{"id":15082,"date":"2013-11-22T17:30:40","date_gmt":"2013-11-22T16:30:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteaway.pl\/en\/?p=15082"},"modified":"2018-06-06T10:22:52","modified_gmt":"2018-06-06T08:22:52","slug":"cambodia-child-yes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteaway.pl\/en\/2013\/11\/22\/cambodia-child-yes\/","title":{"rendered":"To CAMBODIA with a child???!!!??? YES!!!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Follow my blog with Bloglovin<\/a><\/p>\n

Cambodia\u2026 If we conducted a short survey, the public would surely say that it\u2019s one of the worst holiday destinations if you\u2019re travelling with a child! Maybe not as bad as Africa, but also quite dangerous\u2026 More respondents would probably go with Mexico, because it\u2019s often associated with crime, gangs, drug cartel wars. Is it due to the fact that we perceive it as the third world with another culture and different food?<\/p>\n

We did Mexico a long time ago \u2013 and I believe that\u2019s a perfect spot for holidays with a little one, preferably with one that\u2019s still breast-fed or on modified milk and baby food, because not everyone enjoys the spicy, coriander-flavoured Mexican cuisine, especially not every one-year-old… We have also been to another so-called exotic place \u2013 Thailand \u2013 which is a true paradise for travellers, tourists, backpackers and others, who sometimes all need the same things, despite the appearances. Everything is pretty simple for those visiting Thailand \u2013 we are 100% sure of it, especially after our trips to Vietnam and Cambodia. Everything is easy, starting from no visas, the feasibility of renting a car and of travelling around the country. There are more difficulties in Cambodia, but it shouldn\u2019t stop anyone \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Siem<\/a><\/dt>\n
on a ship from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n

Cambodia…\u00a0My mom considered not leaving church and praying on her knees until we come back. I assume that if any of my school or high school friends is reading this post, they\u2019re smiling subtly, thinking about her persistent calls :)\u2026 So, why would she prey on her knees? Because of mosquitoes, because of Dengue fever, because of malaria and the Japanese encephalitis (according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), because there are more mines than anywhere in the world and it\u2019s best to avoid rural areas (according to Martyna Wojciechowska and we believe her, but we\u2019ve never considered visiting them anyway), because it\u2019s dirty, unhygienic, because of Amoebiasis and the Typhoid fever (once more the Ministry of Foreign Affairs + travel medicine doctor). Where are you going to eat? Where are you going to sleep? Since we started travelling with Maks, there\u2019ve been more questions \u2013 with a child? Maybe you should let it go? And what if you get sick? I\u2019ve told you about this a thousand times already!! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

We didn\u2019t change our plans \u2013 we flew from Bangkok to Cambodia and we highly recommend it! There\u2019s a lot to see, there are great relaxation spots, there\u2019s food, it\u2019s exotic, amazing and brace yourselves\u2026 it\u2019s very CHEAP! <\/b>And here are some pointers worth considering that might facilitate your journey, especially if you\u2019re travelling with a child. If you haven\u2019t read our posts from Cambodia,\u00a0give it a go, as I’m sure you’ll find them encouraging..<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"podr\u00f3\u017cowanie<\/a><\/dt>\n
Maks hugging his favourite figurines in the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n

*<\/b>\u00a0HOW TO PREPARE FOR A TRIP? WHAT TO PACK?<\/b><\/p>\n

We prepared ourselves for the trip just as we did for our previous journeys, and we packed similar things. We paid more attention to<\/b>\u00a0the first-aid kit, especially for children<\/a>, most importantly to indigestion products (Enterol, Smecta, Acidolit for Maks, carbon and Stoperan for us). We also bought various anti-mosquito products, preferably DEET, such as Mugga + we took some more delicate ones, i.e. Antybzzz Ziaja. However, we resigned from the malaria prevention programme recommended by the Vaccination Point. I explained our reasons\u00a0here<\/a>.\u00a0We took some sun blocks \u2013 they\u2019re strength should depend on your skin\u2019s proneness to sunburns. We\u2019re resistant, and so is Maks.<\/p>\n

We took three more gadgets. A small pot \u2013 it turned out useful (milk for Maks, tea for stomach problems). We also brought a mosquito net for Maks\u2019s bed, but we didn\u2019t use it,\u00a0and\u00a0a bed-tent Deryan \u2014 out biggest pre-journey discovery<\/a>. The\u00a0tent saved us many times and allowed us to choose better, quite decent accommodation for PLN 70 per night that didn\u2019t offer children\u2019s beds. It\u2019s a useful gadget \u2013 it unfolds and folds quickly, it\u2019s very light. There were times, when we were changing location, when I wondered where it is and it was just in my bag on my shoulder, and I hadn\u2019t realized it!<\/p>\n

Maks slept in the tent during approx. 10 nights during the entire trip \u2013 some hotels offered children\u2019s beds. He was not as impressed as during the first night at home, and he asked for a bed a few times, but since he fell asleep in the tent he had slept throughout the night without problems. We definitely recommend the tent as an emergency solution for short and long travels!<\/p>\n

We didn\u2019t take any other extra gadgets with us to Cambodia. You can read more about packing for holidays with a child\u00a0here.<\/a>\u00a0This\u00a0time we managed to do rather clever packing, and to eliminate one extra suitcase, so I was quite proud of myself, as I am the general packing master of the family J<\/p>\n

* HYGENE<\/b><\/p>\n

Is it dirty in Cambodia? This is a frequently asked question\u2026 Well, the streets look evidently different than in Poland, street food, some children playing on the pavement (but much less often then I\u2019ve expected), few stray dogs, remnants of empty coconuts, some vegetables scattered around a food market. But we have never ever in Cambodia came across dirt that could be frightening, overwhelming, it\u2019s nothing compared to India.<\/p>\n

Cities, such as Siem Reap and Phnom Penh offer many hotels and restaurants even cleaner than in Europe. <\/b>I must admit: the wooden country huts look rather discouraging and indeed, it\u2019s not surprising to hear in the media about a 10-year-old boy who died in Cambodia due to Avian influenza, because he was delivering dead chickens in his village. However, I assume that neither your, nor my child will deliver any dead chickens, but it will stay in a decent hotel and will eat in decent places. In this case, there\u2019s nothing to worry about.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d like to be extra cautious, comply with the advice of our paediatrician \u2013 give your child Enterol once a day, preventively. Additionally, prepare your child\u2019s milk on boiled bottled water, boil bottles and children\u2019s crockery, wash her\/his teeth with bottled water, etc. We decided to apply these rules to Maks because for the first 3 days in Phnom Penh he was suffering from stomach problems \u2013 we don\u2019t know what had caused them because they had started on the plane to Bangkok, but thankfully Enterol, Smecta, dark chocolate, rice and boiling crockery quickly fixed the problem.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"podr\u00f3\u017cowanie<\/a><\/dt>\n
Maks chose the “scenery” for the picture himself \ud83d\ude42<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n

* <\/b>AVAILABILITY OF CHILDREN\u2019S PRODUCTS<\/b><\/p>\n

If you stop in a large city, you won\u2019t have any problems with finding milk, nappies or baby wipes. However, I didn\u2019t see baby food jars very often \u2013 only in large supermarkets.<\/p>\n

Modified milk is usually available in large quantities \u2013 in cans. In Warsaw I usually choose a carton, while here there\u2019s only one type of milk for two-year-olds and I managed to find it in a large store. Well, you\u2019d probably have to hustle one more can into your suitcase! \ud83d\ude42 However, in Cambodia, similarly to Thailand nappies come in small packs \u2013 of 15-20 items, and that\u2019s very convenient for me, as I notoriously have to find extra space for more and more things in my suitcase \ud83d\ude42 Especially now when we need 1-2 per day, for nights and some for longer trips.<\/p>\n

Now, in Hanoi, Vietnam I\u2019m a bit upset about these small packages because it\u2019s surprisingly difficult to find nappies in the so-called Old Quarter, or the city centre, where we live. But that\u2019s another subject \u2013 a child in Vietnam \ud83d\ude09 In Cambodia, in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap we quickly found great supermarkets that offered basic children products and a variety of products similar to Alma or Piotr i Pawe\u0142! Was it difficult? No, it wasn\u2019t! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

It\u2019s possible that you\u2019ll learn the price of milk in Siem Reap even if you don\u2019t have children. On one of the main streets filled with bars and restaurants, women holding children in their arms offer milk to buy\u2026 Be careful, as the price usually varies between 10 and 20 dollars, due to the fact that there are no small packs. And I have some doubts about what happens with this milk\u2026 However, we got stung once and bought it\u2026<\/p>\n

* MEDICAL SERVICE AND PHARMACIES<\/b><\/p>\n

Thankfully we didn\u2019t have a chance to test them, but we saw many private practices, hospitals and children\u2019s clinics both in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. If you had smaller problems, there are many pharmacies with a wide range of well-known drugs (especially in Siem Reap). I had no problems to buy an equivalent of Polish Enterol by simply showing the name of the active ingredient\u2026 And it was cheaper \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

*\u00a0 FEEDING THE LITTLE ONE<\/b><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"podr\u00f3\u017cowanie<\/a><\/dt>\n
mix satay<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\"Kambod\u017ca,<\/a><\/dt>\n
in Siem Reap you’ll habe no problems with finding European dishes, such as spaghetti \u2014 an all kids’ favourite<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n

In places such as Phnom Penh and especially Siem Reap you don\u2019t have to worry about food for your little one. There are many restaurants, cheap and expensive. <\/b>A cost of a meal in an average, but decent restaurant starts from $3, and in an elegant restaurant from $9, so there\u2019s nothing to worry about. <\/b>You shouldn\u2019t risk having very cheap food\u2026 better safe than sorry. Anyway, your meal will be much cheaper than in Poland \u2013 I guarantee it.<\/p>\n

And for a child? Of course rice with sauce, or fried rice, i.e. with chicken but also small skewers (similar to Thai satays), and there\u2019s a very good access to Western cuisine \u2013 I don\u2019t know if your child also loves them, but Maks simply adores noodles, so he chooses them as often as he has a chance \u2013 so he had napolitana, bolognese, alfredo<\/i>\u00a0\u2013 and he loved them all! Better restaurants additionally offer a kids\u2019 menu, or they can prepare something special for your little one. That\u2019s a great plus!<\/p>\n

And of course bottled water to drink, coconut juice, although Maks has stopped loving it since last year (we love it even more!). You might consider fresh juices \u2013 I was a bit afraid, especially after his earlier stomach problems.<\/p>\n

And what about the popular Asian street food? \u2013 in Thailand street food usually looks very tasty, but it was different in Cambodia. It didn\u2019t tempt us very much and we didn\u2019t feel like trying it, and therefore we didn\u2019t even consider giving it to Maks. Food in restaurants was much cheaper than i.e. a quick lunch in Poland that most of us have.<\/p>\n

* NOVEMBER TEMPERATURES VS. A CHILD<\/b><\/p>\n

When we got to Bangkok and left the airport we felt like in a sauna. We have prepared ourselves, because we had experienced it last year. Loads of water and mandatory head covers. And lunch in an air-conditioned restaurant preferably between 12 and 2 pm. But, it turned out that it\u2019s even HOTTER in Cambodia! (although it seemed impossible in Bangkok!) In Cambodia, sightseeing before 4 pm was one of the most exhausting things I\u2019ve ever done, and our visit to Angkor Wat at 11 am was only about waiting for a tuk-tuk and a breath of fresh air!<\/p>\n

In the following days we tried to spend more time by the pool and to travel in the morning or in the late afternoon. Don\u2019t leave without a wet hanky and a bottle of water! And of course remember about a deeply refreshing chilled coconut juice!<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Kambod\u017ca,<\/a><\/dt>\n
phew, a bit too hot!<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\"Angkor,<\/a><\/dt>\n
during our visit to the Angkor complex<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n

*\u00a0ENTERTAINMENT FOR CHILDREN IN CAMBODIA<\/strong><\/p>\n

What is there to do for a toddler in Cambodia? Will (s)he like it or not? (S)he\u2019ll definitely like the fact that it\u2019s warm and that you can swim in a pool many times a day \ud83d\ude42 And unfortunately (s)he can\u2019t have that in Poland in November\u2026 There are many hotels with pools in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap for PLN 70-100 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Maks preferred the pool but he also enjoyed everyday tuk-tuk rides. There\u2019s much to observe, it\u2019s great!<\/p>\n

Maks also enjoyed sailing and observing animals, i.e. crocodiles, and he quite liked visiting temples, such as the Royal Castle in Phnom Penh. He also got crazy happy about bicycles \u2013 he likes to ride a bike in Warsaw but he couldn\u2019t do it for a while \u2013 we stopped having bicycle trips when the summer ended. But when we had rented a bike in Cambodia, he continued to talk about it in Vietnam. But I have to warn you: it\u2019s not easy to find a bike with a child\u2019s seat in Phnom Penh, despite the fact that bicycle tourism is very popular, especially near Angkor Wat…<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Kambod\u017ca,<\/a><\/dt>\n
“Daddy, are we going to the swimming pool today?”<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\"Kambod\u017ca,<\/a><\/dt>\n
visiting Angkor Wat with a buggy \u2014 a bad idea, if you ask me \ud83d\ude09<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n

\"Kambod\u017ca,<\/a><\/p>\n

To sum up: a child is happy, entertained, fed, safe. Cambodia is definitely more difficult to travel with a child than Thailand, but it\u2019s rather a pro, than a con \u2013 it\u2019s till pure, not touristic, more exotic, more authentic. And that\u2019s why it\u2019s fascinating, tempting, encouraging us to return\u2026 So, despite the fact that when you think of Cambodia with a child, other will tell you that it\u2019s a bad idea, listen to us! We already miss it, here in Vietnam\u2026<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Follow my blog with Bloglovin Cambodia\u2026 If we conducted a short survey, the public would surely say that it\u2019s one of the worst holiday destinations if you\u2019re travelling with a child! Maybe not as bad as Africa, but also quite dangerous\u2026 More respondents would probably go with Mexico, because it\u2019s often associated with crime, gangs, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15375,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2990,3015,3000,2981,3001],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nTo CAMBODIA with a child???!!!??? YES!!!<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Once again people were asking us if we're mad to take a 2 year old child to an exotic place like Cambodia. 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