Currency & Credit Cards
I was only able to withdraw CNY 1,000 at a time. I’m not sure if
that’s a Chinese policy or that’s the ATM’s issue with international cards.
Remember to call your bank to inform them that you are using your card overseas.
I always inform BPI even though I plan to spend in cash all the way. The annoying part here is calling up BPI’s hotline (89-100) and
waiting for eternity to talk to a phone banker. It is not in their “regular
menu”. I wish that in the future, BPI wil have either 1) more phone bankers to
accommodate requests and 2) have the option of setting this online.
Accommodation
Not
as cheap as I thought. A very good room in Siem Reap costs $16 for two pax pernight, with breakfast. In China, it costs CNY 180 or $29. And the room is not
as nice. Based on Tripadvisor posts, the hostels are not up to par compared to
Europe hostels. No breakfast. If yes, then you’re lucky.
Food
It
is actually a good thing that breakfast is not included in the room price. The
streets are filled with delicious options. I am not a fan of Chinese food.
Probably because it tastes too much like a home-cooked meal. My mom is an
awesome cook. I find yang chow, beef & broccoli and other what-nots quite
unappetizing. Food was a hit and miss for me. It was an alternate of bland or
oily food. OILY. Eeeeeh. We did find some amazing life-changing dumplings though.
Xiao long bao, some type of chao fan and clear soup |