Another Blogger Has a Terrible Time in Cambodia

John Bingham · Post by **John Bingham** » Sun Oct 04, 2020 8:30 pm

Some highlights from this blogger's paranoid ranting.

As our trip was approaching, we started to read some blog posts about the reality of Cambodian life. It felt like a lot of visitors were expressing disappointment after their trip to Cambodia. US Department of State on Cambodia and some travel bloggers were warning about the corruption, street crime, phone and bag snatching. Also, scams all over the country were very common.

We were alert right from the beginning. Before the beginning of our trip, we prepared ourselves to encounter scams. But it was too much of a surprise to find scammers waiting on us around each corner! Also no matter how much we prepared for a scam there was always a moment when we didn’t know someone was lying to us. Some people were so skillful in scamming others that we were not even realizing it.

For the most part of our stay, we had no desire to leave our room in a guest house. Except for Angkor Wat and nearby floating village, there was not whole a lot to do there. Just a few sites, one very touristy overpriced street, a couple of museums, quite a few very dusty busy roads and a bunch of scammers around looking for another tourist they could take advantage of.

We personally didn’t feel comfortable around Cambodian people. Many times we encountered unfriendly, inhospitable and uninviting atmosphere.

Cambodia is a poor country, we get that, and we did our best to be understanding and compassionate to local people. We really hoped that the money we were spending there would help them at least a little bit. But to be honest we often felt very uncomfortable and even annoyed around Cambodians....

We knew Cambodian people were scamming us every day no matter where we went. They were lying and cheating without any shame.

Besides that Cambodians loved to talk or laugh at us in their local language while we were standing next to them.

And unfortunately, there was zero trust for local people.

Unless you are having a meal in a restaurant, carrying your own fork and spoon does not hurt. I don’t want to sound paranoid, but in my opinion, this one is important. In some cafes and even restaurants utensils (as well as glasses) look unappetizing. Sometimes, especially in open-air cafes and cafes, forks, spoons, and chopsticks sit on counters for hours, don’t get washed properly or get covered with dust.

A vast majority of Southeast Asian women do not wash their hands after going to the loo. A couple of times I tried staying longer near the area with sinks and mirrors, pretending I was putting makeup on, just to watch what other women would do. Some of them were leaving the restroom right after using the toilet, others were rinsing their hands quickly with a little bit of water.

One more tip for you when ordering fruit smoothie or shake – ask a person who makes it not to add any milk, ice, water or sugar in your smoothie. Using fruit only will help to avoid any unwanted stomach discomfort and provide more vitamins in your cup.

Monthly salary for the entire family is often less than $30.

Cockroaches with rats are very common, and bats, very similar to swallows, often swoop in the sky.

Naked children and women were walking along the streets. People were defecating and throwing trash in the river.

It's funny because she is from the Ukraine. Anywhere outside the main city squares in that country is run-down slums and trash.

IraHayes · Post by **IraHayes** » Sun Oct 04, 2020 10:11 pm

From JBs samples of her blog, as noted above, which he highlighted but didn't comment on.

Cockroaches with rats are very common, and bats, very similar to swallows, often swoop in the sky.

Poor girl is obviously a victim of a failed educational system. In he world dolphins are fish, spiders are insects and worms are underground snakes.

lagrange · Post by **lagrange** » Mon Oct 05, 2020 11:36 am

Its possible that for these bloggers it's their first time in a non-Western country. I suppose I could have said developing or third world but those terms seem to be out of fashion these days. While I am confused about the crowds of scammers (maybe finding the difference between local price and tourist price for everything?) In general what they complain about would be exactly the same, in my experience, in India, much of South America , rural China, Myanmar, and many African countries.....you want poverty, unfriendly locals and filth? Liberia is your place. Scammers? Don't get me started about Nigeria. Maybe we should be charitable. These sad little kids have just found out that the real world is not a TV or YouTube travel show, it is full of real people leading often difficult and desperate lives in countries that struggle with their basic infrastructure and who are not there just for the entertainment of a couple of white would-be influencers.

lagrange · Post by **lagrange** » Mon Oct 05, 2020 12:09 pm

The bit about handwashing reminds me of when I was doing a short stint as a hospitality consultant in Yangon, around 7 years ago, with a company that wanted to 'Westernise" their food operation. I was trying to explain to a group of kitchen workers about the difference between 'cleaning' and 'sanitising', and I was talking about bacteria on surfaces and hands. Of course they all started looking at their hands in wonder, and someone said they couldnt see anything. Then when I said the bacteria was there but they couldnt see it, well they just broke out in laughter. The concept that there could be something there that they couldnt see was just too much for them. Like how most of us feel about the 'flat earth' theory would be a good comparison. So I totally get it - you go to the toilet, you come out, you check your hands - look clean? yep, good to go. Moral of the story - either take your chances with a stomach upset or only eat very hot, well cooked food.Vietnam Pho is probably the safest you can get.

canucklhead · Post by **canucklhead** » Mon Oct 05, 2020 1:09 pm

Some people just shouldnt travel. Thats why there are cruises.

techietraveller84 · Post by **techietraveller84** » Fri Oct 09, 2020 11:56 pm

"For the most part of our stay, we had no desire to leave our room in a guest house."

That tells us just about all we need to know about that blogger.

SternAAlbifrons · Post by **SternAAlbifrons** » Sat Oct 10, 2020 2:13 am

Give them a break, Techno ^^^
Not wise to step out of your room when having hallucinations like that..

popping in · Post by **popping in** » Sat Oct 10, 2020 4:09 am

John Bingham wrote: ↑Sun Oct 04, 2020 8:30 pm Some highlights from this blogger's paranoid ranting.

As our trip was approaching, we started to read some blog posts about the reality of Cambodian life. It felt like a lot of visitors were expressing disappointment after their trip to Cambodia. US Department of State on Cambodia and some travel bloggers were warning about the corruption, street crime, phone and bag snatching. Also, scams all over the country were very common.

We were alert right from the beginning. Before the beginning of our trip, we prepared ourselves to encounter scams. But it was too much of a surprise to find scammers waiting on us around each corner! Also no matter how much we prepared for a scam there was always a moment when we didn’t know someone was lying to us. Some people were so skillful in scamming others that we were not even realizing it.

For the most part of our stay, we had no desire to leave our room in a guest house. Except for Angkor Wat and nearby floating village, there was not whole a lot to do there. Just a few sites, one very touristy overpriced street, a couple of museums, quite a few very dusty busy roads and a bunch of scammers around looking for another tourist they could take advantage of.

We personally didn’t feel comfortable around Cambodian people. Many times we encountered unfriendly, inhospitable and uninviting atmosphere.

Cambodia is a poor country, we get that, and we did our best to be understanding and compassionate to local people. We really hoped that the money we were spending there would help them at least a little bit. But to be honest we often felt very uncomfortable and even annoyed around Cambodians....

We knew Cambodian people were scamming us every day no matter where we went. They were lying and cheating without any shame.

Besides that Cambodians loved to talk or laugh at us in their local language while we were standing next to them.

And unfortunately, there was zero trust for local people.

Unless you are having a meal in a restaurant, carrying your own fork and spoon does not hurt. I don’t want to sound paranoid, but in my opinion, this one is important. In some cafes and even restaurants utensils (as well as glasses) look unappetizing. Sometimes, especially in open-air cafes and cafes, forks, spoons, and chopsticks sit on counters for hours, don’t get washed properly or get covered with dust.

A vast majority of Southeast Asian women do not wash their hands after going to the loo. A couple of times I tried staying longer near the area with sinks and mirrors, pretending I was putting makeup on, just to watch what other women would do. Some of them were leaving the restroom right after using the toilet, others were rinsing their hands quickly with a little bit of water.

One more tip for you when ordering fruit smoothie or shake – ask a person who makes it not to add any milk, ice, water or sugar in your smoothie. Using fruit only will help to avoid any unwanted stomach discomfort and provide more vitamins in your cup.

Monthly salary for the entire family is often less than $30.

Cockroaches with rats are very common, and bats, very similar to swallows, often swoop in the sky.

Naked children and women were walking along the streets. People were defecating and throwing trash in the river.
It's funny because she is from the Ukraine. Anywhere outside the main city squares in that country is run-down slums and trash.

I don't think that's accurate tbf. Yes Ukraine has problems but Kyev is a fantastic city (albeit as you say with very poor suburbs), and Lvov is nice too. Didn't realise the blogger was Ukrainian though. Might be that this was kind of her impression of how she thinks a western european might write. Not a deliberate pastiche as such, but perhaps her idea of what will impress a western audience. It's a very eastern european type of snobbery on display there. It was probably her first time abroad and she thought she was some kind of 19th century colonialist or something.

Her reviews are ignorant and woefully misleading, but maybe we could be generous and assume she's young and might become more educated in future.

techietraveller84 · Post by **techietraveller84** » Tue Oct 13, 2020 1:37 am

There are some pretty comprehensive lists of things to do in Cambodia that look relatively fail-safe. For anyone reading this thread and giving up hope that Cambodia has anything to offer, here's an infographic that actually gets me pretty excited about visiting, or even moving there, once (if) things settle down. Locals, please chime in if something's not quite right. This is a graphic from indochinapioneer.com, definitely not my work.

https://www.indochinapioneer.com/blog-t ... -cambodia/

popping in · Post by **popping in** » Tue Oct 13, 2020 5:27 pm

techietraveller84 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 13, 2020 1:37 am There are some pretty comprehensive lists of things to do in Cambodia that look relatively fail-safe. For anyone reading this thread and giving up hope that Cambodia has anything to offer, here's an infographic that actually gets me pretty excited about visiting, or even moving there, once (if) things settle down. Locals, please chime in if something's not quite right. This is a graphic from indochinapioneer.com, definitely not my work.

https://www.indochinapioneer.com/blog-t ... -cambodia/

You've never been to KoW ???

Another Blogger Has a Terrible Time in Cambodia

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