Are Tourists Back? Siem Reap 2023

[@MarcsMildlyInteresting]

G'day Everyone! We were in Siem Reap from August to November - over that time it felt that tourism was slowly but surely returning to Siem Reap. Whilst the numbers were nowhere near what they were before the 'spicy cough', it was promising to see more and more Barangs in town, which means a lot to the survival to the locals! What do you think? Is it getting better?

[@peterRobinson10101]

Thanks for the video. Any clues about bringing a car into Cambodia from Aus?

[@MarcsMildlyInteresting]

G'day Peter! No worries mate - glad you enjoyed the video! Good question about bringing a car in, I know of one bloke that got his Aussie Rego motor bike over to Cambodia, it was a bit of mucking about and the tax on it was pretty insane from memory. Getting a car over i reckon might be a bit harder as they drive left hook vs our right hook cars & you would need to find a shipping route to Cambodia. With a bit of homework (and if you have the folding to burn) it probably could be done. Cars in general, even the crappy ones from the states with a million miles on em, seem to be worth so much compared to what we pay in Aus due to the import duties and taxes they have there. What did you want to take over there? I always wonder if i could take my XW Fairmont over...but the roads (and the 351s thirst) would probably ruin the experience! Cheers mate! Marc

[@peterRobinson10101]

@@MarcsMildlyInteresting Thanks for getting back to me. since posting here i found that you must convert to left hand steering before going on the road. Too many Thai cars were causing issues or something like that. So it is cost prohibitive. I will sell and buy one there. One big Q is about crypto. Im advised crypto is illegal to trade or commerce... so converting crypto to cash on an exchange and then moving to a Cambodia bank is risky. Im advised ABC and Acleda bank do it anyway, but they were prosecuted in 2022.... given the high popularity of crypto i imagine a video about bringing in money from crypto and using it would do very well. Aparently the Addis ethiopian shop takes it... under the counter (tell me to delete this if It jeapordises him) and there is Binance P2P sellers...

[@peterRobinson10101]

the Siam Reap has always had heaps of Pizza bars in the tourist strips. They used to traditionally be 'happy pizza'... and the occasional 'magic mushroom pizza'... so its no surprise there are wood fired pizzas everywhere now. I dont recognise rhe place now on videos. Cannot wait as I intend ro retire there soon.

[@MarcsMildlyInteresting]

G'day again! When was the last time you were in SR? It definitely has seen some change especially in the last few when they cleaned up and re-did all the roads. Heaps of woodfire pizzas...not as many happy pizzas as the old days I reckon! Feels like it's a great place to retire - great choice Peter! Cheers mate!

[@simonbaillieu7976]

great to see the place busy and with a vibe happening , some of the tourists are funny - i like your comment dufus thanks for an update

[@MarcsMildlyInteresting]

G'day Simon - Cheers mate!! Agree there is a bit of a vibe in SR at the moment, much more so than the last couple of years and hoping it will keep increasing! Haha 'doofas' is an oldie but a goodie - see if you can use it a few times yourself this week ;)

[@moonlightmistandmemories9623]

G'day Marc & Kinal , whoever invented pizza deserves a holiday named after them 🤣, here's hoping 2024 will be a better year for tourism in Cambodia 🙏, thanks for the lovely walk about , Peace

[@MarcsMildlyInteresting]

G'day Brian! Haha I second that suggestion - give them a statue/holiday/name a country after them! I could eat pizza every day! And when im not eating pizza...im thinking about eating pizza! Agree mate - I think 2024 things will finally kick into gear with regards to tourism in Cambodia - the people need it more than anything! Take care mate!! Cheers! Marc

[@tidakadaide]

Still looks very quiet, but nothing like May last year (2022) when it was dead as and only a handful of tourists. I was there also in march 2020 as covid hit and it was still a lot busier than it appears now. I should be visiting again in a week or so to check it out, hoping all is getting better for the locals now!

[@MarcsMildlyInteresting]

G'day mate - Agree! Still quiet but much improved on last year (we were there in May 22 as well!) I think It will slowly get better and bloody oath the locals need the tourists back big time! Let us know what it is like on your visit - hopefully more of a buzz again! P.S I hope that big shiny turbo in your pic belongs to a project of yours? Boost + Cubes = Life! Cheers mate!

[@tidakadaide]

@MarcsMildlyInteresting thank, yes, in Indonesia now, about to head to Thailand Sunday and into Cambodia a few days later. Unfortunately, the turbo was of a drag car from when I used to do motorsport videos. At the time I did have a falcon xr6t running in the 10s back in 2011. Since that I had a BMW 335i (twin turbo), but now the only thing with a turbo on it is my BT50 haha... I sold the BMW in 2018, which funds about 4 trips a year overseas in savings XD

[@MarcsMildlyInteresting]

Ahh fair enough - Still a nice turbo. I like your Indonesian username actually - Remember that lingo from school! Mate a 10 second XR6 is nothing to sneeze at, especially in 2011 that is proper fast for a street car (pre $2k Barra too) ! I have driven a few 335s and didn't mind them actually - so bloody smooth but the 3 series was always too small for me. I know what you mean in maintenance savings 🤣🤣! I have a Clevo powered XW and a BiTurbo AMG E63. The XW is slow, loud and cool and the AMG is smooth, fast but costs a bomb to maintain 🤦‍♂️! check em out on www.youtube.com/@MeatballGarage Cheers mate!

[@MarcsMildlyInteresting]

P.S Geez the GoPro doesn't like low light conditions!!

[@RustyLid]

It still amazes me that an iPhone shoots significantly better at night than my GoPro.

[@MarcsMildlyInteresting]

Hey Rusty! Those phone cameras are amazing for what they are! So much easier to use as well - just point and shoot and away you go!

[@fazbell]

Siem Reap looks to be a lot of fun for tourists and expats. I think I want to live there. Currently living in Thailand and tired of all the paperwork.

[@MarcsMildlyInteresting]

G'day Fred! Siem Reap is awesome - it's just a shame most people only stay a few days as a tourist (see the temples and bugger off). Where are you living in Thailand? Might be worth a visit for a couple of weeks to see if it's up your alley? I hear the visa admin compared to Thailand is much easier too! Cheers and thanks for watching mate - Marc

[@showkatkhan8461]

hi did you get your apartment? coming in febfuary to siem reap is it possible to get 1bed apartment around 300dollars?

[@MarcsMildlyInteresting]

G'day Showkat. We used IPS real estate agents in Siem Reap - if you reach out to them they will help you find accommodation. $300 for a 1bed apartment should be pretty straight forward, especially if you are going to stay long term. How long will you be there for? Short term stays are a little more difficult and are a more expensive exercise. Cheers!

[@showkatkhan8461]

thank you for quick reply,maybe 6/8 months?can i buy mosquito repellent in siem reap?@@MarcsMildlyInteresting

[@MarcsMildlyInteresting]

No worries mate - you can get mozzy spray there, however we have always brought our own from home as we kind of know what does and doesn't work for us. Also locally in Cambodia the ones available are usually the ones made from natural products and not Deet.

[@showkatkhan8461]

ok thank you, will get some from boots with 50% deet@@MarcsMildlyInteresting

[@Cohowarren]

They chased all the mobile bars and carts out and wrecked it.

[@MarcsMildlyInteresting]

Gday Warren - We saw a few of those mobile bars and carts around the place - they usually pop up later at night. Where did you usually see them mate? Cheers!

[@Cohowarren]

They used to be right on PUB street. Then got pushed to the fringes. It doesn't affect me as I go to local Khmer Pub area.@@MarcsMildlyInteresting

[@JJ-vy2rh]

Hey mate I don't think it has

[@MarcsMildlyInteresting]

Hey J J! Yeah I can see where you are coming from. It is nowhere near the levels it was back in 2018/9 but it's improved significantly since the last time we were in town. It actually felt like it had a pulse! Hope you are well mate! Cheers - Marc

[@g00glechr0me8]

is the girl in the video a siem reap tour guide or just your girlfriend?

[@kinalskitchen281]

I was once his tour guide then girlfriend, but not anymore since he proposed to me nearly 5 years ago go 🤣

[@MarcsMildlyInteresting]

G'day Google Chrome! Yep - she was my tour guide but that was over 10 years ago now. That is my wife as of 2019 :) Cheers mate and say G'day to Netscape Navigator and Firefox if you guys all still hang out! Cheers!