Cambo Dear wrote: ↑Sun Nov 19, 2017 8:09 pm The way I see it, Cambodia is East-Asia's equivalent of Europe's Spain back in the day - good weather, low cost of living and good transport connections. It's a trend I am sure that is set to continue - why shouldn't it?

I agree and actually made this very same premonition in 2000 but I must admit nothing seemed to happen for the first 16 years tho

Cambo Dear wrote: ↑Sun Nov 19, 2017 8:09 pm good transport connections.

that would be compared to say Timbuktu?

Do the Chinese in Cambodia know how to que - how to wait their turn in line?
Koh Samet in Thailand is thick with Chinese.
Are they buying up all the real estate as they are in high demand areas of the US?

Cambo Dear wrote: ↑Sun Nov 19, 2017 8:09 pm The way I see it, Cambodia is East-Asia's equivalent of Europe's Spain back in the day - good weather, low cost of living and good transport connections. It's a trend I am sure that is set to continue - why shouldn't it?

It is difficult to see Cambodia as 'East-Asia's equivalent of Europe's Spain back in the day'. The Spanish had infrastructure. Even twenty-five years ago, the Spanish airports at Malaga, Alicante etc.had excellent connections with destinations all over Europe, they already had regular high speed Talgo trains, the roads were good, they had local buses and the sewage didn't (normally) drain into the sea.
The only major problem I remember was a water shortage in the hot months.

Sihanoukville does not have 'good transport connections'. The airport only has flights to a limited number of destinations, the local roads are crumbling, there is no motorway or main road to Phnom Penh, the train runs only a few times a week and travel at 25mph, and the sewage is being pumped straight into the bays and spoiling the beaches. Recently, much of Sihanoukville has began to see the return of the long power cuts we experienced 5-years ago.

Sihanoukville can not survive a massive influx of Chinese casino managers, casino staff and builders without an equally massive improvement in its infrastructure. The people are arriving but the infrastructure improvements are not happening.

Poor infrastucture is going to be the major problem for sure. Rapid growth in the number of casinos and hotels while sewage is running down the street in front of them after a storm isn't going to work.

Just try walking out of any casino in Golden Lion area and go for a walk. No footpaths!! Add to that try crossing the road!!. Khmer driving on wrong side of road with no lights adding to the danger.

Another issue is going to be crime. Aready we are seeing Chinese carrying knives into restaurants and attacking each other. These incidents will get reported back in China. Local police will need to also up their game.

The influx of capital may be a good thing for the rich Khmer. I have my doubts the poor Khmer living in Sihanoukville will benifit.

Barang now an 'endangered species' in Sihanoukvilke!

paparazzi wrote: ↑Mon Nov 20, 2017 7:20 am Poor infrastucture is going to be the major problem for sure. Rapid growth in the number of casinos and hotels while sewage is running down the street in front of them after a storm isn't going to work.

Just try walking out of any casino in Golden Lion area and go for a walk. No footpaths!! Add to that try crossing the road!!. Khmer driving on wrong side of road with no lights adding to the danger.

Another issue is going to be crime. Aready we are seeing Chinese carrying knives into restaurants and attacking each other. These incidents will get reported back in China. Local police will need to also up their game.

The influx of capital may be a good thing for the rich Khmer. I have my doubts the poor Khmer living in Sihanoukville will benifit.

Barang now an 'endangered species' in Sihanoukvilke!

The poor Khmer might do ok as there's more jobs for waiters, cleaners, drivers, construction workers. The upper middle class renting out GH/hotels would be happy. Its probably the lower middle class khmers that are missing out, ie small business owners facing higher rents and less khmer/Barang customers.

Yes lower middle class negatively impacted.

The problem the poor face is rising cost of food and rent for a start. Also the beech workers giving massage and cutting nails are all going to be told to move away if 4/5 star hotel casinos go up all along beech front.

Is there any truth in many of the casinos are being built with Chinese prison labour in return for reduced sentences? If so will China want them back!! That would give Sihanoukville a dangerous pool of Chinese here.

The Khmer will get swamped here. What happens to the culture??

",The Khmer will get swamped here. What happens to the culture?? "

What Khmer culture? The small enclaves that exist now are mere vestiges of the Sihanoukville that I first saw in 1996. The Chinese are no more to blame than the Russians who preceded them nor the foreigners who laud sushi bars or other food establishments that cater to their tastes. Damn few foreigners come to Cambodia to see Cambodia. Yes I miss the sleepy little coastal town that used to be Khmer.

Local people ( khmer ) are cautious about visiting the lions later in the evening because a lot of fighting is happening with the chinese laborers

frank lee bent wrote: ↑Mon Nov 20, 2017 9:18 am Local people ( khmer ) are cautious about visiting the lions later in the evening because a lot of fighting is happening with the chinese laborers