From 2011-2013, Loven organised the Angkor Art Explo, an art festival spanning Battambang to Siem Reap which included artwork in the rice fields, markets, pagodas and the highways. Supplied

Peter Olszewski
July19 2019

"Loven Ramos is part of a slew of long-term expats who carved out careers and high profiles, mainly in the hospitality and philanthropy sectors, who are leaving town."

"Back in the early days of Siem Reap’s tourism boom, art entrepreneur and hotel manager Loven Ramos joked with his friends that if Starbucks and Gucci ever opened in Siem Reap, it would be time to pack up and go.Now there’s a Gucci outlet in town and not one, but two, Starbucks cafes, and Loven and his family are leaving ..."

"Departees include Pierre Caroen and his wife Dianne, leaving after more than 20 years, and Dr Rob Overtoom, who has been in Siem Reap for about 30 years.Pierre Caroen was the long-serving and at times controversial manager of Angkor Village Hotel and Resort, and his partner Dianne worked in a variety of NGOs, winding up as team leader consultant for WWF and a director of Qualis, which provides early childhood education and services."

"Also quitting town are the pioneers of Pub Street, former London financier Alex Sutherland and his partner Jennifer O’Sullivan, a former American record label executive.Sutherland, worried that his London financier job would turn him into an alcoholic, wanted to change his life and did so by following up a friend’s tip in 2003 about an unheard-of destination, Siem Reap, which had just been de-mined, and because of its proximity to Angkor Wat, was regarded as being the next tourism hot spot."

"“It also includes opening my own businesses and/or collaborating with many wonderful expats and locals here through start-up projects like the One Gallery, Poetry Boutique, Art Deli, 1961 Hotel, Ministry of Art, Potions & Metaphors, East of Narnia Restaurant, Vain and Vicious Vegan.”

Full https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50625479/e ... oing-gone/

I think this is the most telling quote:

“It was a fun 16 years, but it was the first ten before the Chinese invasion that I enjoyed most.”

For every expat who is leaving Cambodia there are three European "digital nomads" and a South African refugee arriving.

Cam Nivag wrote: ↑Fri Jul 19, 2019 10:42 pm For every expat who is leaving Cambodia there are three European "digital nomads" and a South African refugee arriving.

Yea, but that's only because

Quote ] and did so by following up a friend’s tip in 2003 about an unheard-of destination, Siem Reap, which had just been de-mined,

Leaving town.....and Cambodia altogether it seems.