here are some links with more information on Vietnam visa amendments:https://www.fragomen.com/insights/alerts/amendments-immigration-law-and-labor-code-forthcoming
More here:https://www.balglobal.com/bal-news/new-labor-code-and-law-on-foreigners-to-take-effect-in-2020/

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In this episode I talk about the opportunity one has to reflect on their self-improvement and personal growth while revisiting a travel destination. I've had the opportunity to do this on my current trip to Siem Reap after a 5 year absence. Also in this episode, alternative towns to Siem Reap to visit in Cambodia for a truly authentic experience of a slower paced Southeast Asia-Kampot, Kratie, Battambang.
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I'm always excited to hear from listeners of the podcast. What's even more special is a meet-up when we cross paths on our travels. I recently heard from Tudor, a Berlin resident originally from Transylvania, Romania.Tudor was in Siem Reap, Cambodia at the same time as myself so we got together to share travel experiences and of course I'm always eager to get feedback from listeners. I thought it would also be a great opportunity to have someone share some of their personal experiences while on the road. Cambodia is indeed a very special place where you can still find, without getting way off the beaten path, some truly authentic Southeast Asian culture and a slower pace of life. As Tudor mentioned, still recovering but definitely on it's way to rebuilding and advancing it's people.
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I asked my Twitter/Periscope follower to chat with me ask I walked along the Siem Reap River towards the Royal Residence and Raffles Grand Angkor Hotel. If you're looking to get away from the main buzz around the old market and Pub Street area this is a nice walk. Although there is a fair bit of traffic along the road that runs parallel to the Siem Reap River it still can be a pleasant walk. Any questions or suggestions while I'm in Siem Reap just send me a message on IG, Facebook, or an email to [email protected].
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It's my first visit to Siem Reap, gateway to the Angkor Ruins in 5 years and I've got an update for you on what's changed. The current state of outside investment and growth is certainly reflective in the amount of new retail shops, particularly internationally branded stores, chains like Starbucks, and new locations of familiar Cambodian brands. I was shocked by how much more agressive drivers and touts are throughout the tourist district or center of the town. Fortunately if Pub Street and a backpacker atmosphere is not for you there are still plenty of family owned restaurants and quieter less rambunctious places away from the center, particularily around Wat Damnak. I'm looking forward to sharing more experiences and insights along with tips during my lengthy stay in Siem Reap.
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Sharing an experience walking through the commercial center of Phnom Penh, Cambodia at the massive Orussey Market. As I shared this broadcast with my live Twitter/Periscope followers I field some random questions about Cambodia and travel in Southeast Asia. I try to visit and share as much as these experiences as I can in order to inspire travel off or out of the tourist zones. You'll just get a much more authentic local experience and no doubt walk away with treasured memories of engaging in light-hearted chats with locals. Many Khmer come from the outer provinces to the Orussey Market to stock up on supplies for their shops or restaurants. The parking lot is full of vans, trucks, and tuk-tuks, completely stacked with goods. It's a wonder they can even move with the amount of products stuffed or stacked inside and on top of the vehicles. For the person wanting to gain some more insight into the culture and everyday life of Cambodia this is an easy way to do so. Thanks so much for listening!
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In this episode I want to cover off some suggestions and tips for traveling, especially for extended periods of time with some self-catering tips. I prefer to self-cater my breakfasts if I'm not staying in a hotel or guesthouse that offers breakfast. It's the one meal where i can feel like I'm at home or in my own place. It's also a time-saver for me. I'm eating out two meals a day so having one in my room gives me time to catch up on the news or events across Asia, as well as some online work. If I'm in a place where I particularly enjoy the local style breakfasts like the wonderful noodles or laksa noodles of Malaysia/Borneo, roti canai in any restoran in Kuala Lumpur, or India where I can have veg. curry with puri bread then I'll go out for breakfast more often. It also saves alot of money if you prefer a Western style breakfast like bread with jam, peanut butter, or cereals. Also in this episode I cover off general shopping tips for bargain clothes. Thanks so much for listening! Support the podcast by becoming a patron:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels
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I had a few suggestions or warnings on a couple of my latest Phnom Penh YouTube videos to share or mention some of the scams that continue to go on here in the capital. The one I was intrigued by the most is the blackjack scam, as it's a fair bit more complex than your average tourist scam as there are several players involved. I also go over some of the more familiar scams to listeners and travelers like the infamous "I need milk, not money for my baby" scam. Fake monks, fake police, they are all here and apparently still making a living in Cambodia.
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The supply far outweighs the demand for tuk-tuks in Phnom Penh and probably in Siem Reap, Cambodia as well. How do you manage the situation? It can be overwhelming to be asked several times an hour if you need a tuk-tuk. Along with motorbike taxis trolling next to you on the streets if you're not walking in the opposite direction of traffic. In this episode I go into the reasons why there are so many and some tips on how to deal with the constant tuk-tuk question. This is especially helpful if you enjoy walking, and Phnom Penh despite many uncontrolled intersections can be quite an interesting place to walk. In the episode I mentioned Khmer New Year and the Water Festival as the same thing and they are not. I called it the water festival because new year whether it's in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, or Mynamar involves throwing water at each other as a blessing and good luck for the New Year. The Water Festival is a different celebration. So for tuk-tuk rates here are a few examples. are a few examples of current rates as well for negotiating purposes.
Tuk Tuk Rates from Riverside(remorques or Khmer Tuk Tuks will be on the higher side of these fares:
$1.00-$1.50 for a short ride -Aeon Mall (Chamkarmorn) 2km
$1.40-$1.60 Vietnam Embassy 4km
$1.60-$2.00 Russian Market
$4.00-$4.50 Airport(app price average for autorickshaw)
$15.00 Return trip(Riverside) Killing Fields(10km each way)
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