Going to Cambodia on Monday. (A story, hopefully interesting.)
Replies: 18 - Last Post: Jul 3, 2012 8:52 AM Last Post By: gwapo
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Going to Cambodia on Monday. (A story, hopefully interesting.)
Howdy!I am an American who lives and works in China. My wife is Chinese and a businesswoman and we have been together for almost 11 years. I am a teacher so I have my summers free and so I spend this time to travel.
Her more than likely future daughter in law (of her only son from her first marriage) is doing some kind of business in Phnom Penh. I like the girl overall. She is doing some kind of castor bean business and my wife is interested in their operation (I don't understand any of it and just shrug).
Yesterday, I was invited to go to Cambodia by the girl. Shockingly, my wife is going (with her son). My wife does not like to travel. She isn't going there for pleasure, but to see this girl and her business. She is a fairly sophisticated person, but she has never been outside of Chinese territory in her life. Her international experience is basically Hong Kong and Macau which is yes, different than the Mainland, but they are both under China now, so I count them
For myself, I went to Cambodia in 2005 and went from Poipet to Siem Reap to Phnom Penh and on to Vietnam. Cambodia to me was OK. However, the country is grind ass poor, with a lot of beggars and whatnot. The roads are not in good repair (in 2005). Phnom Penh to me is not the safest of cities in terms of crime. The girl we are going to see says things are better, but I dont know. We are basically going to be in Phnom Penh. We are staying at the Naga World, which looks like a nice, 4 star resort like hotel with a casino and a bunch of international restaurants. Chinese like to "live it up" a bit if they can afford it.
For me, I have seen what I wanted to see in Cambodia in 2005. Angkor Wat, The Killing Fields, the Tuol Sleng school. I did all that.
Maybe, I might go to Sihounkville to see the ocean. I skipped it last time because I was going to Vietnam and the beach there would be better. When my wife and son head back to China, I am going to go to Laos, go through Laos and end up in China (Yunnan) and see Xishuangbanna. I LOVE Laos, much better in many ways than Cambodia.
Like I said, I did not want to go to Cambodia, but my wife is going and I was invited and I have not been there in 7 years. My wife does not like travel and I do so I will enjoy it and it is good to spend time with her. I just wished it could be somewhere else besides freaking Phnom Penh.
4
I have read this through a few times and I think I understand now.Yes OP, you can get a visa on arrival at Vientiane airport
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I am an American...I am a teacher so I have my summers free and so I spend this time to travel.For myself, I went to Cambodia in 2005..
For yourself?
The roads are not in good repair (in 2005).
"were"
Like I said, I did not want to go to Cambodia, but my wife is going
"don't"
I just wished it could be somewhere else besides freaking Phnom Penh.
"wish"
How come if the OP is American and a teacher he has such a poor command of the English language?
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How come if the OP is American and a teacher he has such a poor command of the English languageThat one is easy to answer....because he is American!!!
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All you grammar police can kiss my ass. Besides my texting, messaging English is not the English I teach my students. I rankle in pain when I read people texting sh*t like 4U, CU (for see you) and abbreviate words.For all of you non Americans who call Americans stupid, you can also kiss my ass. There are all different kinds of Americans from many different races and backgrounds. If it weren't for the USA, most Europeans would be under Germany or Russia now. I speak and write better than most people in the USA. Besides, Grammar Nazis are the same a$$holes who like their persnikity little pissant rules like no hats indoors or keep the elbows off the table.
Back to Cambodia. Leaving tomorrow morning with my wife, her son and the father of possibly our future daughter in law. We are both excited a bit and I am excited about spending a week in a 4 star casino hotel. I am basically going to drink, eat, party, use the facilities and have a blast. I will be with a group of Chinese people, which is usually fun. There is a casino there, and although I will walk around in it, wont be playing any of the "games". My wife will.
When I was there in 2005, Phnom Penh was a dusty, sort of dump of a city, full of beggars and touts and I did not really want to leave my hostel and go exploring. I was only there for one full day. I saw Teuol Sleng High School (the torture chamber) and The Killing Fields. I'm not into the sex trade. I do smoke and will indulge on that a bit in Cambodia and Laos.
More than likely, I may do a tour of the area (and one will probably be provided since Chinese like tours). Since I am staying with family in a nice hotel, I can give my wife most of my money and passport in the unlikely event I do get rolled. I am just going to strongly dislike having to deal with touts and the beggars. It does seem like that since I left seven years ago, that the city has changed and is not as "rowdy" as once were? Dunno.
I was thinking about going to Snookyville after my wife and son leave and party there for a day or two and then start heading for the Lao border to Don Det and then Pakse, Savannakhet to Vientiane and all places north back to China.
