Anybody Else Considering A Move To Cambodia?

[lemoncake]

Visiting the place for a holiday is not the same as living there.

Any place looks wonderful when its a short holiday, the reality is yes people are more friendly and visa's are easier but there is a huge number of other obstacles one would need to over come to call it great place.

Food might look cheap when you there for a holiday, but $10 for a meal is not exactly cheap when you living there.

I remember last time i was there 3 years ago, coffee at a coffee shop on river front was $3.75, sure one does not need to drink "good" coffee, but if its any indication of what "good" things cost, it certainly not a cheap place.

[MrHammer]

Visiting the place for a holiday is not the same as living there.

Any place looks wonderful when its a short holiday, the reality is yes people are more friendly and visa's are easier but there is a huge number of other obstacles one would need to over come to call it great place.

Food might look cheap when you there for a holiday, but $10 for a meal is not exactly cheap when you living there.

I remember last time i was there 3 years ago, coffee at a coffee shop on river front was $3.75, sure one does not need to drink "good" coffee, but if its any indication of what "good" things cost, it certainly not a cheap place.

The problem with places like Cambodja and other real 3rd world countries is that you simply can't get quality even if you have money. Some luxury goods may be more expensive than western countries. So living in Cambodja means settling for a local standard of living. No thanks, not going to happen.

[cardholder]

The medical care is a big issue for older people.

the medical care is a big issue for any people.

if you have the money or insurance, they fly you out to Thailand for treatment. if you do not have neither, your life is in the hands of god.

Bangkok Hospital has a branch there, but its merely GP consultations, anything else off to Bangkok Thailand.

There is a children hospital near by the wat phnom, but it looks more like horse stables.

I believe the Cambodians also consider Vietnam (presumably HCMC) as an option, as well as Bangkok.

[elliss]

cambodia ? no thank you .

it will be full of the last hope C.C. brigade , ex thailand .

[cardholder]

Didn't like visiting Cambodja at all 5 years ago. It's edgy, poor, no infrastructure and a general feeling of despair from the locals. Not to mention I don't like not knowing who were Khmer Rogue in the past. It would be like walking around in post war Germany and not knowing who were Nazis. The 'Highway 4' is a dirt road with massive potholes. Only other foreigner I met on a bus was toothless weirdo. Sihanoukville is incredibly boring. Most of the countryside is an ugly flat tundra since they cut down all the trees.

No thanks to Cambodja. I'd much sooner move to the Philipines.

I think you need to revisit.

You will see 'genuine' smiles, compared to Thailand. In Siem Reap and PP you will see evidence of relative wealth (and a lot of overseas investment). I wouldn't travel by bus in Cambodia - I avoid doing so in Thailand as well. Investment has taken place with the roads which have much improved over the last 5 years.

Not sure where your journey took you but there is more slash and burn evident in Thailand than I have seen in Cambodia. The run over the Cardamom mountains from Koh Kong to Sihanoukville is a delight - as is the road journey of less than 2 hours from Chong sa Ngam to Siem Reap through part of the national park. It is now only 2 hours from Chong Chom to Siem Reap.

[lemoncake]

The medical care is a big issue for older people.

the medical care is a big issue for any people.

if you have the money or insurance, they fly you out to Thailand for treatment. if you do not have neither, your life is in the hands of god.

Bangkok Hospital has a branch there, but its merely GP consultations, anything else off to Bangkok Thailand.

There is a children hospital near by the wat phnom, but it looks more like horse stables.

I believe the Cambodians also consider Vietnam (presumably HCMC) as an option, as well as Bangkok.

I only know the Bangkok Hospital Branch there and naturally they fly patients to Bangkok, i am sure there are other hospitals that may very well fly to HCMC.

Vietnam influence is huge in Cambodia so as Chinese.

The cable TV is Astro from Vietnam, a number of other services are also out of Vietnam.

Locals say that Hun Sen gives away land to Vietnam in return for some services, some even claim he has given away few hundred of km's if not more already.

[lemoncake]

Visiting the place for a holiday is not the same as living there.

Any place looks wonderful when its a short holiday, the reality is yes people are more friendly and visa's are easier but there is a huge number of other obstacles one would need to over come to call it great place.

Food might look cheap when you there for a holiday, but $10 for a meal is not exactly cheap when you living there.

I remember last time i was there 3 years ago, coffee at a coffee shop on river front was $3.75, sure one does not need to drink "good" coffee, but if its any indication of what "good" things cost, it certainly not a cheap place.

The problem with places like Cambodja and other real 3rd world countries is that you simply can't get quality even if you have money. Some luxury goods may be more expensive than western countries. So living in Cambodja means settling for a local standard of living. No thanks, not going to happen.

Not necessarily true, if you have money or a good job you can live magnificent life in 3rd world country and do not need to settle for local standards at all.

Cambodia is the only time i have seen real life Benz maybech in real life parked at central market, the car is worth at least $1200 000, i also saw a Russian Hummer alike car, i read some where it is gold plated inside or something like that and also worth around $2 000 000.

On my visits i met some foreigners who lived there and seemed to have it all, from luxury cars to huge villa's, but also met some destitute's who would argue for 3 hours with a motorcycle taxi over 25 cents

[Semper]

Visiting the place for a holiday is not the same as living there.

Any place looks wonderful when its a short holiday, the reality is yes people are more friendly and visa's are easier but there is a huge number of other obstacles one would need to over come to call it great place.

Food might look cheap when you there for a holiday, but $10 for a meal is not exactly cheap when you living there.

I remember last time i was there 3 years ago, coffee at a coffee shop on river front was $3.75, sure one does not need to drink "good" coffee, but if its any indication of what "good" things cost, it certainly not a cheap place.

The problem with places like Cambodja and other real 3rd world countries is that you simply can't get quality even if you have money. Some luxury goods may be more expensive than western countries. So living in Cambodja means settling for a local standard of living. No thanks, not going to happen.

Why did you leave your home country?

Edited February 25, 2013 by Semper

[MrHammer]

Visiting the place for a holiday is not the same as living there.

Any place looks wonderful when its a short holiday, the reality is yes people are more friendly and visa's are easier but there is a huge number of other obstacles one would need to over come to call it great place.

Food might look cheap when you there for a holiday, but $10 for a meal is not exactly cheap when you living there.

I remember last time i was there 3 years ago, coffee at a coffee shop on river front was $3.75, sure one does not need to drink "good" coffee, but if its any indication of what "good" things cost, it certainly not a cheap place.

The problem with places like Cambodja and other real 3rd world countries is that you simply can't get quality even if you have money. Some luxury goods may be more expensive than western countries. So living in Cambodja means settling for a local standard of living. No thanks, not going to happen.

Why did you leave your home country?

I don't consider Thailand a 3rd world country at all. Thailand could become bonafide first world in less than 10 years if the powers that be wanted to. But they don't want that, they'd rather live with the noise, pollution and crooked pavements if it means keeping their servant class (the Isaanites) poor and uneducated. Thailand is a feudalistic country that currently experiences a sort of french revolution between the inherited elite and the business elite (Thaksin). Attempting to analyze Thailand from a western materialistic viewpoint makes no sense.

However, Cambodja and the Philipines are real third world countries were real poverty is the norm and armed guards stand outside banks and nightclubs.

[MrHammer]

Visiting the place for a holiday is not the same as living there.

Any place looks wonderful when its a short holiday, the reality is yes people are more friendly and visa's are easier but there is a huge number of other obstacles one would need to over come to call it great place.

Food might look cheap when you there for a holiday, but $10 for a meal is not exactly cheap when you living there.

I remember last time i was there 3 years ago, coffee at a coffee shop on river front was $3.75, sure one does not need to drink "good" coffee, but if its any indication of what "good" things cost, it certainly not a cheap place.

The problem with places like Cambodja and other real 3rd world countries is that you simply can't get quality even if you have money. Some luxury goods may be more expensive than western countries. So living in Cambodja means settling for a local standard of living. No thanks, not going to happen.

Not necessarily true, if you have money or a good job you can live magnificent life in 3rd world country and do not need to settle for local standards at all.

Cambodia is the only time i have seen real life Benz maybech in real life parked at central market, the car is worth at least $1200 000, i also saw a Russian Hummer alike car, i read some where it is gold plated inside or something like that and also worth around $2 000 000.

On my visits i met some foreigners who lived there and seemed to have it all, from luxury cars to huge villa's, but also met some destitute's who would argue for 3 hours with a motorcycle taxi over 25 cents

Sure, the elite in the Philipines is also filthy rich beyong imagination, but living there means sheltering yourself from the extreme poverty. Consider this: Manila has just as bad traffic as Thailand, yet there are no motocy's. The Philipines have just as many tropical fruits as Thailand, yet you can only buy candy and fast food on the street. Why is this? Because third world countries have a poverty mentality and no hope for changing things. If I wanted the same standard of living in the Philipines, including safety, it would cost me a lot.

But judging from some of the responses here, Cambodja seems to have changed for the better in latter years. It would certainly be great to find a young and smart population wanting to move ahead in the world. Starting a business there and genuinly helping these people succeed sure does make my entrepreneural nerve tingle.

[Asiantravel]

Didn't like visiting Cambodja at all 5 years ago. It's edgy, poor, no infrastructure and a general feeling of despair from the locals. Not to mention I don't like not knowing who were Khmer Rogue in the past. It would be like walking around in post war Germany and not knowing who were Nazis. The 'Highway 4' is a dirt road with massive potholes. Only other foreigner I met on a bus was toothless weirdo. Sihanoukville is incredibly boring. Most of the countryside is an ugly flat tundra since they cut down all the trees.

No thanks to Cambodja. I'd much sooner move to the Philipines.

Bingo!

It has got a lot of good things and I do enjoy the place for many reasons and I love the architecture.

But you have really knocked the nail on the head and is probably the reason why I have sat on the fence myself for about 8 years. I suddenly have a burst of " ok I'm moving there " but then I get doubts.

I think it just comes down to the overall atmosphere of the place which lingers from the past. And you have quite correctly raised a very salient point. In fact I have never understood how they can even reconcile having a Prime Minister, who was part of the previous regime?!

I mean, you don't just wake up one morning and just say I've changed my perspective and what the Khmer Rouge did was wrong!

I think the bottom line is it will take at least a generation before things can get back to normal.

[NeverSure]

Visiting the place for a holiday is not the same as living there.

Any place looks wonderful when its a short holiday, the reality is yes people are more friendly and visa's are easier but there is a huge number of other obstacles one would need to over come to call it great place.

Food might look cheap when you there for a holiday, but $10 for a meal is not exactly cheap when you living there.

I remember last time i was there 3 years ago, coffee at a coffee shop on river front was $3.75, sure one does not need to drink "good" coffee, but if its any indication of what "good" things cost, it certainly not a cheap place.

The problem with places like Cambodja and other real 3rd world countries is that you simply can't get quality even if you have money. Some luxury goods may be more expensive than western countries. So living in Cambodja means settling for a local standard of living. No thanks, not going to happen.

I get your points, but I experienced the same thing in Thailand. It took quite a while to learn where to eat and where to buy food and a zillion other things.

If you go to the tourist spots you'll pay. If you find out where the locals and the seasoned expats go, you'll save.

Right up front, rent is about the same in PP as in Chiang Mai. Bangkok would be highest. Beer, wine, smokes, and adult entertainment are much cheaper in PP. Certainly a visa is easier and cheaper.

In a country so riddled with abject poverty, it isn't reasonable to assume that people who know their way around spend a lot of money on basics unless they just want to.

As an aside, if I really needed to cut costs in LOS, I'd head for a modest sized village in Isaan and learn to live as locals do. Some on this board and maybe in this thread do just that.

[JSixpack]

The medical care is a big issue for older people.

the medical care is a big issue for any people.

Could be, but fact is that younger people have far fewer issues than older and those issues tend not to be chronic, requiring frequent visits to specialists. Besides, young people think they're immortal anyway.

if you have the money or insurance, they fly you out to Thailand for treatment. if you do not have neither, your life is in the hands of god.

Obviously. But, you see, maybe the ailment doesn't permit the time or mobility needed to fly out to Thailand for treatment.

Edited February 26, 2013 by JSixpack

[NeverSure]

The medical care is a big issue for older people.

the medical care is a big issue for any people.

Could be, but fact is that younger people have far fewer issues than older and those issues tend not to be chronic, requiring frequent visits to specialists. Besides, young people think they're immortal anyway.

if you have the money or insurance, they fly you out to Thailand for treatment. if you do not have neither, your life is in the hands of god.

Obviously. But, you see, maybe the ailment doesn't permit the time or mobility needed to fly out to Thailand for treatment.

That can happen in the US. There are many local hospitals which can't handle some things, and then they have to transport to a larger regional hospital. That can be done by ambulance, chopper or fixed wing plane. For instance the only true burn center in the Pacific Northwest is in Portland Oregon. On a lesser scale, there are only 4 hospitals in the State of Oregon that can do brain trauma surgery, or have neo-natal intensive care. The US is simply too large and with too many vast rural areas to have full coverage everywhere.

Even where service is immediate and good, it still takes time to get a chopper to a remote accident scene, and then fly 200+ miles to the appropriate hospital. Worse if the chopper has to land at an airport and transfer the patient to a jet.

No one can plan for everything, but millions of people choose to live in rural US without nearby serious medical facilities.

[MrWorldwide]

You dont need to leave the so-called 'first world' to get inferior medical treatment. Our f*cking public health system is a joke. How many here would be appalled if they saw a Cambodian woman forced to give birth in a carpark ? We'd probably go back to Thailand or wherever thinking 'Jesus, what a destitute country ...'

FWIW, Nepean is in far Western Sydney - a notorious part of the monster that Sydney has become. I'd bulldoze everything west of Parramatta and start again. I despair for this country a little more with each passing day, and that's as sad as anything I've seen in Asia.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/16244331/woman-forced-to-give-birth-in-car-park/

A Sydney hospital has apologised to a mother who was forced to give birth in the car park. Paula Bailey says her harrowing experience at Nepean Hospital was made even worse by the way staff treated her. Paula and her husband Scott tried for five years before falling pregnant with their second child Madison. Earlier this month, they went to Nepean Hospital late at night with Paula having contractions. After she was monitored, a midwife told Paula to go home, but she insisted that she was in pain.

"You'll know when you're in labour, suck it up princess," the midwife apparently replied.

Paula said she was gob smacked by what she had heard. The couple went home only to return when Paula's waters broke. With Paula in pain in their car in the parking lot, Scott tried the after-hours buzzer. "Paula was yelling at me the baby's coming, I can feel the head I need to push," he said. Scott then turned to the car to assist and cried for help. Someone did emerge from the hospital to ask what was going on, and then went back inside. By the time a team from emergency arrived Madison had all but arrived. Dad was holding her head and shoulders.

Edited February 26, 2013 by MrWorldwide

[NeverSure]

You dont need to leave the so-called 'first world' to get inferior medical treatment. Our f*cking public health system is a joke. How many here would be appalled if they saw a Cambodian woman forced to give birth in a carpark ? We'd probably go back to Thailand or wherever thinking 'Jesus, what a destitute country ...'

FWIW, Nepean is in far Western Sydney - a notorious part of the monster that Sydney has become. I'd bulldoze everything west of Parramatta and start again. I despair for this country a little more with each passing day, and that's as sad as anything I've seen in Asia.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/16244331/woman-forced-to-give-birth-in-car-park/

A Sydney hospital has apologised to a mother who was forced to give birth in the car park. Paula Bailey says her harrowing experience at Nepean Hospital was made even worse by the way staff treated her. Paula and her husband Scott tried for five years before falling pregnant with their second child Madison. Earlier this month, they went to Nepean Hospital late at night with Paula having contractions. After she was monitored, a midwife told Paula to go home, but she insisted that she was in pain.

"You'll know when you're in labour, suck it up princess," the midwife apparently replied.

Paula said she was gob smacked by what she had heard. The couple went home only to return when Paula's waters broke. With Paula in pain in their car in the parking lot, Scott tried the after-hours buzzer. "Paula was yelling at me the baby's coming, I can feel the head I need to push," he said. Scott then turned to the car to assist and cried for help. Someone did emerge from the hospital to ask what was going on, and then went back inside. By the time a team from emergency arrived Madison had all but arrived. Dad was holding her head and shoulders.

Apologized. Great. I'll bet.

One of the primary things that makes US health care so expensive is tort liability. It seems everyone wants to sue a doctor or hospital. I promise you that would have cost the hospital a million dollars for that attitude and treatment. If the baby had died, think millions. It would never have gotten to a jury. The hospital would have settled.

Of course if I had family I wouldn't consider living in Cambodia. I can take risks for myself that I wouldn't take with a family. I'm a senior and I'm going to die and I can't choose the time. I can only choose how I want to live the rest of my life.

[Rumpole]

..

Edited February 26, 2013 by Rumpole

[JSixpack]

No one can plan for everything, but millions of people choose to live in rural US without nearby serious medical facilities.

Of course a person can choose to take that risk; many do; and maybe it will make no difference.

It's just a matter of personal priorities. It's a bit like arguing smoking or not using condoms. George Burns lived to 100 despite his cigars and martinis. I take inspiration from that, 'cause I do like a good cigar now and then. Many years ago an acquaintance of mine in Pattaya told me that his happiness required that he never use condoms. He knew the risk and assured me that he had never had a problem. After he died of AIDS in his 50s and was cremated at Wat Sawang Fa in Naklua, I helped scatter his ashes in Pattaya Bay. His choice. I'm a big believer in social Darwinism.

Me, I wouldn't live in an area without nearby serious medical facilities, cheap beer notwithstanding. I really like the convenience, lack of travel expense (no need for a chopper), and prompt, competent treatment for illness if needed. Hence I wouldn't consider living in Cambodia or in a rural area of the USA. Visiting, yes. But you go ahead if you wish.

Edited February 27, 2013 by JSixpack

[driedmango]

Yes.. Cambodia is awesome ... You should just pack a little backpack and take the bus over there right away, it's like nextdoor..

Check out Angkor of course, and in General anywhere in Cambodia.

Sure it is a poor place but they are hustling there and building a better future, it would be hard to compare it to Thailand really, they are different, but you are very close to Thailnd if you need medical care, I will put it that way.. lol

If you bored just head around Laos, Cambodia.. wonder around, who knows maybe you will like it maybe you won't... its a different kind of place, more hustles here and there.. but also very interesting up and coming someday country.

[driedmango]

I have visited Cambodia over the past couple of years for the purpose of looking for a "bolthole" should anything turn to custard in Thailand, so here is my feedback.

I am not a city person so on my first visit to Phnom Penh I didn't find it to be somewhere that I would like to live, however on the second visit I changed my mind because parts of it are bustling with life, cafes and restaurants and nightclubs, and other parts are good for sightseeing. So I think I would probably give it a try for a few months just to see how I fitted in.

I also made two visits to Sihanoukville and found this to be quite a charming place which will almost certainly grow to be something like Patong in around 10 years (however hopefully not that bad) because of the new building going on, and the hotels springing up, and of course the influx of tourists. I found the locals to be very helpful and never felt threatened anywhere I went, in fact the motorbike taxi drivers were only too pleased to help out wherever possible and would always welcome some sort of bargaining for the fare.

There are a few bars in the area, if that is what you are looking for (many, many more in Phnom Penh of course) and a choice of cheap restaurants.

Of course the Visa situation is much more "farang friendly" with no monthly reporting and all that nonsense.

All in all, as one other poster has suggested, why not visit for a few weeks/months just to get a feel for the place – – nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

I also found the Capital pretty cool... I really enjoy one thing, when I was there the sky was blue and smog was 100x less than most big cities in the area.

[poanoi]

Good thing is clean sea, superb beer, superb visa system.

Bad thing is no gogo, no thai food.

.....And the only place that can come into question is Sihanookville,

screw Pnom Phen

Edited February 27, 2013 by poanoi

[bangkokburning]

If I were single and under 45 I would be looming to Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnsm as bases. Not Thailand. Double so if you like the feeling of a growing, vibrant people and economy.

Thailand is finished. You know when the bloated, whinging, cable tv and air con crowd have staked a claim - its done

Get off your ass and have a look.

I lived there 93-96. Loved my time there but grew weary of the grit and corruption. Cambo is on the move. Thailand, not so much.

[JSixpack]

Thailand is finished. You know when the bloated, whinging, cable tv and air con crowd have staked a claim - its done

Now, now. Let's not be too harsh on the cable TV, aircon, and--internet. Who really wants to go back to fans and just reading paperbacks?

And somebody already observed that Thailand has go-go bars and Cambodia don't!

I'm with you on the bloated and whinging, however.

Be great to dump the whingers in Cambodia, actually. Can whinge on another forum.

Edited February 27, 2013 by JSixpack

[rene123]

I find it difficult to support any country that until recently has barely stopped slaughtering its own citizens. Unlike its surrounding neighbours, Thailand has never done that. I enjoy Chiang Mai because it has a very substantial western expat base. There is nowhere in the city that DOESN'T have someone who can't speak at least a little English. Chiang Mai is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it covers most of what westerners want in a society... lots of accommodation, good medical, good dental, stable economy, reasonable and available merchandise, many places to eat, night life, fair transportation and it's easy to walk just about anywhere within an hour.

[HeijoshinCool]

I find it difficult to support any country that until recently has barely stopped slaughtering its own citizens. Unlike its surrounding neighbours, Thailand has never done that. I enjoy Chiang Mai because it has a very substantial western expat base. There is nowhere in the city that DOESN'T have someone who can't speak at least a little English. Chiang Mai is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it covers most of what westerners want in a society... lots of accommodation, good medical, good dental, stable economy, reasonable and available merchandise, many places to eat, night life, fair transportation and it's easy to walk just about anywhere within an hour.

You might want to look up the Tak Bai incident.

Or before that, the 2200 plus extrajudicial executions of suspected drug dealers.

Or.... well, I'm too busy to do other's research.

[NeverSure]

Who keeps saying that Cambo doesn't have go-go bars? Pick your definition of bar type because there are lots of types, but Cambo is far from lacking adult entertainment and at half the price of LOS.

[lazygourmet]

I find it difficult to support any country that until recently has barely stopped slaughtering its own citizens. Unlike its surrounding neighbours, Thailand has never done that. I enjoy Chiang Mai because it has a very substantial western expat base. There is nowhere in the city that DOESN'T have someone who can't speak at least a little English. Chiang Mai is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it covers most of what westerners want in a society... lots of accommodation, good medical, good dental, stable economy, reasonable and available merchandise, many places to eat, night life, fair transportation and it's easy to walk just about anywhere within an hour.

You might want to look up the Tak Bai incident.

Or before that, the 2200 plus extrajudicial executions of suspected drug dealers.

Or.... well, I'm too busy to do other's research.

Those are not auto-genocide

The only people on this planet who ever commit auto-genocide are the khmers

[Paangjang]

I must say the relaxed visa's and ease of setting up a business and running it as a foreigner really appeal to me. I just feel sometimes that Thailand has grown weary of use but also grown very experienced at fleecing the next boatload.

Cynical i know but that's just my take on things.

Is there a "Mafia" culture, like in Thailand? If a foreigner opens up a business, is he likely to have to pay off local thugs, police or their version of the or bor tor?

[HeijoshinCool]

I find it difficult to support any country that until recently has barely stopped slaughtering its own citizens. Unlike its surrounding neighbours, Thailand has never done that. I enjoy Chiang Mai because it has a very substantial western expat base. There is nowhere in the city that DOESN'T have someone who can't speak at least a little English. Chiang Mai is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it covers most of what westerners want in a society... lots of accommodation, good medical, good dental, stable economy, reasonable and available merchandise, many places to eat, night life, fair transportation and it's easy to walk just about anywhere within an hour.

You might want to look up the Tak Bai incident.

Or before that, the 2200 plus extrajudicial executions of suspected drug dealers.

Or.... well, I'm too busy to do other's research.

Those are not auto-genocide

The only people on this planet who ever commit auto-genocide are the khmers

First, Rene123 did not specify, nor allude to, autogenocide.

Second, your statements are debatable, even amongst scholars, with whom neither of us probably can claim association. At least, I can't.

Edited February 27, 2013 by HeijoshinCool

[bangkokburning]

To all the idiots, morons and dolts that somehow think that Cambodia (please note spelling) is domehow still involved or recently severed its relationship wirh the KR - PLEASE hit the Wiki. That is ancient history. There are as percentage of population not many people alive that were over 16yrs of age when the KR came to power (Apr 17, 1975).

The regime ran the nation into the mud in four short years (yeah, it was there already under Sinhanouk) and started annoying the piss out of the Viets that they came in and wiped them out in a day largely by air 35 years ago (more than half my lifetime) .

KR collapsed in 1979. A war of attrition continued between what was no more than bandits, loggers andd gems thieves continued until 1997. While some of these jokers were KR indeed some at the top, this rag tag bunch of jungle dwelling maoists best pmayed hands were kidnapping tourists and highway robberies as well as aforementioned crimes which Thailand aided and abeited as Thailand was sole recipient of said logs and gems.

Please excuse the typos

The relationship between the KR in abstract and the nation is quite complicated. Dont even bring it up if you dont even half understand it.

When I mention UNTAC to anyone, even my age and older they have not a clue and or largely have forgot about the mission.

Cambodia is alive and well and if anything wants to forget its past (as the Viets have) and move on.

I am not using this post to belittle or be angry but I swear to the Lord Buddha. This is some of the most stupid assaine shit I have heard in a long time.

Cambodia and modern Cambodian history is as facinating a read as any grand spy novel. It is dark, rich and complex. Nixon/ Kissenger, Lao, Vietnam, spooks, illegal bombing and a litany of bit part political actors that even a shitty Sihanouk movie could not assemble better.

It is a facinating country, a poor but proud peopke and you are the lesser for not knowing anyghing about the place, especially since you live next door.

Edited February 27, 2013 by bangkokburning