Cambodia
Cambodia is in South East Asia bordering Thailand and Vietnam. It is the home of the Ancient Khmer Empire, Angkor, and has numerous Buddhist and Hindu temples, as well as lovely landscapes and great beaches and islands in the southern part of the country. There are many things to see and do, ranging from elephant tours, to live music and traditional performances. There is a vibrant international expat community, and a low cost of living.
Our Experience
Cambodia is a fascinating country. The people have shown amazing resilience considering the horrors of the Khmer Rouge regime and Pol Pot in the 1970's, and the country is definitely headed in the direction of economic development and social expansion. Cities like Phnom Penh and Siem Reap can now be honestly described as fairly cosmopolitan, with varied artistic and cultural activities, museums, shopping opportunities and an eclectic international community of business people and long term expats. It's also not difficult to step outside of any of the bigger cities and find quaint traditional villages existing along meandering rivers, or fishing villages with small bustling markets selling their early morning catch.
Cambodian food is very similar to other South Asian and South East Asian cuisine in that it is definitely centered around rice. Most dishes consist of a grilled or curried meat or fish, cooked with chilies and some vegetables served over a large portion of rice with perhaps an egg or a pickled salad on the side. We quite enjoyed the local food, although we did find it necessary to opt for the occasional pizza or burger as a variation every once in a while. Luckily, there are plenty of options for international cuisine in various parts of the country, thanks to the now substantial expat community in the country. There are also many supermarkets and smaller shops that cater to the tastes of western customers, and offer imported items in the larger towns and cities. It's fairly easy to live in Cambodia on a small budget but be prepared to spend much more if you intend to recreate the western(or other) lifestyle you experienced back home.
Living long term in Cambodia as of today is quite easy. One simply enters the country on an "E" ordinary visa which lasts for one month and can be purchased at the airport, and then extends through an agency before it expires. Long term visas can basically be purchased through agencies, and they are generally good for either three months, six months or one year. It is also easy to get a work permit and a business license. Keep in mind that after your first six month extension after entering the country, it is necessary to start a business(at least on paper) or get a job in order to have access to additional visa extensions. Money goes a long way in problem solving when it comes to Cambodia. It basically works out that you're paying to live there but if you like the country enough(like we did for a long time) why not? A good visa agency is linked below.