Phnom Penh, Angkor, Koh Ker and Sambor Prey Kuk - trip to Cambodia in Jan 2024

[vinapu]

 

this is continuation of trip report from Thailand section at this link:

https://www.gayguides.com/forums/topic/41442-better-to-be-retired-than-retarded-thailand-and-cambodia-in-january-2024-trip-report-brief-but-long/#comment-374666

 

Day 7 , Phnom Penh part.

I had e-visa so immigration was breeze. I exchanged some money into riels as airport rates are only minimally lower than city ones ( 4000 vs 4065 for 1 USD).

 Some people don’t bother and are using dollars since Cambodia is practically dual currency country and is not  unusual to pay 10 $ invoice   with 6$ and 16000 riels ( 4 $) for example. Some places are quoting prices in riels  , other in dollars but both currencies are accepted everywhere and only exceptions I know is visa on arrival and tickets to Angkor ruins where one must pay in USD exclusively.

 If you decide to bring dollars just make sure notes are  intact without any tears , pinholes and writings on them, I saw 1 dollar banknotes rejected because of those infractions.

I prefer to use riels  with exception of big ticket items like boys’  tips as getting change from 50 or 100 $ bill may be problematic in country where dinner cost 5 $ and haircut 2$.

 Other airport purchase was SIM card for 1 week , it was 7$ if I recall correctly and then tuk-tuk to hotel for 9$. Those who want to save money on getting to hotel solution is to take bus from airport parking lot for 1000 or 2000 or leave airport area and get one of the waiting tuk-tuks outside for something like 5-7$ but I did not bother.

 Room was not ready so I went to Dolce Vita for lunch and returned in 1 hr to find everything ready. I stay in OK Palace hotel, twin of OK Boutique in the same soi where I stay last time. Entry to the hotel is palatial and so is   room. Both hotels are in street 19Z, appendix like short soi across from National Museum and walking distance to Royal Palace and whole central area including my Phnom Penh headquarters Space Hair bar.

hotel's entry

view from the window

sleeping machine and the room

 

 In the room I noticed I forgot phone charger in  Bangkok and girl on reception suggested I go to Kandal Market where there are phone shops. Bingo indeed. Instead of walking  10 minutes I took tuk tuk for whopping 4000 and returned in style by cycle rikshaw for the same amount.

 After setting in I walked around admiring smells and sounds , bought tour to Killing Fields  for tomorrow and at around 21.00 I walked to 136 street to my headquarters – Space Hair bar.

 I wish we had something like that in Bangkok although they operate on different formula . Staff are exclusively hunky and in shape – see sample from their recent Facebook.

Almost all guys from the picture were present  on at least one    of three nights I visited there. As always almost means one was absent and that one was precisely one I wanted to see as we met already quite closely  before. But if I don’t have what I like , I like what I have.

Boys there are only to accompany you for drinks and talk. Forget about offs and off fees. Surely if you have designs on one or more you must be very , very discreet and be prepared  for meeting absolutely outside working hours. Boss there , while very sympathetic is also very strict and serious about those rules. Cambodian Prince I had debacle with last year was fired on the spot  for leaving 1 hr. earlier than scheduled and apparently only because he got drunk

 Drinks are not expensive 4-6 $ but if you get heated like me , they add up but this is cost of fun. Some guys are somewhat touchy-feely , others less so, kiss or 7 can be stolen after few rounds of drinks , hand and knee holding is available and generally is a lot of fun. Guys are not pushing you for drinks  and absolutely no word of ‘ tip’ is spoken but obviously depending on time they sat with you  and how long you were holding their knee or hand you should tip them. I gave 5- 10 $ to those few who sat with me for prolonged time. Drinks are what oils bar keep in mind so when boy empties his buy him another one or he may choose to, leave your table.

But there are absolutely no situations like I had sometimes in Thai bars when boy gulped his drink in on ego and was looking for another one. It’s why I wish we have such bar in Bangkok. Easy , pleasant and no hard sell tactics.

Not only boys got plenty of drinks but also myself so when I was leaving at about 2 am I was quite drunk and 90$ lighter , not to mention about 100 000  distributed for tips. But it was fun worth of every minute and every penny spent. Unfortunately I went home empty handed so to speak. I had designs on one of their boys but neither one of us was brave enough to start serious discussion.

 Before I went to bed for fun I checked Grindr and had “ Hi “ from quite attractive looking guy but had that senior moment and did not realize that this guy ( I’m notoriously bad reading people from pictures ) was indeed one I had designs on in bar. It only dawned on my next day in the afternoon. But by then damage was done. Not only I spent night in cold bed but also he figured out that I rejected him and was doing his best to show that he cooled to me. Oh well, lesson learned

[DenverDude]

3 hours ago, vinapu said:

Staff are exclusively hunky and in shape – see sample from their recent Facebook.

On my, they are gorgeous!  I think I will have to finally make my way to Cambodia this year.

[a-447]

Vinapu, your post about the Space bar brought back wonderful memories of nights sitting out on the deck, champagne in one hand, dick in the other.

It was a few years ago and the staff has completely changed, although I presume the Spanish owner is still there.

My favourite guy there was Virat and we had lots of groping sessions under the table. Unfortunately, we didn't go any further.

I feel a return trip coming up!

[macaroni21]

The Space Hair boys are yummy. But we need some definitive reports of successful in-room rendezvous to be confident that they are really available. 

Who will volunteer to do the research 🤓 ?

[vinapu]

3 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

The Space Hair boys are yummy. But we need some definitive reports of successful in-room rendezvous to be confident that they are really available. 

Who will volunteer to do the research 🤓 ?

obviously and we have it in writing above you did not read my Cambodia trip reports from Oct 2022 and Jan 2023 

[vinapu]

12 hours ago, DenverDude said:

On my, they are gorgeous!  I think I will have to finally make my way to Cambodia this year.

go and not only because Space hair boys Angkor ruins are absolutely awe inspiring

[vinapu]

7 hours ago, a-447 said:

Vinapu, your post about the Space bar brought back wonderful memories of nights sitting out on the deck, champagne in one hand, dick in the other.

It was a few years ago and the staff has completely changed, although I presume the Spanish owner is still there.

My favourite guy there was Virat and we had lots of groping sessions under the table. Unfortunately, we didn't go any further.

I feel a return trip coming up!

You can see owner in pink shirt in the third row on the left 

Staff turnaround is fast but pool of talent seems to be hard to exhaust. 

Discreet  groping is available and so is stealing kiss or 7. Make sure you oil everything with drinks and discreetly placed tip .

as I said, I wish we have such bar in Bangkok or even Pattaya.  

[reader]

13 hours ago, a-447 said:

I feel a return trip coming up!

Among other things.

[a-447]

7 hours ago, vinapu said:

You can see owner in pink shirt in the third row on the left.

That is Sopheap, the boyfriend of Xavi, the Spanish owner. Both are lovely hosts.

He has changed - I hardly recognise him! 

When I was a regular there, the clientele was gay, straight and everything in between.

And just about all the gorgeous guys working there were straight. Afaik, nobody was offable, although one guy there said he could introduce me to a guy after the bar closed. I didn't bother.

[vinapu]

58 minutes ago, a-447 said:

Both are lovely hosts.

When I was a regular there, the clientele was gay, straight and everything in between.

And just about all the gorgeous guys working there were straight. Afaik, nobody was offable, although one guy there said he could introduce me to a guy after the bar closed. I didn't bother.

I agree about lovely hosts, I like part when after buying so many drinks for boys and myself that offer me free shoot or drink, shoot of gin is my choice.

Clientele still seems to be mixed although some guys very straight acting may still be gay, not that I care much as  long as they keep bar running.

Guys still are not offable and can't leave premises as long as bar is opened. What they do in their free time doesn't seem to be owner's business. 

as for gay/ straight divide I have my doubts as always how straight is a guy who lets you to hold on his cock under the table for even brief moment .Likely they treat this as a work and don't care about the labels.  

[vinapu]

Day 8

My room was booked without breakfast  so in the morning  I purchased breakfast coupon  for $8, princely sum in Cambodia  and went to sister venue OK Boutique around the corner where breakfasts are served on top floor with beautiful view over central Phnom Penh.

 Yesterday I purchased tour to Killing Fields. Very sobering place where mass executions were conducted by Khmer Rouge. I was there on my first Cambodia trip in 2001 and wanted to see what changed during those years.

They were supposed to pick me up at 10.00 , I was waiting on steps of my hotel and when I got impatient 45 minutes later guide finally appeared to pick me up. We went to few other hotels to pick up other tourists as well as picked up few at another sobering place – infamous S-21 Tuol Sleng prison.     

Killing Fields  are on the outskirts of Phnom Penh and while 23 years ago road leading there was atrocious , now is paved all the way. Another thing I noticed is absence beggars without limbs , victims on landmines. Them they were I ubiquitous all over Cambodian  cities , now is rarity to see one. I wonder what happened as a lot of them then were quite young. One hopes they were taken care  of somehow.

On the road  they played movie about Pol Pot life , rise and fall, very objective and hiding nothing. Including my Cambodian  pet peeve- fact that after Vietnamese removed  Khmer Rouge, their  atrocities were will known and 2 million skulls strewn in the countryside  and still Thailand and West supported their regime of so called Democratic Kampuchea on international stage including UN seat. If we think that politics are dirty there’s no place better to contemplate it than Cambodia.

Centre point of the place is temple -like  monument with skulls on shelves, new thing there is another monument picture of which I show below.

 

Sadly,  that place along with Tuol Sleng are a must visit at least once to understand better what happened in Cambodia but also to appreciate how far country moved from that horror although past is still present and oddly house of Ta Mok, one of Pol Pot’s bloody henchmen in Anlong Veng close to Thai border is still place which I was told some locals still visit with reverence.

 I remember talking to some journalist well versed with SE Asia affairs in mid-80ties and he told me that thanks  to Khmer Rouge and their  killing spree Cambodia is only country in the region without problem of grandchildren still toiling in half slavery  to pay debts their  grandparents  took to pay for their wedding.  That would explain Ta Mok nostalgy I’d say.

 It was nice to return to vibrant city , after a bit of rest and my obligatory mid-day tea I decided to try massage at Arthur and Paul gay hotel. Inspiration came from one of our tour participants being picked up and dropped there. It looked as classy place so I said to myself “about time to see and try”.

 For 8000 riels (2 $) tuk -tuk took me there. I was hoping guy I spotted on Grindr, hunky hunk working there will be present but unfortunately no. 1.5 hr massage fee was 28$ , certainly well above Cambodian standard. There were 4 guys available, none of them   close to my type but all smiling so I picked up one whose  smile was widest.

 Room quite spiffy but container with soap in the shower was empty , not for that price thought I. After morning experience certainly I was not in the mood to complain or get sour about anything. Massage was skilled but when temperature raised and was time for masseur to remove his excessive clothing i.e. undies and towel he quoted me tip of 40$ , again quite a sum for Cambodia but if one gets massages in classy places must be prepared to pay thought I and agreed.

 At least I’m glad I tried the place. Next time I will be trying to secure that hunk I guess. Right beside Artur and Paul is Rambutan, popular in gay circles  with rooms about  half price of those at A $ &P but still twice as much I’m paying at my OK Palace . I did not need an accommodation but after  running whole day on breakfast and bottle of Hanuman Black beer I gulped on my way from Killing Fields not at 6 ot 7 pm I was hungry so  decided to eat there.

Another tourist place with prices to match ,  15$ I paid for dinner  I summarized in my diary as ‘; money not spent well” .

Upon return I  alighted on Pasteur street and then walked to soi where my friend told me Toolbox bar was resurrected    and asked me if that is true. Indeed I found it, from info I got it’s just across the soi whom old location but inside was nobody and outside was sitting lone twink , not exactly of my type but for those venturing there I confirm , Toolbox was resurrected.

 It was short walk to my hotel from there and when passing Saravoan Royal Palace hotel on street 178 I thought I have stroke . Warsaw ? Polish place that far ? Indeed it was newly opened restaurant  so for those craving Central and Eastern European food there place for you and very easy to find – right beside old location of Blue Chili bar and 200 meters from National Museum. Price list looked quite human so I took note where I will have my dinner tomorrow. Too bad I overspent at Rambutan when I could have likely better food ( I love schnitzels an European soups) for ½ price and steps from my hotel.

 

In the  room I freshened up , took shower to remove oil  after that massage , packed my pockets with money – you know my system perhaps ,50 $  this pocket, two 20$ in another few 10 , 5 and 1 in third one, some 20000 riels here and some 10000 there . This way I don’t need to show wad of money when tipping or paying bill. This all in preparation for another fun evening at Spice Hair bar.

 Walked there and when arrived, I guess it was 21.00 or 21.30  there were no customers but 7 guys on duty already. How do I know? Because seeing them unemployed I took pity and ordered 8 drinks. You should hear  an applause , probably heard as far as    Sum and Moon hotel which is next door to the bar.

 Fun started , luck had it that two guys I liked the most positioned themselves beside me and soon after bar started filling up with patrons and few more boys. Guys made sure I’m entertained, I stole kiss or 4 from guy on my left, made discretely  sure that guy on my right is not a girl by strategic hand placement   and it was well understood by asking question where’s my hotel. Hour or two later he expressed curiosity to check if I have balcony and view from it which led to suggestion  he is willing to  check it after bar closes on his way home.

I explained to him that in case he will feel tired there’s sofa in the room which led to an instruction where I’m supposed to wait for him. Around 1 at night I left , waited where instructed which took a while because as I said earlier, guys there must stay on duty as long as bar is opened . Knowing procedure it was sweet waiting. Soon after were at hotel. No fuss over bringing guest that late, no questions asked. In the room he notices sofa is not comfortable enough but bed is big and shyly ( ok, not) suggested we share it which we did in gusto.

 Fabulous 2 or 3 hours, when he left it was still dark, earlier in the bar he  offered some plausible explanation why he can’t stay till morning  so I was Ok with that , if only because he offered time compensation “ if you want I can come at 1 tomorrow “  which felt like Christmas day for me.

 

[vinapu]

Day 9

 After my guy departed I was left with my dreams so to speak and sleep soundly till quite late. Late breakfast for 16000  in Dolce Vita, quite sumptuous and then I went to Royal Palace  as last two times I was in Phnom Penh it was still closed due to covid scare. Now is reopened for for some reason was closed today and I was directed  to come tomorrow .

So decided to treat myself with tour of island at confluence of Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers , tuk-tuk for 15$. It’s mostly new developments , in 2001 it was mostly wasteland but still at the southern top fishing village on boats survived. With new bridge  access to an island is easy but old ferries are also circulating quite frequently.

Tonle Sap river from new bridge

 

Central Phnom Penh from other side

Fishing village on the boats 

mighty Mekong in Phnom Penh

 

Returned to hotel around 13.00 hoping my last night companion will keep his word and indeed first Line came’ I’m coming soon’ and then at 1pm on the dot  he showed up greeted in the lobby by welcoming committee i.e. me. Another fabulous , no rush session and it was darkening when he left.

 I feel hungry so decided to try that Polish place I discovered last night. I chose quite typical fare of chicken soup and schnitzel with potatoes, only beer reminded me I’m dining in Cambodia , not in Europe. Very tasty but in my opinion servings were too generous for the climate. I was hungry and still did not manage to eat it all. 11$ plus tip.

My treats (glasses not included) :

 

 In meantime I received another cheering message , this time from S (day 3 ) that he is planning to join me in Siem Reap tomorrow evening.

 After exhausting exercises of last night and this  afternoon I felt bit in need of nap so went to hotel

for 2 hours sleep rightly expecting that tonight it will be another session.

 In the evening to my headquarters in Phnom Penh i.e. Space Hair. For another evening of fun there.

 My last night guy did not waste much time to inquire if he should see me come after work which I guess both of us expected to happen. I must say I got quite drunk tonight , switching to gin and tonic did  better  job  that those lady -like Margaritas and Cuba Libres.

Of course not that drunk to forget where I live or that I will have guest tonight, all was under control.

 Soon after me my guy showed up and I had impression he was even more clingy and passionate then last night and in the afternoon.

 

[Marc in Calif]

55 minutes ago, vinapu said:

 I feel hungry so decided to try that Polish place I discovered last night. I chose quite typical fare of chicken soup and schnitzel with potatoes, only beer reminded me I’m dining in Cambodia , not in Europe. Very tasty but in my opinion servings were too generous for the climate. I was hungry and still did not manage to eat it all. 11$ plus tip.

My treats (glasses not included) :

 

 

Such a delicious meal -- legs included! 😇 

[vinapu]

16 minutes ago, Marc in Calif said:

Such a delicious meal -- legs included! 😇 

I was thinking about cutting them off from the pics but  because tomorrow is Ash Wednesday I decided to treat my readers before Lent starts

[vinapu]

Day 10, still in Phnom Penh

 In the morning we turned fully synchronized , he wanted to go to the gym and me to Royal Palace right after they open at 8. Our good bye embrace was  quite long and then for  first time in my zillion meetings with boys in Thailand and Cambodia   I heard apology from guy that he charged me too much.

 I was quite touched  , I knew I gave him bit more than market but bit doesn’t meant twice or trice more. He told me what he needs money for and for me it sounded quite pleasurable so all I could say was ‘ my pleasure’ and there was not an inch of exaggeration in my statement. That was sweet indeed.

I could walk to Royal Palace but being strong believer of supporting local industry  I hailed tuk-tuk . Of course local industry thought I may be stupid tourist and quoted me something like 16000 for what it‘s walking distance so I offered 1$ (4000) and kept walking and of course local industry agreed ‘ ok, ok , 1 dollar” , three minutes later we were there and I spoiled local industry with 2000 tip.

 I was one of first visitors and almost felt I have place to myself  for first few minutes. Here are some pictures

 

In hour and half I completed my tour  and went to Warsaw for a breakfast hoping they will have rye bread and Polish sausage which is exactly what I was served plus some other cold cuts and cheeses. Again it was too opulent but after 10 days of feasting on hotel and Foodland treats of fried eggs and toasts I cleaned my plate.

  As cold cuts tasted surprisingly un - industrial I asked and my suspicions were confirmed. They have local source , another Polish guy who produces  sausages, hams and other treats. Chesses were from the stores though . Who would think ?, Polish ham made in Cambodia ! All that plate for 5$ ( 20000), tea included.

 Then to hotel to pack whatever little I had. On Whatsapp I contacted driver who help me  with his car in October of 2022 if he can t pick me up from the airport. I was surprised answer was immediate and on top of that he remembered  very well me and even hotel I was staying because he asked if I still will stay there. No,  this time instead of Royal Crown and Men’s  I opted for Kings’ Rock on the same side of river, around the corner from Royal Crown and walking distance to Old Market.

I guess not many tourist are hiring drivers to go to Banteai Chhmar temple so it’s how I become so memorable. He even recalled when we asked local lady how far temple is she told us about 20 minutes by motorbike while in fact it was 1 hr by car. So much about local knowledge !

 I  told him not to rush as it will be my first time in new airport and I want to walk around before  we set off for the city.

[vinapu]

 Day 10 continued - in Siem Reap

At 12 noon I left hotel , took 9$ tuk-tuk to the airport   and while flying high above Cambodia I realized that I got  infamous senior moment in the hotel. When emptying safe box I put pile of 100 000  riels ( 25$ ) in 5000 notes on the night stand and forgot to pick it up from there. Can only imagine  how happy cleaner  was finding it and hope she was not stupid enough to report it to the reception but harvested that pile in full.

As my mom used to say ‘ in nature nothing gets lost , only finds new owner”.

 In ½ hr we were landing already. Airport looks very pleasant  but was empty, our plane was only one at time I was there. My driver greeted me immediately but I told him I need to do my survey. In improvement to early reports now there’s place one can buy snacks, there are desks for taxi and public bus to the city as well as  kiosk with SIM cards. Unfortunately I couldn’t  see departure area as there are guards who are admitting actually people who are departing only.

 This tells us whole thing is Chinese  built , run and milked. There are no such restriction in Phnom Penh.

Quite possible in generation people will be marveling of how far sighted builders if this airport were but for now it’s just waste od space and money as old airport was running well and was very close to the city. I’m not buying BS that it needed to be closed because vibrations were hurting ancient temples. In my 5 visits there I never heard any plane landing or taking off. Anyways if we don’t have what we liked we must like what we have.

 It's about 1 hr. to the city and one can take car  for 35$ or van for 40$ or public bus for 8$.

Apparently there’s  also postal bus for the same 8$ but I did not find any information not stop for it there so it needs to be confirmed.

 

 

 

Half way is very modern highway which is joining old National Road number 6. One hour and 35$ later I was in hotel. Big room with balcony , separate shower / bathtub area and toilet itself. Breakfast included and even small pool at disposal, all for 40$ , life is beautiful. Knowing S is coming I was waiting for him , he updated me where he is and finally knock into door and happy squeak from him. It look he was really happy for such vacations.

 

Today we took it easy , went to Old Market area to eat something  and returned to the room as two happy people have no better place to spend rest of day and night like bed , specially knowing driver will be 8 am on the dot. I know him and was sure so instructed S to behave but forgot to instruct myself so we had some steam in the room before we fell asleep..

 

 

 

[Marc in Calif]

3 minutes ago, vinapu said:

 I was one of first visitors and almost felt I have place to myself  for first few minutes. Here are some pictures

You were indeed by yourself. The early bird catches the best views. 🐦

With those pictures, your newest hobby can be making beautiful postcards for the palace!

[vinapu]

1 minute ago, Marc in Calif said:

 

With those pictures, your newest hobby can be making beautiful postcards for the palace!

really  ? I have feeling all credit for pictures goes to my Samsung phone, I just click

[tm_nyc]

GREAT posts & pics, thanks for sharing!  How does the King's Rock in SR compare to the Crown Royal?  I stayed at the Crown Royal (maybe on your recommendation) back in November & really liked it.  The wide-open spaces of the SR airport looked just the same in November!

[Mavica]

Wonderful, detailed trip report.  Thank you for sharing!

[vinapu]

2 hours ago, tm_nyc said:

GREAT posts & pics, thanks for sharing!  How does the King's Rock in SR compare to the Crown Royal?  I stayed at the Crown Royal (maybe on your recommendation) back in November & really liked it.  The wide-open spaces of the SR airport looked just the same in November!

fully comparable, Royal Crown seems to be bit more classy and have bigger rooms but I liked King's Rock better because bathroom arrangements. 

[Keithambrose]

7 hours ago, vinapu said:

 Day 10 continued - in Siem Reap

At 12 noon I left hotel , took 9$ tuk-tuk to the airport   and while flying high above Cambodia I realized that I got  infamous senior moment in the hotel. When emptying safe box I put pile of 100 000  riels ( 25$ ) in 5000 notes on the night stand and forgot to pick it up from there. Can only imagine  how happy cleaner  was finding it and hope she was not stupid enough to report it to the reception but harvested that pile in full.

As my mom used to say ‘ in nature nothing gets lost , only finds new owner”.

 In ½ hr we were landing already. Airport looks very pleasant  but was empty, our plane was only one at time I was there. My driver greeted me immediately but I told him I need to do my survey. In improvement to early reports now there’s place one can buy snacks, there are desks for taxi and public bus to the city as well as  kiosk with SIM cards. Unfortunately I couldn’t  see departure area as there are guards who are admitting actually people who are departing only.

 This tells us whole thing is Chinese  built , run and milked. There are no such restriction in Phnom Penh.

Quite possible in generation people will be marveling of how far sighted builders if this airport were but for now it’s just waste od space and money as old airport was running well and was very close to the city. I’m not buying BS that it needed to be closed because vibrations were hurting ancient temples. In my 5 visits there I never heard any plane landing or taking off. Anyways if we don’t have what we liked we must like what we have.

 It's about 1 hr. to the city and one can take car  for 35$ or van for 40$ or public bus for 8$.

Apparently there’s  also postal bus for the same 8$ but I did not find any information not stop for it there so it needs to be confirmed.

 

 

 

Half way is very modern highway which is joining old National Road number 6. One hour and 35$ later I was in hotel. Big room with balcony , separate shower / bathtub area and toilet itself. Breakfast included and even small pool at disposal, all for 40$ , life is beautiful. Knowing S is coming I was waiting for him , he updated me where he is and finally knock into door and happy squeak from him. It look he was really happy for such vacations.

 

Today we took it easy , went to Old Market area to eat something  and returned to the room as two happy people have no better place to spend rest of day and night like bed , specially knowing driver will be 8 am on the dot. I know him and was sure so instructed S to behave but forgot to instruct myself so we had some steam in the room before we fell asleep..

 

 

 

Airport highway is a toll road, and , under the 50 year contract with the Chinese, cannot be altered. Money goes to Chinese. They are building a town there, with Casino, called Yunnan City. 'They can't even use a Cambodian name', my driver said, in a disgusted tone. He added, 'We are part of China now'.

[Keithambrose]

21 minutes ago, Keithambrose said:

Airport highway is a toll road, and , under the 50 year contract with the Chinese, cannot be altered. Money goes to Chinese. They are building a town there, with Casino, called Yunnan City. 'They can't even use a Cambodian name', my driver said, in a disgusted tone. He added, 'We are part of China now'.

PS. As I may have said before,  I was told that the real reason for the new airport is that government ministers bought the land, which cost practically  nothing, and then planned  a new airport and town. Guess what, the value rocketed! What a surprise. However the 50 year contract with the Chinese is on onerous terms, with high interest rates, not that that worries the relevant ministers!

[Keithambrose]

My pics of airport when I left SR. As can be seen, I hope, I was the only person in the check in area, and the only one at immigration. Something went wrong with one pic, sorry. To be fair a tour group cam through later to fill up the flight to Swampy, only a 70 seater. Note Chinese flag on luggage carousel, just showing who is in charge!

[Keithambrose]

7 minutes ago, Keithambrose said:

My pics of airport when I left SR. As can be seen, I hope, I was the only person in the check in area, and the only one at immigration. Something went wrong with one pic, sorry. To be fair a tour group cam through later to fill up the flight to Swampy, only a 70 seater. Note Chinese flag on luggage carousel, just showing who is in charge!

 

Repaired pic of left hand immigration  area!