Cambodian Food
It is often said that Cambodian food is just Thai food without the chillies, but that is somewhat unfair. While it is true that Cambodia has been heavily influenced by its neighbours, both Thailand to the west and Vietnam to the east, and even by the French colonists from the past, there is also a distinct Khmer cuisine which shouldn’t be forgotten or minimised.
The main meat source in Cambodia is freshwater fish from its many waterways including the mighty Mekong and also seafood from the Gulf of Thailand. Other meats such as beef, pork, chicken and duck are widely available but more expensive than fish.
An Indian influence shows in the curries which are similar to Thai curries but without the intense spiciness. A Chinese influence can be seen in the fried rice and fried noodles served everywhere. That said, the fried noodles may not look like Chinese fried noodles. They are usually employed as a bed on which stir-fried beef and vegetables is laid, and then a topping of scrambled eggs is added. The French influence shows up in the ubiquitous baguettes with pâté. Vietnam shows up in dishes like ‘loc lac’ which is marinated, cubed beef stir-fried with a soy sauce. It is usually served on a lettuce leaf and garnished tomato and onion, sometimes topped with a fried egg.
Emphasis On Education Key To Alleviating Child Trafficking In Cambodia
Source: The Global Playground News dated 11 March.
Last January, Global Playground had the opportunity to visit the Sao Sary Foundation (“SSF”), located an hour’s drive outside of Cambodia’s capitol city of Phnom Penh. SSF was founded in 2006 to “help improve the living standard of the poorest of the poor and vulnerable families . . . and to develop support for the education of orphans and other vulnerable children.” The ultimate goal of SSF is to ensure that vulnerable children are kept safe from all forms of violence, exploitation, and abuse, especially child trafficking. This was also the lifelong goal of the foundation’s namesake, Sao Sary, deputy chief of Takeo province in Kus commune, who was gunned down after intervening in a robbery.
SSF runs a house where students live so they can attend school, develop skills, and generally be in a safer environment than they might otherwise be in their own homes. Children at SSF are considered those particularly susceptible to being trafficked, such as those who have been trafficked before, who live well below the poverty line, or who come from single-parent households or families with physical disabilities and low earning potential. In addition, the beauty of a child and lack of access to education also make a child a likely target for trafficking.
Visa to Vietnam
Types of visa to Vietnam
Diplomatic and official visa:
No fees unless otherwise agreed upon between Vietnam and applicant’s country. On applying this visa, you must submit an official letter from the concerned agencies of local government, foreign embassies or consulates accredited to the country, international organizations, or other accredited organizations based in that country.
Business visa:
On applying this visa, you should obtain an approval through your sponsor in Vietnam. It’s generally much easier to apply once in Vietnam. Multiple entry and stay of three-month or six-month is possible.
Tourist visa: (short staying time) It’s what you need to enter Vietnam!
Available one-month single-entry visa (maximum stay in Vietnam of one month). Tourist visa may be extended one time for 30 days after your arrival in Vietnam.
If you plan to spend more than a month in Vietnam, or if you plan to exit Vietnam and re-enter from Cambodia, Laos or China, you will need a three-month multiple-entry visa with the approval from local agents.
How to apply visa to Vietnam
You can either apply yourself at Vietnamese embassies or consulates in your country or have a local travel agent (your sponsor) to do a part or full its procedure.
By yourself:
Required documentations:
you have to submit: passport of six months’ validity, visa application forms, and probably some others required by Vietnamese embassy or consulates in your country. Visa forms are available by getting directly or by mail with a stamped, self-addressed envelope addressed to their Visa section. Request by email is perhaps acceptable (in some cases).