"Weird, Strange, and Interesting Things About Cambodia" List

Here are a list of some of the weird, strange and interesting things about Cambodia that I've observed. This is by no means a list making fun of the people or their culture. But as a first time traveler, there were many things that were very new and surprising to an American. 
  1. There are no rules in traffic, it is completely acceptable to drive on the other side of the road.
  2. Many stores here start with "Lucky". For example, "Lucky Burger" "Luck Supermarket", "Lucky Internet", "Lucky Star Hotel".
  3. Pinching, hitting, and even kicking babies is totally fine... as long as they are really cute.
  4. Dogs love to roam the roads and put their butts together. So weird.
  5. There is trash everywhere, the street and sidewalks are not super clean. On that note, you can throw your trash in random trash piles on the side of the road, which is pretty cool.
  6. Businesses and stores will all sell the exact same product in the same area right next to each other. It doesn't make much sense to me at all, but I'm sure there is good reason.
  7. It is completely acceptable to stare at people, for as long as you want. Awkward, but totally pays off. 
  8. People are constantly trying to sell you things. They love to promote their own business'. Tuk Tuk drivers always win this contest. 
  9. They believe hair growing out of a mole is lucky. You will see completely shaven faces except for 5 long hairs sticking outside of an old man's mole. 
  10. Cheating is completely acceptable in schools at all levels. It is considered "sharing". They will bribe teachers, talk during tests, buy answer books, sit around the smart students, etc.
  11. The light for pedestrians to cross the street is a symbol of someone running. Traffic is so crazy here!
  12. It is culturally acceptable to pick your nose anywhere in public.
  13. You have to take off your shoes before you enter a house because feet are seen as the most unclean part of your body.
  14. Some people will wear t-shirts with English written on them and probably have no idea what they say or mean. Some of them are very inappropriate. For example at Kids City a girl wore a t-shirt that read "F*** off and die".
  15. People shower/bathe all the time here, like 3 times a day because you get so hot and sweaty. 
  16. You will randomly find squat toilets which I really do not enjoy. 
  17. Royal D (Khmer Gatorade) and Tiger Balm (Khmer IcyHot) are a cure all for everything.
  18. If you want to point to something, you do not use your index finger, but purse your lips in the direction you are pointing to.
  19. There is no such thing as personal business or information. People, complete strangers can ask, "How much do you weigh?", "How tall are you?", "How much money do you make?", "When are you going to have a baby?".
  20. Most bathrooms do not contain a separate area for a shower, the hose is just attached to a random wall in the room.
  21. Men growing their nails out is a sign of wealth. Also useful for scratching and picking noses.
  22. There are always people out and about in the streets, it seems as if no one stays in their homes.
  23. They use a mixture of U.S. dollars and Cambodian riel. Which makes it so easy for us!

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