Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ADDRESSES
Finding your way around towns in Cambodia is generally easy as most of them are laid out
on a
grid plan
. Nearly all towns have street signs; usually a few main streets have names,
with the majority being numbered. Despite that, most Cambodians have little idea of
street numbers, so to locate a specific address you're best off heading for a nearby
landmark and asking from there.
generally known as a
tuk-tuk
(a passenger carriage
pulled by a motorbike) or a
moto
or motorbike taxi
(a small motorbike-cum-moped with a space in
front of the driver for baggage). In Phnom Penh
you'll also find
cyclos
, Cambodia's version of the
bicycle rickshaw, though these are less and less
common. When travelling by any of these forms of
transport, it's important to always
agree the fare
beforehand
. In Phnom Penh you'll rarely pay less
than $2 for a tuk-tuk (motos and cyclos are
cheaper), but elsewhere a short journey around
town by moto or tuk-tuk will typically cost $1, or $2
for longer journeys.
Motos and tuk-tuks are also useful for short
tours
and trips out of many towns (especially around the
temples of Angkor, where tuk-tuks are the most
commonly used form of transport) - we've given
estimated costs throughout the Guide. Fares for
longer hire periods will vary depending on what
sort of mileage you'll be doing and the state of the
roads you'll be travelling along.
City taxis
are available in Phnom Penh and
Siem Reap.
forbidden from taking more than one foreigner at a
time). Although you'll see Cambodian women
sitting side-saddle, it's safer if you sit astride and, if
necessary, hang onto the driver.
Motos can be taken on quite long trips
out of
town
- indeed it's the only way to get to some
places, although it's not particularly comfortable.
You'll probably have to pay for fuel in addition to
the day hire. In the provinces drivers are sometimes
irrationally fearful of bandits and can be reluctant to
travel in remote areas late in the day, so bear their
concerns in mind when planning your excursions.
Tuk-tuks
Pricier than motos,
tuk-tuks
were introduced to
Cambodia in 2001, when police in Siem Reap
banned foreigners riding three-up on a moto. They
have since caught on in a big way and are now
found in most provincial towns. Pulled by a
motorbike, these covered passenger cabs seat up
to four people and, with their drop-down side-
curtains, have the advantage of affording some
protection against the sun and rain. The motorbikes
that pull them, however, are the same ones used as
motos, and so are woefully underpowered, which
makes for a slow trip, especially if you've got three
or four people on board - even with just one or two
passengers they can struggle to go much faster
than your average bicycle.
Motos
Motorbike taxis, or
motos
, are the staple means of
travelling short (and sometimes long) distances in
Cambodia, although riding on the back of a moto
in the middle of anarchic tra
c isn't everybody's
idea of fun - and bag-snatchings do occur (see
p.36) - so you may feel safer taking a tuk-tuk or taxi.
Moto drivers tend to congregate around transport
stops, major local landmarks and road junctions
within towns, and they may well offer their services
as you walk down the street.
If you have
bags
, the driver will squeeze them
into the space between his knees and the handle-
bars - moto drivers are adept at balancing
baggage, from rice sacks to backpacks, between
their legs while negotiating chaotic tra
c. Passen-
gers ride pillion behind the driver - Cambodians
typically squeeze on as many passengers as
possible (three is common), although it's best not
to follow their example and to stick to just one
passenger per bike (in Siem Reap, motos are
Cyclos
A dying breed, found only in Phnom Penh, and
decreasingly so there, the
cyclo
(pronounced
see-klo,
from the French -
cyclopousse)
is much
slower than a moto or tuk-tuk. They are good for
leisurely rides and views of the street but more or
less useless for longer journeys or if you want to get
anywhere in a hurry. Cyclos take one passenger (or
two at a squash) in a seat at the front, with the
driver perched on a seat behind over the rear
wheel.
City taxis
Both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap have
city
taxis
(as opposed to shared taxis).
These don't tout for
