The picture quality of this video is a bit crap, but I wanted to get it recorded and out as quickly as possible. I hope you found some value in it, and don't forget to share your tips and tricks in the comments. The situation is getting quite serious - please see the article linked at the top of this video's description. Thanks so much for watching!

@markkiernan5851

2 ай бұрын

Great presentation....wonderful advice. And So Detailed. Thank you for All your efforts. Kind regards Mark Dublin..Irl.

@billdaley3476

2 ай бұрын

This is my 8th month living - in PP Cambodia. Yes it's hot, but if you look at the humidity - % - it 's only - around 45 - 50 %. When I lived in the State of Florida, the temps would hit around that same temp , but with humidity levels in the 80 - 90 range .

@keithhowell4138

2 ай бұрын

I didn’t notice lack of quality in the picture,,the content kept me interested anyway,,

@phlezktravels

2 ай бұрын

No problem!

@Kikiyayazengardens

2 ай бұрын

Looks normal to me.

For the rest of your followers, that’s 103 to 105 degrees farenheit. It FEELS like 110-113 degrees. Blazing HOT!!! Been living here for over a year. I have no plans to leave. I love SR. ❤️

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

She be 🔥🥵 We only left as we had a lot of things to do in Australia 🇦🇺, so thought two birds....

My first trip….four months in Thailand in 2013….I studied Acclimatization before I got on the plane. Acclimatization is key….. by the time temperature got up to 40° and 41° around Songkran….the heat really no longer bothered me. And I used only fans. Never turned the air conditioning on. Did the same during my time in Siem Reap and Bangkok a few years later. Left the air conditioning off, and only used fans and cross circulation. Dressed properly and avoided too much alcohol, and ate small meals mostly fruits and vegetables . Always carry a bottle of water. It takes me between two to three weeks of suffering in the heat for my body to acclimate. And then I’m fine. Only my opinion, but I think air conditioning is usually a mistake. Namo Buddhaya 🙏🏼 ☸️ 🌴 🌴 🌴

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Great tips. We have acclimatised over the 4 years. We feel the cold more now. Definitely drink water and respect the sun.

@martinherald6492

2 ай бұрын

My missus born and bred in Cambodia. She's about as acclimatized as it gets. We just returned from a 3 day ride. I have sun burn in many places not covered while riding and my head just from when not on the bike. Despite being an outdoor worker who worked in 100degree heat every year, I've never felt comfortable in conditions like that and know very few people who do. When I inquired with my missus she told me there was no need to take her new zipped up bike jacket off. She wore it all the time. Here's the thing though. I've been with her for 11years. She's in the same air conditioned rooms as me every night and guards me like a puppy. In theory by your plan she should have acclimatized to the atmosphere I keep her in, in about 3mths. Your just plain wrong. Everyone isn't the same and I've met very few people who became comfortable in hot climates that quickly and easily. Another friend's missus who was with us, had heaps of clothes on. She apparently liked being in a sauna. She is a pretty young girl from Lao, although that wasn't obvious on this trip and she was sweating. Does anyone know why she's doing that to herself?

@martinherald6492

2 ай бұрын

About the Lao girl. It wasn't to maintain a lighter skin tone, that people are paranoid about in Asia. She had layers of clothing on, the last being like a hooded cloak.

“ Embrace the small “ - Yes 🙌 - good info & tips - Thanks Claire 🙏

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! 🥰

Thank you for the valuable information, wishing you a wonderful stay with your family and friends!

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Thank you, it's been a fantastic so far 😊

Thank you for this extremely helpful episode. We just moved to a room with AC yesterday and you answered all of the questions in my mind!! We have not had AC before. Also, your tip about keeping a full 'fridge was nice. We will load up. Again, thank you for the wonderful video.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! 🥰

My tips : If you rent, look if you gonna cook on electricity or on gas. Gas will be, definitely cheaper. Spray water on areas where its possible. I even do that on the floor if its really to hot. But, be aware that it may get slippy...but it will also bring down the temperature. If you have a celling fan in areas that you water, it is perfect.

@cookietulis6252

2 ай бұрын

Yeah - for sure gas is better. $16 to $18 for a tank which lasts 4-6 months. And is vastly more enjoyable to cook with. Those little mini electric stoves are horrible. I guess the gas tanks spook some people from a safety angle.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Good call! Water and titles and be extremely dangerous.

@spotvideo4413

14 күн бұрын

@@cookietulis6252 Yes, gas bottles inside your home like under the kitchen bench is highly illegal in most countries ...for good reason!

What wonderfully practical suggestions you gave in this video. I have already put some of them in play before the video ended. I find your vlogs most informing and interesting and look forward to them each time you post. Enjoy your time in Australia. I am near to completing my first 2 months here from the USA and your subject of HEAT is the #1 topic each day. My weather app says it is 13 degrees F above normal. I am inclined to think this is breaking all records as the entire earth has been effected. See you next time!

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Thanks 🥰 we are so busy with everything in Australia 🇦🇺 🙃 we need a holiday from our holiday 😀

My brother is in Phnom Penh. It's his first time returning to Cambodia since escaping the war 50 years ago. He wanted to be there for the Khmer New Year celebrations. He told me the heat is absolutely unbearable right now. He said he plans his day by doing everything he can as early in the morning as possible, then returns to his rental home before noon and spends the rest of the day indoors.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

We work on the 6am to 10am and then 5pm onwards for being outside. Unfortunately not everyone can do that 😕 😔

@martinherald6492

2 ай бұрын

@@ForRiel I worked out doors in country NSW. Every summer it had a stretch about 100 fahrenheit (38c). I was a zombie in those conditions. I only just returned from a 3 day moto ride around Kampot and felt miserable every time the bike stopped. Now I know why lol... Where about roughly in Phnom Penh does your father live? I'm in a suburb known as Chba Ampoe. I just paid my PP electric 75US for the month. I use used Panasonic 1hp inverter air cons in small rooms ($200each installed). They are set at 28c and you must keep a fan blowing directly on you. I've always thought the fan waving around setting was dumb. Vietnamese fans can still be purchased for 10us but don't seem to last as long. But even if you are renting, make sure you buy fans if you need them. 2 is never enough and they pay for themselves by reducing how hard your air cons have to work. Anyway, good luck with the heat. Hopefully the rains will come soon to break this, top up the Mekong again and keep the hydro electric flowing. A few years ago when the Mekong was low, there were rolling blackouts. That would amplify heatwave misery.

@peterwaldburger8202

2 ай бұрын

@@martinherald6492 Thanks mate

Cross breeze is a life saver. Always rent an apartment with windows facing more than one direction. Also....look up. For whatever reason, many of these apartments have 3 meter high ceilings. That means far more area to cool when you turn on the AC compared with just 2m high ceilings. The whole fan thing can't be understated. I read that fans use 1% the electricity of an aircon. A $10 fan literally pays for itself within a month. "Oz study said heating and cooling constitutes 40% of your electricity bill"....I'd wager in a place like Cambodia that it is closer to 80%.

@GUITARTIME2024

2 ай бұрын

2 meters is like 6.5 feet. Lol. No ones doing that. 8 feet is minimum.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

High ceilings are good for general cooling but when it gets to 40+ you need the air.

@VittoShulman

2 ай бұрын

High ceiling is actually good because it allows for hot air move up and cooler move down so it creates some circulation. Especially if you use a fan.

@cookietulis6252

2 ай бұрын

@@GUITARTIME2024 Not really the point - add half a meter to both my numbers if it makes you feel more comfortable.

@cookietulis6252

2 ай бұрын

@@VittoShulman Not if you are looking to save money on AC use

great advice

@ForRiel

4 күн бұрын

Thank you 🙏😊

Very interesting! I have gotten used to keeping my thermostat set at 26C in the bedroom!

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Very cool! 😍 and you always have the fan for a extra boost.

Hi Clare I'm also an Australian your videos are the most informative on Cambodia that I've seen. I am planning an exploratory visit to Siem Reap in August/September as a possibility for less expensive retirement living. Most airlines seem to want AUD 800 to 900 is their a less expensive airline or combination of via a third country

Very good information. Thanks for sharing. You're so right, Claire about the Cambodian living out in the villages. They have no option.😢

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Yes, exactly 😥

Friggin awesome video thank you

@ForRiel

Ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Thank you Claire & Jeremy for those great tips, another super vlog👍.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Our pleasure! 😀

Superb video. Great practical tips, and the final reminder about keeping perspective is spot on.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! 😍

Great tips Claire!

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Thanks so much! 😍

Good info about the 'mass' in the fridge/freezer. I live on Maui, and it can get pretty hot in my place in summer, no insulation in the roof, and my living room wall is facing west, so it gets full blast afternoon sun. No A/C. We had an earthquake quite a few years back, and the power was out for three days. Main rule: Do not open fridge, or freezer. My freezer was stuffed solid top to bottom with frozen mangoes, pitted, and cubed in plastic containers. When I opened it on day four, with the power back on, everything was still frozen solid.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Fantastic 😍 Mangos to the rescue!

There are ways to combat the heat in Cambodia. Plant more trees, don't live in concrete home, don't live in the wall to wall apartments with fewer windows, don't live in the city with high-rise buildings and a lot of concrete roads, and live near the coastal area or in farmland. Kampot and Koh Kong city are a good place to live.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Unfortunately that's impossible of 99% of the population 😕. Global climate change is going to be a huge problem for Billions of people. We do need to be making drastic changes now!

Excellent information.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! 🥰

Thank you for the great tips! 😊 I moved here in Feb and it was much cooler. I wondered if this was normal… gratified to know that I am doing all the tips you suggested. Still had a higher bill than expected last month and will probably be bigger this month but hoping for a break in the temperature.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! 🥰 Hopefully the rains will be here soon.

Another great video. Well done guys

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!

Hi Claire. You’re right Seriously thinking to move out of the country next year to visit family or discover other countries. Thank you and enjoy your stay 😅

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Most definitely of you can it's the best time to travel.

I love my AC. Just moved here 3 months ago. I live in hotel. I am cooking when outside. But I try some each day to adjust.

@phlezktravels

2 ай бұрын

You cook outside?

@shane5385

2 ай бұрын

​@@phlezktravelshe is saying outside he is hot

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

That is awesome! 🥰

Great info, thanks

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! 🥰

Hi Claire, just moved here from Las Vegas so I thought I’d be somewhat acclimated to the heat. Ha! 😅 My 1 br apartment has a sliding glass door which separates the bedroom from the rest of the apartment. And I just ordered a pull-down shade to mount on the exterior of the west-facing balcony glass door, which you could fry an 🍳on! I’ve got one of those apartments with a digital electric meter at the entrance. I’m on track for a $120 bill, running AC 24/7 at 26C, so not too bad! P.S. The guy who says inverter technology is BS is full of it!

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Welcome to the Kingdom. The power bill will level out after these hot months. He was a little strange 🤔

@ms1362

2 ай бұрын

@@ForRiel Thanks Claire! I’ve always wanted to thank you and Jeremy for the invaluable information you’ve provided during my extensive research for the best place to retire. Was originally headed to Chiang Mai but various factors led me here instead. You guys made an excellent video titled something like “Hey, why haven’t you moved here already? Here’s 7 reasons why!” that cinched the deal. BTW, your fellow Aussie David Granger and his staff at IPS are the absolute best! They found me a nice but inexpensive apartment on Taphul Rd. in less than half a day. If you ever host a meet-n-greet, I’ll definitely be there!

Good content, thanks

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Great video guys very informative for many expats 👌👍👏I’m really looking forward to the weekend NOT ha ha as it’s going to be 41 tomorrow 🥵PHEW

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Have fun! Pool and Louie, is all you need.

This video is iconic. Love you Claire!

@phlezktravels

2 ай бұрын

Awe so nice 😇

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Stay cool babe! 😎

Great tips. Thank you for your insight. Just moved to PP, and will use your advice.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! 🥰

Thanks Claire, good advice. I’ve read putting tin foil up at the windows, shiny side out, can help but I haven’t tried it yet.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! Jeremy did that when he had a very sunny apartment and it worked well

Lot more to cleaning your filters on a split a/c. You got 2 heat exchangers the one outside that gives up the heat from the refrigerant to the atmosphere & the one inside that absorbs the heat from the air in the room. On the inside unit there is also a blower wheel that blows the air over the heat exchanger. These all get full with dirt & need regular cleaning to make them work efficiently. Most recommendations say every 6 months but here in Thailand I found once a year works for me. This regular cleaning should also extend the life of the a/c. Where I am in Udon Thani the going rate to get a a/c fully cleaned is between 500 & 600 THB per unit. Maybe you could ask your landlord in Siem Reap about getting this done. We only use A/C in the bedrooms at night. In the day time all doors & windows are open with insect screens closed & we run fans. What I do is freeze 2 bottles of water then tie them together with a piece of string & hang them over the back of the standing fan fan guard. As air gets sucked into the fan it gives up heat to the ice in the bottles & if the fan is blowing directly on me I can feel the air is cooler. As the heat from the air is being used to change the ice to water the water/ice mix in the bottles stays a 0 C till all the ice has changed to water & then I put them back in the freezer & get 2 new frozen bottles out.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Luckily it very cheap to get your aircon cleaned and serviced here ($5 to $10). We get it done twice a year as there is always a lot of dust in the air.

@isaanman5399

2 ай бұрын

@@ForRielAnother thing is having the correct size A/C for the room & there are factors like insulation etc. I seen some say the rule of thumb for a standard apartment/condo or block wall house with roof insulation is 600 BTU per sq.m of floor area. In my experience though I found 750 BTU per sq.m is a better rule of thumb. So using standard size A/C’s. A 3m x 3m = 9 sq.m & I would go with a 7,000 BTU. A 3m x 4m with a 9,000 BTU. A 4m x 4m with a 12,000 BTU. A 4m x 5m with a 15,000 BTU. A 4m x 6m with a 18,000 BTU.

Really interesting. Many thanks.

@ForRiel

Ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for watching!

Gold adviseur , tanks Claire 😎

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Thanks 🥰

Hey you two! I forgot to comment on this video after I watched it, but thank you so much for the information on the A/C dry setting and keeping the temp set between 24-27 degrees! After watching this i changed my A/C settings and saved 50% on the cost per month for A/C and it's much more comfortable. Thank you!!

@ForRiel

16 күн бұрын

Fantastic 😍 Glad it helped 😁

We’ve been in the Kingdom for a week and are now visiting SR for a couple of days. We ventured out to Preah Dak this morning in this extreme heat for some fried bananas and sugar palm cakes because of your and Jeremy’s video. I think it was worth it. The closest thing I can remember being in such heat is a Xmas we spent in Adelaide years ago.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

That is awesome! We can remember some Christmases in Rocky being that hot as well.

Its because of the worst kind of el nino effect that happened in 2023, when el nino happens it means hotter and dryer conditions in SE Asia for the winter and the following spring. I hope this effect doesn't carry over all the way into summer, but I sometimes worry because the el nino of 2023 was very very big.

@phlezktravels

2 ай бұрын

And now comes La Niña, looks like it'll be an active one

@Wandrative

2 ай бұрын

@@phlezktravels Well for Cambodia La Nina means cooler wetter weathers with heavier longer monsoons. Pretty much the opposite effect of what we are suffering now.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

I'm sure they said it will be a wet rainy season this year as well.b

Thanks Claire - always appreciate your channel ! Enjoy the more moderate climes of Oz….BTW; pillowcase into the freezer, an hour before bedtime 👍🥶

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Great idea!! 👍 Never thought of that 🤔

Security flyscreen doors would be a winner in this climate. I open the hall windows early in the morning for a couple of hours. Helps the whole building. Sleep mode on the AC runs the fan slower and reduces cost. Keep cool!

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Good point! Don't really see that around here. 😕

I grew up in the Philippines and we practiced some of these. Excellent tips

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

We are hoping to get to the Philippines 🇵🇭 soon it looks beautiful 😍

Wow what an incredibly informative video! What good and practical advice. I follow a few bloggers on You Tube but what makes yours the very best is that they are quick, clear, and consise. I hope you keep the exact same style and content as you currently do. I have a personal request. In your next cost of living in Siem Reap video I would love to hear your take on tipping. Do you tip and when, and how much? Unfortunately being in the USA tipping has gotten out of control. What used to be primarily done only to waitstaff in restaurants has spread to everywhere. Many merchants try to make you feel guilty if you do not tip. Even some online merchants now include a box if you want to tip. That is outright ridiculous, but I am sure they have customers who do. Some of us are rebelling and wish we could be more like Australia. Thanks again for providing such excellent videos!

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

We will be making a new Cost of living soon and will mention tips as well. Thanks for watching and commenting 😇

Great video! You've given a lot of useful tips. I would add use the stove for quick meals only use a slow cooker (better than a rice cooker which gives off more heat) use a BBQ grill if you have an outdoor space Finally, take a cool shower before bed

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

All great tips. Unfortunately at the moment our cold water is very hot, but it still does help.

Switch your aircon function to "dry" (dehumidifer). It's cheaper than the regular temp controlled aircon function.

@phlezktravels

2 ай бұрын

@13:00 she mentioned that.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

We do that now and then. They say it can damage the motor, but that maybe a myth.

Great video as usual. Thank you. Another thing worth considering is the water at the residence. In the heat we have at the moment the cold water can be as hot as the hot water for much of the day and night depending on the location of the tanks. So, when inspecting the property, it may be an idea to run the cold tap for a while. Cheers.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing. Yeah the cold water and be as hot as the hot water at the moment 💨💨

Correct. Hottest I have experienced in Asia, since 1979. My electricity usage will just about double this month. The best solution, in order to keep power cost down, might be to use very high efficiency thermal insulation added to one's house, and then use high-efficiency ACs. And, choose one room in the house, which is well insulated, and keep the temperature in that room at about 21 degrees C. And...stay in that room during daylight hours. Don't come out until about 3AM, and then return to the room about about 7:30AM. No problem, and no worries!

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

We just got ours and it was $120 so double the amount. Not that bad as we used the aircon 24/7

Stay Cool Jeremy & Clair🙂❤👍

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

😎 🆒️ 😎 we are good at the moment.

One possible solution that could help it would be to use reflective window film, if available. It helps keep the house cool and adds some privacy.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Great idea, will look for some

Don’t like heat but must experience Khmer New Year… will come to Siem Reap in mid April 2025…

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

KNY is insane. Mostly local people which makes it even more special.

Very, very informative. I'm curious what my first ele. bill is going to be. I've been running the fans a lot but if it is only 1 or 2 cents per kwh, I'm not worried. Thanks for the info.

@cookietulis6252

2 ай бұрын

You have those windows on 3 sides which are great for cross breeze.....downside is that you are on the ground floor which maybe isn't the best as far as air flow (plus flood waters, scorpions, cobras coming in under the door gap heh heh)

@phlezktravels

2 ай бұрын

You've lived in the kingdom for a while, surely it'll be similar to your other apartments? 😊

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

You and me both! We ran the Aircon 24/7 for a week😱

Hello there !! I’ll be coming to Siem Reap for a week in July hopefully cooler with the rain I live in south Florida so use to the heat 😅

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

It should be cooling down nicely by then.

OK... I ACTUALLY watched the commercials and must say I enjoy you much more commercial - free BUT will continue to watch the commercials [at least let them play through] to help support the channel... will be in Siem Reap April 30,,,, talk to you when you get home......

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

We get back mid May so a Downtown meet up is over due

I took a vacation to Cambodia from April 8th and returned to the US on the 21st. I didn't mind the heat, though i didn't go out during the day. All the tips you gave are spot on though

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

That's for watching. This year has been the hottest for us. Usually at night it would cool off, but it was high 30s most nights.

Nice 🎉

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Thanks 🤗

Some great tips. Lived in SR about 5 years, from rainy London (omg can't stand the heat right now!!!), recently moved into a house, the electric for us is 730 riel - a massive difference in cost from before. Our bill is around $200 but this includes several computers running all day for work. We do have fans, but they often get forgotten, because AC has remote control and fans don't!!!! :) Always love the videos... but where is the Aussie dude! Need more cameos.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Thanks, Jeremy runs everything behind the scenes. But he is working on several Vlogs for our other Channel For Riel Global which will be out when we get back to Cambodia.

Great info. Thank you. Throw a couple of wetted washcloths in the freezer and put them on head and neck when frozen. Relief!

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Great tip! Maybe we need a few Cold suits made up.

@KarlEFX

2 ай бұрын

@@ForRiel Yeah, the heat you guys have been experiencing is crazy. We need Sponge Bob sized cooling exo-suits for y'all!

We usually stayed six months in hotels while we were in Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia so we don't have to worry about electric bills. It's still very chill here in Minnesota around 10C. We'll be back in November to get away from the long and cold winter here. Cheers 🍷

@GUITARTIME2024

2 ай бұрын

Here in central NC we rarely see snow and sunny most days. Leave Minnicrapolis behind.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

With a lovely 20 degrees and blue skies in Brisbane at the moment, best time to visit 😀

@imperialkhmer6146

28 күн бұрын

​@@GUITARTIME2024I love North Carolina weather especially near the mountains. You get a nice winter season just enough to enjoy and then the rest of the months are just good warm weather.

@GUITARTIME2024

28 күн бұрын

@@imperialkhmer6146 you got it.

thanks

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

You're welcome! 😇

one major point that you have not mentioned is heat stroke. in is a big issue for western people who do not come from a warm climate. 50 degrees in the jungle at 100% humidity is a real hazard. it even feels like river water is to hot to cool off in.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

We did mention water and Royal D. Unsure if you have heard of Wet Bulb temperature it's a real problem in high humidity places.

Good Video. My friends in Cambodia tell me daily how hot it’s been. Ouch

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Very! They are expecting it to cool down when the rains arrive.

May Room Maid always runs the Klitoranlage for me very cool i can even check from remote places

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Hi tech coolness.

Fact, most weather Bureau's take the Temp at roughly 1.8mts off the ground, at ground level the temp will b higher, so don't have windows that go all the way to the ground, radiant heat through the glass can be very hot! shutters are great as is wall insulation, bad luck if u have an older home! Miss Claire start up a shutter Business in SR.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for the info! Shutters are a good idea.

Thank you for another very instructive video Claire. On the subject of super expensive electricity: Are any apartment buildings or homes using solar panels for the Air Con? Is solar a thing there ..esp with the Chinese tech advances in this area and their imports to Cambodia? Also, those that own their own house could use a diesel generator to provide their power needs as diesel is much cheaper than main grid electricity. I say that from experience as I own/operate a resort 100% off grid with diesel generators combined with Lithium batteries. This gives me a 60% generator / 40% battery usage most of the time (output varies depending on usage of swimming pool pumps; cool room; fan; mini fridges; kettles; etc.). When only my wife and I are here and guests are not (Covid times) the ratio of generator to battery is 30% & 70%. So quite a saving when 50% of your power is free. NOTE: 70% less 10% for cost of fuel to charge the batteries plus 10% to cover depreciation of batteries and generators. Considering the power issues in the country I am wondering about the alternative energy industry in Cambodia ...subject for another video? PS: one should do an audit on all equipment in the home requiring power. Example, is your kettle the most cost efficient manner to boil water?

@ForRiel

11 күн бұрын

Solar is strangely not widely used here. We are looking into Solar as an option for Air-conditioning during the day.

@spotvideo4413

8 күн бұрын

@@ForRiel Looking forward to your post on it one day. 🙂

Put ice in front of your fan. Unfortunately, I want to experience Khmer New Year in April.. thanks

@luvtogroove

2 ай бұрын

Or spray your body with water.Evaporative cooling

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Please do! We have been using a lot of ice only 500 Riel for a kg of drinking ice.

I can't stand the heat nor the AC so I only visit SE Asia even though I am tempted to retire there for lower costs!!

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

That will be a huge problem for you, but a fan might be enough for you most of the time.

Good advice, thanks. Seems like I'll be arriving at the worst possible time, at least as far as the weather goes. 😂 Still can't wait though. One question, where do you buy that Royal D you mentioned? I assume it would be sold in supermarkets, mini marts etc?

@lyme6channel773

2 ай бұрын

Yes, in supermarkets, mini marts etc.

@tylerking1094

2 ай бұрын

@@lyme6channel773 Great, thankyou.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Any chemist or supermarket have them. Orange packet has sugar the white packet less sugar

I am in Prachuap khiri khan ,in the South of Thailand.Same situation here regarding heat,humidity..but not in the 40s.And luckily Electricity is reasonably cheap.So no issue running AC ect.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! How much do you pay per kWh over there? Curious about the difference.

@luvtogroove

2 ай бұрын

Great general tips Claire.

@jaideedave

2 ай бұрын

​@@ForRiel0.13 to 0.15 cents US according to the ex rate. There are unscrupulous landlords here in LOS that cheat the renters also but people are getting wise to this and to this rip off.

@luvtogroove

2 ай бұрын

I got what I considered a big bill , 3:16 last mthly bill.650 baht.Thats running bedroom AC,and lounge downstairs AC.I use a standing fan als in both cases.When that feels comfortable alone,off goes the AC..And I am in a large apartment.I think living alone helps.With a GF..pang maaaaak!😂..expensive.Just turned the AC off in the lounge as we speak.Thats about 17 US a mth.The one aspect in Cambodia I hate...operating with US dollars,and getting riel change...well not riel,as its never in your favour 😂.That and driving on the right side of the rd..I did it in the US yrs ago...you get used to it,But initially have to focus.

@luvtogroove

2 ай бұрын

Electricity wise I pay 4 baht a unit

My electric went out many times , my last bill was 300.00 USD. I just moved to Da Nang,

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

We lived in HoiAn for a year and loved it. Only problem was the Visa 😪

Yes, this is the hottest it's been here in years.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Bring on the RAINS 🌧 💙

Chiang Mai, Thailand. My electronic bill was just $175. The highest it has ever been in the 7 years I've lived here. It was double compared to last month.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

We are looking to head to Chiang Mai for a week or two later in the year.

@owlscoffeecats

2 ай бұрын

This would be great videos to share 😊🎉

Hi , just spent the last 2 weeks in Cambodia, though that I could handle the 40+, because that is common where I live in Australia, but no the days heated up earlier in Cambodia. I survived by hibernating during the day with Cambodia lager and only going out at night. Love Cambodia.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

We lived in Rocky forest of our lives and it gets hot but not as humid. Yeah, avoiding the sun is key.

❤

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

🥰😍

Thanks for the tips about beating the heat. I wonder if a dehumidifier would also be a viable option. After doing some quick research I found a decent sized floor standing model for about $200 US. that you can buy in Cambodia. Dehumidifiers seem to use about half the electricity of an AC unit and the lower humidity would make fans more effective too.

@ForRiel

Ай бұрын

That's a great idea. Yes the humidity is the real killer. 😫

The good thing about the record heat since mid-February, and especially now at the end of April and beginning of May, when temps here are about 42 or 43, is that this will give all of us a taste of what life will be like in about 10 more years. Global Warming is just beginning, and the RATE of warming, or the intensity of change, is speeding up. Therefore, in about 10 years or less, we should be enjoying many more heat waves, and longer periods of constant insufferable heat. Soon, it will become too difficult to live outside, and, as for me, I am looking forward to my new lifestyle as a mole, in a hole in the ground. I am building an underground network of tunnels. Air down here in the hole is very cool. And, it's quieter, too. Just so many advantages to living underground now, and in coming decades.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Hopefully we can spend more on fixing the problem and less on meaningless Wars.

Hottest weather I've experienced in Cambodia since 1995.

@luchernou627

2 ай бұрын

remember 2016 or 2017 ,there was el nino.for weeks it was around 44 and 45.C,felt like 55 back then/

@timothy4557

2 ай бұрын

@luchernou627 2017 I was back in the state of Maine for a while. Guess I missed it.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

The same, never felt it that bad in the 4 years we have been here. Luckily we have the flexibility to travel for the time.

The fan with AC is a good smart thing..

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

It does actually work well

I lived in Phnom Penh for nine years. Never had aircon. Here's my tip: get an apartment on the second or third floor on the corner. This way, you can open windows on both sides of the apartment and get a crossbreeze. I did this for several years and used only fans. I never had a problem with the heat. If you get an apartment in the middle of the block, you will suffer or have very expensive electric bills.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Great tips 👌. We had a corner unit in PP but our unit always seemed to be hit with sun. The cross breeze made up for it.

Better in Kampot 🎉

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Even better in Brisbane ☺

@martinherald6492

2 ай бұрын

@@ForRiel lol... The hottest I've ever been was one week in Brisbane for Christmas with the family.

@martinherald6492

2 ай бұрын

My last 3 nights in Kampot were 36c. So yes it's a little better. But that's a year round thing, Siem Reap has no ocean near it and also seems to be always hotter than Pnom Penh to me.

Paul here 😃

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Hey 👋 Paul!

Growing up in Phoenix, this is ain't bad for us children of the desert. 113-116f is pretty average high in summer. Maybe I'll think different once I move to siem reap in Aug and taste that humidity..

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

The humidity is a huge issue 😐 This is why High wet-bulb temperatures are dangerous because humans lose around 80% of heat through sweating, so when both humidity and air temperature are high it becomes harder to shed excess heat. Sweat evaporates very slowly, if at all, in very humid conditions. Jeremy sweats a lot as he is a big unit and he takes this very seriously.

@storzbickel4328

2 ай бұрын

@@ForRiel Jesus... that's wild. I've never heard any of that. Had to even Google wet-bulb temperature. I most definitely will tread carefully and not be overly confident just because I'm used to high dry heat. Thanks for that 🙏

I have keeping an eye on the weather app and have seen how hot it is, I will be there Tuesday week, luckily for only 1 night, just taking my friend out for her birthday with her kids, it's so hot even for her a Khmer, she and her daughter have been sleeping at the massage shop she works at because of no AC in her room where they live

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

That's a big trip for one day 😳 As we said, we really feel for people without means to cool down.

@trevorblack8839

2 ай бұрын

@ForRiel I will be in Thailand for a few nights and then coming to Siem Reap, then back Bangkok for 1 night and then back to Australia

I run the air con on 27 with fan on quiet. It moves enough air. A ceiling fan is worse than useless if the ceilings aren’t insulated. It just pulls the hot air down and makes everything hotter. It really is stinking hot at present and I was grateful for a few short weeks in Australia! Another tip with cooking is an air fryer. They are fast and well insulated if you get a good one. A rice cooker is great for cooking curries. Just stick it outside to cook so the house doesn’t get even hotter.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for the tips 😀 We love our Airfryer as well ❤

this year is the hottest temperature in my life because there's no any rain in the country .

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

They are saying when they come we could be in for major flooding

I think most of the air conditioning units are second hand imports in SR. In Thailand, my bill was never past $50 despite the rates being similar. I would run it 24\7. Last year the temperatures in Thailand were up in the 40s.

@ForRiel

Ай бұрын

Yes, it costs a lot in Cambodia. I have seen lots of new AC units in boxes in stores, but the older ones in established apartments might not be very good quality.

If I may add onto the bit about ac temperature. I lived in Florida for awhile and the summers can get quite hot. Leaving the AC on when you are not home but turning the temp up to 80- 85f is a good way of saving money. If you turn it off it will use a lot of electricity to cool the room again. Then turn it back down to your desired temp. I had a feeling you were not in Cambodia. You look even cooler than usual. ☮️

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

So 😎 I needed a cardie 🥶

I lived in Cambodia for 7 years. Too hot for enjoying any outdoor activities. Even walking around outside for a short time is unpleasant. I eventually moved back to Canada to enjoy the beautiful four seasons again.

@ForRiel

Ай бұрын

I try to run two or three times a week. It has been very hard in the heat.

I just moved to Laos and it's been 39-41 degrees most days this first month of renting, kind of dreading seeing my first bill which I'll see in a few days. I am lucky and have a ceiling fan in the living room but no fan in the bedroom, I have been able to feel pretty ok running my AC at 28 in the day but need it around 25 in the fanless bedroom to sleep at night, I think I'm going to buy a floor fan this week to fix it

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Floor fans with aircon is the best we think as you can direct the air better.

Another tip? If the landlord allows a couple hook screws on the outside of the window(s), one could hang matchstick roll up blinds or the cheaper version the split bamboo type of roll up blinds, they will keep the sunlight/heat of ever reaching the interior of the rooms. This would be a lot cheaper option than the film and possibly even more insulating.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Very good recommendation 👍 We are actually going to but up some blinds outside when we get back.

I am in Bangkok now, it's way too hot to go out day time 🫠

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

The temp and air pollution you really are better inside or even better Cambodia 🇰🇭 😉

Good info thx. What about the medical there? Do the hospitals have aircon?

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

I know they do in PP and SR but unsure about smaller towns.

Fix up a large solar panel and connect to a generator. Plug in for free power. 👍👍

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for the tip! We are looking for a good solar company at the moment.

J aime beaucoup vos commentaires vous ets très professionnelles vous êtes l amie des khmers ❤❤❤

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Thanks so much 🙏 💓

G'DAY CLAIRE , have a studio Apartment love it but , yes but when all the kids come over it's no fun cos they don't leave till early morning but I wake up early 5,30 ,next place will have separate rooms, for me don't use air-conditioning much and set to 26c mostly use a fan much better , just my 200 riels worth, anyways plenty of good info . Catchya...

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Looking forward to catching up when you return.

Back in Oz, you wusses ! Feels like temp of 45 as I watch this 🥵🥵🥵

@cookietulis6252

2 ай бұрын

I always read Australians write this....having lived through 20+ years of Oz summers, and a comparable number of hot seasons in SE Asia, I can tell you with complete assurance that Australian summers are an absolute doddle.....pleasant. April in Isaan, Cambodia, Laos etc is literal hell on Earth - weatherwise few places are more hideous.

One month later, has the heat broken? Thank you for your continuing very helpful videos. Are there higher elevation areas with decent amenities where expats can go and escape the heat?

@ForRiel

19 күн бұрын

It's humid but the temperature has dropped after the last major rainfall.

@DanielFernandez-jv7jx

13 күн бұрын

@@ForRiel Thanks. I did some research, using my new guru: CHATgpt! Apparently Cambodia is the SE nation least impacted by extreme heat events. So it's good to inquire and never make assumptions. Not even that Chatgpt gets it right all the time. Thanks again for your work!

38-39C, feel like 46-47C everyday in PP.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

The humidity is the killer.

🎉😊Thank you for this video! Really good advice for not getting a studio for the Aircon. I hope this is a start to a new series for expat living in Cambodia! 🇰🇭 🤞

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! Smaller units like Thailand would be perfect 🥰 💞

Thank you! Also wear a hat and carry water/electrolytes.

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

Slip slop slap and sip.

99° F at 6:57 pm It's definitely hotter than I can recall in the 20 years here~ Less movement in Less clothing!!

@coryvernon123

2 ай бұрын

That 99 degrees at 6;57 was in the kampot countryside, by the river, no concrete roads, plenty of trees!!

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

We have friends in Kampot and they told it was extremely hot as well. Less moment and clothes is helpful 😉

it's because of El Niño

@ForRiel

2 ай бұрын

It seems they are getting worse every time it comes around..