Abandoned buildings and vacant land.
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- I Am Losing It All to the Internet
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Abandoned buildings and vacant land.
I often wonder what is the story behind all the old buildings that are abandoned in Kep. And the vacant fenced land around the beaches of Sihanoukville...?
Does anyone know the story...?
Does anyone know the story...?
Don't mention the Giant Panda in the room.
The ones in Kep are owned by wealthy Khmers, but most won't do anything with them due to superstitions about ghosts n shit, although on a recent visit I did notice a few of the old villas and land plots being renovated as well as some for sale at extremely high prices.
I'm not a negative person, I encourage people all the time...it's usually to f**k off! But, whatever.
Someone always owns the land. wether it's government, Khmer, a business (Chinese) or a barang (through their wives or bar girl). It's not just empty for no reason, especially when it's sealed off.
Lots of land deals going on in SHV and it takes months to officially hand over the land title and sort out payment.
Khmer land owners like to hold on to land for no reason but to have "land".
Lots of land deals going on in SHV and it takes months to officially hand over the land title and sort out payment.
Khmer land owners like to hold on to land for no reason but to have "land".
pew, pew, pew, pew!
Kep used to be the most popular resort town in Cambodia, less than 150km from PP, it used to have the largest train station outside pp, at its peak kep had hundreds of villas with pools and was frequented by the royal family which used to meet high officials from all around the world at the aptly named ambassador island off kep coast. Kep used to have a bustling casino and was renowned for its weather which is cooler and more ventilated than PP. During the war kep was abandoned as most of it's population was made of rich khmer and Barangs which where obvious targets for the khmer rouge. Also the proximity to Vietnam made it a very dangerous area for a long time during the khmer - Viet war. Most of the villas have been stripped down of any valuable materials which was sold/taken to the Vietnamese. The land is now owned mostly by rich khmers which demand sky high prices for their property.
Unfortunately many villas have been torn down because an empty plot is easier to sell and often villas where rather small compared to the land around them.
Currently more villas are being updated and several new villas are being built. The train station will be reopened sooner or later as the train tracks is already operational, also a port going to the Vietnamese island facing kep and hatien is in the works.
Generally land in kep is expected to grow quite well after shianukville especially if they decide to begin the planned expansion the road from pp to kep.
Kep most notable problem is the lack of a aqueduct which was promised several years ago but construction has not begun yet.
The most expensive plots are along road 33A and on the Riverside.
At the moment there is no operational casino in kep (only the old abandoned French casino) so there are few Chinese people compared to shianukville.
A lot of the land has been fenced because H.E. recently required the local governor to collect the unused land tax at 2% of the land value. So people fenced their land because "allegedly" that saves you from paying said tax
Unfortunately many villas have been torn down because an empty plot is easier to sell and often villas where rather small compared to the land around them.
Currently more villas are being updated and several new villas are being built. The train station will be reopened sooner or later as the train tracks is already operational, also a port going to the Vietnamese island facing kep and hatien is in the works.
Generally land in kep is expected to grow quite well after shianukville especially if they decide to begin the planned expansion the road from pp to kep.
Kep most notable problem is the lack of a aqueduct which was promised several years ago but construction has not begun yet.
The most expensive plots are along road 33A and on the Riverside.
At the moment there is no operational casino in kep (only the old abandoned French casino) so there are few Chinese people compared to shianukville.
A lot of the land has been fenced because H.E. recently required the local governor to collect the unused land tax at 2% of the land value. So people fenced their land because "allegedly" that saves you from paying said tax
- Lucky Lucan
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Good post. What's the aqueduct about?jackrossi wrote: Kep most notable problem is the lack of a aqueduct which was promised several years ago but construction has not begun yet.
Romantic Cambodia is dead and gone. It's with McKinley in the grave.
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I am guessing when you refer to rich Barangs...you mean French?jackrossi wrote: During the war kep was abandoned as most of it's population was made of rich khmer and Barangs which where obvious targets for the khmer rouge. Also the proximity to Vietnam made it a very dangerous area for a long time during the khmer - Viet war.
There are quite a few French expats living in Kep and many of the guesthouses are French owned. When I look at the old dereclict villas it always conjures up mental images of the old French colonial days. I often wonder if some of the French residents of Kep and other places are descendants from colonial times? Would descendants of French colonial land owners still have any claim on family-owned land or would that have all just been wiped away during and after the war?
Don't mention the Giant Panda in the room.
- Lucky Lucan
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As far as I know nearly all the villas were built after independence. You can see that most are a modern style that wasn't really popular during the French era.
Romantic Cambodia is dead and gone. It's with McKinley in the grave.
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I think after nearly 30 years of war, there was no certainty of title so it was/is very hard to claim ownership. Many of the derelict houses are squatted by Khmers and as I understand Cambodian law, if you've occupied a property for 5 years or more, you have automatic right to claim title.Marvin wrote:I am guessing when you refer to rich Barangs...you mean French?jackrossi wrote: During the war kep was abandoned as most of it's population was made of rich khmer and Barangs which where obvious targets for the khmer rouge. Also the proximity to Vietnam made it a very dangerous area for a long time during the khmer - Viet war.
There are quite a few French expats living in Kep and many of the guesthouses are French owned. When I look at the old dereclict villas it always conjures up mental images of the old French colonial days. I often wonder if some of the French residents of Kep and other places are descendants from colonial times? Would descendants of French colonial land owners still have any claim on family-owned land or would that have all just been wiped away during and after the war?
No that applies only to unfenced land. Not houses or walled plots
We just finished a fence around our land in Kep and planted mangoes, coconuts, frangipanis and some jasmine etc Kep has come a long way since I first went there in 2006 and even further in the last few years. We almost sold our land but I am damn glad we didn't as I really reconnected with the place recently when we were there for a week and we are trying to buy the hectare behind us. Back there for two weeks hols at Xmas. People say it is quiet and there is nothing to do but when you own land, some tools and a dirtbike, there is always something to do. And quiet is nice.
Rated R for Ricecakes
The aqueduct needs to connect a kampot water reservoir to the water treatment plant in kep for supplying drinkable water into the (not yet built) water supply network in Kep. As of now there is no government water supply only some deep wells connecting few blocks houses and most villas have private wells.
I don't think there was ever a casino. Most villas are Art Deco so that was 20s and 30s? The big colonial one with the billet hokes near the water looks much older, supposed to belong to some royal personage. I was told that hundreds of villas had pools but I don't think that is true. I have been to many villas and not seen one pool ever.
I think it's like kampot where French Khmers bought the best property after the war. I know the villa opposite the crab shacks was for sale for $50,000 in 2005. Cheap.
The bush is nice, the beach is shit and the water shallow and muddy. The dam was supposed to be renovated, that was the water source. But much cheaper to pipe the water from Kampot now.
I think it's like kampot where French Khmers bought the best property after the war. I know the villa opposite the crab shacks was for sale for $50,000 in 2005. Cheap.
The bush is nice, the beach is shit and the water shallow and muddy. The dam was supposed to be renovated, that was the water source. But much cheaper to pipe the water from Kampot now.
The small sized strip of sand is Kep's only proper beach. In the pre-war period, powder- sand was trucked in from other beaches and this practice began again in 2013..
All the land is empty because they still believe the land is worth millions.. and they will never give up on it until their dream comes true and some "Chinese investors will buy everything and spend billions there"
Yeah right... I wonder what it is with these people they always think foreigners are dumber than dumb or something.
Chinese investors are one of the smartest and sharpest investors out there you guys really believe they will spend their billions there.. and on top of that have to pay a yearly 2% property tax over a crazy inflated price!
Guess what.. there are not.. just take a look at Diamond Island Phnom Penh, I mean go there and visit those places it is all empty and they all have the same strategy.. trying to create scarce thinking by lies and more lies that it is already bought by Chinese investors and only a few rooms left.. They even print out fake papers with red sold out squares.. if you are lucky enough to catch some maintenance workers and some doors open you will see the rooms are all empty only concrete no kitchens and not bathrooms, they only finish some floors and rooms.. and after those are sold or rented than they will finish the rest... These are kit buildings guys.. look them up on youtube they built them in China in 4 weeks start to finish..
and most videos are even 5 years old.. it is 2017 now so technique has improved they can do it far more efficient now..
The second reason is the culture they can not sell the land cheaper than someone ever did.. it is considered a loss of face.. If some family decide to let go a plot of land for half the dream price which will still be over priced it will be a shame and the other families could even turn their back on them or just look at them lower.. "Ah they sold they must need the money they are not rich hahah" dont forget the villas, cars and the overdone weddings it is all because they have to show the others.. Ofcourse everybody likes beautiful things but here it is status, they see it partly differently than we in the west do.. Most car owners I have spoken who had an expensive car have no clue about engine type or other details.. Not all of them but most of them!
It doesn't mean that you can never ever pick up a piece of land there.. I hear some people could make a good deal there but it was only because the family selling was in absolute agony and misery with deaths and hospitals..
Another tip if you still want to buy you have to offer very low and wait for months and months and never ever show your western or Korean of Japanese or foreign face there..
Anyway this land"fight" will not be sorted out in our generation, it will stay like this for decades.. it will be the children of these families who will decide.. or even their grand children.. Let's just hope they will be better educated in these international schools so one day they understand business principles more than emotion/greed and scarce thinking so Kep will one day maybe become a nice beach town..
All the land is empty because they still believe the land is worth millions.. and they will never give up on it until their dream comes true and some "Chinese investors will buy everything and spend billions there"
Yeah right... I wonder what it is with these people they always think foreigners are dumber than dumb or something.
Chinese investors are one of the smartest and sharpest investors out there you guys really believe they will spend their billions there.. and on top of that have to pay a yearly 2% property tax over a crazy inflated price!
Guess what.. there are not.. just take a look at Diamond Island Phnom Penh, I mean go there and visit those places it is all empty and they all have the same strategy.. trying to create scarce thinking by lies and more lies that it is already bought by Chinese investors and only a few rooms left.. They even print out fake papers with red sold out squares.. if you are lucky enough to catch some maintenance workers and some doors open you will see the rooms are all empty only concrete no kitchens and not bathrooms, they only finish some floors and rooms.. and after those are sold or rented than they will finish the rest... These are kit buildings guys.. look them up on youtube they built them in China in 4 weeks start to finish..
and most videos are even 5 years old.. it is 2017 now so technique has improved they can do it far more efficient now..
The second reason is the culture they can not sell the land cheaper than someone ever did.. it is considered a loss of face.. If some family decide to let go a plot of land for half the dream price which will still be over priced it will be a shame and the other families could even turn their back on them or just look at them lower.. "Ah they sold they must need the money they are not rich hahah" dont forget the villas, cars and the overdone weddings it is all because they have to show the others.. Ofcourse everybody likes beautiful things but here it is status, they see it partly differently than we in the west do.. Most car owners I have spoken who had an expensive car have no clue about engine type or other details.. Not all of them but most of them!
It doesn't mean that you can never ever pick up a piece of land there.. I hear some people could make a good deal there but it was only because the family selling was in absolute agony and misery with deaths and hospitals..
Another tip if you still want to buy you have to offer very low and wait for months and months and never ever show your western or Korean of Japanese or foreign face there..
Anyway this land"fight" will not be sorted out in our generation, it will stay like this for decades.. it will be the children of these families who will decide.. or even their grand children.. Let's just hope they will be better educated in these international schools so one day they understand business principles more than emotion/greed and scarce thinking so Kep will one day maybe become a nice beach town..
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