Cambodia e-Visa Blog

To all travelers to Cambodia, do your part to punish the evils!

e-Visa project was first launched in year 2006. The original Team is a web design company in Malaysia, who also donated funds to build schools in Cambodia. The team worked hard day and night to improve, to fund, to market and to support the system till it became a valid and trustworthy site and received overwhelming feedback from customers, friends and even other web developers.

For 30 months , the Team had built the system, had paid employees in Malaysia and Cambodia to maintain the system, had paid for the internet connections & PCs, had even travelled to Cambodia to set up the network and to do marketing and admin. All these work were invested with the agreement for eventual payment when it becomes profitable. However, just as the system became profitable, the system was hijacked with Mr Adrian Phang as the mastermind.

The original e-Visa website. The original service provider uploaded the original version at http://www.cambodiaonarrival.com in order for travelers to do a side-by-side compare of old & new website.

The project was originally created by people at 1.com.my

Two Kumomo Schools built in Cambodia by 1.com.my

Mike praised on the original website

Then comes the evils!

On the 28th of June 2008, 3 culprits hijacked the Cambodia e-Visa website. However as expected, the culprits being non dedicated and money-faced, could not maintain the system well enough and had caused a lot of problems to existing e-Visa holder and new applicants.

New service provider launched their website by illegally infringing the original e-Visa website

The Team is suing Mr. TY Thong from GoVoice Sdn Bhd, Mr. Adrian Phang from Green Solutions Technologies Sdn Bhd and HE HONG Panharith, General Inspector of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation. Read the court case document.

The evils returned

There are no clues where the money goes if you pay your Visa fee online. It is skeptical now as the system is now managed by a bunch of crooks.

It gets even more murky now. The new website is down most of the time. The service provider changed the header to cover their sin of infringement. The site is a mess now if you compare it with the original site.

The new service provider claimed that it is an upgrade. We DOUBT… :)

Original e-Visa website Vs New e-Visa website

New e-Visa website having problem most of the time

Check this out, they don’t even bother to change this picture. The girl is a former team member from the Team. Again, another proof that the current service provider is a crook.

Former team in 1.com.my

Please do not apply Cambodia e-Visa until the justice prevails.

Screenshot taken from Wikitravel

The original provider of the e-Visa service was kicked out in murky circumstances, and their site now rails against the evils of the new provider. However, travellers who have obtained e-Visas with the new system report no problems using them.

Posted in Wikitravel Cambodia.

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Since the Cambodia e-Visa system involved in infringement, Cambodia e-Visa Blog received many negative comments regarding the current system. Among them complained not able to make payment, do not receive e-Visa after payment made or received e-Visa with wrong details.

See what are they complaining about the current Cambodia e-Visa system below.

I am a travel agent staff. I applied the Cambodia E-VISA for my clients on line. First time, I filled up the application for 5 people and wait for payment. But the Web didn’t work. So, I proceed open another new Web to apply an other 5-people. (I have 20 VISAs need to apply) After i finished and checked the info, It showed correct, so I payed. But when I check the aprroved VISA’s details, I find that the approved visa’s details are confused with that i filled up on the first time. That is say. the approved VISA’s details are all wrong(include the photo,name, passport No.etc). and i payed.

Hello! Me and my friends are visiting Cambodia next week! I got my e-visa few weeks ago, but my friends did´nt! Someone is charged my credit card already (I applied all visas)! What I have to do to get visas or get money back???

I am in Ningbo,China. I want to apply Cambodia E visa, but can not login your website http://evisa.mfaic.gov.kh, kindly help!

Besides, the news on Cambodia e-Visa system infringement can also be found in Wikitravel under Cambodia Visa section.

Therefore, tourists to Cambodia are strongly recommended not to apply for e-Visa for the time being. As an alternative, on arrival visa can be easily obtained at price USD20.

In rural Cambodia, hundreds of villages are still lack of a functional primary and secondary school.The construction cost of a rural school is $13,000. To find out more about how you can help, please visit CambodiaSchools.com.

Cambodia hopes to become a leader in the development of bio-fuel in the face of increasing global oil prices, say government officials.

The development of bio-diesel produced from Jatropha curcas, a plant native to Cambodia, has drawn attention from investors, said Sat Samy, deputy secretary of state for the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy during a workshop on Cambodian bio-diesel held recently in Phnom Penh.

Bio-energy industries are present in a number of countries, said Secretary of State for Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy Ith Praing, adding that European Community (EC) countries will increase their use of bio-fuels from 15 percent to 20 percent of the total by 2020 with the intention of reducing green gas emissions.

Sat Samy told Rasmei Kampuhea that bio-diesel from Jatropa oil has many benefits; providing cheap fuel for generators, a renewable source of revenue for the economy and decreasing Cambodia’s reliance on fuel imports. Bio-fuel also promotes the use of agricultural land for cash crops, he said, as well as ensuring a clean environment, as bio-fuel is far less polluting than fossil fuels.

The industry is in its infancy in Cambodia, said the secretary of state, adding that ten firms have started production or shown interest in Jatropha cultivation so far.

A recent study showed 3,500 Jatropha trees can be grown per hectare, producing 3,000 liters of oil annually after three years.

Some Jatropha oil, produced by smallholders, is already available in Cambodia, priced at 2,300 riel (about US$0.57) per liter. Firms are buying Jatropha seeds for 400 riel (about US$0.10) per kilogram, said the deputy secretary of state, adding that many seeds have been sold in Kampong Chhnang, Prey Veng, and Kampong Speu.

Hi there, we wish to get help to proofread our website. If you are interested, please post your contact in the Leave a Reply form, thank you.

VDPCS School was first established in early 2005 by two Buddhist monks, Rathana Nn and Togh Main, who wanted to give some of Siem Reap’s poorest children a positive future by offering free education, and thus the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty in which many find themselves. With occasional donations and the help of local and foreign volunteers, they struggled but managed to teach over a hundred children and teenagers in 2 simple, thatch classrooms for about a year. In spring 2006, enough funds were raised to rebuild a very basic new school at a more suitable location with 3 classrooms. Subsequently student numbers jumped, reflecting the urgent desire for education in Cambodia.

Tragically, 24-year-old director Rathana was killed in a car crash in April 2007 and the school’s future seemed as uncertain as ever. But out of this sad incident emerged a new alliance of former volunteers and supporters worldwide who have joined forces to ensure the school’s continued existence and development. With the help of many generous people around the globe, the school has made tremendous progress.

The school became a registered NGO on 10 September 2007. The name of the NGO is Volunteer Development Poverty Children Association with registration number 1093. This is beneficial for the school and the children as it gives them greater rights under Cambodian law and hopefully opens up new channels of support from overseas.

The most recent progress has been the construction of a new school as the second location (as much as the first) soon proved inadequate for the school for many reasons. Work commenced toward the end of 2007 to source sufficient new land for the school to be rebuilt. After months of negotiations the school signed a five year lease on a plot of land which was only 100 metres down the road.

Construction at this new and hopefully final location was completed at the end of February and cost $20,000USD. The school is now much bigger and better and thankfully no longer made of straw!! This was made possible with the generous support of local and foreign donors, as well as with a lot of hard work from the staff and students.

There are now two large concrete buildings - one of the buildings has five classrooms which can accommodate up to forty students. Each classroom is equipped with ten bench-like desks, a whiteboard and a fan. The second building has a staff room, a computer room, a library, and two washrooms. There is also a playground in front of the classrooms where students can play before class. The school now has around 700 students with new students enrolling daily.

The new school provides a much better learning environment for the students; however, the school still struggles to cover the school’s monthly operating expenses, which is only $880 USD. Ongoing financial support is desperately needed to cover this cost, ensure the schools future, and allow these particularly poor children receive and education. In addition, they are still in need of computers so that they can start computer literacy classes. Any financial or equipment donation would be greatly appreciated and would help improve the students education.

Most of the children that attend VDPCS are there because they cannot afford the 20cents a day fee of going to the public school; some are orphans and some with HIV. All funds raised give hope to these children of having a future and guarantees the school gates can remain open to make what’s possible for us possible for a small community in a third world country.

Volunteers:
An increasing number of qualified volunteers have been teaching at VDCPS this year and we already have numerous enquiries for 2008. We are also setting up our own volunteer program that will help to cover the school’s bills.

Would you like to find out more, support us or become a volunteer?
Please contact the Director of the School - Main Togh (first name Togh –pronounced Tong) via our website
www.childrenofcambodia.org

You can make a difference today!
Donate now via our bank account!

Online
You can now donate to the school online using Paypal’s online donation service: www.childrenofcambodia.org

Mekong River Dolphin, was the only marine mammal known by the residents in Irrawaddy. However, the number of the endangered species was reported to be lesser in the past few years. Although there are animal conservation organizations already start fighting against the river dolphin extinction, more efforts are required to ensure the small size populations existence in Mekong River.

PDF travel guide maker - a4trip, leads the industry by including animal conservation projects in their travel guides. Besides creating awareness of animal conservation among the travelers, they also donate part of the travel guide’s income to these conservation projects. Mekong River Dolphin was featured in their Siem Reap travel guide. Mentioned in the guide are the brief introduction of the creature and also ways to prevent extinction. Traveler are also told on how to help in the reservation efforts.

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Pub Street in the Old Market area is the de-facto district for nightlife. Pubs, clubs and bars are packed together, blasting contemporary music with signs outside promoting “happy hour�. Most of them stay open until at least midnight and the last bars can be open past 4am.

Funky Munky
www.funkymunkycambodia.com
Tel: 012 1824 533
Open: Midday – Late
(Closed on Monday)

Angkor What? Bar
Tel: 012-490755
Open: 6pm – 3:30am

Find out more about Siem Reap club and pub

Our friends Barbara was so excited to share with us her fresh-baked Travelogue! She has enjoyed her trip very much, and we share the excitement with her as we browse through her blog.

Ps, read our interview with Barbara

We’ve just added a new story received from our visitor, M.J. Krishna. He and his wife traveled to Cambodia with e-Visa and experienced with an “unfriendly” Cambodian border officials in Poipet. Read full story.

If you found this story interesting and would like to share with your friends, you can send it as postcard!

Travel agent, Mary Lou with her tour group in Angkor Wat

Archaeological Tours enter Cambodia with a group of 23 traveler on 25 Jan 2008. Mary Lou, Archaeological Tours travel agent used Visa Agent system to apply e-Visa for large group of travelers. Visa Agent system is designed to help travel agents in applying e-Visa for their tour groups. We are glad to take over the hassle of travel agents and hope to make Visa application to Cambodia easier and faster. Travel agent can register yourself now!

Click here to read feedback from the previous travel agent.

It was a true surprise receiving the e visas of your country for my wife Ann and I. We had filled in the forms during the weekend, and early on Monday we were delighted to receive the acceptance from you! We were ready to wait for “three working days” as specified by you in your application. In the past 27 years of global travel as a writer, I have not come across, at the outset, such a visitor-friendly and welcoming country like yours. I hope that other “advanced” countries take your cue and follow in your footsteps.

Ann and I now cannot wait to leave for our five-nation tour and are eagerly looking forward to entering Cambodia, the land of the Angkor , and hope that our travel experience in the country would be as pleasant as your visa response. Please keep up the good work! And, finally, “Or Kun !”, as you Khmer folks say. Thank you!

With best regards,
M.J.Krishna

This is to greet you all on the occasion of World Friendship Week. We would also like to wish one of your border guards at Poiphet, whom we had to pleasure to meet when my wife Ann and I were on a short tour of Cambodia last summer. It was the Cambodian border official who, last year, made our South Asian travel truly memorable. We had got our E-visas for Cambodia before leaving India, and after flying to Bangkok, traveled by train to the Cambodian border town of Poiphet. During the train journey, “experienced” western visitors cautioned us about the “tough time” we would have with “unfriendly” Cambodian border officials, advising us to keep extra dollar bills with us, “just in case”…

At the check point, we handed over the E-visa print-out along with our passports, eager to finish the formalities quickly and continue on our 4-hour car journey to Siem Reap, the city of the Angkor Wat. We were tense when we were photographed by Cambodia immigration, officials who seemingly gave us stern looks as they checked our passports. When it was over, we rushed to cross the road to beat others trying to board a taxi. That was when we realized that we had lost our little bag containing our return tickets, credit cards and all the currency… why were we so careless inspite of being warned, we asked ourselves.

It was then that the “unfriendly” border guard came running towards us, excitedly waving to us; in his hand was our little bag. He explained that we had dropped the bag when we rushed across the highway and asked us to check the contents, anxiously enquiring if all was o.k.. We hugged him and thanked the good Samaritan profusely. He allowed us to take a picture with him, but shyly declined to tell us his name.. We promised to meet him again during a future repeat visit, while also inviting him to our home in Chennai, India… Enclosed is the picture of my spouse with the man who made Cambodia truly memorable for us…

With best regards,
M.J.Krishna

If you found this story interesting and would like to share with your friends, you can send it as postcard!

One of the travelers would like to share his experience in Poi Pet.

I recently visited Cambodia and I wish to report an unpleasant experience I had during my entry. I entered the country at Poi Pet on 20/Dec, after taking the train from Bangkok to Aranyaprathet.Because I didn’t have a Visa, I went to the Visa Office to get one. On my way there, I was approached by several touts, but I turned them all away because I’ve always liked to do things professionally and not be a victim of scams.When I got there, I went to grab a form, but before I could do that,someone dressed with a yellow polo shirt handed me one.Then, I sat down at the chairs to fill the form and an immigration police officer offered me a seat next to his desk, located around 10 meters from the office counter. I kindly rejected and sat by myself.

When I finished, I stood up and the same officer called me immediately, which I found strange. I went to his desk and he asked me for a picture and 1000 Thai Baths. I saw earlier a sign next to the office counter saying that a tourist Visa cost 20USD, so I said “Why 1000THB? It says 20USD there”. He didn’t insist and told me to go to the office counter instead.

When I got there, I placed my form on the counter. The immigration officer was facing me at the other side and before he could grab my form, the man with the yellow shirt approached me and said that I had to pay 1000THB or 25USD. I asked him again the same question and he replied saying that I had to pay that amount, without giving me any explanation. At the same time, an American tourist standing nearby (he was waiting for his Visa to be processed) heard my conversation and said “If I were you, I wouldn’t bother. I spent 10 minutes discussing that with him and it didn’t work”.

With that, I paid 25USD. I actually regret not having asked for a receipt as evidence… It’s very important to stress that all this conversation was in front of an immigration officer, who kept quiet the whole time.

The man with the yellow shirt (there were actually 3 or 4; not just 1) had a logo on his shirt. Because he was so comfortable talking to me in front of the policeman, I assumed that he worked for the Tourism Office or a similar department.

When my Visa was ready, I went to get my entry stamp. When I exited that office, the same “yellow” dressed people were outside waiting for tourists. They told me and a few other people that they had a free bus that could take us to a “place where you can catch buses and taxis to Siem Reap”. I found that suspicious, but I decided to go. There were quite a few tourists inside the bus.

When we got there, we found out that it was a travel agency and not a bus/taxi terminal! I couldn’t be more upset, as it was far (maybe 1.5km) from where we were picked! The name is Angkor Amazing Holiday Tours & Transport Association. Because there was no transportation back, every tourist -including myself- eventually booked the agency’s transportation, which was quite overpriced. I shared a taxi with two Australian tourists and we paid 45USD for a taxi in extremely poor conditions. The trunk’s latch was damaged and we actually stopped for over an hour at a village to fix it. Before that, we drove very slowly because of the road bumps (the trunk was opened). In summary, the taxi ride took us approximately the same time as the public bus and there was no more daylight when we arrived in Siem Reap.

What is amazing is that we had to pay before the journey started. It should not be like that. I’ve been to many countries and I never had to pay a taxi ride at the beginning of the journey. Looking back, I regret having paid before we left because the taxi was in terrible condition and we took much longer than expected. In other words, the journey was not worth 45USD and I would reject to pay that much if I had paid in the end.

I’ve just described my whole experience and I’ll now say what I think about it. I do not understand how several travel agents are allowed to spend their days at the Visa Office approaching tourists and ask them for more money than what’s required. What’s worse is that this is all done with the knowledge of the immigration officers. So if the sign says 20USD and I had to pay 25USD, I’m sorry, but I can only think one thing: this is a scam between the travel agents and the immigration officers and the extra 5USD is shared by them. I can’t think of any other possibility, judging from the way my Visa was processed.

And let’s not forget one thing: I paid in USD, but I could have also paid in THB. However, if I paid in that currency, I’d have to pay 1000THB. But that’s 33USD!!! How do you explain that? What about the first immigration officer, who asked me for 1000THB when we were alone? Was he going to “cheat” me and keep the extra 13USD for himself? How can these things happen at a governmental office?

Overall, this was a very negative experience that gave me a bad image of the country even before I entered it. Scams like these exist everywhere, but I can’t accept the fact that it happened with the knowledge and involvement of the immigration officers.

Picture courtesy of Tom Chandler / Monash University

The capital of a Khmer state that flourished between the ninth and fifteenth centuries, Cambodia’s Angkor is one of the most intensively studied sites in the world. But it continues to inspire more questions than answers, the most fundamental being why the sophisticated Khmer Empire collapsed. In 2007, research into the mysteries of the world’s largest preindustrial city reached a milestone with the completion of a 10-year mapping project, which yielded clues suggesting that the sprawling metropolis may have collapsed under self-induced environmental pressures related to overpopulation and deforestation.

“Angkor was a vast inhabited landscape…larger than anything previously known,” says Damian Evans, deputy director of the Greater Angkor Project (GAP) and lead author of the group’s findings. Their map covers more than 1,100 square miles, detailing thousands of features that were part of an elaborate irrigation system.

The GAP team combined previously existing ground surveys, aerial photos, and radar remote-sensing data provided by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab to create the comprehensive map. It shows an urban center surrounded by dispersed agricultural villages, local temples, and small reservoirs. The team found evidence of silted canals and breached waterworks that suggest the people of Angkor were eventually unable to maintain the vast irrigation system because of erosion and increased flooding. The map also shows the metropolis extended miles beyond the ruins within today’s Angkor Archaeological Park. “Extremely valuable archaeological material stretches far beyond the World Heritage zone,” Evans says.

Article by Karen Coates
Source: www.archaeology.org

One of our applicants is kind enough to show us how to remove white space for the photo you’ve scanned. He sent us the video and we’ve uploaded to our Youtube account in order to share with other applicants. This video shows us how to remove white space, resizing and also save into acceptable format for e-Visa application.

Related post: e-Visa photo team

New Year or Chaul Chnam Thmey in the Khmer language literal translation “Coming of the New Year”, is the name of the Cambodian holiday that celebrates the new year. Cambodian New Year is celebrated every year in the middle of the month of April and the holiday lasts for three days, most commonly, from April 13th to 15th. Sometimes the holiday falls between the 14th to 16th of April. This time of the year represents the end of the harvesting season. The farmers enjoy the fruits of their harvest and relax before the rainy season begins.

The first day of the new year celebration is called Moha Songkran. It is the ending of the year and the beginning of a new one. People dress up and light candles and burn incense sticks at shrines. The members of each family pay homage to offer thanks for the Buddha’s teachings by bowing, kneeling and prostrating themselves three times before his image. For good luck people wash their face with holy water in the morning, their chests at noon, and their feet in the evening before they go to bed.

Wanabat is the name of the second day of the new year celebration. People contribute charity to the less fortunate, help the poor, servants, homeless people, and low-income families. Families attend a dedication ceremony to their ancestors at the monastery.

Tngai Laeung saka is the name of the third day of the new year celebration. Buddhist cleanse the Buddha statues and elders with perfumed water. Bathing the Buddha images is the symbol that water will be needed for all kinds of plants and lives. It is also thought to be a kind deed that will bring longevity, good luck, happiness and prosperity in life. By bathing their grandparents and parents, children can obtain from them best wishes and good advice for the future.

During the Khmer New Year Festival, youths gather to play popular traditional games such as Chaol Chhoung (throwing a ball) and Bas Angkunh (throwing brown seeds). The youths are normally divided into female and male teams to play these games. Other traditional games are such as Tres, Chab Kon Kleng, Leak Kanseng, Bay Khom and Klah Klok.

The Khmer people will also gather together and visit pagodas and temples on the occasion of the Khmer New year. Each year many residents from other provinces visit Angkor Wat to worship to the powerful gods and trace their ancestors’ heritage.

Source: www.wikipedia.com

Do you have anything to say about the following hotels and guesthouses? Share your experience with other travelers.

• Amanjaya Pancam Hotel
• Angkor International Hotel
• Anise Hotel & Restaurant
• Asia Palace Hotel
• Boddhi Tree
• Boddhi Tree Aram Boutique Hotel
• Bogie & Bacall
• Bougainvillier Hotel
• Bright Lotus GuestHouse
• Burly GuestHouse
• Café Freedom and Lodge
• California 2 GuestHouse
• Cambodiana Hotel
• Capitol GuestHouse
• Dara Reang Sey Hotel
• FCC Hotel
• Flamingos Hotel
• Golden Gate Hotel
• Goldiana Hotel
• Grand View GuestHouse
• Himawari Hotel
• Holiday International Hotel
• Holiday Villa Hotel
• Hope and Anchor Hotel
• Imperial Garden Villa & Hotel
• Indochine 2 Hotel
• Indochine Hotel
• InterContinental Hotel & Resort
• Juliana Hotel
• La Parranda Hotel
• Last Home GuestHouse
• L’Auberge des Jardins d’Orient
• Le Deauville V
• Le Lyon D’Or
• L’Imprevu
• Lucky Ro Hotel
• Nan Jing Hotel
• Nay Nay Star GuestHouse
• Nice GuestHouse
• Nordic House
• Number 9 Sister GuestHouse
• Pacific Hotel
• Paragon Hotel
• Paris Hotel
• Phnom Penh Hotel
• River Star Hotel & Tour
• Rory’s Pub and GuestHouse
• Scandinavia Hotel
• Sky Park GuestHouse
• Spring GuestHouse
• Sunway Hotel
• Tai Ming Plaza Hotel
• Top Banana GuestHouse
• VIP GuestHouse
• Walkabout Hotel
• Wolly Rhino GuestHouse