Before I head to the airport, below are some general impressions from my trip.
Most Friendly People:
1. Cambodians
2. Thai (close second)
3. Vietnamese (not that they were unfriendly)
Easiest Country To Communicate In:
1. Thailand, many knew English and basic Thai was easy to pick up
2. Khmer was easy to pick up also, but generally less English understood
3. Vietnamese is far more difficult to hear and repeat, at least for me. Most outside of the hotels speak little English and you almost never see English in signs at all (on road, or on the buffet)
Most Beautiful:
1. Cambodia, hands down. The temples and the jungle, and even the Tonle Sap.
2 . Vietnam, really because of the beauty of Phu Quoc. Saigon is just another big city.
3. Bangkok definitely has its own beauty, but it is also big and loud. The countryside is relatively impoverished and dirty. I did not go to their beautiful islands, so I cannot judge against Vietnam.
Modes Of Transportation: (list of ways we travels on this trip)
1. All kinds of jets and turboprops
2. Train, including overnight sleeper
3. Subway
4. Tuk-tuk
5. Pickup truck bus
6. Double decker bus
7. Regular bus
8. Private car
9. Cabs of all kinds in all countries
9. Bicycle-thingie, in Burma
10. Enclosed fast ferry, Ha Tien to Phu Quoc island
Hottest Temps:
1. Cambodia.
2. Thailand
3. Vietnam
Best Food:
1. Thailand, by far
2. Vietnam (oh the BBQ)
3. Cambodia
Using The Facilities:
1. Few understand what "rest room" means. You should say toilet (French word generally understood) or WC (most signs use this).
2. Always take travel TP, hand sanitizer, and wet wipes. You sometimes will desperately desire all three.
3. Almost never will you have anything to dry your hands on, that's what pockets are for apparently.
4. One reason I think you take your shoes off before entering many places is because of what you stand in when you, well, have to go....
5. It is far better it seems to be male than female in this area. The logistics are easier.
Phrases I've Learned:
Thai -
1. Nit-noi (little bit, you use this when they ask if you speak Thai)
2. Sabai dee mai? (how are you)
3. Sabai dee (fine)
4. Sawatdee khrap (good morning, afternoon, evening)
5. Sawatdee (reply to good morning...)
6. Chue arie? (what is your name)
7. Chan chu (my name is)
8. Laa kawn (goodbye)
9. Kop kuhn kop (thank you, you have to draw out the last kop like "kaaaaaaap")
10. Kop kuhn mat kop (thank you very much)
Khmer:
1. Chom reap suor (hello)
2. Sok sebai che te? (how are you - formal, shorten to sok sebai for informal)
3. Sok sebai (fine)
4. Chom reap leah (goodbye)
5. Aw kuhn (thank you)
6. Te aw kuhn (no thank you)
7. Aw kuhn tom tom (thank you big big, very much)
8. Aw Kuhn chan (thank you so much)
9. Tik-tik (little bit)
Viet:
1. Com ahn (thank you)
2. Sing chao (hello)
Traffic:
1. In all countries, traffic is hectic. Vietnam and Cambodia drive on the right, Thailand on the left. Primary mode of transportation is the motorbike. I've seen a family of four on one. I've seen a man and two live pigs on one. They drive in and around cars, on sidewalks, against traffic - whatever gets the job done.
2. Beeping. Lots and lots here. But, maybe 90% is not as we would use it - for annoyance or anger - but to let other vehicles know where you are. They beep to say "coming up behind you" or "I'm passing".
3. Many intersections have neither light nor sign to control traffic. You beep as you approach, and begin to merge thru oncoming from all directions. There is no "you get to the intersection first, you go first" policy. It often is a scary maze of vehicles going all directions on all sides.
Most Friendly People:
1. Cambodians
2. Thai (close second)
3. Vietnamese (not that they were unfriendly)
Easiest Country To Communicate In:
1. Thailand, many knew English and basic Thai was easy to pick up
2. Khmer was easy to pick up also, but generally less English understood
3. Vietnamese is far more difficult to hear and repeat, at least for me. Most outside of the hotels speak little English and you almost never see English in signs at all (on road, or on the buffet)
Most Beautiful:
1. Cambodia, hands down. The temples and the jungle, and even the Tonle Sap.
2 . Vietnam, really because of the beauty of Phu Quoc. Saigon is just another big city.
3. Bangkok definitely has its own beauty, but it is also big and loud. The countryside is relatively impoverished and dirty. I did not go to their beautiful islands, so I cannot judge against Vietnam.
Modes Of Transportation: (list of ways we travels on this trip)
1. All kinds of jets and turboprops
2. Train, including overnight sleeper
3. Subway
4. Tuk-tuk
5. Pickup truck bus
6. Double decker bus
7. Regular bus
8. Private car
9. Cabs of all kinds in all countries
9. Bicycle-thingie, in Burma
10. Enclosed fast ferry, Ha Tien to Phu Quoc island
Hottest Temps:
1. Cambodia.
2. Thailand
3. Vietnam
Best Food:
1. Thailand, by far
2. Vietnam (oh the BBQ)
3. Cambodia
Using The Facilities:
1. Few understand what "rest room" means. You should say toilet (French word generally understood) or WC (most signs use this).
2. Always take travel TP, hand sanitizer, and wet wipes. You sometimes will desperately desire all three.
3. Almost never will you have anything to dry your hands on, that's what pockets are for apparently.
4. One reason I think you take your shoes off before entering many places is because of what you stand in when you, well, have to go....
5. It is far better it seems to be male than female in this area. The logistics are easier.
Phrases I've Learned:
Thai -
1. Nit-noi (little bit, you use this when they ask if you speak Thai)
2. Sabai dee mai? (how are you)
3. Sabai dee (fine)
4. Sawatdee khrap (good morning, afternoon, evening)
5. Sawatdee (reply to good morning...)
6. Chue arie? (what is your name)
7. Chan chu (my name is)
8. Laa kawn (goodbye)
9. Kop kuhn kop (thank you, you have to draw out the last kop like "kaaaaaaap")
10. Kop kuhn mat kop (thank you very much)
Khmer:
1. Chom reap suor (hello)
2. Sok sebai che te? (how are you - formal, shorten to sok sebai for informal)
3. Sok sebai (fine)
4. Chom reap leah (goodbye)
5. Aw kuhn (thank you)
6. Te aw kuhn (no thank you)
7. Aw kuhn tom tom (thank you big big, very much)
8. Aw Kuhn chan (thank you so much)
9. Tik-tik (little bit)
Viet:
1. Com ahn (thank you)
2. Sing chao (hello)
Traffic:
1. In all countries, traffic is hectic. Vietnam and Cambodia drive on the right, Thailand on the left. Primary mode of transportation is the motorbike. I've seen a family of four on one. I've seen a man and two live pigs on one. They drive in and around cars, on sidewalks, against traffic - whatever gets the job done.
2. Beeping. Lots and lots here. But, maybe 90% is not as we would use it - for annoyance or anger - but to let other vehicles know where you are. They beep to say "coming up behind you" or "I'm passing".
3. Many intersections have neither light nor sign to control traffic. You beep as you approach, and begin to merge thru oncoming from all directions. There is no "you get to the intersection first, you go first" policy. It often is a scary maze of vehicles going all directions on all sides.
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