Cambodia - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 577

Scams
Most scams are fairly harmless, involving a bit of commission here and there for taxi or
moto drivers, particularly in Siem Reap.
There have been one or two reports of police set-ups in Phnom Penh, involving planted
drugs. This seems to be very rare, but if you fall victim to the ploy, it may be best to pay
them off before more police get involved at the local station, as the price will only rise
when there are more officials to pay off.
Beggars in places such as Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are asking for milk powder for
an infant in arms. Some foreigners succumb to the urge to help, but the beggars usually re-
quest the most expensive milk formula available and return it to the shop to split the pro-
ceeds after the handover.
Moto and remorque drivers will always try to get an extra buck or two out of you.
Some price inflation for foreigners is natural, but you are being gouged if they charge
three times the prices quoted in this chapter. Fares are pretty cheap and don't tend to rise
much year-on-year.
Traffic Accidents
Traffic in Cambodia is chaotic, with vehicles moving in both directions on both sides of
the road. Get in a serious accident in a remote area and somehow you'll have to make it to
Phnom Penh, Siem Reap or Battambang for treatment. The horn is used to alert other
drivers to a vehicle's presence - when walking, cycling or on a motorbike, get out of the
way if you hear one honking behind you.
TELEPHONE
Landline area codes appear under the name of each city but in many areas service is
spotty. Mobile phones, whose numbers start with 01, 06, 07, 08 or 09, are hugely popular
with both individuals and commercial enterprises. Buying a local SIM card is highly re-
commended to avoid expensive roaming charges. SIM cards are widely available and cost
almost nothing. Mobile phone calls and 3G internet access are also quite cheap. Foreign-
ers usually need to present a valid passport to purchase a local SIM card.
If you don't have a phone, the easiest way to make a local call in most urban areas is by
heading to one of the many small private booths on the kerbside, with prices around 300r.
For listings of businesses and government offices, check out www.yp.com.kh .
TIME