Sihanoukville, Seen Through the Eyes of a Chinese Blogger

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Re: Sihanoukville, Seen Through the Eyes of a Chinese Blogger

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cptrelentless wrote: Fri Jan 11, 2019 9:55 pm
frank lee bent wrote: Fri Jan 11, 2019 9:34 am The renaming to Westport speaks volumes of the naked proprietary ambition of the PRC.
I’m not certain it is a name change, West Port in Mandarin is Xi Han, “she Han” which is quite close to Sihan from Sihanou which is how the locals write it
Apparently it means Sihanoukville Port.
bolueeleh wrote: Thu Feb 15, 2018 3:17 pm westport = 西港 which is short for 西哈努克港 (sihanoukville port)
newsworthy/more-chinese-takeover-sihano ... ml#p225215
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Re: Sihanoukville, Seen Through the Eyes of a Chinese Blogger

Post by John Bingham »

Can anyone with a bit of knowledge of Chinese language explain the use of the term "Spinach" here?
Spinach dogs are roughly divided into three types of people. They can't find any legitimate jobs in China. They owe gambling debts, and they don't have professional skills and think that domestic wages are low.
Silence, exile, and cunning.
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Re: Sihanoukville, seen through the eyes of a Chinese blogger

Post by Cinnamoncat »

Cam Nivag wrote: Thu Jan 10, 2019 11:04 am If the suggestion is that Sihanoukville was a "quiet and beautiful port city" before the Chinese casinos arrived, that's total nonsense.
It was beautiful in 1994, 1995, 1996 when I lived there with LTO.
"Love and Loss in Cambodia: a memoir" available on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578537788
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Re: Sihanoukville, Seen Through the Eyes of a Chinese Blogger

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John Bingham wrote: Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:05 pm Can anyone with a bit of knowledge of Chinese language explain the use of the term "Spinach" here?
Spinach dogs are roughly divided into three types of people. They can't find any legitimate jobs in China. They owe gambling debts, and they don't have professional skills and think that domestic wages are low.
I don't have any knowledge of Chinese language, but with a little help from Google . . .

from the original chinese text, 菠菜狗 = spinach dog
breaking that down into 狗 = dog,
and 菠菜 = Spinach

Apparently, spinach can mean (colloquial) bad; inferior; disappointing; below average. https://www.lexisrex.com/Chinese/Word-A ... 0%E8%8F%9C


Interesting to note that the original Chinese article has been deleted. 该内容已被删除 = This content has been deleted

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Re: Sihanoukville, Seen Through the Eyes of a Chinese Blogger

Post by Clutch Cargo »

Interesting to note that the original Chinese article has been deleted. 该内容已被删除 = This content has been deleted
Not surprising really...
Spoiler:
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Re: Sihanoukville, Seen Through the Eyes of a Chinese Blogger

Post by Anchor Moy »

Username Taken wrote: Sat Jan 12, 2019 4:32 pm
John Bingham wrote: Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:05 pm Can anyone with a bit of knowledge of Chinese language explain the use of the term "Spinach" here?
Spinach dogs are roughly divided into three types of people. They can't find any legitimate jobs in China. They owe gambling debts, and they don't have professional skills and think that domestic wages are low.
I don't have any knowledge of Chinese language, but with a little help from Google . . .

from the original chinese text, 菠菜狗 = spinach dog
breaking that down into 狗 = dog,
and 菠菜 = Spinach

Apparently, spinach can mean (colloquial) bad; inferior; disappointing; below average. https://www.lexisrex.com/Chinese/Word-A ... 0%E8%8F%9C


Interesting to note that the original Chinese article has been deleted. 该内容已被删除 = This content has been deleted

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Lower class persons ?
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Re: Sihanoukville, Seen Through the Eyes of a Chinese Blogger

Post by Mostcurious »

A very interesting story written by the Chinese blogger. First off, I agree it is interesting how he refers to Sihanoukville now as Westport.
Does he believe the locals have a sour grapes mentally, I wonder ?
From the map of Sihanoukville with all the red pins dotted about the place - I presume these are casinos, it shows how the soft takeover is now well under way.
On my last visit to Cambodia I spoke to a motorbike taxi rider from Koh Kong who told me China investment would really improve this place.
Improve the area for who ? for the locals or for the new Chinese arrivals. The expression Jam Tomorrow comes to mind.
If this development continues it won't be long before ALL the Cambodian coast line from Koh Kong to Kep is owned by China.
Surely there must be someone in the Cambodian government who can see what is happening, why do they not speak out ?
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Re: Sihanoukville, Seen Through the Eyes of a Chinese Blogger

Post by frank lee bent »

It is already all owned by China.
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Re: Sihanoukville, Seen Through the Eyes of a Chinese Blogger

Post by johnny lightning »

Why do they not speak out? A rhetorical question surely? If you have spent any time in Cambodia you already know the answer. Nothing will change as long as the head honchos keep getting new Range Rovers, mansions and apartments for their mistresses. You don't think these people actually care about their country or their countrymen do you?

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Re: Sihanoukville, Seen Through the Eyes of a Chinese Blogger

Post by frank lee bent »

They are scared to speak. The KR era is 40 years old, but still a potent memory. Examples of dissenters and their fate encourage silence.
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