HaifongWangchuck wrote: ↑Fri Dec 15, 2023 7:51 pm One factor I'd say more than people getting older, is that Cambodia was also a far different country back then: There were still rebels in the hills and machine guns for rental and and a much stronger level of corruption that allowed for far greater vice than we see today, hence why the heroin dens and sexpat villages have disappeared, and with it that perception of corrupt invulnerability that comes with it.

And is that not for the better? I see so often older expats lamenting places like KPS and Kampot being revamped and redeveloped, as if such cities should ask permission from the backpackers and other all-sorts of the Heart of Darkness crowd who will be bereft of one dollar mai tais and cheap banana pancakes.

Cambodia gets modernised, and marches on. I for one and happy to see it settle down, vice trades decline, and people enter a greater era of prosperity than any other time in the last 800 years of Khmer history.

Ghostwriter wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2023 11:20 am The world is shrinking.
Those who want similar feelings as in their youth, they gotta go deeper in larger countries, assuming they didn't aged too much (spoiler, they did anyway).

Think Indonesia, Brazil, Russia, India...deeper in it's countryside, away from comfort, would be my guess

This. South Sudan and East Timor still have that general sense of fatalistic adventuring spirit, even if it may not appeal to the sex, drugs and alcohol crowd.

HaifongWangchuck wrote: ↑Fri Dec 15, 2023 7:51 pm One factor I'd say more than people getting older, is that Cambodia was also a far different country back then: There were still rebels in the hills and machine guns for rental and and a much stronger level of corruption that allowed for far greater vice than we see today, hence why the heroin dens and sexpat villages have disappeared, and with it that perception of corrupt invulnerability that comes with it.

And is that not for the better? I see so often older expats lamenting places like KPS and Kampot being revamped and redeveloped, as if such cities should ask permission from the backpackers and other all-sorts of the Heart of Darkness crowd who will be bereft of one dollar mai tais and cheap banana pancakes.

Cambodia gets modernised, and marches on. I for one and happy to see it settle down, vice trades decline, and people enter a greater era of prosperity than any other time in the last 800 years of Khmer history.

Ghostwriter wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2023 11:20 am The world is shrinking.
Those who want similar feelings as in their youth, they gotta go deeper in larger countries, assuming they didn't aged too much (spoiler, they did anyway).

Think Indonesia, Brazil, Russia, India...deeper in it's countryside, away from comfort, would be my guess

This. South Sudan and East Timor still have that general sense of fatalistic adventuring spirit, even if it may not appeal to the sex, drugs and alcohol crowd.

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Fri Dec 15, 2023 8:21 pm

HaifongWangchuck wrote: ↑Fri Dec 15, 2023 7:51 pm One factor I'd say more than people getting older, is that Cambodia was also a far different country back then: There were still rebels in the hills and machine guns for rental and and a much stronger level of corruption that allowed for far greater vice than we see today, hence why the heroin dens and sexpat villages have disappeared, and with it that perception of corrupt invulnerability that comes with it.

And is that not for the better? I see so often older expats lamenting places like KPS and Kampot being revamped and redeveloped, as if such cities should ask permission from the backpackers and other all-sorts of the Heart of Darkness crowd who will be bereft of one dollar mai tais and cheap banana pancakes.

Cambodia gets modernised, and marches on. I for one and happy to see it settle down, vice trades decline, and people enter a greater era of prosperity than any other time in the last 800 years of Khmer history.

Ghostwriter wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2023 11:20 am The world is shrinking.
Those who want similar feelings as in their youth, they gotta go deeper in larger countries, assuming they didn't aged too much (spoiler, they did anyway).

Think Indonesia, Brazil, Russia, India...deeper in it's countryside, away from comfort, would be my guess

This. South Sudan and East Timor still have that general sense of fatalistic adventuring spirit, even if it may not appeal to the sex, drugs and alcohol crowd.

Back when? i am referring to the mid 2000's..... NOT the 70-80's
There is more corruption now then there ever was back than and the deference between those that have an those that dont is immense>

But if u think so, well it must be so

I dont lament change, change is good, BUT its better when it benefits the majority NOT the minority as so often happens.

As to south sudan, one of the 3 countries ( when it was all one Sudan) i spent a brief time in jail and even now its not a safe or wise place to be

Earl of Mercia wrote:

willyhilly wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2023 7:45 pm I just logged in with the password KIR gave me after I was banned once and then we made up.
Khmer440 was fun, all the old posters. Barone, Ricecakes, Marklatham and Andyinasia. Whatever happened to him?
A few have died, most have gone home, many with partners. Taking a slice of Cambodia home is good. I have two girls, one a joy and one not.
The whole world has changed. The real good old days of international drug smuggling for cash and fun and the pursuit of women changes as one ages, obviously.
But my world is still dangerous and complicated. Asian crime gangs, bikies and criminal aussies rule in this little town. I play with local and State politics and talk to powerful people. I am involved with juvenile crims and the cops. A kid disappeared a few months ago. Murdered by vigilantes or bikies and fed to the crocodiles. It is much like a Carl Hiassen novel here. Anyone read his books about Florida. Was told of a good scam the other day. Marry an Asian on a short term visa for US$125,000. Not bad. Or marry a Chinese woman with kids for much more. Or scam the tax office as a failed business for $280,000. And help your mates do it too for a $40,000 fee. Junkies and people in jail did it, I know one. He got caught trying to do it twice. We have lots of drugs, guns, chop shops, Thai massage parlours with pretty young girls and illegal tobacco shops- chop chop shops. The corruption is amazing, police are lazy. Australia has turned into old Cambodia.

Serious question if it’s so bad why do you stay?