At the same time I was reading this earlier on FB, I was sat outside my workplace taking my usual break and the same elderly Khmer woman (looks to be in her 70s or 80s) came up to me, as she does most days, simply smiling at me and gave me one of those small wrapped fruit flavoured candies (I'm not sure what they're called). I see her most days and she often does the same. I'm not sure if she's homeless but she's clearly in poverty. She doesn't say much but she's always smiling and seems fascinated by me for some reason. I've tried to give her a dollar or so before but she always refuses. She's never taken a single riel from me. She just a very kind old lady who seems to enjoy giving, despite her clearly very impoverished life.

After she left, I went back to my phone to see this story. The contrast couldn't have been starker.

People like the begpacker in the picture don't deserve to leave their own town, let alone be allowed entry into a developing nation with elderly people like the woman I spoke about.

Seriously, it is gut-wrenching, disgusting and shameful behavior. There is no place here for people like that. I'd be only too happy to see a picture of him with his sign replaced by a smiling Cambodian cop under a headline such as "Entitled Westerner sentenced to 2 years for simply taking the piss**."



*(Taking the piss = taking liberties) for our American friends.

Brody wrote: ↑Fri Jan 17, 2020 8:06 pm

clutchcargo wrote: ↑Fri Jan 17, 2020 8:00 pm Do we know what country this reportedly 'handsome' foreigner begpacker is from?

Begpakistan?

Looks more like Begladesh.

He's from Begaria.