Rest day in Kampong Cham

February 2, 2018

Today was a real rest day apart from running some errands (ATM, laundry) and a very relaxed stroll down to the Kaoh Pen bamboo bridge. Unfortunately I couldn´t find a travel agency that would have organized my Thai visa so I will be leaving tomorrow towards the Vietnamese border via Prey Veng.

As I got some money today, let me have a word on how I deal with it here in Cambodia: US$ and Riel are used parallel at an exchange rate of 1:4000. When paying any bill you can mix as you wish. A coffee in the Mekong Crossing Restaurant, my favourite breakfast place, i.e. is 1.25 US$. It goes without saying you will give either 5000 Riel or 1 $ and 1000 Riel.

The ATMs will only spit US$ and usually in large notes, I got 3 x 100 US$ today. Breaking a 100 $ note is basically impossible while cycling the country so I do change to Riel. As a bonus I will actually get some of my 5 $ bank fee in return as the current money changer rate is 1:4020. I know it is marginal but as I said the real reason is to have change available.

Addendum: I found out that the Malaysian Maybank (yellow-black logo) does not charge visa card holders. No easier way to save yourself 5 US$!

Looking down towards the market from my balcony

I love happy people, in particular when they do sell me a cold drink as well

The Mekong Crossing. Great coffee, good meals, prime position

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