Crappy stupid apartments

[redcup]

My searching isn’t going so well, though I’m getting a feel for what’s available. One good building where I had waited for a vacancy finally had one, but when I looked at the apartment, the kitchen sink and countertop were so low they were almost at the level of my kneecaps. Not so great for someone who hates bending due to a back problem. Do they build these apartments for the lowest common denominator of height? Like, for children?

Most of the places I’m seeing would qualify as slum apartments in the west, but the slum apartments at least have decent height in their kitchen countertops!

And how about these entry staircases that are like stairs on a fire escape! Often with no light and no headroom for anyone over 5 feet tall. And of course the low bathroom doors!

Enough complaining for tonight...

[tatt2ed]

I don't know where you are looking to live or how much you want to pay.
Try Angkor Apt. across from Parkway On Mao Tse Toung, out by Russian Market. Nice Khmer management, lots of expats. Down side is you need to get of the places in the back or it is just to noisy. They have an elevator and stairs. Use to charge 900R for electric. Washer, but really low water pressure, worse I have seen. In 6 months 2 power outages compared to my current place of averaging 1 a week.

It is a nightmare finding a place that has everything, then you settle on what will work and work with the rest. Never had the low counter tops, but we did have kitchen cupboards with a small shelf below them and I could just reach the bottom of the cupboard and I am 5' 10". They were completely useless. I am pretty sure the designer went to a Khmer school.

[Banker]

My searching isn’t going so well, though I’m getting a feel for what’s available. One good building where I had waited for a vacancy finally had one, but when I looked at the apartment, the kitchen sink and countertop were so low they were almost at the level of my kneecaps. Not so great for someone who hates bending due to a back problem. Do they build these apartments for the lowest common denominator of height? Like, for children?

Most of the places I’m seeing would qualify as slum apartments in the west, but the slum apartments at least have decent height in their kitchen countertops!

And how about these entry staircases that are like stairs on a fire escape! Often with no light and no headroom for anyone over 5 feet tall. And of course the low bathroom doors!

Enough complaining for tonight...

Welcome to Cambodia. For the low counter tops just employ a short maid.

[simonandkip]

If you have two other people interested we're looking to get rid of our apartment in BKK1. I'm 6'1" and cook comfortably.

Have a look: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=23661

[Nasty Canasta]

You will need to compromise. I'm in my 4th place and none of them have been ideal. Suggest you visit a place during the day and then again at night. Go past a few times and get an idea of the possible noise levels, especially after midnight. For some ridiculous reason every place so far has had a low door in at least one place. It's like there is some building code that says every house must have one stupidly low door. As for the kitchens... all designed by the same recalcitrant dwarfs. Never had one with any room to prepare food and the very limited bench space (taken up with the gas burners) has always been way too low for me.

The other big issue for me has been access. If you don't mind walking through other peoples houses, and of course, others walking through yours then Khmer access is for you and will give you many more places to choose from. I cannot think of an upside to this - just nosy neighbours scrutinizing your every move and shopping purchases.

[vladimir]

Usually you find the right place after along search. Then some a-hole with a new ghetto blaster/ dogs moves in, or a Krappaoke bar sets up opposite.

[Nasty Canasta]

Usually you find the right place after along search. Then some a-hole with a new ghetto blaster/ dogs moves in, or a Krappaoke bar sets up opposite.

Yep, in my case it was a Viet cafe playing loud music day and night that set up directly opposite.

[oxbowlarry]

I live on the edge of PP and Ta Khmao have 2 story concrete house large garden with fruit trees right on the river. Great friendly neighbors, excellent landlords no rip off on power, free water, and free cable. They are even even building another bedroom without raising the $80./mo rent.

[Nasty Canasta]

Right, just for that I'm going to offer them $100 a month. I want your house!

[vladimir]

Usually you find the right place after along search. Then some a-hole with a new ghetto blaster/ dogs moves in, or a Krappaoke bar sets up opposite.

Yep, in my case it was a Viet cafe playing loud music day and night that set up directly opposite.

You need:

Marantz 100w RMS amplifier
Technics 150W RMS 3-way speakers
Deep Purple, 'Sweet Child in Time'.
Put on repeat and go shopping for an hour.
If you can't beat them, join them.

[robboat]

My searching isn’t going so well, though I’m getting a feel for what’s available. One good building where I had waited for a vacancy finally had one, but when I looked at the apartment, the kitchen sink and countertop were so low they were almost at the level of my kneecaps. Not so great for someone who hates bending due to a back problem. Do they build these apartments for the lowest common denominator of height?
Most of the places I’m seeing would qualify as slum apartments in the west, but the slum apartments at least have decent height in their kitchen countertops!
And how about these entry staircases that are like stairs on a fire escape! Often with no light and no headroom for anyone over 5 feet tall. And of course the low bathroom doors!
Enough complaining for tonight...

We are trying to make good renovations here in Siem Reap to western standards but there is a real problem with Cambodian builders....they only know one way!
I walk around a building with my hand over my head - anywhere that touches is marked - the builders can't understand the idea that there are some big, tall foreigners around....I made the last guy knock out one row of bricks he laid because the door was too low - even after he had been shown the required height.

They simply do not understand.....

We are working on another 10 apartment development and am thinking I will just make a "go - no go" measuring stick for them - if the stick does not fit then it is the wrong height.....bastards will probably cut/break the stick!

[oxbowlarry]

Build yourself a raised wooden countertop to place on top. And a large plastic bowl for washing dishes.

[redcup]

Build yourself a raised wooden countertop to place on top. And a large plastic bowl for washing dishes.

I thought about doing that, larry, but I still need to use the sink and there's no way to raise that up. Also no room in the kitchen to put a chair that would let me sit while using the countertops, because there are metal cabinets under the counter that would block my legs and are probably prime cockroach habitat.

Also saw another apartment where the ceiling height was just an inch above my head.

[redcup]

Robboat, that's why I asked in a previous thread if they are still building these low doors in new contruction. If these problems are only in old buildings then it's understandable, because they were built in an era when there were few tall people here. But if they continue to do the same in new construction, as you indicate they do, that is just hopelessly stupid and doesn't bode well for the future.

Maybe they need a new NGO to teach them not to build low doorways and countertops and not to put showerhead brackets so low that you need to squat to take a shower.

[giblet]

If you're looking for an apartment in that price range, you're not going to find one that's been designed for a Westerner.