Living in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia, has its ups and downs according to Australian expat Liz, but on the whole the ups happen more than the downs. This writer and mom-to-be shares some parts of her expat life in Phnom Penh and gives advice on what one may expect to find and experience in Phnom Penh.	Liz Ledden

-Where were you born?

I was born in Dubbo, Central NSW, Australia then lived in Sydney for 11 years before moving to Phnom Penh.

-In which country and city are you living now?

Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I live with my husband, Steve.

-How long have you been living in Cambodia?

Just over 2 years now - since May 2006.

-What is your age?

30

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Cambodia?

In 2003 we travelled around Asia for 8 months and upon returning to Australia were slightly obsessed with all things Asian and dreamed of one day living there. An opportunity to do so presented itself when my husband (who works in the travel industry) got a job in Cambodia (and I was able to tag along). While we were initially unsure of how we'd like living in Cambodia it has turned out to be better than expected.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

Not at all - Cambodia has to be one of the easiest countries in the world for anyone to get a visa. You purchase a one month business visa on arrival for US$25 then once it expires renew it for a year for around US$260. You can then keep renewing it indefinitely.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

It's not difficult to get (ours is through Allianz) but it's well worth getting as the cost of medical care (at clinics of an international standard) is really high - higher than Australia. And living in a tropical climate in a developing country means you end up going to the doctor for more issues than you'd encounter at home.

-How do you make your living in Cambodia?

Right now I'm not working as I'm about to have a baby (in two weeks time), but since living in Cambodia I've spent 12 months working as Deputy Editor of lifestyle magazine AsiaLIFE Phnom Penh, updated the Phnom Penh section of the last LUXE city guide for Cambodia & Laos, and have worked on some freelance writing projects for companies in Phnom Penh and Sydney. I'm in a fortunate situation in that my husband has a 'real job' so I've been able to pursue work that I'm passionate about (writing) that I otherwise wouldn't be able to afford to live off in Cambodia if I was here alone! The work I've done to date has been found through contacts and word of mouth rather than through any formal kind of application process or recruitment agency.

-Do you speak Khmer and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

I speak very basic Khmer (the Cambodian language) after doing some lessons upon arriving. Not enough to hold a proper conversation but enough to use when giving directions to tuk tuk drivers or bargaining in the markets. I do think it's important for expats to respect local customs, after all we're the outsiders!

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

I do miss friends and family from home but fortunately many have come and visited or dropped by on their Asian travels (and hopefully will continue to do so!).

-Do you have other plans for the future?

Future plans include grappling with a whole new set of challenges that living with a baby in Cambodia may present. Beyond that, we definitely want to do some more travel around Asia - something you have to take advantage of being so close to so many fantastic places. Oh and I guess I should start working again...!

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

We rent a 2-bedroom apartment in a central location in a street just off Phnom Penh's riverfront. Some expats rent studios for US$250 a month, others rent huge villas for $2000 a month and up. Our place is closer in price to the lower end of the scale!

-What is the cost of living in Cambodia?

It really depends on your lifestyle and how much you eat and drink out (and the types of places you frequent), and obviously on how much you spend on your rent. You could live in a reasonable place, eat out and live a comfortable life for approximately US$1500 a month, though others would live on much less and others again would spend much, much more.

-What do you think about the Cambodians?

Generally Cambodian people are among the friendliest people around and most have a great sense of humour, they're constantly laughing and joking around. No-one's ever in a rush though and they also don't like to walk anywhere and seem to think foreigners who enjoy walking around are strange! (Why walk when you catch a moto or a tuk tuk or drive your car?!).

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Cambodia?

Positives include the laidback, friendly nature of Cambodian people, the warm tropical climate (though it can get too warm, particularly in April), the slower pace of life and ease of meeting new people, that most places you go to in Phnom Penh are only 5-15 minutes away (no long commute!), the fun social scene - bars, cafes, art gallery openings etc., the proximity to other places for holidays (Bangkok's an hour's flight away, Saigon is too or you can even take a 6 hour bus ride), the charming southern Cambodian towns of Kep and Kampot for relaxing weekends, the availability of nearly every cuisine around in Phnom Penh's buzzing restaurant scene, affordable and quality shopping, spa treatments etc. (I could go on!).

Negatives include dealing with a corrupt and ineffective legal system if something goes wrong, traffic police looking for bribes, the mounting rubbish on the streets, fending off beggars/shoe shine kids/book vendors etc. (though that really only applies to the touristy riverfront), petty crime (e.g. bag snatching), health issues, e.g., the prevalence of dengue fever and the lack of quality medical facilities in Cambodia if there's an emergency, and spiralling inflation (though that's impacting most places right now). That all sounds really negative but day to day, the positives of living in Cambodia far outweigh the negative!!

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Cambodia?

My main tip would be to relax and not to expect everything to run as efficiently or smoothly as it might at home. People who get easily upset at little things like mix-ups when ordering food in restaurants, communication breakdowns and things taking a long time will find it harder to accept life in Cambodia than those who can overcome the small hiccups that inevitably happen.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Cambodia?

I recently started a blog, www.agirlinasia.blogspot.com, which focuses on fun, lifestyle topics (rather than Cambodia's more pressing issues). It also covers food, shopping, etc., from travels in the region (well, just Bangkok so far).