i do compare them often with spanish people (as i live overthere also for big part of the year); they come out of a dictatorship in the 70s and the smart people are all killed or run away, the left-overs are usually not the smartest, the difference between spanish and khmer is, the khmer more then once, appolugised, to be not really smart, and the spanish think they are supperior ras, and a big world power (they forget its 500 years ago). That makes me smile a lot in KOW (and in Spain). And fort those who say Khmers are smart: ask anny 20-year old girl you met how much is 93 minus 25 !! ??

In the UK, I think it's fair to say that for many people, especially of a certain generation, the biggest exposure they've ever had to Cambodia was about 20 years ago when it was exposed in a huge way across the British media as a paedophiles paradise thanks to one of our most infamous nonces, Gary Glitter, making it his home while he abused many children here, and sadly, for many, that reputation has still stuck all these years later. Mostly because Cambodia just hasn't featured in the news since then for any different reasons.

For the younger generation, I think it was starting to get a reputation as an alternative to Thailand as a SEA party hotspot, especially the islands, but of course, covid has put a stop to that. But for the older generation, once a country becomes synonymous with such a depraved activity, it's difficult to shake it off. I don't think there's a single British man of a certain age that's travelled to Cambodia alone who hasn't at least wondered what others might think of him back home.