Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TOP 10 TIPS TO EARN THE RESPECT OF THE LOCALS
Take your time to learn a little about the local culture in Cambodia. Not only will you avoid inadvert-
ently causing offence, it will also ingratiate you with your hosts. Here are a few top tips:
Dress code Respect local dress standards, particularly at religious sites. Covering the upper arms and
upper legs is appropriate, although some monks will be too polite to enforce this. Always remove
shoes before entering a temple, as well as hats. Nude sunbathing is considered totally inappropriate,
even on beaches.
Make a contribution Since most temples are maintained through donations, remember to make a
contribution when visiting a temple. When visiting a Khmer home, a small token of gratitude in the
form of a gift is always appreciated.
Meet and greet Learn the Cambodian greeting, the sompiah , and use it when introducing yourself to
new friends. When beckoning someone over, always wave towards yourself with the palm down, as
palm up with fingers raised can be suggestive, even offensive.
A woman's touch Monks are not supposed to touch or be touched by women. If a woman wishes to
pass something to a monk, the object should be placed within reach of the monk or on his 'receiving
cloth'.
Keep your cool No matter how high your blood pressure rises, do not raise your voice or show signs
of aggression. This will lead to a 'loss of face' and cause embarrassment to the locals, ensuring the
situation gets worse rather than better.
Business cards Exchanging business cards is an important part of even the smallest transaction or
business contact in Cambodia. Get some printed before you arrive and hand them out like confetti. Al-
ways present them with two hands.
Deadly chopsticks Leaving a pair of chopsticks sitting vertically in a rice bowl looks very much like
the incense sticks that are burned for the dead. This is a powerful sign and is not appreciated in Asia.
Mean feet Cambodians like to keep a clean house and it's usual to remove shoes when entering some-
body's home. It's rude to point the bottom of your feet towards other people. Never, ever point your
feet towards anything sacred, such as an image of Buddha.
Hats off As a form of respect to the elderly or other esteemed people, such as monks, take off your hat
and bow your head politely when addressing them. Never pat or touch an adult on the head - in Asia,
the head is considered the most sacred part of the body.
Toothpicks While digging out those stubborn morsels from between your teeth, it's polite to use one
hand to perform the extraction and the other hand to cover your mouth.
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