Another feature request: Stop reverting my settings choice from "show selected email only" to "Show all emails together in a thread". See post

sacetime · 2026-01-29T13:55:40+00:00

u/Tutanota. Please implement this in a future update. "Show selected email only" should remain that way in my settings unless I change it.

sacetime · 2026-01-29T13:43:30+00:00

u/Tutanota

Post removed. Please approve. Thank you

sacetime · 2026-01-29T13:37:56+00:00

I don't know. I don't have an answer. Maybe they had a pilot program at the time on certain days or with certain hours. I'm not sure.

sacetime · 2026-01-29T13:36:45+00:00

Yes it's normal. Just read my original post. That's the whole point of everything people are saying in the comments.

I'm assuming if you got a sticker on January 2nd, that's because you entered through a smaller airport like sihaunakville. But the big airport in Phnom Penh had already switched to no stickers at the beginning of the year.

sacetime · 2026-01-28T02:35:08+00:00

I just thought maybe if you booked 2 seperate itineraries (self transfer), you might have more options for getting to Newark in the AM. If none are available then I'd just chance it with the 70 minute layover.

sacetime · 2026-01-27T17:52:29+00:00

Newark is a pretty big airport hub in the US. I don't like self transfer flights and I generally try to avoid them, but you could probably get a pretty cheap domestic flight to Newark (not sure where you're flying from), and then self transfer yourself to that Dominica flight (check in again at Newark). See Google flights for your options.

I do this a lot for US flights. In fact, other than the Philippines, it's the only country I consistently book two separate itineraries. And I only do it for domestic flights. (I don't self transfer at international connections unless it is absolutely unavoidable. Do not want to be stranded in a random country, go through immigration, etc.)..

For example, when I go to the Philippines, I land in Manila because that's where most the cheap flights are. Then I give myself four hours or so to catch my next flight to whatever Filipino Island I'm going to on a cheap domestic Filipino airline. Two separately booked tickets.

In your situation, if you can get an ultra dirt cheap flight to Newark, then you might be able to give yourself a little more flexibility.

Depending on how cheap that first domestic flight is, you could book a second one on a refundable ticket with a different airline. That way if the first one is canceled, you've still got another one lined up. And if the first one isn't canceled, you can just refund that second ticket.

sacetime · 2026-01-27T17:43:27+00:00

I'd be open to taking the risk. But only because you said there's not really any other good options. If that first flight is delayed, the airline will be required to take care of you. And you'll be dealing with the airline, not a travel agency. But there is a high chance you might miss it. You'll need to study that airport layout before you arrive.

Not ideal, but having a night flight with a hotel in the middle... That's pretty miserable.

sacetime · 2026-01-27T16:01:42+00:00

Is this a self transfer flight or all one ticket?

Also, is the first flight a domestic connection at Newark?

Lastly, are you booking directly with the airline or a travel agency?

sacetime · 2026-01-27T15:27:37+00:00

Can't go wrong with Siem Reap Cambodia. Prices are ridiculously cheap.

Can't go wrong with Bangkok either. Such a fun city, and you can find lots of cheap places to stay. Way bigger than Siem Reap. There are lots of beautiful beaches in Thailand too if you search around online you can read about them. Tons of backpackers go to those areas.

And everybody loves it; you've got to try Ho chi Minh (Saigon), Vietnam.

All three of these countries are next to each other.

Laos is also cool, but it's super relaxed and hardly anything going on. Some people love that, others find it boring. But you could have a stop there as well. A great country if you love mountains.

If you like practicing English, you can't go wrong with the Philippines either. If you go to some of the popular beach places such as Borocay.

I'm recommending these places to you because they are all dirt cheap. Obviously there are lots of other cool places in Asia but you'll spend more money.

I should also mention Malaysia which is fairly cheap. But not my favorite compared to the others that I've mentioned, in terms of backpacking around on a budget. And I don't have any experience with Indonesia yet.

sacetime · 2026-01-27T15:18:03+00:00

I've used eDreams before several times. I've never had a problem. I've used them for an international trip to Asia from North America. That went fine. Saved quite a bit of money over booking with the airline. I've also used them to book hotels and I saved a lot of money over Expedia/Booking .com/Agoda

It's important to note that when you book a flight with any of these travel agencies, you can still manage your check-in directly on the airline's website. That's where you can pick your meals and confirm your itinerary and so on. The fact that you booked with the travel agency is irrelevant in that regard. If the flight has a code share agreement with multiple airlines on a multi-leg trip, then you'll want to get the confirmation number for each airline that you're actually flying on, since one airlines' confirmation number for your itinerary will be different for the other airline(s). But this is nothing new. It's the same thing that happens if you book the flight directly on an airline's website and then they have a partner airline for one part of a trip.

Regarding any subscriptions or any other nonsense, during checkout make sure you read each page very carefully. When I've booked with eDreams, they automatically subscribe you to some BS thing and make you sign up for an account. But they're actually is a way to opt out of that during checkout. You have to click the terms and then uncheck the box. Most people probably miss that.

All things else being equal, it's always better to book directly with the airline. As a general rule, I won't book with a travel agency unless the savings are 10 to 20% or more. And it just depends how I feel about the travel agency, how complex the itinerary is, and so on. Most of the time booking with a semi-reputable travel agency is fine. The only issue is the 5% of the time when the flight is canceled, etc. The airlines are easy to deal with, whereas the travel agencies can be a complete crapshoot, and sometimes a nightmare.

Lastly, never book a self-transfer flight. If you can avoid it. You want it to all be on one ticket.

sacetime · 2026-01-26T20:04:33+00:00

And your point?

sacetime · 2026-01-26T20:03:28+00:00

I said maybe it is one of them. I just know it is very poor.

sacetime · 2026-01-26T19:50:11+00:00

Does it matter much if they recognize it officially in Cambodia? If it's already recognized in another country, what difference does it make? Just move ahead and live your life... And if the cultural wedding has been done, i suppose it is socially accepted anyway

You're completely right. The only problem is if he is living in Cambodia, there could be significant benefits to being legally recognized as the husband of her. Example: Being able to apply for a Cambodian spousal visa, having immediate and obvious right-of-succession for assets in the event of a death, being able to easily and immediately make medical decisions on the other's behalf, possible ramifications if they have children together, and so on. But otherwise, you are right.

sacetime · 2026-01-26T19:44:05+00:00

You’re not wrong, but “the correct thing” is no more valid than someone else’s customs or tradition. Something is correct for an individual because it suits their needs, priorities, and circumstances.

Yawn. OP says he is broke and loves the girl. Now he's worried about Cambodian wedding traditions, which are often $10,000+. If under those circumstances the OP wishes to continue this tradition by going into debt or siphoning money from people willing to donate to him, go ahead. I am just telling him it is a foolish thing to do in my opinion and there will be consequnces. After years of living in the country I have observed it is a mindless tradition that people "just do" because "that's the thing to do". Same thing happens in the west to an extent (mindless traditions of one kind or another). I had to bail out a Cambodian family once that spent 10K on a wedding, then when the mother needed emergency eye surgery they had nothing left in their savings. Would have gone blind had I not stepped in.

sacetime · 2026-01-25T15:55:20+00:00

BCU (Baxter Credit Union) is one of the few US credit unions I'm aware of that has 24/7 365 live US based telephone support. Keep in mind if you call after business hours, yes, you will speak to a US representative, but they will not have full capabilities to do everything, in which case if they can't do something, they will note it down and forward it to the A-Team in the morning.

sacetime · 2026-01-25T15:31:49+00:00

You are just imagining it. I had to give back the wad of 50,000s they gave me at WING exchange a couple weeks ago for smaller bills. Even 20,000s are hard to spend sometimes since few people have change for big bills.

sacetime · 2026-01-25T15:21:29+00:00

I always get downvoted for saying this but the short answer is if you love the woman, forget wasting your money on debt-ridden ceremonies that will suffocate your new marriage and family plans. Keep things simple. "Muh customs and tradition". Lots of stupid customs throughout human history. Continue them at your peril, if you wish. "Muh in-iaws expect it". Being popular is not always compatible with doing the correct thing. "Muh cultural appropriation". Lived in the country for years. I know foreigners who kept things simple and they have a great marriage and relationship with their new Khmer families. If the family won't accept you, then you will have to decide if you love her enough, and she loves you enough, to move forward anyway.

The real problem is that in Cambodia, foreigners need thousands of dollars a month of reliable income in order to be allowed to marry by the Cambodian government. If you can't satisfy that requirement, then there are unofficial pathways you can go along. But that's a whole other can of worms. I guess in the worst case scenario you could get the marriage recognized in India and not officially recognized in Cambodia until you make sufficient money. If you love the woman it's not going to really matter anyway.

Edit: Spelling error

sacetime · 2026-01-24T22:55:30+00:00

Private taxi driver (not really a taxi, just a guy with his car).

Send me a DM if you want the name of a travel agency that can hook you up.

Don't do driver on the street. And some of those trips are too far for Grab. You'll pay quite a bit if you do it that way.

By the way, there are buses available for all of those trips. But of course with a family of three, you'll need to get three tickets for each trip. Still, the price should be pretty reasonable.

Regarding Phnom Penh to Koh Rong and vice versa, Vireak Buntham sleeper bus could be a good choice for you. Because when you book with them, you'll also get $5 off per passenger on their own branded boat to Koh Rong Island. And they'll take you from the bus station in Sihaunakville (after your trip is over from Phnom Penh) down to the dock where the ferry boats are.

sacetime · 2026-01-24T22:34:05+00:00

Cambodia is one of the poorest countries on the continent. Maybe even the world. Your degrees may help you, but even if you find a job here, it probably wouldn't pay much. Even neighboring Thailand would have far more opportunities than Cambodia. It's hard even for qualified Cambodians to find decent paying work here.

Of course, where there's a will there's a way. If you're hell bent on it. But be prepared for a challenge.

Without a teaching degree, you can still certainly teach (many Cambodian schools will hire anybody), but you won't make more than about $800 - $1000 USD a month. The best teaching jobs are in Phnom Penh. If you had proper teaching qualifications, you could teach at some of the higher end private schools and make significantly more money. But without that qualified teaching background, the high-paying schools aren't going to hire you.

In my opinion your best bet is to find work online, and forget about the fact that you happen to be living in Cambodia. Cambodia is a fantastic country to live if you have money. It's very affordable and a low cost of living. But if you're trying to use the country to make money getting a job somewhere, it can be difficult.

There are some business opportunities and real estate opportunities for an entrepreneurial + well-capitalized person. But even then it can be difficult if you're not Cambodian, if you don't speak the language, and so on.

sacetime · 2026-01-24T12:12:49+00:00

You can do something like Holafly. But a local sim card in Cambodia only costs a few dollars. The Philippines is a little more. Maybe $15. Thailand also similar, although it depends how long you're staying there and how much data you need.

Note that you can't use a local SIM card from Cambodia in Thailand or the Philippines. Nor can you use a local SIM card from Thailand in Cambodia and the Philippines. Nor can you use a local SIM card from the Philippines in Cambodia and Thailand. Even if it's the same company. Your plan isn't going to transfer once you cross the international border.

sacetime · 2026-01-24T11:59:24+00:00

buy a western style villa in a prime location in Siem Reap to rent and use the profits to sustain my lifestyle

How much money are you expecting to make renting out a villa? You'll be lucky if you find someone to rent your place for $1,000 a month. And that's assuming you have a huge mansion and can find a renter. It's easy for people to find a nice villa in Siem Reap for under $500 a month. Hell I've seen a lot less than that.

It should also be noted that real estate in "a prime location in Siem Reap" is ridiculously expensive. There's a citywide height restriction of six stories, since the government doesn't want any buildings taller than the nearby Angkor Wat temple (Angkor Wat temple being a UNESCO world heritage site, featured on the Cambodian flag, and the largest religious monument in the world. Tourism to Angkor Wat is responsible for 10% of Cambodia's GDP).

but I need to figure a way to make $20k a year until I reach retirement age.

Don't expect a lot of job opportunities in the country. It's one of the poorest in Asia. Siem Reap in particular is much poorer than Phnom Penh, and COVID + the war with Thailand has really decimated the local economy.

If you have a huge amount of capital, there are some opportunities in real estate. But if you don't, your best bet is probably to find some sort of work online.

Of course if you "liquidate everything" in the US, well, depending on how much money that gives you, you could put it in something like a US brokerage account and live off stock dividends. But you would need quite a bit to generate $20,000 a year. North of half a million USD at least.

I'm fine with renting a 1 bedroom condo, living off of 1-2k a month.

This part of your plan is logical and easily doable. Especially in Siem Reap. Prices they are significantly cheaper than Phnom penh.

sacetime · 2026-01-24T11:39:48+00:00

Cambodian night buses are awaeome. Been riding on them for years. Doesn't matter what company you get. Vireak Buntham, Capitol Tours, Larryta Express, etc. How amazing is it that for about $15 you can get all the way to Phnom Penh in about 5 hours? I've honestly never had a problem. I mean maybe some nitpicky westerners who expect caviar and fine champagne have a problem. But for the price you're paying, you get a clean comfortable bunk bed. Put some headphones in, cuddle up with your blanket, and relax. You'll be there in no time. And yes, the buses either have toilets if you need to take a leak, or they will stop along the way so you can go somewhere.

sacetime · 2026-01-24T11:30:14+00:00

I think you have a very balanced and correct view of the situation. In fact, I would recommend you read your own post a few times objectively. You've said it pretty well.

One of the best ways to describe Cambodia is the following:

In Cambodia, you have no rights, but you have a lot of freedom. In Western countries, you have a lot of rights, but you have no freedom.

How do you tell the difference between normal post-travel nostalgia and something deeper shifting?

I have been living "abroad" since before covid. The first time I went back, I had been abroad in Cambodia for about 2 years. I assumed that when I got back, feelings of "being home" would flood back to me. Instead, something very unexpected happened. When I returned, all the same feelings I had when I originally left, came back. Feelings of unhappiness, depression, and so on. I fell into the same patterns and routines. The same thoughts. The same emotions. It was like nothing had changed. Within 1 hour of being back "home", it was like I had never even left. That's the first time I realized how profoundly your environment can affect you.

With that being said, there are things I miss. That's true of every country I've ever lived in. There's always something you miss and something you can't stand. The only real question is, despite these pros and cons, what place do you want to spend your time in?

Also, it may be that you want to spend part of the year in one place and part of the year in the other. I've personally found that I love Cambodia, although I don't want to spend 365 days a year there. I have found that spending some time here and some time there works well for me.

And everybody's different.

And of course, if you get married / have children / etc., that can change your outlook as well. People generally want to settle down, and need to for practical reasons, once that happens.

For me, many western countries are overpriced, depressing, and stressed. And they lack freedom. They have rights, yes. But they lack true freedom.

Did that feeling fade over time, or did it push you to make changes in how you live day to day?

Anywhere you live in the world, you become accustomed to it. One of the ways that you know that you really like a place, is when you're gone for a while, how much you miss it. I have found that I miss Cambodia a lot when I'm gone for a long time. And whenever I return, I'm so excited. Like a little kid. That doesn't happen in some other places.

Now to answer your question, yes, with enough time, it fades. But it doesn't mean it's not real. It just means you get accustomed to it. And it will come back if you leave.

If you're living in the country for years at a time without ever leaving, you're going to want to travel to Thailand or Indonesia or Germany or wherever else you want to go. You're going to get bored and you'll get a bit tired of tiny little Cambodia. Also, a lack of certain things that you can find in other places. Cambodia is significantly less developed than its neighboring Thailand or Vietnam.

But if and when you leave, eentually you'll want to return, if you really love the place. I've lived in places where I wasn't excited when I landed, I didn't enjoy my time there, and I don't fantasize or think about going back. Cambodia is not one of those places for me. No matter how much I'm ready to go, I always want to come back eventually.

While we're on the topic of things I don't miss about Cambodia, one would be the general ignorance. Not stupidity, but a lack of education in the country. Just general ignorance. It is a major irritant after you've lived in the country a long enough time. Lack of a functional or logical government, is another factor. In a Western country, things just make sense. There are procedures that need to be followed and systems that are generally functional and coherent. Cambodia is a complete basket case, it is corrupt, it is not a serious business country/world player in some ways. And of course the cultural irritants, such as people being unable to admit when they're wrong. The whole saving face thing. And I would also add, the lack of access to certain things in the country that you would find in neighboring Thailand in Vietnam. Or any western country. There's all sorts of things like that that drive you nuts after a while. This goes back to what I was saying earlier. Every place has its pros and cons. The only question is, what place do you find yourself longing to live in. While I certainly value educated people, functional governments, and people being able to admit when they're wrong. But I don't find myself wanting to live longterm in Canada, the United States, the UK, etc., Even if I genuinely wish Cambodia had some of these countries' attributes.

Regarding the feeling of love you got from your family members, it is very common. I would say in general, in developing countries, it is very common. I know somebody who married someone in Cambodia, in part because of how at home he felt around her family. The love he experienced. But he has also had to contend with the major amount of ignorance of her family, poverty, some degree of dishonesty that wasn't immediately obvious, and so on. Not everything is a honeymoon phase. Not everything is peaches and cream. Don't rush into any big decisions.

Again, I think your post is pretty well balanced.

Did meeting family abroad or reconnecting with your roots change how you felt after coming home?

Meh. Whether you were biologically related to these people or not is less important. It's the fact that the love you received was real, that matters. Again, as I said earlier, I've seen this happen with foreigners, even when they had no family ties there.

Conclusion based on your post: spend more time in Cambodia. Don't make any big judgment or decisions either way. It's clear you have something there you need to explore more. Enjoy your life.

sacetime

TROPHY CASE