Trustworthy scales

It seems that people here are suspicious of others, especially with regards to trading.

I don't blame them.  Prices are often to be haggled over. To negotiate before buying something is normal.

Supposedly, this happens more at the markets and on the streets and less in the malls and nicer stores; but this is not always the case.  Even prices at such establishments are subject to discussion; at least to some degree.

However, I was rather appalled to hear a friend advise me to bring my own scales to the markets.  Apparently, the scales there are rigged to not reflect the correct weight, but so that the vendors may cheat the customers.  I remembered Proverbs 20:23 when I heard this.


Another friend told me that the price of some things are cheaper here in Cambodia.  They have the same badges and design as those overseas, but they are not really manufactured by the same company.  They are of imitation parts.  It is possible to find a used model of an "original" one of these products cheaper than the imitation one.

I wonder how it sits with regards to trust and acceptance here, if people are so suspicious of each other and the products and services delivered?  My experience so far has not been too bad (thank God for that), but I tread cautiously having heard what people tell me.

Rubbish

We have since moved to Cambodia.  It seems that the way garbage collection works is that garbage is left out in plastic bags on the side-walk.  The garbage collectors pick up these bags on the designated days.

Residents would put the garbage out when they think the designated days have arrived.  If the garbage is not picked up on these days, then the garbage will stay out for an extra day or two.

Stray dogs will sometimes tear the plastic bags when looking for scraps.  Insects and other pests may get to the rubbish before the rubbish collectors also.

Nevertheless, the rubbish collectors do a good job in cleaning up when they come around.

Eating dogs

An article in the Cambodia Daily on Sunday said that some Cambodians think that eating dogs bring good luck - especially if the dogs are black in colour.  Wow!

Cambodian proverbs

I have been impressed by some of the Cambodian proverbs I have heard. Here is one. I shall list more when others come back to memory.

Please feel welcome to add to my list.

"If a tiger lies down, don't believe the tiger is showing respect."

Visa, income tax, etc.

I understand from other reading that foreigners can get two kinds of visas:

• Tourist visas cost $20 each. They allow a foreigner to have a social visit for up to a month. These either cannot be renewed, or can be renewed only once. Children like my daughter will be allowed the same kind of entry for $5, although they do not get a receipt for this unlike the adults.
  
  
• Business visas cost $25 each. They can be renewed many times. Experience renewing is described on http://www.bayonpearnik.com/Cambodia/TravelInformation.html. I wonder how my daughter will fit into this category since she will be too young to do business?

Nationals of some countries as the Philippines may have a 21-day permit to visit the country without a visa.

I wonder how the business visa will tie into income tax? Ie. I will not draw a salary in Cambodia. The support for my living there will come from home. Will this money be considered as income taxable in Cambodia? Will my visa condition look for this income? Will a Cambodian company or national be regarded as my employer for the sake of this visa?

Do you know?

Other blogs

A couple of other Australians with experience in Cambodia has shared some things in their blogs.

http://www.pdw212.blogspot.com/

http://brownsincambodia.blogspot.com/

I learnt some things from what they wrote.

Managing Phnom Penh traffic

Apparently, there are four kinds of public transport that travel around the roads of Phnom Penh:

• Taxis: Regular cars that take passengers for a fare. I haven't tried these, so I don't know if they are metered, flat-fee, etc. I imagine they work the same way taxis work in most other countries.
  
  
• Moto (or motordop): Similar to taxis, but a motorcycle instead of a car. I haven't tried these either. I don't know if they carry one passenger, two or more. These are pretty common and pretty popular among Cambodians.
  
  
• Tuk-tuk: A cart drawn by a motorcycle. It is a slow means of travelling and more expensive than just a moto, but more people travel with you for the same price. This is popular among tourists and Cambodians travelling in a group.
  
  
• Siklo: A pedal-powered means of transport, very similar to the trishaws of Penang, Malaysia.
  

It appears that one has to hire the whole vehicle, instead of just having a ticket in order to use a seat. The transport will take you anywhere you want to within the city for the right price. I wonder how one communicates with the drivers before one has acquired the language?

There are buses in Phnom Penh, but these are for inter-city travel; not for going around the city.

Another way of getting around is by driving or hiring a bike. I don't know how one passes the oral driving test before acquiring language either.

I found this page useful though, while trying to understand the traffic system.

Have you any experience to share?