Phnom Penh, Cambodia

What to expect in... Phnom Penh, Cambodia

- With help from Blake Stokes

Dog meat for sale!!

19. Big Speakers

Food or sound system? Food or sound system?

Sound system.

18. Super wildlife
Cambodia has superhero ants that can lift big sticks, banana spiders that spin webs strong enough to trap birds, and giant geckos that sound like revving engines.
Also, there's plenty of pesky rats and mosquitoes.



17. Dancercise

Almost as cool as prancersice.
Older women like to get together in public and do dance exercises.

16. The Chinese 
The Chinese in this country are rich and powerful. 
The Chinese government also has a major influence on Cambodia.

15. Apsara dancers

Traditional Cambodian dancers wear awesome hats and show off their flexibility.

14. Massages

If you have a cold, they'll scratch up your skin and rub it with Tiger Balm. The menthol is supposed to heal you.

She smiles and says, "all better!"

13. Domestic violence

Sadly, women don't have many protections.

Also, there's not a lot of PDA between spouses.

"But I just wanted to give you a back scratch!"

12. Hammocks

Hammocks are a common furniture piece. Or you can sit on the floor.

11. Flooding
The rainy season is tough, especially because of the poor infrastructure.

10. Landmines

Old landmines from previous wars still cause casualties. Tens of thousands of people in Cambodia are missing limbs because of them,

9. Eating tarantulas, crickets, pig blood, dog, big ants, rat, and snakes

Anything's game.

8. Toilet hoses
Sadly, no toilet paper.
Expect to spend some unhappy moments in the bathroom while your drenched in sweat.

7. Poor infrastructure

Expect power outages and don't always expect plumbing.
The roads are pretty bumpy too, so you're ride to Siem Reap won't be very comfortable.

6. Monks

Monks will ask you for money because they're not allowed to have a job and they're poor.
They might give you a blessing in return.

5. Friendliness

Cambodians are friendly and personable, but they don't sugarcoat their opinions.

4. Tuk tuks
If you look like a foreigner, the drivers will harass you! Every step you take there's an annoying tuk tuk driver asking to take you somewhere, especially during low tourist season.

3. Wats

Temples are all over.

The most famous place for temples in Cambodia is the incredible Angor temple complex.

2. Tummy aches
But hey, it's only a dollar!
In tourist places, it's $3 and up.

1. Buddhist shrines in houses
The main religion is Buddhism with Hindu influence, which play a bigger role here than in neighboring countries. 
Many people have indoor or outdoor shrines.

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Orlando, FL, USA

What to expect in... Orlando

14. Publix
All the Floridians rave about this grocery store, especially about the deli.



13. Spanish Moss
This stuff grows all over the trees and makes everywhere look like a setting for a horror film.

12. Fire ants
They're not all this cute.

11. Juicy Oranges
Fresh Florida oranges make other oranges seem dry and nasty.

10. Campaign stops

All the candidates come here and spends tons of money because Florida can't make up its mind.

9. Enthusiastic Christians
They would love to save your soul.

8. College football
Passion for football is a sign that Florida's still a part of the south.



7. Boricuas
Expect to see Caribbean Latinos, especially Puerto Ricans with weird Spanish accents (most Americans are familiar with Mexican Spanish.)

           

6. Sunny days
In the summer there's 3 options - stay in the AC, go to the springs, or take a trip to the beach.

5. Springs and swamps
Central Florida has tons of beautiful springs to swim in. There's also lots of swamps with gators.



4. Honking
The surrounding counties put plenty of slow, elderly drivers on the road.



3. Lightning
Central Florida is the lightning capital of the world.
Fortunately, the hurricanes tend to avoid this part of the state.



2. A perfect mix of east and south
It's a southern state, but not too southern because there's a lot of people from the northeast.
It's the best of both worlds!
You can expect people to be pretty friendly, despite the Jerseyans and New Yorkers.



1. A tourist trap
The amusement parks in this area are among the world's top tourist destinations.






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Guilin, China

What to expect in... Guilin

10. Fun translations

You never know what fried enema tastes like until you try.

9. Squatting

They can talk on the phone, smoke, eat a meal, and go to the bathroom while squatting. Probably all of those things at the same time too!

8. Tradition
Many of the cities of the east cost have lost their roots.
It's nice to get a little bit inland and see more traditional culture.

7. Different hygiene standards
Through traveling, I've learned that Americans are the world's biggest clean freaks.
Oh yeah, and especially when it comes to teeth.
I just can't get used to any other way.

6. Chinese tourists

This region is very iconic in Chinese culture and draws people from all over the country. 

As travel restrictions lift and affluence increases, the Chinese are traveling like crazy both domestically and internationally.

Chinese tourists love love love selfies.

5. Peacefulness
It's so much more pleasant than China's megacities. You'll really appreciate it.

4. Rice terraces
Accompanied by old ladies that pester you to pay them to show you their long hair.

3. Tea

Osthmanthus is the city's trademark tea. 
Making and pouring tea is an art.
Tip: Don't let anyone from the street take you into a tea shop - they'll try to swindle you.

2. Fresh air
You can breathe here!

1. Legendary mountains
It's amazing what erosion and uplift can do.
The #1 thing to do is take a boat ride.

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Provo, UT, USA

What to expect in... Provo

20. MLMS
Lots of moms try to sell creams, drinks, oils, kitchenware... you name it.
Just SAY NO.

19. J-Dawgs
Costco hotdog-turned-local delicacy.
Sammy's and Cafe Rio are also pretty iconic.

18. Vivint.
Out-of-state summer sales are popular in Brovo.
It seems like Vivint and every company in Utah has a Now Hiring sign.

17. Getting towed
They're always looking to get money from you. Watch out for the cops too—they have nothing to do.

16. The Velour
Provo gave us Neon Trees, Imagine Dragons, and a number of up-and-coming musicians.



15. Urbanization
You'd think Utah's a bunch of mountain folk, but it's actually highly urbanized and has a lot of tech companies.



14. America!
People love it as much as they love Napolean Dynamite and Nacho Libre.

13. Sundance
There's beautiful hiking and biking all around Provo. Then it's skiing and snowboarding in the winter.



12. Provo All-Stars
Also known as bros. I'm no expert in bro-dom, so I don't have much to say.
Just try not to hit their scooters.



11. Degrees
Per capita, this is one of America's most educated cities.

Foreign exchange student from India

10. Canals in the roads
Don't step off the sidewalk on 194456 E 209403 W, or you might twist your ankle in the drainage system.



9. "Parties"
Friday nights you'll find BYU students drinking Sprite, chatting, giggling, and playing girl's camp games.

8. People aged 18-20 M.I.A
They're off preaching the gospel. The long-term goal is to talk to every person in the world so WATCH OUT!

7. Tall and blonde
This town is tall, white, and blonde (until the Mexicans take over the state in a few decades.)
Brigham Young University students always rank high in looks.



6. "Rise up"
From those obnoxious BYU football ads.
They think they're fighting for a holy cause since they're representing the "Lord's University."



5. Mawiage
The girls are "18, clueless, and baby hungry." - Studio C  (Provo's favorite comedian group.)



4. Happy Valley
People are friendly, smiley, and ready to serve. It's an overwhelming culture shock every time you come back.
South Provo's a lil scary though.

3. Chapels every other block
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2. Cookie cutters
Sometimes it's hard to tell people apart. There, I said it!
Applies to dressing, talking, and thinking.

1. Being good at everything
Do you play football, play basketball, run 5ks, ski, rock climb, paint, draw, ballroom dance, sing, play piano, play guitar, act, speak foreign languages, teach, and coordinate service projects for hundreds of people?
Provo's the place for you!

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