Photo Trip Report: Down the Mekong in Cambodia

[pharvey]

Another hugely informative thread about your travels

Indeed! Hugely enjoyable report yet again buks - certainly looking forward to the next one!!

Once I can get myself back to "proper health", the LHG and myself will be back on our travels - taking it slightly easier to start with though methinks!!

[lomuamart]

Great report. I've enjoyed it immensely.

Purely by co-incidence, I've just seen this article in today's Guardian. Haven't read it yet but it's obviously not a glowing report about development for tourism in a certain part of the country:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/ ... hing-lives

[Dannie Boy]

Great report. I've enjoyed it immensely.

Purely by co-incidence, I've just seen this article in today's Guardian. Haven't read it yet but it's obviously not a glowing report about development for tourism in a certain part of the country:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/ ... hing-lives

I’ve just read it and it seems a lot worse than it is in Thailand - corruption being the order of the day!!

[Thistle]

Excellent trip report once again,some amazing photographs.

[buksida]

Haven't read it yet but it's obviously not a glowing report about development for tourism in a certain part of the country:

You'll notice all the bad news and bad reviews are about the same place - Sihanoukville. Those I spoke to living in the country said the same. It is essentially the cesspool of Cambodia, a bit like Pattaya is for Thailand, which is why I didn't go there!

Unfortunately, Cambodia is selling out to China fast, just like the rest of the region (Laos, Thailand, Myanmar) whose dictators want money and political favour at the expense of the people. The entire region will all come under the same big red flag one day so best to see it now while you can!

[Big Boy]

I was in Sihanoukville before the massive Chinese investment, and it was a cesspool then. The Chinese came, and invested heavily, and it is still a cesspool. I know many blame the Chinese, but a cesspool is a cesspool is a cesspool, regardless of who is occupying the place.

[buksida]

Maybe so, but a country shouldn't be judged by one cesspool (it was Russians before the Chinese). Once they start appearing all over the country, then yes, and this is the fear with the red invasion of this entire region, Thailand included.

[Big Boy]

No, you are right. You found a completely different side of Cambodia to me. When I was there, we toured a lot of the South around Sihanoukville, and it seemed the further from town that we travelled, the worse it got.

Siem Reap was a lot better, but even then, it made Thailand look spotlessly clean. I was pleased to hear you say how much that it had improved. It deserves to be better than what I saw.

Don't get me wrong, I have many fond memories of my visit, but several times since, I have considered going back to visit friends, but just the thought of the filth has put me off. I was scared for life. Having said that, if I had visited Malaysia before Thailand, I'd probably be saying the same about Thailand.

[buksida]

Trash/plastic is endemic to Asia, there is no escaping it in this part of the world. Five of the top six plastic polluters on the planet are Asian countries, Thailand included. Cambodia is starting to clean up its act, but there is a long way to go and it has to start from the bottom up, which means better education. As with most Asian dictatorships, this simply isn't a priority.

[Chazz14]

Very useful Thread - thanks for your efforts!