Travel To Cambodia

[cardholder]

Just wondered if there was any official word (or unofficial opinion) on whether it was safe/adviseable to travel to Cambodia given the current conflict.

My travels take me only to tourist areas and I shall be miles away from the border conflict. However, I am concerned about the potential reaction (by Cambodians) to my Thai wife.

She (like most Thais I have spoken to) hates Cambodia/Cambodians because of the conflict but is prepared to make the visit.

[Kilgore Trout]

Why would you want to take your wife somewhere where she "hates" everybody? Regardless of the conflict I would be more worried about your wife's behavior/comments causing a problem.

I also don't agree that most Thais hate Cambodians, many have never met one. During the cold war there was a lot of propaganda but I never met anyone who "hated" Russians. The way things are now it's hard to remember a time when Russians were the "enemy." I digress......

[Mario2008]

Th borders are still open, but for the conflict area. But the situation is tense and can deteriorate at any minute with great sentiments of nationalism playing up.

For a foreigner there would not be much of an issue outside the conflict zone, for a Thai national that could be a whole different thing. Why risk it?

[dumball]

There is no huge nationalistic "Thing' in Cambodia as in Thailand , these people are friendly and I feel sure your wife will have no confrontation as Khmer are not that way inclined , that is as long as she does not wear a shirt or carry a banner proclaiming her hatred . Where did she derive this hatred from anyway ? HATRED is usually deep seated for specific reasons , as in rout teachings in Thai schools , after her visit she will more than likely lose her bad thoughts when she discovers they are just human beings going about thier daily lives .

Come , relax and enjoy a pleasant visit , it will open both your eyes , many expats are as brainwashed as the Thai they like to feel they have become .

[cardholder]

There is no huge nationalistic "Thing' in Cambodia as in Thailand , these people are friendly and I feel sure your wife will have no confrontation as Khmer are not that way inclined , that is as long as she does not wear a shirt or carry a banner proclaiming her hatred . Where did she derive this hatred from anyway ? HATRED is usually deep seated for specific reasons , as in rout teachings in Thai schools , after her visit she will more than likely lose her bad thoughts when she discovers they are just human beings going about thier daily lives .

Come , relax and enjoy a pleasant visit , it will open both your eyes , many expats are as brainwashed as the Thai they like to feel they have become .

Thanks for all the responses so far.

Mario says "Why risk it" - a fair point. Despite the nationalistic thing, that sponsors the hatred, my missus has enough sense to appreciate the wonders of Angkor Wat without those idiotic paradigms surfacing. She will also be a foreigner in Cambodia and will be respectfully on the back foot. Nevertheless, I want her to be able to enjoy the trip without feeling that everyone is watching her because she is Thai.

I would never get into a discussion about the disputed territory because the brainwashing would prevent any meaningful debate.

[Atmos]

Hi - just my personal exp

My partner has a fear of Cambodians. As do her family here - we're south of Aranyaprathet/Poipet, they were here though the Khmer Rouge fighting which ended as recently as 1994.

Hardly 'distant memories' and this recent border conflict has them worried.

I went to PP alone pre-Xmas, she simply didn't want to go, pointless 'making' her go, and despite my happy reports on the place , still has no intention of joining me there if I go again.

Someone told me that they grew up in 'wait till the Kampucheans' get here era of fear, hard to shake something like that, it can't have been a good time around here for many years.

[DP25]

It'd be a bad idea for her to go. Don't forget what happened in Cambodia in 2003. Based off of the RUMOUR that a Thai actress said Angkor Wat belonged to Thailand (she said no such thing), Cambodians rioted, destroying the Thai embassy and attacking Thai businesses in Phnom Phen. Wait until it is more clear what is going to happen. If there are more riots bad things could happen to any Thai caught near them.

[mstribling]

We live near the border but further south. We have numerous Khmer here. Laem Sing was a huge refugee camp in 1974.

My wifes only prejudice against them is she is certain they are the source of all black magic.

Like was advised earlier, why risk it. Maybe later.

[dumball]

You know I find it a little strange(biased) that when all of the riots were going on in ?BKK many asked about the safety factor for tourists , they were told "Oh , no problem here , just stay away from where the street fighting is happening " You know , where bullets were flying around and bombs going off etc , etc .

There is nothing of that nature going on in Cambodia other than a few places along the border , red flags are raised , anything could happen , they will eat your liver and similar garbage . There are no such signs showing at this time , the Thai here are still working at thier jobs with aplomb , no mass vacation plans offered by the Thai government etc .

Cambodians like and appreciate tourists of all stripes , cannot see why that will suddenly change because they still have to make a living . Just be a tourist and all should be hunky-dory .