Local traditions and culture in Cambodia

The currency in Cambodia is the Riel but EVERYBODY deals in US dollars. They take US dollar notes but you get change in Riel. The reason for using US currency is so that if the economy collapses as it did when the Khmer Rouge took over the country and abolished all money, people could still use their money in other countries.

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CAMBODIA
I watched as many travellers were trying the local delacies , but for me I passed on them. I watched the girl handling her many tarantula spiders at a bus stop Siem Reap and this I imagined was the normal procedure as she let them run up and down her arms.She held out her hand to offer me a few spiders...I reclined the offer..There were some very large plates of fried spiders by her side that she had for sale.Some German travellers on the bus I noticed that had purchased a bag of various insects and were eating them..I remember a man saying how good they were and they were just like " popcorn"..Then he started coughing and gagging and apparently had one caught in his throat and it was only after a few fellow travellers saw his predicament and came to his aid..luckily his throat cleared or otherwise he would have been in a really precarious position as we were really in the middle of nowhere..There certainly would have been no ambulance to call !! how far was any hospital..The thoughts really hit me at that moment just how vulnerable we all are travelling..Needless to say after looking at all the various items for sale I settled on a bunch of Bananas and some freshly cut pineapple.
You can never be too careful

Proper temple ettiquette is something tourists often inquire about.
I'm a firm believer that, before entering someone's country, it is the tourists sole responsibility to educate him/herself on the do's and don'ts of that country in order to avoid accidentally offending the host.
Simple research through most guide books as well as "googling" the country usually ensures good results.

Although we found Cambodia incredibly lax as to dress codes compared to other Asian countries, all attempts should be made to follow dress codes when visiting and entering temples or, greeting (especially elders or holy figures such as monks).
For a more complete guide, please see link below.

The Khmer have had a written language since 156 A.D., but it has been modified a bit over the centuries . Their language has 33 consonants, 23 vowels, and 14 Sanskrit letters.

Their computer keyboards have 4 letters per key, and they have to use a combination of shift and alt keys to get the right letter.

Most Cambodians have an all-purpose checked scarf called a krama—it does everything. It’s a head cover, a baby sling, a dust mask, baggage carrier, whatever. Men wear it tied differently than women do when it’s a head covering.

It comes in a variety of colors, but almost nobody wears red—that was the color of the Khmer Rouge.

I felt culturally blind here without language! But all greetings were the namasteh pose from yoga and bowing the head.

I also understood that when Cambodians were silent, instead of responding that was good, or OK. (I also earned a negative response)

Khmer Buddhists as well as Khmer Islam and the Cham are modest! I did not wear Islamic dress, I should have. But even beyond that group, it is not a place for lots of skin, although I guess tourists have some leeway.

In Cambodia you will probably find yourself giving money to, or buying things from the small children. As much as they need it the charities in Cambodia recommend you try avoid this as it just encourages parents to keep them on the streets (and so to some extent out of school). After a while I realised it is better to give to the elderly, or disabled people. You can only imagine what they must have gone through bearing in mind the history of the country. And to top it off many are now forced to spend their days begging on the streets. So they deserve all the help they can get.

It seemed to me that this is who cambodians themselves would direct their charity towards. After all there is no form of welfare system or government pension for the elderly in Cambodia. And what struck me most was the humility and gratitude they showed... they will likely not pressurize you to give money.

Khmer classical dance is often referred to as apsara dance and is a dance that dates back from the 7th century.
It's a very slow and fine way of dancing where the dancers wear costumes and you can probaply say that is has some links to classical ballet.
The dance was forbidden during the khmer rouge in the 1970's and almost all dancers were killed by the regime, but they have made a very good comeback in recent years and it looks like this facinating dance is set to survive.