Opinion: Living in Battambang over Siem Reap

Why don't you just go there for a month or two and find out yourself?

Nothing as good as your own impression.

What someone likes you might not like at all, what someone dislikes might be your pick.

Cheers.

Joe

Yes, i've read that before. I just hate moving and am looking for any input. I dont have anywhere to store items in SR so once i go, i usually go and just throw the excess out and move light. Moving there a week or two or a month wont tell me about petty crime like break-ins. Had someone asked this question about SR, i would have listed my pros and cons at least. Like apartment owner experiences. Ease of getting things compared to SR. Cleaner than SR? More to do in nature than SR. I always research before i go and many times you get good tips from those who have lived in a place. I dont know why i would move to an EVen hotter place than SR but things are getting to same-same here. Cripes, i should be in nepal now. Maybe a two week vacation there to recon. If i could just find a nice, cheap, quiet, smoke'free place here in SR that would allow a pet, i would be happy. It'S usually the quiet part that gets me. A small, cheap cottage with AC would be perfect.
Thanks for the input Joe.

I didn't mean to cancel your current living place and go 2 months to Battambang.

I meant just go there on a kind of holiday. But keep your place in SR.

That way you can find out about Battambang.

You will know if it's hotter than SR and if that's a problem.
You will see how crowded or not the center is, how much traffic, how many restaurants, bars, shops, even shopping malls, name it.

Your fear for break-ins can be brought down by either renting an apartment with 24h security or renting a house with a gate that only you can open and close.

If it was for me I would definitely do this, it's the best way and if you don't like Battambang that much, don't move. You must be really looking forward to that new place.

Good luck with your search.

Joe

Thank you. Exactly the kind of info i'm looking for.

Food is cheaper and in far greater variety in SR than BTB, though I have not been in either place since midway through last year, so lack of tourists may have effected food selection and prices. BTB is a much quieter place, particularly at night. There are quite a few accommodation options. Never had a problem with power blackouts in BTB when they seemed to be frequent in SR. People in BTB are more friendly and there is a good expat scene, probably a better class of foreigners than you find in SR. Hotels are better and cheaper in SR largely again due to competition - don't know how this has been affected by lack of tourists in both places. Not sure about the heat - BTB is more open and less congested which may compensate for any extra heat. You can ride a bike very quickly into semi rural areas in BTB. Night life is more subdued in BTB but sitting around chatting to expats over a few drinks is a more pleasant pastime than in SR. I have stayed in both places and prefer BTB, except for food. Never had any problem with security or theft in BTB and felt totally safe on dark deserted streets in the early hours of morning.

Thank you Mr. Wilson. That was extremely helpful.

I lived in Cambodia almost four years , I agree with everything but the heat factor, I’ve never been to a hotter city than siem reap, other khmer people have told me that , it’s the hottest in the country, and I agree, a lot of tourist of course in siem reap, but I would think a better khmer experience outside of there. Look you would love both , ive lived in SR. PP, KAMPOT, ALL WONDERFUL

Thank you for your input. That is interesting. I based my weather comment on accuweather readings. It looks like a nice place to go visit.

Siam Reap feels hotter to me. It's a much busier town and the streets in the center are more crowded than BTB. BTB's restaurants also seem to offer more shade. BTB is my favourite place in Cambodia although I would like to give Kampot another try. So much depends on who you meet.

I guess its all relative. I was a few weeks in Phnom Penh, when I moved to Siem Reap I found it a lot quieter, less traffic, no crowds, bars and restaurants fairly quiet in the evenings. Not much noise (I am in Wat Bo area), people friendly. Sure, not a great expat social life - the younger NGOs don't seem keen to mix with older retirees but thats not such a loss. Easy enough to strike up a conversation in a bar. Rents are cheap, food in the markets is fresh and low priced. I imagine Battambang is just a bit lower key than SR - but this is quiet enough for me. In terms of heat, I lived 6 years in Saigon where day / night temperatures were pretty much 32 degrees all year round so it doesnt bother me here, where it averages low 30's in the day and mid 20's at night.

Summer temps in SR get up to a "real feel" of 40+. I left chiang mai because i walk for exercise and 38-40 is not fun to walk any appreciable distance even if there was some where to go. If it were not for the plandemic, i would be in nepal. Perfect weather.

In Battambang I rode a mountain bike for exercises. Flat roads, interesting villages along the river with a suspension bridge one end and an old temple and lake the other. Went everywhere in town on foot.

That sounds nice. It seems BTB gives you more of a get lose to nature option.

Its a matter of personal preference and individual situations. To me, nature is overrated. I come from New Zealand, acknowledged as one of the finest countries on the planet for its mountains, lakes, forests and beaches. However it also has one of the highest costs of living, particularly housing. Although I get a decent government pension it would not go far in NZ and my savings would soon be eaten up with living expenses. So I came to Siem Reap where I can live in a good, modern Western style apartment for a fraction of what it would cost in Auckland. Food whether home cooking or eating out is cheap, as is alcohol and entertainment. It is a pleasant place to spend my retirement, exotic and interesting in its own way. As someone who has lived and worked in Vietnam, Saudi Arabia and other 'hot' countries I don't take a lot of notice of the weather. Not really into walking, I am enjoying exploring the town and surrounding area on my motorbike, and am waiting for gyms to reopen to get some exercise.
As I said, every situation is different, and while we may not all be looking for the same things, we can probably agree that this is a good country to be in, hopefully long term (although at my age long term has a unique meaning).

I, too, would have difficulty living in the US on my pension. I also found it to be as or more boring than anywhere you stay too long. My plan was to move about but now those plans are shot. I love Nepal. That is the country of choice for me but the longest visa you can get is 10 months and thats a one shot deal as 5 months a year is the max tourist visa. So if you go in august, on jan 1 you can get 5 more months. I'm sure all countries will open with proof of vax but this vax is not what it seems in my opinion. A scooter would open up my world here a bit but i'm sure i would just do the same thing with a scooter that i do with walking and go to the same places all the time. I'm not really committed to SR enough to get a motor bike. The city, especially now, is a bit depressing.

Interesting that you say SR is depressing; I was last here 5 years ago and I hated the crowds, the gap year backpackers, the binge drinking yobs and yobesses, and the new-age seekers after truth (better known as begpackers). I understand and empathise with the local people whose jobs and businesses have been decimated, but we can't live other people's lives for them, just our own. Its turned into a sleepy small town, still plenty of food and entertainment options if you look closely, and a delight to move around in day and night without hassles. Next week I will go back to Angkor and see it without tourists. Maybe in a year or so I will get bored, maybe not. All part of life's rich tapestry.

I do see your point there. Depressing in that my khmer friends are are being hit hard and the place looks like the aftermath of an extended bombing run with all the destruction and construction. And, this was never my country of choice in the first place. I'm supposed to be in Nepal but i cant complain because had i not been "stuck" here, my options would be minimal. Added to that a recent hernia operation that still hurts when i walk and a recent dog attack that has left me with 2 life-long debilitations. I can see how i am burning off karma here with these maladies but it is also heaven in another sense because it's quiet and not jammed with tour buses from our future masters. At least they think so. I also love not having to hear bass guitar thumping through my walls until 11:30 at night. Yes, mixed blessings and i really do like the cambodian people. I think i just need a change of scenery.

It just comes down to preference, I think any of these cities you would be happy cambodia is mostly a flat country, it’s beauty is the khmer people , I’ve spent time in sappa, and da lat Vietnam, both more beautiful than anyplace in cambodia, but the people of cambodia makes this my favorite country, I have been to 35+ countries, no place better than all of cambodia, it’s the best, because of my wife I’m in Vietnam, but as soon as this travel restrictions are over I will spend half my time in cambodia, my wife knows this about me and excepts this , if I had one country to choose in the world it would be cambodia, my wife has her son and family here, but I shall always take that 15$ 5 hour bus ride to Phnom Penh from Saigon, it’s a easy cheap and after getting to the airport and checking in waiting for the plane then being dropped off at the airport which is a ways out of town , the Mekong express bus is the way to go from Saigon to pp. always a personal choice , I was born in California, lived in Oregon 20 years , I don’t need beautiful scenery, I need beautiful people , that’s cambodia, either pick as long as it is in cambodia you will be happy, I’ve been in Vietnam now 2 years , and most people are kind , but you can’t compare them to khmer people , it’s something about their genuine kindness that can’t be found anywhere I’ve been !

I agree about the Khmer people. The way you feel about Cambodia is the way i feel about Nepal. Regarding Vietnam, I was going to live in Da Lat for a while because it looked awesome with good weather. I miss Nepal. The afternoon rush hour in Pokhara when the water buffalo are led down the street. Cows just sitting and chilling on the sidewalks hoping for a leafy handout. The view of the Anapurna section of the Himalayas through my kitchen window. The much cheaper cost even lower than here. And, most of all, it's like another world there. I lived in Hawaii for over 20 years so Cambodian tropics is nothing new to me. Although in Hawaii you can't buy drinking coconuts on the street.

Thank you for your response. My visa is up in July so we shall see what the world situation is like then before i think of staying or leaving.
Cheers☺

I’ve thought a lot about Nepal myself funny, greatest of luck yo you jo khmer is very if not the only real reliable information here, so take his advice as I did to get the real picture of cambodia sounds like your going to love it, as I’m sure I too would love Nepal, honestly it’s anywhere but the western world for me I’ve lived in California, born there , Oregon and I wouldn’t ever consider living in the United States ever ever again

I agree about the states. For some reason, which i will only find out during life review, i decided after living in chiang mai for 2 years and nepal for 10 months, that i would return to the US and get work in my former career. Between thailand and Nepal i lost 100 lbs. and hours of walking a day and a good vegetarian diet got me in good shape. I move to Albuquerque or, as i call it, Hellbaquerque. Why is a long story but a knee operation, 80lbs. and a year of savings depletion later i realized the grass was not greener back in the US. I intend to never go back. I would not have a very good life on social security anyway. I hope to return to Nepal next year in August for 10 months.

It was only 40 pounds for me but my diabetes left my body in cambodia, I too will never return unless for a visit , otherwise the cesspool is my last choice to live full time , USA is way over rated now especially, so divided and selfish people , the value of money is always number one to us Americans, I’m completely done , they say love it or leave it , I left it , I’m in Vietnam now happy to be here

Did you get your hernia operation in Cambodia? I need one but so far I don't have the $1500 or so.....

I got my operation in SR at the angkor-Japan friendship hospital.

Thanks for the info.