fsdfdsdf wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2020 8:12 pm I read somewhere that a lot of chinese have left and rents are dropping.

Have you been reading the Asterix Coronavirus book?

fsdfdsdf wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2020 8:12 pm I read somewhere that a lot of chinese have left and rents are dropping.

was there a week ago, the place is like a ghost town compared to a year ago, i was renting out a nice big chinese apartment for $23 per night, which was a complete bargain, they said i was the first person to stay there from online booking, and kept asking me for feedback,
now all the chinese have moved out and all the apartments are empty, i think you will start to see a lot more putting their empty rooms online for daily rentals

Jamie_Lambo wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2020 2:50 pm

Anchor Moy wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2020 1:53 am Thanks for posting the photos Jamie. It is hard to believe how bad it really is ,if you don't see for yourself. What you don't see is all the dust in the air. Air and water pollution is terrible.
On a positive side, Sihanoukville can go no lower than it is now, so things can only get better.
('Better ' as in less worse.)

these pictures dont show even a fraction of how bad it is, all the roads and paths have been dug up to make way for a new sewer/drainage system (i can only presume), i was last here at Xmas 2018 and it was bad then, its now 10x worse than it was then, it is crazy, just trying to do something simple like finding somewhere to go eat is a nightmare, only positive is the influx of passapp drivers in the town now

I didn't think it could get much worse than then, but apparently so! Where is there to eat there now? I also heard olive olive restaurant closed?

ozguyinshv wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2020 8:16 am

Jamie_Lambo wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2020 2:50 pm

Anchor Moy wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2020 1:53 am Thanks for posting the photos Jamie. It is hard to believe how bad it really is ,if you don't see for yourself. What you don't see is all the dust in the air. Air and water pollution is terrible.
On a positive side, Sihanoukville can go no lower than it is now, so things can only get better.
('Better ' as in less worse.)

these pictures dont show even a fraction of how bad it is, all the roads and paths have been dug up to make way for a new sewer/drainage system (i can only presume), i was last here at Xmas 2018 and it was bad then, its now 10x worse than it was then, it is crazy, just trying to do something simple like finding somewhere to go eat is a nightmare, only positive is the influx of passapp drivers in the town now

I didn't think it could get much worse than then, but apparently so! Where is there to eat there now? I also heard olive olive restaurant closed?

the corner restaurant where we first met is still running, but was i think the only barang style restaurant i saw, there was one on the way into downtown but it was dead and pumping out khmer techno music, i didnt even go around the serendipity area tbh

fsdfdsdf wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2020 8:12 pm I read somewhere that a lot of chinese have left and rents are dropping.

No way!

Jamie_Lambo wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2020 8:19 am

ozguyinshv wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2020 8:16 am

Jamie_Lambo wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2020 2:50 pm

Anchor Moy wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2020 1:53 am Thanks for posting the photos Jamie. It is hard to believe how bad it really is ,if you don't see for yourself. What you don't see is all the dust in the air. Air and water pollution is terrible.
On a positive side, Sihanoukville can go no lower than it is now, so things can only get better.
('Better ' as in less worse.)

these pictures dont show even a fraction of how bad it is, all the roads and paths have been dug up to make way for a new sewer/drainage system (i can only presume), i was last here at Xmas 2018 and it was bad then, its now 10x worse than it was then, it is crazy, just trying to do something simple like finding somewhere to go eat is a nightmare, only positive is the influx of passapp drivers in the town now

I didn't think it could get much worse than then, but apparently so! Where is there to eat there now? I also heard olive olive restaurant closed?

the corner restaurant where we first met is still running, but was i think the only barang style restaurant i saw, there was one on the way into downtown but it was dead and pumping out khmer techno music, i didnt even go around the serendipity area tbh

Ah right ok. damn not much there. good boozing session btw mate haha.

What the Chinese are saying:
Sihanoukville eyes a bright future to become ‘Shenzhen of Cambodia’
By Lan Hui Source:Global Times Published: 2020/2/24 20:48:40
○ Sihanoukville, Cambodia develops rapidly by taking advantage of its port

○ The Belt and Road Initiative has brought a large amount of Chinese investment

○ Sihanoukville is taking steps to become a metropolis, but challenges to the city's growth remain

After allowing the MS Westerdam and its 2,000 passengers and crew to dock at its port on February, Sihanoukville, a quiet and small port city in Cambodia has commanded the global spotlight.

Aside from offering a safe departure for those on board, Sihanoukville is in the midst of providing opportunities for its residents and those from the region.

Chinese commerce and investment have brought industrial parks, factories, commercial housing, hotels, restaurants and casinos as well. The seaside tourist city is gradually changing into an engine of Cambodia's economy.

Over the past five years some have begun referring to Sihanoukville as a "next Shenzhen." The road to development is not easy as the city still faces many development problems. But joining the Belt and Road Initiative and enhancing cooperation with China has become the consensus on how to push forward.

Deep water port

Sihanoukville was built around its port and is named after Cambodia's former monarch King Norodom Sihanouk.

Of Cambodia's imports and exports transported by sea, 90 percent go through the Sihanoukville port.

Cambodia's Minister for Public Works and Transport Sun Chanthol said the throughput of the Sihanoukville port could reach 700,000 containers in 2020 and 1 million in 2023, according to a Khmer Daily report.

Sihanoukville has become the second largest city in Cambodia after Phnom Penh.

The port city has abundant resources for tourism. In the second half of 20th century, it began attracting international tourists and was listed to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

With good harbors and foreign investment, Sihanoukville shares many similarities with Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong Province.

Sihanoukville's media, government and civil society have drawn such comparisons.

According to Vongsey Vissoth, Cambodia's Minister of Economy and Finance, under the support of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the Urban Planning & Design Institute of Shenzhen is assisting Sihanoukville to morph the city into a "Cambodian Shenzhen" to attract more investment.
Full article (longread): https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1180622.shtml

Bit gutted I never got to experience the original, all the stories I've seen and heard make for an entertaining little place. It's the way of the world though isn't it. I'm also jealous of everyone that got to float about South East Asia back in the day but at least I've somewhat got my youth and there's still plenty of adventures to be had.

After allowing the MS Westerdam and its 2,000 passengers and crew to dock at its port on February, Sihanoukville, a quiet and small port city in Cambodia has commanded the global spotlight.

Sure has. Bordering countries and several other Asian nations instantly banned Westerdam passengers from entry into their countries and they faced another 14 days quarantine everywhere else.