On Being Back
- Lucky Lucan
- K440 Knight Captain
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There was a well-publicized case where a 16 year old girl drove a Range Rover very carelessly and fast and killed a young woman. You can't even legally drive a car at that age. That was a mess, but less attention was paid to a more recent case. This was when a drunk driver collided with a couple of motorbikes and a road divider in the early hours. One of the bike riders died. The drunk driver was the deputy head of traffic police. Dear me.
I don't see so many accidents, most happen in the early hours or on the national routes.
I don't see so many accidents, most happen in the early hours or on the national routes.
Romantic Cambodia is dead and gone. It's with McKinley in the grave.
It was a unique place when I arrived in 2007. I had spent years in Bangkok in the late 70s and it was similar except Bangkok was much more developed but there were few expats or tourists.
I enjoyed the expats living in Cambodia, a surprising number are still there. The lake was shitty, my mate shot a duck with an AK47 at the shooting range, I enjoyed the brothel tours with Roddy and smoking smack. I remember for years all the ugly tourists from Thailand doing the freelancer triangle even years after it lost its allure. I had a GF from the Walkabou who lived in a shack full of rats and surrounded by razor wire behind Boden. I remember Playboys foray into the movie business, the drunk Irishman at the Wooly Rhino with the big dog who slept on the bar top. My GF and I played pool there often, I remember living in the tiny villa deep in BKK2 which now has the huge Japanese restaurant at the front. There were lots of birds and bats but hardly any traffic that far down 51. I remember roads being sealed right in town and collapsing at Sharkies between the pool tables.
I was back only a year ago and still enjoyed it hugely despite the traffic and concrete. I still go out to play pool with the princess who looks as good as ever. Her eldest daughter is stunning and learning Japanese and Korean. The small one is an Aussie, forgetting to speak Khmer and turning up her nose at Mums food. Thanks to the Internet the house is full of Khmer music at high volume and Khmer movies and TV and Thai soap operas. Effectively I still live in Cambodia but with electricity and hot water and a sports car. I miss it only a little now and to hear a little Khmer paraphrase Buzz Lightyear is hilarious - to infinity and beyond!
I enjoyed the expats living in Cambodia, a surprising number are still there. The lake was shitty, my mate shot a duck with an AK47 at the shooting range, I enjoyed the brothel tours with Roddy and smoking smack. I remember for years all the ugly tourists from Thailand doing the freelancer triangle even years after it lost its allure. I had a GF from the Walkabou who lived in a shack full of rats and surrounded by razor wire behind Boden. I remember Playboys foray into the movie business, the drunk Irishman at the Wooly Rhino with the big dog who slept on the bar top. My GF and I played pool there often, I remember living in the tiny villa deep in BKK2 which now has the huge Japanese restaurant at the front. There were lots of birds and bats but hardly any traffic that far down 51. I remember roads being sealed right in town and collapsing at Sharkies between the pool tables.
I was back only a year ago and still enjoyed it hugely despite the traffic and concrete. I still go out to play pool with the princess who looks as good as ever. Her eldest daughter is stunning and learning Japanese and Korean. The small one is an Aussie, forgetting to speak Khmer and turning up her nose at Mums food. Thanks to the Internet the house is full of Khmer music at high volume and Khmer movies and TV and Thai soap operas. Effectively I still live in Cambodia but with electricity and hot water and a sports car. I miss it only a little now and to hear a little Khmer paraphrase Buzz Lightyear is hilarious - to infinity and beyond!
- vladimir
- Feminist Watch List
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I was sick of the visa/work permit hassles in Thailand and came here over 15 years ago.
My Polish friend Martin had warned me about Poipet the Toilet, but it was still a shock. Dogshit at the entrance, begging kids, filthy. And that was the immigration office. Bus broke down, ferried in the back of a pickup truck in the rain to SR, nice room in guesthouse, $2. Arrived at Central Market the next day and was pleasantly surprised at the level of English some motos had. Stayed at the lakeside, got a job the next day and the school/university let me move into the place, it was a hotel prior to them renting it. It was months before I found Walkabout, made friends with Paul Guymon, introduced Tony to Freebird (he soon married Paul's sister in law),, ate a snake at Tony's Bar, saw an English guy eat a plastic digital watch at Walkabout, helped Glen throw out some Israeli/Eurotrash at Walkabout after some drunk cow attacked me and broke my glasses, introduced Mike to my sister in law (now married, 3 or 4 kids). Walkabout freelancer price in those days was $5-$10. Mol was a cool guy, remember the shooting. Met Jim and Felger at the bar, got to know big Mike, the Irish American guy. The road behind the French Embassy to TK was rough, old style houses, druggies and pros, often roadblocks at night, for guns, I think. Asked for an extra $5 at the border for a visa at Bavet, immigration just told me straight out for beer, missed the bus back because I bought a bottle of whisky and shared it with them. They organised a taxi back to PP, shared with 3 hot filipinas working at the casino, to my front door $10 for the whole trip. First time i renewed my visa gave it to my motodop, no photos or forms required, just the fee, back the next day, no problems. No WP in those days.Traffic was always crazy but much lighter then. Road out to Northbridge was bad in those days. Moto from St 222 near Pencil to TK was 2000 riel. Rent for one bed furnished, TV and aircon, $55.Work was easy to find, employers treated you well as replacements were not easy to find. very few western women around, few Saffas, only Paddy at the gym that I knew of. Nothing across the river, only the pagoda before Sokha hotel was there. Tallest building for many years was Intercontinental. Aeon didn't exist, just a wasteland there. No Superduper, few minimarts.
Still haven't been to Sharky's after all these years.
My Polish friend Martin had warned me about Poipet the Toilet, but it was still a shock. Dogshit at the entrance, begging kids, filthy. And that was the immigration office. Bus broke down, ferried in the back of a pickup truck in the rain to SR, nice room in guesthouse, $2. Arrived at Central Market the next day and was pleasantly surprised at the level of English some motos had. Stayed at the lakeside, got a job the next day and the school/university let me move into the place, it was a hotel prior to them renting it. It was months before I found Walkabout, made friends with Paul Guymon, introduced Tony to Freebird (he soon married Paul's sister in law),, ate a snake at Tony's Bar, saw an English guy eat a plastic digital watch at Walkabout, helped Glen throw out some Israeli/Eurotrash at Walkabout after some drunk cow attacked me and broke my glasses, introduced Mike to my sister in law (now married, 3 or 4 kids). Walkabout freelancer price in those days was $5-$10. Mol was a cool guy, remember the shooting. Met Jim and Felger at the bar, got to know big Mike, the Irish American guy. The road behind the French Embassy to TK was rough, old style houses, druggies and pros, often roadblocks at night, for guns, I think. Asked for an extra $5 at the border for a visa at Bavet, immigration just told me straight out for beer, missed the bus back because I bought a bottle of whisky and shared it with them. They organised a taxi back to PP, shared with 3 hot filipinas working at the casino, to my front door $10 for the whole trip. First time i renewed my visa gave it to my motodop, no photos or forms required, just the fee, back the next day, no problems. No WP in those days.Traffic was always crazy but much lighter then. Road out to Northbridge was bad in those days. Moto from St 222 near Pencil to TK was 2000 riel. Rent for one bed furnished, TV and aircon, $55.Work was easy to find, employers treated you well as replacements were not easy to find. very few western women around, few Saffas, only Paddy at the gym that I knew of. Nothing across the river, only the pagoda before Sokha hotel was there. Tallest building for many years was Intercontinental. Aeon didn't exist, just a wasteland there. No Superduper, few minimarts.
Still haven't been to Sharky's after all these years.
ירי ילדים והפצצת אזרחים דורש אומץ, כמו גם הטרדה מינית של עובדי ההוראה.
- RainMan
- K440 Defender of the Faith
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Oh, how I enjoyed my Golden Years...
... I didn't have: arthritis, gout, tinnitus, glaucoma, emphysema, liver and kidney dysfunction, rotten teeth, dribbling double chin, memory loss, high blood pressure and half a head of graying hair.
It's still the edginess that keeps me going here. My glass is half full.
Great reading from posters thanks.
... I didn't have: arthritis, gout, tinnitus, glaucoma, emphysema, liver and kidney dysfunction, rotten teeth, dribbling double chin, memory loss, high blood pressure and half a head of graying hair.
It's still the edginess that keeps me going here. My glass is half full.
Great reading from posters thanks.
Never mind.
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- I live above an internet cafe
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Nostalgia aint what it used to be. Back in the day we had something real to be nostalgic about. Not like today with all this fake nostalgia.
What a load of sentimental old pish on this thread,
What a load of sentimental old pish on this thread,
- Miguelito
- Ordinary Schmo
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I quite like Phnom Penh. It’s fascinating to watch the transition happen and it’s exciting to be part of it. Opportunities abound. I quit my well paying professional job in the West to move here, and I couldn’t imagine going back.
This thread reminds a bit of the movie Midnight in Paris, where Owen Wilson romanticizes the 1920’s. But at the end, those in the 20’s romanticized the 1800’s, and those in the 1800’s romanticized the 1700’s, etc.
This thread reminds a bit of the movie Midnight in Paris, where Owen Wilson romanticizes the 1920’s. But at the end, those in the 20’s romanticized the 1800’s, and those in the 1800’s romanticized the 1700’s, etc.
- batshitcrazyweirdo
- Batshit Crazy Weirdo
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Which job was that?Miguelito wrote: ↑Fri Jul 19, 2019 2:45 pmI quite like Phnom Penh. It’s fascinating to watch the transition happen and it’s exciting to be part of it. Opportunities abound. I quit my well paying professional job in the West to move here, and I couldn’t imagine going back.
This thread reminds a bit of the movie Midnight in Paris, where Owen Wilson romanticizes the 1920’s. But at the end, those in the 20’s romanticized the 1800’s, and those in the 1800’s romanticized the 1700’s, etc.
I love bitches n gonna fuck Texas and the USA+ right up their god damn ass! Hallelujah!
- spitthedog
- Is the World Outside still there ?
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Riverside looked alot nicer than it used to be when i visited it a year ago.
Shed load of eating options.
Though as the region gets more deveoped, Goa almost seems to be starting to replace SEA as a beach holiday destination for Europeans.
Especially for Thailand.
Goa beaches were packed last time i went.
Short cheap flight, cheaper to live, 6 month visa, great food, no charge for sun beds, cooler weather, english spoken by all the locals, banter etc.
Shed load of eating options.
Though as the region gets more deveoped, Goa almost seems to be starting to replace SEA as a beach holiday destination for Europeans.
Especially for Thailand.
Goa beaches were packed last time i went.
Short cheap flight, cheaper to live, 6 month visa, great food, no charge for sun beds, cooler weather, english spoken by all the locals, banter etc.
"I don't care what the people are thinking, i ain't drunk i'm just drinking"
- Lucky Lucan
- K440 Knight Captain
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Sure, there aren't many park areas here but besides the 106/108 strip that's being refurbished at the moment, all of them have improved immensely. The Riverside promenade extends much further than it used to, almost as far as Koh Pich.spitthedog wrote: ↑Fri Jul 19, 2019 4:24 pmRiverside looked alot nicer than it used to be when i visited it a year ago.
Originally it was only a small patch in front of the palace as far as Wat Ounalom.
The parks had very little paving, just red packed laterite. They had no lighting, and nobody except ne'er do wells went near them at night. The corner of Wat Botum park where the playground is now was a squatter's camp. Wat Phnom had a bunch of shacks where the playground is now. Where the night market is now was a decrepit looking stage, and the rest of that stretch was a dusty mess. The quay opposite collapsed a few times and was in a terrible state.
So while the place had a certain fly-blown charm it's ridiculous to say it hasn't improved in many ways, the thousands of locals out enjoying themselves in these places are testament to that.
Romantic Cambodia is dead and gone. It's with McKinley in the grave.
- Miguelito
- Ordinary Schmo
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The CNI (Centro Nacional de Inteligencia) - I’ve been outed on here before for it.batshitcrazyweirdo wrote: ↑Fri Jul 19, 2019 3:05 pmWhich job was that?Miguelito wrote: ↑Fri Jul 19, 2019 2:45 pmI quite like Phnom Penh. It’s fascinating to watch the transition happen and it’s exciting to be part of it. Opportunities abound. I quit my well paying professional job in the West to move here, and I couldn’t imagine going back.
This thread reminds a bit of the movie Midnight in Paris, where Owen Wilson romanticizes the 1920’s. But at the end, those in the 20’s romanticized the 1800’s, and those in the 1800’s romanticized the 1700’s, etc.
I miss the old days of 2012 when I first arrived in Phnom Penh and it was wild and free.
"Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. Those who can't teach, teach English."
Credit Jacked Camry & LTO
Credit Jacked Camry & LTO
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- 2000+ Posts! Aghh I Have No Mates
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That’s exactly what Scobienz said when he took over the forum a couple of years ago.
Surprised, but not really, at how many posters who sung the praises of the country, were really not that invested in it and move on when it suits them. At least they’ve got some cool stories to tell, albeit probably secondhand or by association.
Good luck to the originals who never left, I doubt there is anywhere better to go at your age. Keep reminiscing.
"Everywhere we go .. people want to know ...who we are... where we come from !"
Tartan Army retired foot soldier
Tartan Army retired foot soldier
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- I have Cheap Mobile Internet
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good read about a few that ended up in siem rep and are leaving;
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50625479/e ... oing-gone/
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50625479/e ... oing-gone/
- Miguelito
- Ordinary Schmo
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Scobie and I are in different places in our personal (and professional) lives. He needs to retire someplace quiet and I’m like 15, so I have a few more years to kill here.rl66 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 20, 2019 2:02 amThat’s exactly what Scobienz said when he took over the forum a couple of years ago.
Surprised, but not really, at how many posters who sung the praises of the country, were really not that invested in it and move on when it suits them. At least they’ve got some cool stories to tell, albeit probably secondhand or by association.
Good luck to the originals who never left, I doubt there is anywhere better to go at your age. Keep reminiscing.
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