Has Siem Reap had enough?

[joe552]

From the Guardian:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/02/cambodia-backlash-disrespectful-party-culture

[frequent]

From the Guardian:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/02/cambodia-backlash-disrespectful-party-culture

I thought it was called horizontal jogging

[a447]

Interesting article.

I can see their point of not wanting Siem Reap to turn out like some parts of say, Bali, where young people - and some not so young - stagger around in a drunken stupor, behave obscenely in public and generally disrespect the local culture.

But isn't it a bit hypocritical stating that foreigners are disrespecting Cambodian culture by acting obscenely, when just about every tuk-tuk driver will offer a single male "lady boom-boom", and the authorities tolerate the girlie bars in the back streets of Phnom Pehn?

[paulo15]

Not to mention every policeman and government official visiting the beer gardens and making liberal use of the taxi/cigarette girls at least once a week

[goji]

Summary:
Some people go to an party for which the expected bribe for event "license" the had not been paid, so they get arrested.
Omitting the bribe is not following Khmer culture.

Later news reports claim the police are after further bribes for their release.

That seems quite plausible, since they could satisfy basic law enforcement requirements by jailing them for a short period e.g. 48 hours & then deporting them. Thus clearing the space for the next offenders.

Of course, there is no money doing it that way.

[nordicguy]

But isn't it a bit hypocritical stating that foreigners are disrespecting Cambodian culture by acting obscenely, when just about every tuk-tuk driver will offer a single male "lady boom-boom", and the authorities tolerate the girlie bars in the back streets of Phnom Pehn?

Agree it's an interesting article. But it's not just a 'bit hypocritical', but very hypocritical. And that's okay. That's is how it is in Cambodia and other SE Asian countries, and this is really hard to understand for many western people. Cambodia and like-minded countries don't mind their young guys to have a good time with older western male tourists. Most of the local probably don't mind their young women to spend a night in the hotel with a western man who pays her generously for her company. But they do mind if these things surface too much and suddenly appears to be part the official 'face' of Cambodia.

In the west, we recognise this behaviour as double standards, but in SE Asia I do believe it's different. These countries (incl. Thailand and Cambodia) have a long tradition for officially banning or trying to reduce pay sex, yet embracing it fully at practical face-to-face level. Not only among the marginalised people in society, but in society seen as a whole organism.

[extronaut]

In the west, we recognise this behaviour as double standards, but in SE Asia I do believe it's different. These countries (incl. Thailand and Cambodia) have a long tradition for officially banning or trying to reduce pay sex, yet embracing it fully at practical face-to-face level. Not only among the marginalised people in society, but in society seen as a whole organism.

I haven't had that much experience in Cambodia, but I've had a lot in Vietnam, and the situation seems to be similar.

That situation is: there is a shit tonne of prostitution around, everywhere, and everybody pretends not to notice. I mean everywhere - not just in the tourist areas.

[gerefan2]

I didn’t read beyond the first paragraph. That told me that there was booming loud Rihanna music (whatever that is) from a bar in Pub Street.

They need to look at themselves first...

[Nirish guy]

I can see their point of not wanting Siem Reap to turn out like some parts of say, Bali, where young people - and some not so young - stagger around in a drunken stupor, behave obscenely in public and generally disrespect the local culture.

Hey hey hey ! Careful mister, Moses has already said he'll ban people for this.......Oh, shit, wait, you didn't mention anyone by name there even or anything........ So, nope, no, it's all fine, just carry on there, nothing to see here, as none of the above sound like me at ALL - well at least I think they don't.....hmm well at least I'm FAIRLY sure they don't ?!! :) lol

[lonelywombat]

That article posted was dated Feb 2018.

Several friends regular visitors to Pattaya,who have visited Cambodia and socialise with the boys in Jomtien Complex,do not agree.
Discussions that Cambodian boys who can visit for 2 weeks only at a time, would indicate they are not in Jomtien for social life.

In a recent conversation it was mentioned that most boys are from Siem Reap the rest from Phnomh Penh. This was disagreed with saying more boys come from Battambang than Phnomh Penh. Having visited Battambang and did not find a gay bar, I was surprised.

Nearly 200+ Cambodian boys come to the Complex each year. How many other boys are working in Pattaya and Bangkok? What do they do when they go home.

One common problem with these gays is they rarely use mobile phones. Perhaps that may be the answer.

What are the best apps for boys that work best in Cambodia?

[frequent]

One common problem with these gays is they rarely use mobile phones. Perhaps that may be the answer. What are the best apps for boys that work best in Cambodia?In my experience Cambodian boys who don't travel abroad simply lack the income to afford more than a basic mobile phone. However with the vast range of cheap Chinese phones that may be changing. I've always found Grindr works perfectly well in Siem Reap, followed by Hornet. There are plenty of guys online on Grindr in Siem Reap at the moment even though it's only 10am