Keeping up with the news in Cambodia

I read one of the two newspapers (Khmer Times and PP Post) in real, while having an espresso on a terrace. On top I have those news outlets on line.

I follow Thai news through a forum with also world news. I follow local news on a forum here.

I get email notifications from BBC breaking news, plus more specialized sites re science, IT, tourism.

Hi,

Frankly, I hesitate to say much on this topic in an e-mail that could be hacked and misused.
I keep hearing from Khmer friends that you shouldn't believe the news you see on TV because the government has it's hands on it, so to speak.  Local news, that is news about Cambodia, on TV seems to be relegated to stories about traffic accidents, fires and occasional drug busts.  PLUS, if you don't understand Khmer, you have no TV news, local or international.  I do watch it though.
As far as international news is concerned, I watch CNN International which I take with a grain of salt (I am American), al Jezeera English which I find pretty good, RT (Russia Today) which I take with two large grains of salt and Euro-News (occasionally).
In terms of print media, the only thing I peruse is the Phnom Penh Times, which kind of covers important issues facing Cambodians, but you can tell they are being VERY careful......It's NOT what one would call "hard-hitting."
Coming from a country where the establishment of a "free press" is a value worth maintaining,  I have to say that living in Cambodia has been an eye-opener for me.  I'm glad I'm not in the News business.

I depend entirely on the internet. I get daily posts directly to my email from Cambodia Daily. Since I have no cable and don't want it (whether Khmer or Major Networks like CNN). I don't care about news from conglomerates. As ubiquitous as they are, I get it anyway just in passing. So, I get worldly news from Young Turks, Jimmy Dore and Secular Talk with Kyle on YouTube. I am only interested in Green news anyway, whether it is in Cambodia or otherwise. The rest is just too ridiculous for me. I don't spend much time looking for news.

Not being able to read Khmer, which is true for a large percentage of Cambodians also; they are functionally illiterate and are handicapped by local dialects. They chatter all the time but their language mode is very inefficient. My speaking vocabulary of Khmer is limited to about 40 words at present. I am working to expand that on a daily basis. A large percentage of Cambodians in Siem Reap can communicate in several languages. English is the most popular in Siem Reap. French is popular and even Russian can be understood by many people here. I have lived in Siem Reap for over three years now. Cambodia is Communist. They ask a lot of questions of each other and especially foreigners.

Hi dear,
I use internet. WI FI!!!
Cheers

Hey jo ant ideas on getting to Thailand from poipet, I want to take a bus from phnom then get a mini bus or something from there I always value your information , I have ticket to the border from phnom and will arrive at the border in Thailand about 1-2 pm , am I going to be able to find a mini bus or bus to middle of bangkoc, and if so how much, thanks always appreciate your information, I plan on taking a bus to see the country side but have a hotel near  sukhumvit

Twinsguy, first cross the border at Poipet and arrive in the Thai town of Aranyaprathet.
There are several ways to travel, from unregistered taxis to comfortable buses. Avoid all other transport than the following two:
General buses (line buses). Frequent departure, little less expensive but take about 5-6 hours.
Casino buses. Comfortable buses arriving in the morning and back in the afternoon to BKK. Several departures in the afternoon, a bit more expensive (200 THB I believe) but a travel of about 4 hours plus one stop halfway. Ask for a bus that stops either Lumpini or Ekamai, both close to Sukhumvit. Passengers are mostly female gamblers (older women).

Here is a link re departure times (Mind that the two different bus systems leave from different places, but not far apart. http://www.airaran.co.th/bus-schedule/?lang=en

Quote: "To catch the casino bus, after you get stamped out of Cambodia and into Thailand, head straight and then turn right for Rong Kleu Market. Turn right at 7-11 and the buses are parked in the parking lot there". /Quote

Have a nice trip!

Thanks jo sounds like casino bus is way to go , thanks I knew you would know thanks again , I took screen picture and will follow the instructions,

Been here 7 years and never noticed that Cambodia was communist. I also do not come across a lot of illiterate Khmer, the younger ones all speak and write.

2013, leaving approximately 2.1 million adult Cambo­dians who still cannot read and write.

Source: https://www.cambodiadaily.com/opinion/w … lls-67889/

Yikes! It's like that? I didn't realize that the current Cambodian government was so oppressive. I plan to move to Phnom Penh in January. Coming from "The Land of the Free", I am a bit concerned about how I will adjust. I am a very outspoken person and I do not tolerate my God given rights being violated well AT ALL. I hope I don't get myself into trouble over there!

Mostly older folks and, I guess, mostly in the rural areas. Here in Temple Town I do not know many people that cannot read or write.

I suggest that as a visitor you do not get involved in local politics. Personally, I am here to do a job, not meddle in domestic issues. As foreigners, we do not have much grasp of how things are run, stay clear, do your job, and keep your nose close to the ground.

Kane I hope that was a joke , " land of the free , although I'm a white guy my children are of color , my ex wife is West Indian , and USA is certainly not the land of the free , ,if your white and appear to be Christian your golden , but my ex wife is black , a surgeon by the way , ever here the term "DWB" driving while black , well with the police state , and the shootings of inocent people and rhe threatened deportation of people of color , it's hardly the "land of the free" if your white and Christian it is , but if your black , Muslim , Hispanic , I think not , funny how Christians especially ,have continual "bible study " I mean really how long can you study one book , maybe if they went out and did the good works of the bible and what it says to do , you know the all men , and women , of course they don't mention women we just have to add that in ourself ,, are created equal , then we might have the land of the free , but love that " bible study as they walk over the poor and sick , and homeless people , , thanks for good laugh from a fellow USA citizen , yea land of the free , where is that , it's also not in Cambodia they too have there problems , just go to the killing fields and see how carter and Reagan were obsessed with getting are precious  hostages home from Iran as pol pot was killing children and making there mothers watch , and Clinton watching genocide in  rawanda, we as us citizens are hardly free , also notice how like Freddy gray , all those policemen were put on administrative leave with pay , he went into that police van alive, and came out dead , and they always get off never do they go to jail , even as we have this on tape , obviously you and I do have one thing in common the out spoken thing , policeman shoot someone , black or white and they get due justice , get a court hearing , the man in Dallas shots policemen and they send in a robot and blow him up , ,caught on tape , but policemen get a trial, the shooter in Dallas was cornered , no water or food , he had to come out ,but hell we just blew him up with a robot , yea " land of the free" good one

I think the internet is the number 1 method of keeping informed followed by TV by the majority of expats living here.  The rest is a small minority that uses other media methods for various reasons.  With regards to issues in country, the internet via facebook blogs and sites like this is what i see as being used the most to keep up to date on local info or issues that affects or impacts my living here and avoid political issues and problems of this country because i'm a guest here and it's none of my business.

My opinion is the Cambodian daily has no problem writing anti government articles , so I tend to believe that is most honest news

If you want to go to Bangkok only, the best method is to go to siem reap and take Nattakan to Bangkok. It's more expensive but worth the cost.  Nattakan is the only bus company that allows you to keep your baggage on the bus, process thru the border and get back on the same seat you are assigned and continue to Bangkok and back to siem reap the same way.  They are stationed at the northern central bus station where you can go elsewhere easily.  In Bangkok, you can book a seat on line and pay it at any 7-11 and not have to go to the bus station to buy and reserve a seat too or book a round trip from the start in siem reap.  The drop off in siem reap in in center of town close to everything.  They offer a free tuk tuk within a 4 km radius too when you arrive back to siem reap.  just give them a dollar tip and they are happy.

All other forms of travel is a hassle and you have to carry your luggage around crossing the border and finding other methods of transportation while doing it except for capitol bus where they give you a ticket to give to the bus on the other side of the border but no guarantee that they will wait for you and i've seen people trying to locate the bus too.  Capitol drops you off at a location outside of the bus station terminal and if you don't know Bangkok, it can be a bit scary because it close to getting dark by the time you arrive there.  It's safer going to the terminal and they have a place where you can get metered taxis too. 

While in Bangkok, the fastest method of travel is using the transit system there, taxi and tuk tuk for short distance because traffic is always bad.  I have a hotel that I use that is across the street from the MRT and close to the bus terminal so that I can easily get around and back and buy usually a 3 day pass as well as BTSC which is above ground. So I buy both.  When I go back, the taxi is cheaper and faster to get to the bus terminal.  Traffic in Bangkok is horrible most of the time.

If you speak both thai and khmer well, then you can save money using other methods which is much cheaper but you get what you pay for. 

Going to  poipet from pp may seem a better way but if you can't speak khmer or thai, you are on your own and don't expect help and not get ripped off.  that's what they look and target on, that's both sides too.

maybe true but how can you prove it? just because it's written on paper doesn't make it true regardless who the author is.   also, getting involved in politics here is asking for trouble too. 

if that's your thing and want to get involved and risk whiplash from the govt....go ahead and do it.  i know how things work here so i just stay out of it and keep my opinions to myself or with close friends. 
i only look at issues that affects my living here only. 

a good example is the new 1-3 yr visa that sound nice but informed by a knowledgeable Khmer Travel Agent, it's not what it appears and still incomplete on how it will really work.  the article written was misleading from what she told me because she read it too.

as i said, we are guests to this country not judges.  i'm from america so it's worse for me at the moment due to rising political tensions of both my govt (NGO's) and Khmer americans/residents.  I'm here to live in peace in my retirement so I stay out of political affairs, it none of my business.

Well I do agree stay out of politics, it's just asking for trouble , but I enjoy reading the Cambodian daily as well as the Phnom Penh post , two different perspectives, , you won't get in trouble for reading papers in Cambodia however , so enjoy the different views , look in USA we have cnn and Fox News , so not any  different than Cambodia , I would suggest read them and keep your mouth shut about politics !

Excellent post Twinsguy, I wanted to write about it but realized I'm not US and therefor I didn't write.

There are police-state suppression examples in the US. As a parent you are bot allowed to refuse vaccinations for your child, you are not allowed to give it home-schooling, the air is polluted with poisonous chemtrails, while the water is poisoned with fluoride. Growing vegetables in your garden is not allowed and even criminal, living off the grid is not allowed, drinking raw milk is not allowed, organic farmers have to go through expensive tests before allowed to label organic, but GMO can be sold without even labeling. Ex-Monsanto executives rule the FDA and CDC. And so on.

I always have a laugh when Obama or any other president criticizes other countries for not being democratic, if there is one country not democratic it's the US, elections are rigged, candidates are bought. End of rant.

I realize this is off topic so better stop.

Hanno Stamm, you are right about us being visitors and not meddle into local politics or how things are done.

About illiteracy, I noticed quite a lot of young people being illiterate, which worries me with a 50% of the population being under 25. Many kids don't go to school, sometimes because the parents don't have the money to support the teachers (kids are supposed to give money every morning and afternoon, because teachers earn a very low salary), those kids are left in the streets, no education, often trapped by their addiction of glue sniffing, a brain-damaging thing that shortens their life enormously. Those are things that the so-called NGOs should bother about,  but they don't, they ignore those kids.

Well Joe as usual you got the whole story , sorry when that man said land of the free I just couldn't keep my big mouth shut

You are well aware of the shortcomings of your country, that on itself is a benefit and a bit/quite rare among US citizens
.
Good for you. Only when US citizens wake up and realize they have lost Freedom, they can start to act against it.

VEGASPITBOSS wrote:

maybe true but how can you prove it? just because it's written on paper doesn't make it true regardless who the author is.   also, getting involved in politics here is asking for trouble too. 

if that's your thing and want to get involved and risk whiplash from the govt....go ahead and do it.  i know how things work here so i just stay out of it and keep my opinions to myself or with close friends. 
i only look at issues that affects my living here only. 

a good example is the new 1-3 yr visa that sound nice but informed by a knowledgeable Khmer Travel Agent, it's not what it appears and still incomplete on how it will really work.  the article written was misleading from what she told me because she read it too.

as i said, we are guests to this country not judges.  i'm from america so it's worse for me at the moment due to rising political tensions of both my govt (NGO's) and Khmer americans/residents.  I'm here to live in peace in my retirement so I stay out of political affairs, it none of my business.

The 1-3 year visa is only applicable to Japanese visitors. The Japanese and Cambodian governments have agreed on this visa system. Every other country has to do the same, before the system can be applicable to their citizens. So the article was partly correct but wrong in suggesting it is a general thing.

I agree from that perspective but the politics here is much different here than in the states and the laws are more protective towards free speech than here.  USA MSM is very corrupted regarding important issues in reporting as well as distorting the truths, more so that ever now.  I use alternate media and a good amount of foreign countries alternate media to find out about what going on in the states.  Surprisingly enough, there's increase reporting on Cambodia recently too that is not being reported here as well. 

I do a lot of researching on various subject and it requires a lot of cross checking and reference checking to find the facts and truth nowadays.  So i'm highly skeptical of what is said or written and so I do my own research to find the facts to know how true on what is being reported.  Washington Post for example is highly corrupted with misinformation. 

My reply to this question if based upon personal observation and talking with other expats living here.  So newspaper and radio are the least form of media used to keep informed of world affairs and that of their particular expat's home country.  However that doesn't imply that all are like that such as yourself. So it's a generalization on my part.  I apologize if I offended you in anyway.

My advice to you as a fellow American is you better check your fairness and equal sensibilities at the airport before coming here. If you're here for longer than a short holiday you will quickly see that the rich can do whatever they want here and the cost of life here is very cheap about $3,500-$4,000 is the going rate of reparations if you happen to take one. Most people work for $80-$150 monthly salaries, things that you call essentials are much more expensive here than stateside. Real estate is expensive, rents unbelievably cheap, buying a car ...forget about it unless you have $70,000 cash to buy a car that would cost you $30,000 back home and financing will cost you 50% down. You will see things here that as an American will break your heart or make you physically ill and I've lived all over the world being married in brasil so I've seen a lot.
I'm heading back to the states in the nex two weeks after being hit and run for the second time in 11 weeks this time for surgery that I'm afraid to get here. I was charged $1,200 for two days at a hospital and x rays. Unfortunately. They didn't give me a catscan or X-ray my head and I have a fractured orbital bone and a severe concussion which has left me with double vision, vertigo, and no feeling on the left half of my face. So be very careful here because of the 27 countries I've traveled to Id say Cambodian medical care is the worst.
After all I said I will return after recuperating from surgery in the states. I came here to open up the first boys and girls club and I won't leave here for good until it's firmly established. The people here are in need of all the help they can get and I've met some really beautiful people here since I moved to pp in September 2015. I've been ripped off by my former Khmer NGO team, severely injured two times by hit and run, and have witnessed atrocious behavior by police and rich against the poor but I'm still dedicated to finish what I started.
Good luck to you in whatever you're trying to accomplish but remember when you step off that plane " you're not in Kansas anymore"

I understand and agree with your feelings about the situation here.  Got clipped myself but no major injuries such as yours.  I have to commend you on your dedication and willingness to come back and 'finish the job', a true example of the american spirit at heart.  I wish you a quick and healthy recovery and hope that you complete what you started without further harm. 

The children here are truly exceptional, something you don't see in the states too much anymore.  I had the opportunity to visit an orphanage that my landlord operates and I had a wonderful time with them.  So I can understand why you would want to come back for them.  Good Luck and it's a great thing your are doing for them, I know you will succeed.

Kabe Adrift wrote:

Yikes! It's like that? I didn't realize that the current Cambodian government was so oppressive. I plan to move to Phnom Penh in January. Coming from "The Land of the Free", I am a bit concerned about how I will adjust. I am a very outspoken person and I do not tolerate my God given rights being violated well AT ALL. I hope I don't get myself into trouble over there!

Asking for trouble.
If you intend to go there to make it into America, stay in America.

Joe hi, the 1 year visa..is that only available in PP or can one get it in SR? Also what does one need to apply for one?

Many thanks mate

Hi

You can get a visa from anywhere in Cambodia but it will always be sent to PP to be issued. You have to give your actual passport to any travel agency and they'll do it for you for a small additional fee. I've done it from Kampot, Siem Reap, and kampong som. Took as little as 3 days and as long as 7 days to get it back due to it being one of the many Khmer holidays. Just make sure you keep a couple of photo copies of your passport in case you need it to check into a hotel or moto rental. Good Luck.....

Thanks mate

I am beginning to wonder. What is your motivation in trying to turn me away?

Kabe: Out spoken people here go to jail if they are foreigners who insist on things being like they are in the USA. Eventually they are deported for getting involved in labor, internal governmental issues or trafficking. By the way, the word "American" refers to ALL America, north and south. USA'ers need to find a new way to refer to themselves until they practice better human rights and being military whores for money. Sorry, just my opinion. Hope that helps. (I hope that you are reading all of the above replies)

Yes I agree I from USA and we are the last people to be talking about freedom , and human rights , as we are the greatest offenders on this planet, just enjoy the country , stay out of politics , that's the best advice possible , as a USA citizen , we are certainly don't know a thing about human rights as in USA we have none!!

Well said Twinsguy!

Just yesterday I read that a worldwide poll showed that the world population considers the USA as the most threatening of the world peace, by 24%, followed by Pakistan with only 6%. Russia, that is constantly accused by the US of being Aggressor, came at only 2%. Of course if you want to hide your own aggression, you start blaming others, in the hope that by hearing it many times people will start to believe it.

Europeans are already awake long time, other areas start to wake up, even US citizens start to wake up, it's not too late, but high time!

Being US does not give you rights that others don't have, on top visiting other countries as a guest means you adapt to the rules of that country, if you cannot, stay away, stay home.

There is no phobia of US citizens, I have met and befriended a lot of US people, but they had one thing in common: they knew what is wrong with the US, they adapted to the rules of the country they live in or visited, and they learned a lot of being outside the US.

Kabe Adrift wrote:

I am beginning to wonder. What is your motivation in trying to turn me away?

Your safety.

If you go with the attitude you've displayed about your rights and so on, you'll end up in trouble.
Your 'God given rights' mean nothing in Cambodia, and trying to push them could leave you in a very difficult and possibly dangerous position.

Twinsguy! Woah! Don't take me too literally! Remember these? (" ")? Lol! Yeah, I was really just being facetious. Although I find censorship to be repulsive and repugnant, I am not likely to try to ignite any mass movements in support of freedom of speech. In fact, my previous comment on my distaste of this practice, is pretty much the extent of my protest. Ha ha!
Ant

I suppose I should have been much more literal and concise. I should've said, "coming from a free speech society". Better?

Oh no problem , that's what's great on these forums is difference of ideas , no problem