A display of wealth as well as a neglectful attire will incommode the villagers.

We will have of course to respect the religious beliefs, monuments and objects. Permission should be sought before taking photographs of people, especially hill tribe villagers.

Keep an open mind and do not demand too much : Don’t forget that the Cambodian teachers were largely thinned out during the Pol Pot regime.

The influence of Buddhism on daily life

Buddhism is the basis of the Cambodian culture. The principal influences of the philosophy on the adherents behaviour are the following :

- From the law of Karma follows an independence sense and the undertaking of responsibilities but also a gambling taste.

- From the suffering doctrine follows a real tendency to compassion and to generosity but also a tendency to enjoy life (Sanouk)

- The doctrine of Momentariness leads to think that success and failure are never so extremely important because nothing exists for any length of time.

- The rebirth doctrine leads to feel that one has time enough, to hope for the future, remaining quite regarding the past as well as death.

The numerous temples or Wat, spread over the country, are not only as prayer places but often used as schools, as traditional medical centres, playgrounds for children, as shelters for travellers or poor people.

There is at least one or often several temples in each village, each temple having a well defined role : Monasteries, pilgrims destination, place of public worship…