King Keil wrote: ↑Fri May 01, 2020 2:26 pm A swiss guy got hit with a baton walking his dog over a minor argument. He fell, dropped his head on the pavement and was transported to hospital (Callmette) where they looked at the injuries and sent him home over the night, where he died.
Just an example but you can compare this incident with what would have happened in your hometown in the west.
How likely is it to get beaten with a baton over some minor argument? How likely is it that a hospital sends you home after you heavily hit your head on the pavement in your home country?
You have to take care in cambodia. Things can turn nasty in a heartbeat.

Kuroneko wrote: ↑Fri May 01, 2020 3:23 pm

King Keil wrote: ↑Fri May 01, 2020 2:26 pm A swiss guy got hit with a baton walking his dog over a minor argument. He fell, dropped his head on the pavement and was transported to hospital (Callmette) where they looked at the injuries and sent him home over the night, where he died.
Just an example but you can compare this incident with what would have happened in your hometown in the west.
How likely is it to get beaten with a baton over some minor argument? How likely is it that a hospital sends you home after you heavily hit your head on the pavement in your home country?
You have to take care in cambodia. Things can turn nasty in a heartbeat.

I think you're confusing/altering the facts a bit here!

Swiss Man Died After Argument Over Dogs
On April 24, 2020, at 10:30 pm, the victim and his wife were walking their dog on the river bank. Another dog belonging to the suspect arrived *It’s not quite clear what happened next, but sounds like the dogs might have started fighting.

For some reason the victim took a small metal rod antenna (* maybe an extendable baton or walking stick, unclear), and hit the other man’s dog.

The suspect then hit the victim’s left jaw, who collapsed and then knocked his head. He was taken to Calmette for treatment. After that, the cops arrived and, as indicated by the people at the scene, the police brought the suspect to Central Market Administration for inquiries.

At first, the condition of the victim was unknown, so police sent the suspect home with a warning and the obligation to return another time...............

It was not until the morning of 29 April 2020 at 9:20 that police received information from the victim’s wife via a phone called that her husband had died. Authorities have since detained the suspect to file a court case.[Mod edit: CEO policy is no CNE links please]

John Bingham wrote: ↑Fri May 01, 2020 2:31 pm

King Keil wrote: ↑Fri May 01, 2020 2:26 pm you can compare this incident with what would have happened in your hometown in the west.
How likely is it to get beaten with a baton over some minor argument?

It's very easy to get bottled or stabbed in my home city, and it has a lot of areas I wouldn't go near, especially at night.

King Keil wrote: ↑Fri May 01, 2020 5:51 pm

John Bingham wrote: ↑Fri May 01, 2020 2:31 pm

King Keil wrote: ↑Fri May 01, 2020 2:26 pm you can compare this incident with what would have happened in your hometown in the west.
How likely is it to get beaten with a baton over some minor argument?

It's very easy to get bottled or stabbed in my home city, and it has a lot of areas I wouldn't go near, especially at night.

Just out of curiousity may I ask where you come from. London?

AzalKH wrote: ↑Fri May 01, 2020 9:09 pm If you're taking the reasonable precautions you should do in any town/city then overall the place is pretty safe. I've been here 4 years now.

Traffic accidents are definitely the predominant concern. There is a general lack of education and respect, including respecting the fact that even a scooter going at 30kmph will mess someone up if no braking occurs - not to mention a 2 ton SUV going at 60+. Drink driving is very common in PP, my wife won't go any great distance after dark unless we're in the car or taking a taxi (not tuktuk, they fold) for this reason. If you are going out of town then you have to factor in truck drivers who are often on meth to stay awake, I've seen some genuinely terrifying things happen on National Road N4; once we were almost hit from the side by a truck who then avoided us by going into the oncoming lane, where they would have wiped out another truck if he hadn't been attentive and quickly moved into the empty shoulder (a rarity on that road).

Health can be a bit tricky, but there are good doctors here. Certainly not as bad as rexwell suggested, things have evidently improved significantly since 2001... That said many local clinics, aimed at average or poorer Khmer, where doctors will try to get people on saline drips and charge an extortionate amount, sadly many locals seem to buy into it. Worst case Singapore and Thailand are close, look for insurance with emergency evacuation regardless.

As for foreigners dying, I'd put most of that down to age and more importantly substance abuse. It's very easy to overdo alcohol here and obtain over the counter drugs. I've worked at a couple of schools and there were more than a handful of foreigners who drank heavily every single day with others staying in their area. Have seen people bottom out within a couple of weeks on over the counter drugs - Cambodia isn't a place for people who have unresolved problems.

Petty theft is fairly common if you present yourself as a target for opportunists, hand bags or backpacks with easy to break/cut straps aren't recommended in general, and don't step into / too near the street to take a photo or answer your phone. Bike thefts are apparently a big enough thing that my wife always insists I park only in places with attendants, though I've never met anyone who's had their bike stolen myself. It seems no one will try to steal a car though, have seen 100k cars left running with no one in them whilst the owner went for a coffee. Oh, don't go to a seedy massage parlour with $600 in your wallet - this seems to be a recurring problem some expats run into.

Violence towards foreigners is very infrequent. Usually it's more a case of them involving themselves with situations which attract violence, whether that is actual involvement with drug rings, not paying a dealer, messing around with bar girls in the wrong way and getting the bouncers attention; I've seen a guy pretty bloodied in the street after this - though he swore he'd fallen over and hit the curb.

All this said, there is a lot of drama here. If you are able to isolate yourself from it then that's great, though if you are involved with a local then you will be made aware of the goings on in the neighbourhood and there's a higher chance of confrontations related to family.

I could probably write a book on all the bizarre shit that I've experienced here. Though it's not know as the Kingdom of Wonder for nothing. Many of my Khmer friends like to say "The Kingdom of Wonder, it makes you wonder", and they really could not be more right.

King Keil wrote: ↑Fri May 01, 2020 4:16 pmRegardless that area north riverside and wat phnom is not safe at all after 6pm.