General Info

[GreenBud]

Hello, everyone.

Borat's in town! I'm thinking to side step from BKK to Cambodia for the first time, partly figured it will save me alot on living costs over Thailand. Would love any thoughts on the comparison.

I like to stay in one location as a base for at least a month or two. The main thing for me is actually a good reliable and fast internet connection due to my work, so would love recommendations that have the residential balance. Preferably, there's something that also has a gym / pool on site as I'm trying to get in better shape.

Also for those that have recently been there, where is your favorite location? Seems like alot of people found SR to be more fun than PP. I also like heard the high HIV rates in Cambodia (like 20% infections in P2P) is a concern, so may not partake in P2P much. Would therefore be interested in anywhere with hot tourist chicks and work the freebie. Also from my research it seems like it's legal to smoke in this part of the world? Is it true? .

Sorry for the newb questions, I'm pretty new to this part of the world.

Thailand is more expensive than Cambodia for hotels and girls.

Thailand has better infrastructure; A / C bars and paved roads.

Girls will be more expensive in SR than PP. PP will have more girls and options.

Wear a condom if you are scared about HIV.

SR will have a lot of tourist chicks. A lot will hang out on Pub street. Haven't been there for several years. Don't know which one is the happening bar. Usually (in places like Vang Vieng and Snooky) , there is white staff working that promote the bar with cheap drinks; this attracts the drunk white girls at night time.

In Sihanoukville, the place to pick up white chicks will be in Utopia. Utopia has a mixture of backpackers and freelancers.

The policy of the government is to prosecute only the seller and not the user of weed. If you are paranoid, only have a joint or 2 on you and not a bag of weed. Then some overzealous cop won't try to get a bribe from you.

It is "virtually legal", but I still would be discrete. You can smoke in many places out in the open. But some Cambodians get parnoid and don't like it.

The quality of weed is horrible. You can tell the difference by the feel of the weed. The one that is sticky will usually be the best of the worst. Since the Lakeside scene is going to disappear in PP (there was a lady at a convenience store that had a huge stash) , moto-dope drivers or happy pizza waitors can get you some. All of them will try to rip you off; you have to say no and keep on asking for better. Eventually you might find someone that will get you the best available stuff. Then they will try to overcharge you for a small bag. You can also get joints from some happy pizza places and some of the bars.

The best consistent weed (which still will be lousy compared to the Amsterdam quality) will be in Sihanoukville. Google "sihanoukville happy hippi".

[Borat69]

Hello, everyone.

Borat's in town! I'm thinking to side step from BKK to Cambodia for the first time, partly figured it will save me alot on living costs over Thailand. Would love any thoughts on the comparison.

I like to stay in one location as a base for at least a month or two. The main thing for me is actually a good reliable and fast internet connection due to my work, so would love recommendations that have the residential balance. Preferably, there's something that also has a gym / pool on site as I'm trying to get in better shape.

Also for those that have recently been there, where is your favorite location? Seems like alot of people found SR to be more fun than PP. I also like heard the high HIV rates in Cambodia (like 20% infections in P2P) is a concern, so may not partake in P2P much. Would therefore be interested in anywhere with hot tourist chicks and work the freebie. Also from my research it seems like it's legal to smoke in this part of the world? Is it true? .

Sorry for the newb questions, I'm pretty new to this part of the world.

[Yankee 617]

please excuse the interruption. i do not regularly visit the cambodia forum but wanted to share this recent article with my isg friends.

also, please note that while i do not condone sex with children, neither do i condone the 'long arm' of us authorities. many might want to overlook the actions of us authorities because they feel that child sexual exploitation is so pernicious, but i feel that this is just the 'camel's nose under the tent' and soon those same us authorities will try to prosecute individuals for less pernicious activities.

ok, with that background, here's the article.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12298870

29 january 2011.

the us agents tracking down sex tourists in cambodia.

by david henshaw.

producer, the paedophile hunters.

as part of an initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas, special us agents operating in south east asia have brought more than 80 alleged child sex tourists back to america to face justice.

sihanoukville looks like paradise, or at least a decent, low-rent version. golden beaches, swaying palm trees, cheap alcohol and shimmering sea.

retired american pharmacist ronald adams had come here for the good life. setting up a beachside cafe. but one morning last february adams' personal vision of paradise was shattered, when officers from the cambodian national police raided his apartment.

they found a collection of sex aids, child pornography on dvds and a variety of illegal drugs. adams was accused of drugging and [CodeWord125] a 12-year-old girl.

under the radar.

for westerners arrested on child sex charges in south east asia, things do not always turn out too badly. gary glitter got a two-and-a-half-year sentence in vietnam for obscene acts with girls aged 10 and 12.

these are poor countries, where $100 can buy your freedom. but ronald adams had more to reckon with than the local police. an agent from america's immigration and customs enforcement agency (ice) was part of the group carrying out the raid.

if a us citizen is caught abusing children abroad, american agents are now on hand with the specific aim of getting the suspect on a plane to stand trial back in the us.

ice is part of the department of homeland security, based in washington, with a severe, brooks brothers-suited lawyer, john morton, as its director.

"don't think that simply by buying a plane ticket to leave the united states and going to a country with less robust investigative and prosecutorial capacities that you are going to be able to get away with it again," morton said.

"perfect example. the three gentlemen we brought back from cambodia."

the "three gentlemen" were given the moniker twisted travellers by ice in a heavily publicised and deliberately humiliating extradition from cambodia 18 months ago.

all three had previous convictions for abusing small children in the us. the oldest. 75-year-old former marine jack sporich, now faces a sentence of 15 years for sexually abusing a number of young boys.

cambodia's jails are full of foreign paedophiles, but for most of them a short sentence is all they have to worry about. but even that can be avoided if you have the money to pay off the police and the judge.

america was the first country to be positively pro-active about arresting and returning their child abusers to face justice. it has been joined in the past 12 months by australia and canada.

for us special agent chris materelli, it is as much about moral responsibility as law enforcement.

"if americans are coming here to do this against the cambodians, it's our job to try to help the cambodians clean it up," he says."they're our citizens, it's our responsibility to bring that person to justice."

in the seven years since the protect act was passed, america has brought back 85 child sex tourists to face justice in the us.

but none of this would work without a ground-breaking change in the way us agents work. not just with local police, but ngos run by ordinary citizens.

in the tourist hot-spots of cambodia, action pour les enfants (action for children, aple) acts as the eyes and the ears of ice in keeping surveillance on suspect americans.

young men on motorbikes patrol the streets with video cameras supplied by the americans. it was an aple undercover team that came across ronald adams openly asking for sex with **** girls,"the younger the better".

this kind of co-operation with ordinary locals represents a massive change of attitude, almost unthinkable 30 years ago in the wake of america's bombing of cambodia.

cambodians are welcome within the ranks of ice agents. vansak suos, once a conscripted boy soldier in pol pot's khmer rouge army, now occupies an office in the us embassy in phnom penh, with a photo of himself and bill clinton on his desk.

vansak's story is bleak, his brother, two sisters, and grandfather were all killed in the time of pol pot. he, himself, barely survived, but having done so was determined to use his life to protect other children.

big catch.

forty-five-year-old millionaire from florida, kent frank, is probably ice's biggest catch so far. he is a serial global child sex tourist, who was caught abusing four **** girls in his hotel room in phnom penh.

vansak describes how frank tried to bribe the local police chief.

"kent frank just stood up and put his hand in his pocket. then, shaking the hand with the boss. and the boss just found $100 in his hand," he says.

frank admitted to having sex and taking photos of the girls he had been with, saying that he believed they were all over 18.

"that's a common defence, that these kids are older than what they appear to be because they're asian," says ice agent gary philips."and if i had a nickel for every time i've heard that, i'd probably be a millionaire."

frank tried to delete the incriminating photos on his digital camera, but at ice's state-of-the-art cyber forensics lab back in the us. 1,600 deleted pictures were recovered. frank is currently serving a 40-year sentence in a federal jail.

but it doesn't always end that way. after seven months on remand in a cambodian prison, ronald adams was released without charge. the court decided that because his alleged victim says she was drugged, her evidence could not be relied on. he has since disappeared.

vansak shrugs and moves on. he is, he says, proud of what he has done. every sex offender convicted means that many more children are now safe.

[GreenBud]

Tried searching "hotels" but couldn't find a list.

Most of the top rated $50 and under hotels I see listed on Trip Advisor have "we don't cater to sex tourists" on their websites.

Any recommendations for monger-friendly, midrange places would be greatly appreciated.

Ironically in Billabong's reviews there was a comment about older Aussies with Cambodian girls-and Billabong has a no sex tourist warning. I wonder if that got put up after the comment, or whether they just don't care.

Billabong advertises it doesn't cater to sex tourists.

I would recommend Golden House (http://www.goldenhouse.asia/). It's located on St 136 across the Candy bar near the riverside. It's a good location. Of course it's girl friendly.

The rack rate is $25 and up; it has a few room types. I was able to get the $25 room for $20. It has a good bed (very important to me) , fridge, wi-fi, decent size LCD with clean cable channels, central hot water and in-room safe. The best thing is that it's less than a year old; the place "feels" nice and fresh. Of course this will only last for another year or so before it gets thrashed.

The problems are that the room is very small; not sure how larger the more expensive rooms are. It has an Asian style bathroom. It has a very small window that faces the back. Actually I prefer not to have a window. Sometimes the people on the street (I think it was the food sellers) yell in the morning.

Another poster recommend the Castle Hotel (http://www.hotelcastle.com.kh/). I checked out that hotel a few years ago when it was new. It was nice. But at $65 for the cheapest room, it wasn't worth it IMO. Not sure if you can get a discount.

[Shadow6491]

Billabong is definitely not a girl friendly hotel. I would recommend the castle hotel as a good mid range price hotel it is very near the riverside and a very short walk to street 136. It is girl friendly.

[Asian Travels]

Tried searching "hotels" but couldn't find a list.

Most of the top rated $50 and under hotels I see listed on Trip Advisor have "we don't cater to sex tourists" on their websites.

Any recommendations for monger-friendly, midrange places would be greatly appreciated.

Ironically in Billabong's reviews there was a comment about older Aussies with Cambodian girls-and Billabong has a no sex tourist warning. I wonder if that got put up after the comment, or whether they just don't care.

[Pinche Gringo]

I might be spending 6-8 weeks in PP this June-July. I was wondering how I can track down a decent one bedroom apartment that has internet available and more importantly AC! I have been to PP in the summer and I know it gets VERY steamy! I do not want to pay an arm and a leg so budget is important. I will be doing some volunteer work at the Royal University so I would prefer something close (walking distance or so) from the university.

[GregLondon]

Guys.

New to the site and wanting to know the best way to get up to PP. I am thinking of going into BKK and then straight to Pattaya, have done this before but a few years ago now.

What are the best suggestions and different ways to travel there that are a bit budget conscious.

Thanks

I did this yesterday. Bought a ticket on the minibus to the tahi border from a tour agent for 800B . 7.30am pickup from my hotel.
Got to the border about 1pm I think.

Minibus drops you about 10m from the Thai exit visa, geta exit stamp.

Walk about 200m to the Cambodian side. Someone will offer to carry your bags if you want but you need to tip them.

Fill in a form for quarantine 20B.

The touts will offer to fill in your visa form but ask for a tip if you let them do this. Then fill in the visa application and go to a small office where they will ask for 1000B (about $35). This is a scam as the dollar price is $20. I just good humouredly insisted than I only had US Dollars and I was going to pay $20. After 5 mins of trying to get me to pay 1000B they then said OK $25. I still insisted it was just $20. After another 10 mins They asked for $20 + 100B tip. At first I said I didnt have a photo as I didnt really want to waste one, but they said that it was an extra $5 with no photo so i pulled out a photo and insisted on giving them $20. Eventually they reluctantly agreed. My guess is that 95% of foreigners end up paying 1000B so they are skimming off $15 for every foreigner walking through that border. nice work if you can get it. I presume a good percentage of this flow back up the corruption chain.

If you are going to do this my advice would be 1 try and go in alone, they are much more likely to let 1 guy through without being scammed than a few of you. Try to maintain a sense of humour and politeness and just say that you have read the regulations and you know the real rate blah blah blah, but figure on losing at least 15 mins arguing with them.

The last public bus to PP leaves around midday so I missed that. But I started talking to a an American woman with 2 teenage sons and after some haggling we got a taxi to PP for $60, (should be $50 in the other direction). I offered to pay $20 for the front seat and everyone was happy. Taxi dropped me at Hotel Asie in Monovong Blvd at 5.30PM.

Hotel Asie gets mixed reviews an attracts primarily Asian tourists but I like it.
Each time I come they greet me like a long lost friend - I generally come about once a year. the basic rooms go for $20 but the 4th floor suite rooms are much nicer with wall to wall mirrors which is kind of funky. The rack rate is $50, the front desk will offer you $40 if you ask and they agreed $35 after calling the manager given iI'm a repeat customer. Very large room, nice furnishings, table chairs couch, buffet breakfast, free wifi.

Called up my regular girl here and was answered by a Cambodian only speaker, the hotel guys helped out and 30 mins later got a call back from my girl who said she had given the phone to her aunt. As shes going to come round at 2pm i thought it was time to try the hotel massage. They have toned it down a bit since last time when they were offering "private massage by beautiful young girl or boy", anyhow for $6 / hour I thought worth a shot. The girl showed up 30 mins later. OK looking 23 year old. Massage was really rather so so. Not keen to take her top off. HJ or Boom boom was available, starting price $50, quickly reduced to $30 including massage fee, but my offer of $10 plus $6 massage was turned down so she ended with just $6 plus $2 tip and left sulkily.

A case of hope over experience as my experience of in house massage has rarely been great.

[Guguy26]

I have been reading about girl bars and the like being closed down and cleaned up due to the government efforts. However, some things never change, they are simply shifted. Am I correct in guessing that the p4p scene is still on supply, but it has just shifted in where it is located? I find it hard to believe that the girls who were previously working girls have now all gotten jobs in factories. There is still demand in PP for that kind of action (which is likely responsible for driving up the price), but what about supply? Where is the supply available at these days? Regular bars? Night clubs? SW's? What about freebies? Are freebies even available in PP, or is everyone so hardened that they don't give something for nothing?

Also, what about massage places? Have all of these been closed down? Where do those girls work now? Or, what about a legit massage? I loved me some massages in Thailand. Can I get a Thai quality (or better) massage and what do they cost?

Sorry for the bombardment of questions. When I get on the ground I will be happy to be doing the reporting rather than the asking.

[Dinghy]

yah gots 2 ways to get there bubba - overland or overair. From Pattaya you can go out to Suk and Central and take the bus to TRAT (the 6AM bus is probably best but a chore getting to the bus stop - directly across Suk and about 20m to the right - look for the benches and people waiting) ANY bus to TRAT (it SAYS "TRAT" on the front of the bus) will get you there but so will RAYONG (but you will change buses there to get to Trat), then on to KohKong, overnight unless you find someone else to share a cab because the bus leaves at 9AM and then by BUS to PP (or Snooky as you see fit) the next day (it's faster to Snooky from KK because of the TRAFFIC as you get closer to PP) Figure 200B from Pats to Trat then 120B to the border, 1000B the get the visa (I recommend getting an electronic visa for $25 over the internet then just get it activated at the border to avoid the Cambodian border control mafia) then somewhere around $9 for the bus to PP (takes maybe 6 hours) Take your own beer - I swilled about a 6-pack on the trip. Other route is to go thru POIPET (that little shithole) but you wind up dealing with the taxi mafia to get out of dodge. Now to FLY, buy a ticket and then you get back to the airport for the 7am (730?) departure on Air Asia - 1 hour flight, $20 visa at the airport (bring an extra passport photo) and then into town (took a moto trailer last time with 2 other guys for $6 so $2 each - be warned, unless you know where you are going and WHERE IT IS, moto drivers are pretty much lost - last guy didn't even know exactly where walkabout was) When you leave you can fly back for about $50 plus the $25 airport departure fee or go overland with a ticket to a destination in Thailand (usually Pats or BKK) or just to the border and go from there (be warned again that it's IMMENSELY easier "ta khun pood thai dai" (if you can speak Thai) or you WILL get ripped off. There is another alternative but it's not for the novice - take a visa run minibus from Pats to to the PAILIN crossing and then onward from there (that's a sporty course unless you know some Khmer - which I don't so I've not tried it...yet) The RIDE, of course, is much more comfortable in a minibus

Have fun - it's an adventure the first few times. i prefer to fly but since I seem to wind up about 1/2 way down to ChamYeah (Cambo border crossing) anyway, I have been going overland to save the trip back up to BKK.

[Doublebogey]

Guys.

New to the site and wanting to know the best way to get up to PP. I am thinking of going into BKK and then straight to Pattaya, have done this before but a few years ago now.

What are the best suggestions and different ways to travel there that are a bit budget conscious.

Thanks

[Bigcebu]

Seems the asians tend to spend ALOT more for even a simple wedding.

It's not like in the US, where a wedding is just a Party. I was totally shocked how many 20-30 year old women are divorced already. I personally don't know anybody in Europe that is married bellow 30.

[Phantomtiger2]

marriage in the US is actually fairly cheap if you skip all the normal arrangements (flowers, tux, wedding gowns, banquet halls, renting the limo, professional photos etc. etc)
All you need is the license. Church service is optional only for the religious.
Hell, a buddy of mine got married by Elvis a few years back and all cost less than $300.
Seems the asians tend to spend ALOT more for even a simple wedding. Also has to do with saving face for your family, if you don't spend enough money for the wedding, then it is perceived to be a bad omen (start) as you are not "good" enough for the other family as a good provider. Of course, this is the simple version as its more complex and differs from one asian country to another but bottom line is alot of time and money is spent and often alot of money is "borrowed" just for the wedding.

PT

[Shadow6491]

Most khmer's do not do this sort of this thing. They look at it like buying fish in the market. I am not fish you can not buy me.

But you want give present to my mother then you are a very good man. There are no rules and each family is different. Most are just happy that they have someone to take care of there daughter who will in turn take care of them if she can.

[Nerdynomad]

I don't know how much the wedding itself might be, of course it would be relatively inexpensive compared to a western wedding.

I often wonder about if westerners pay dowry in Cambo. In Thailand 'sin sot' is high on the agenda for any Thai girl, virgin or not or divorced. Farang guys seem to approach it as if paying it is a badge of honour, odd.

I asked my Khmer girl about it once and she said "No! I marry once already", it was pretty abrupt, I wondered if she is just of the opinion that it amounts to buying a human being or something else. Somehow I got the feeling she was offended I even asked.