The Best of Cambodia & Laos

36
PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO CAMBODIA
3
GETTING THERE & GETTING AROUND
Pointing the Way with a Rhinoceros
At major junctions and roundabouts in Cambodia, you will often see giant
figures of animals, or familiar gods. They are there for a practical reason. Many
Cambodians are illiterate and can’t read road signs, so these provide easy markers.
So for instance when a Cambodian is giving directions he might say “Drive
straight for a mile until you reach the white horse, then turn right and continue
past the elephant god until you get to the rhinoceros and then turn left.”
place in town to rent is Lucky! Lucky!
(413 Monivong Blvd.). The quality of the
bikes varies so it is important to check
them first, and don’t be afraid to insist on
a different bike if you have been given a
bad one.
If you are driving yourself, whether on
two wheels or four, be aware that the traffic
is very unpredictable and often lethal.
The accident rate increased by 35% from
August 2008 to August 2009, according to
government figures. Driving is chaotic and
fast with all the dangers that brings.
By Motorcycle Taxi
Motorcycle taxis (or motodups as they are
termed in Khmer) are everywhere in Cambodia
and often the quickest way to get
around. Just hail one from the sidewalk.
Most restaurants and hotels will also have
a stand of affiliated drivers. If you find one
you like, write down his phone number
and use him again. Most trips around
town will cost less than a dollar during the
day. At night, you normally double the
fee. Most people don’t wear a helmet, but
they should, given the dubious quality of
both the motorcycles and the driving.
By Cyclo
A gentler but slower way to see the sites,
the cyclo, a tricycle with a front carriage
propelled by a person cycling behind it,
operates under the same rules and pretty
much the same rates as the motorcycle
taxis. Cyclos take a lot of the stress out of
getting from point A to point B. They are
also good in the rain since the cyclo driver
will bring out plastic sheeting to shelter
you from the elements.
By Tuk-Tuk & Samlor
The tuk-tuk and samlor are relatively new
arrivals in Cambodia. They are motorcycles
with a trailer attached using a fairly
ingenious adaptor. As long as you have
more than two people, the tuk-tuk is actually
the cheapest mode of transport. When
in Siem Reap, you can hire a tuk-tuk for
the day to tour the temples. The cost is
between $5 and $10 for the day.
By Train
There was in the past a train that made the
journey from Phnom Penh to Battambang
on alternate days, although at the time of
writing it has been suspended. Passenger
services running to Sihanoukville and
Kampot have also been axed. Though
there is talk of reviving the creaky Cambodian
rail, nothing has yet been done.
By Bus
Long-distance buses now go to all major
towns in Cambodia. They tend to operate
from the central market area in most
towns. In Phnom Penh, different companies
leave from different parts of town,
although across from Psar Thmei (Central
Market) is where you will find the
departure points for both Sorya and GST
Express. They are reasonably priced but