yulianidastories

After spending some time living in Cambodia, I’m finally back in Bali. And honestly, being back made me realize how different everyday life can feel between these two places.

Living in Cambodia made me more grateful for my life in Bali. It made me appreciate my family and friends who have always been there for me, and it also made me realize that I should take better care of my three black cats at home. 🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛

Don’t worry, I didn’t just leave them alone while I was away! I live with my parents in Bali, so while I was in Cambodia, my parents took good care of them. But being away from them for a while definitely made me appreciate my little family at home even more.

Interestingly, Cambodia and Bali actually have quite a few similarities. Both have a relatively slow-paced lifestyle, and I found the people in both places to be kind and friendly. The weather is also quite similar, which was a big plus for me because I didn’t have to adapt to a completely different climate when I arrived in Cambodia.

Of course, there are also some noticeable differences. Since I was living in Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia, everyday life felt busier and more urban compared to some parts of Bali. But surprisingly, I didn’t find the traffic as crazy as in Bali. In my opinion, Bali’s traffic can be much more chaotic, especially in busy areas!

Then, when you travel to Siem Reap, you get a completely different feeling. Life feels slower and more relaxed, especially around the beautiful Angkor Wat. I also found the people there to be especially warm and friendly.

After experiencing both places, I started to see Bali a little differently. Sometimes, you have to leave home for a while to realize how much you appreciate what you already have.

Food, Cafés & Cost of Living

One of the biggest differences I noticed while living in Cambodia was food. During my stay, I mostly ate out. Compared to Bali, I found that food delivery had fewer choices, so sometimes it was actually better to just go outside and find something to eat.

I really enjoyed Cambodian food because there are quite a few similarities with food you can find in Thailand and Vietnam. You’ll find lots of sandwiches that remind me of Vietnamese banh mi, as well as pho-style noodle soups. They also have mango sticky rice and even durian sticky rice!

And if you love durian, you definitely have to try Kampot durian. It was SOOOO good! 😂

In terms of price, I found the cost of eating out quite similar to Bali. But one thing that took some getting used to was the currency. Cambodia commonly uses two currencies: US dollars and Cambodian riel.

For example, if you pay with USD and the restaurant needs to give you change, they will often give part or all of your change in riel. So, when I first arrived, I had to get used to carrying and calculating two different currencies.

I also found payment to be more convenient in Bali. In Bali, most places accept cash in Indonesian rupiah, and many restaurants and cafés also accept credit or debit cards and QR payments. In Cambodia, I noticed that many restaurants and street food places commonly use ABA Bank QR payments.

So, if you’re planning to visit Cambodia, I would recommend preparing some cash in USD and/or riel. If you’re staying longer and want to make everyday payments more convenient, having access to a local bank account and QR payment system can also be useful.

I Actually Really Loved the Food

One thing I particularly loved about Cambodian food was the taste. Personally, I found that the food was generally not as salty as the food I usually find in Bali.

In Bali, I often prefer cooking at home because I sometimes find restaurant and street food too salty for my taste. But in Cambodia, I found the flavors much more suitable for me.

Of course, some Cambodian dishes can also be spicy — and as an Indonesian who loves spicy food, I definitely wasn’t complaining! 🌶️😂

Cafés, Coffee & Cat Cafés

Another thing I absolutely loved about Cambodia was the café culture.

There are so many aesthetic cafés, and yes… they also have cat cafés, which obviously made me very happy. 🐈‍⬛

I also found that cafés offered a lot of interesting drink choices compared to what I usually see in Bali. And if you love coffee, be prepared — Cambodian coffee can be quite strong!

One popular coffee brand you’ll see around Cambodia is Brown Coffee, which I definitely think is worth trying.

I also found one bakery that became one of my favorites: Maison Berrie Bakery. I really loved their taste, and honestly, I haven’t found anything quite the same in Bali yet. So if you visit Cambodia and you’re a bakery lover like me, definitely put it on your list!

What About the Cost of Living?

For groceries, I found the prices quite similar to Bali. But something I kept thinking about was the difference between the cost of everyday life and local income.

I had heard that salaries in Cambodia can be lower than in Indonesia, and sometimes I found myself wondering, “How do people manage when some things are already quite expensive?”

Of course, everyone’s situation is different, and I’m only sharing my personal impression as someone who was living there temporarily. But it was something that genuinely made me think more about the cost of living and how different it can be from one country to another.

And If You Like a Little Nightlife…

If you enjoy having a drink and going somewhere a little more fancy, Cambodia also has plenty of pubs and sky bars.

I tried La Vida Sky Bar at The Morgan building, and the view was absolutely amazing. 🌅

I especially recommend going around sunset. You can enjoy the beautiful sunset while looking out over the river and the city. It was one of those moments where I just wanted to sit there and enjoy the view.

So even though Cambodia has a reputation for its slower lifestyle, you can still find plenty of places to enjoy a night out — whether you’re looking for a casual pub or something a little more upscale.

Getting Around Cambodia

One of the most common ways to get around Cambodia is by tuk-tuk or motorbike. For me, I chose tuk-tuks almost everywhere I went. The weather can be quite challenging if you’re riding a motorbike in the afternoon, especially when the sun is really hot. So honestly, I preferred sitting comfortably in a tuk-tuk and enjoying the ride. 😂

You can also use Grab to order a tuk-tuk, a car, or food, which makes getting around quite convenient.

If you decide to explore on your own, just be careful when using your phone on the street. I was told to be cautious because phone and bag snatching can happen, especially in busy areas. So I would recommend keeping your belongings secure and avoiding using your phone too casually while walking along the street.

One thing that surprised me was how early some places close. Many cafés close around 7 or 8 PM, so if you’re someone who likes spending your evening at cafés, don’t wait too late!

Language & The People

Another thing I noticed was the difference in English ability between generations.

Many young Cambodian people I met could speak English quite well, so communicating with younger people was usually easy. However, some older people and local food stall sellers didn’t speak English and mainly spoke Khmer.

Because of that, having a translation app ready on your phone can be very helpful, especially when you’re ordering food or shopping at local markets.

But regardless of the language barrier, I found the Cambodian people I met to be very friendly and kind.

I even became friends with one of the cat café owners because he speaks good English. Kkkk! 🐈‍⬛😂

What I Miss About Cambodia

Now that I’m back in Bali, there are definitely things I miss about Cambodia.

First of all… their Amok fish! 😭

I really miss the taste, and it’s one of the Cambodian dishes that stayed in my mind after I left.

I also miss their aesthetic cafés. I loved exploring different cafés and discovering new places to sit, eat, drink, and just relax.

One thing I particularly appreciated was how quiet many cafés were. People generally didn’t talk loudly, and I felt that there was a lot of respect for other customers who were there to relax or work. As someone who enjoys a peaceful café atmosphere, I really loved that.

I also remember one small interaction that I won’t forget.

One day, I wanted to buy some fruit, and a kind local lady helped me translate and even recommended a sauce to eat with it. Her English was limited and my Khmer was basically nonexistent, but somehow we managed to understand each other. 😂

It was such a small moment, but I was really grateful for her kindness.

I also miss the parks in Cambodia. One thing I loved was that even though Phnom Penh can be busy and crowded, there are still parks where people can go to relax and spend time outside.

I really appreciate having that kind of space in a busy city.

What Made Me Appreciate Bali More

At the same time, living in Cambodia made me appreciate Bali — and Indonesia — in ways I didn’t expect.

One of the biggest things is simply being able to speak Indonesian.

It sounds obvious, but when you’re living somewhere where you don’t speak the local language, even simple things can sometimes become complicated. Coming back to Bali and being able to communicate naturally with everyone made me realize how comfortable it is to speak your own language and know that people understand exactly what you mean.

It also made me appreciate how much variety Indonesian food has.

Living abroad reminded me that Indonesia is such a diverse country. Every province has its own food, traditions, flavors, and culture. Sometimes we take that diversity for granted when we live here.

And, of course, being close to my family and my three black cats is another big reason why I appreciate living in Bali. 🐈‍⬛❤️

I live with my parents, and being away from home made me realize how much I value having my family around me. Even though my parents took great care of my cats while I was away, I definitely missed seeing them every day.

I also realized that living far away from your close friends can be challenging. You can still keep in touch through messages and video calls, but it’s not quite the same as being able to meet spontaneously, have dinner together, or simply hang out.

So… Cambodia or Bali?

If you ask me whether Cambodia or Bali is better, I honestly don’t think there is one answer.

It depends on what I’m looking for at that moment in my life.

Cambodia gave me new experiences, new food to discover, beautiful places, kind people, and a chance to experience life outside my comfort zone.

But coming back to Bali made me appreciate the things I already had — my family, my friends, my cats, Indonesian food, my language, and the feeling of being home.

Maybe that’s what I learned the most from living abroad.

Sometimes, you have to leave home to realize just how much you love it.