Planet Asia has been tracking the apocalypse using Kali Yuga predictions. In the first few months of 2020, most predictions actually happened. Holy smokes! As the world began to hunker down, we considered returning to Canada. Instead, we’ve locked down in Cambodia. This article explains why we chose Cambodia. Then, it introduces two places to hunker down in Cambodia as the global pandemic rages on.
Cambodia has been one of the favorite stops on the Southeast Asia tourist trail for years. It’s one of the poorest countries in Asia. The per-capita income is only USD $260. But things are much cheaper than in other countries. Adjusting for purchasing power parity, the per-capita income jumps to around $1300.
So less money goes a lot further here. What’s more, Cambodian people are very welcoming to foreigners. Driven by tourism and garment exports, their economy grew by 8% between 1998 and 2018. During that period, it was one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.
For expatriates, Cambodia is cheap, relaxed and friendly towards foreigners. Visas are pay-to-play and easy to arrange. In Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, most staff in shops, hotels, and restaurants speak English.
Hiding out in Cambodia
Despite being so close to China, Cambodia remained largely unaffected by the coronavirus until a few weeks ago. As of March 24, there are 87 cases of COVID-19 in Cambodia.
Last week, Cambodia closed all schools, karaoke clubs and cinemas in the country. A few days ago, they banned the entry of foreigners from Italy, Germany, Spain, France, and the US.
Borders with Thailand, Lao and Vietnam are all now closed. Flights out of the region are tricky. If you find yourself stuck in Cambodia, here are two great options to lock down and stay safe.
Cheap beach lockdown in Ko Rong
Ko Rong is a 78-square meter island off the coast of Sihanoukville. For several years, part of this island has been Cambodia’s premier beach party destination.
Away from the loud parties is Sok San Village. It’s a lovely bay with a 7km stretch of white sand beaches. Right now, Beyond Beach Resort is offering an emergency long-stay offer:$225 for a sea view room with double bed (includes water and electricity).
Check out the Beyond Beach Resort website to learn more about their place. You can also check their location on Google maps.
Beyond Beach Resort special offer
It looks like an amazing deal on paper, so we reached out to Beyond beach Resort manager Basta Binici for more details. First, we needed to know about Internet speeds. On the mainland, speeds using modems or 4G sim cards are snappy. According to Basta, “Cellcard works well, we see 60Mbps speeds. On-site, we also have six separate modem connections.”
Right now, it’s the tail-end of what’s supposed to be peak season, but COVID-19 has dampened things. Basta estimates most hotels in the area at around half-occupancy or less. While bars and nightclubs have been shuttered on the mainland, Basta says that nothing has closed on the island yet. “People are waiting to hear news. Just in case, we have emergency plans plus places to stay on the mainland if necessary.”
One concern on a long stay at a resort is the food. Most places expect guests to eat on-premises. But over a month or two, those costs can add up. Beyond Beach Resort suggests that people on long stays can pay a $20 kitchen fee per month. That will help save money with self-catering while supporting the resort at the same time.
That means if you decide to stay here, consider bringing a few boxes of noodles, pasta and oatmeal. Then you can switch to a pescatarian diet. Basta says that fish are plentiful in the area. “Many locals fish for a living. We have enough seafood resources here to feed the whole country.”
Check out the Beyond Beach Resort website to learn more about their place. For the location, see Google maps.
Wait out COVID-19 on the beach
If you’re stuck in Cambodia during the pandemic lockdown, heading to the beach is your best bet. First, contact Beyond Beach Resort to check conditions on the island. Make sure boats are still running. Then, make your way to Sihanoukville. A private taxi from Phnom Penh should take around 4 hours and cost around $50.
Apocalypse bunker in Phnom Penh
If getting away to the beach isn’t an option, hunkering down in Phnom Penh is a good alternative. The city has fast internet, decent infrastructure, and several western supermarkets.
There are plenty of hotels to choose from around town. But self-catering in a monthly rate apartment might be better for a COVID-19 lockdown.
Our friends at Phnom Penh Expat shared some tips:
The best place to find an apartment is by using Khmer24 Housing. That can show you places ranging in price from $150 per month to over $1000.
For a COVID-19 lockdown, make sure you have a visa long enough to cover your stay. When choosing an area to stay, be wary of noise pollution. Phnom Penh streets are very loud. Also, make note of the main western supermarkets in the city.
Conclusion
Here are two great options to weather the COVID-19 storm from Cambodia. If you choose to lock down on the islands, take advantage of Beyond Beach Resort’s special offer.
Should you choose to stay in Phnom Penh, find a long-term place to lay low. Get a 4G sim from Cellcard. USD $8 will get you 80GB of data (more than you need for a month). Try to choose a spot close to a western supermarket. Then, stock up on essentials and pass the time sunbathing on your balcony.