The Dark Reality of Managing a Hostel in Cambodia (Money, Mistrust & Mayhem)

[@ThairishTimes]

Amazon links for Richard's book: Amazon UK t.ly/ojXGg Amazon USA t.ly/gGLV4

[@highlanderabroad884]

Thanks for having me on Pete, it was great to have my ten minutes of fame, or in this case, 2 hours of fame. My book is absolutely filled with dozens of crazy stories about living and working in Cambodia, so if you guys want to check it out please find the link in the video description. Thank you. 🙂

[@KaptainPhedPhed]

Did you ever meet ‘No joke Howard?’

[@Phucket24]

I loved your honesty about life in your hostel business personally whenever I see backpackers I always go in the opposite direction

[@ThairishTimes]

@@highlanderabroad884 it was a pleasure Richard, all the best mate

[@1990-t1j]

I'll check it out on Amazon.

[@KevinODea-lf3rd]

I hear you loud and clear Brother. I bought a bar in Samui. Thought it would be a dream. Turned out to be a nightmare although I met some real decent people. Great interview.

[@dennisstoichkov8233]

This guy has the personality and good, comprehendible speech delivery to be a successful KZbinr.

[@highlanderabroad884]

lol, I tried and failed at KZbin, people either didn't like my face or it was my Scottish twangs. 😞

[@dennisstoichkov8233]

@@highlanderabroad884 Well, it's up to you, but I'd try again. You express your experieces far better than nearly (if not all) the other travel youtubers Ive followed. Many with huge nos. of subscribers. Something like "My New Life in Siem Reap or "My monthly Cost of living in Cambodia" should attract a lot of views, to get started.

[@An-ton-86]

I was waiting for part 2 🙏

[@highlanderabroad884]

me too, lost all my hair from the stress of waiting.

[@PeterC245]

Get this Bloke Back for more interviews

[@mrrob6730]

Yep his time in China

[@AlpineAir95]

This interview is legend. Absolutely hilarious! Thnx for posting. Great story telling and people are so weird

[@gogovamos7047]

I love that he is not over exaggerating things just for the sake of making stories crazier, his story feels 100% true

[@jpants5144]

Unlike Paul’s u mean 😂

[@robertmiur2388]

From one Scottish man to another living in Colombia I could listen to him all day, he’s really interesting.

[@highlanderabroad884]

thank you my fellow country man. 🙂

[@Hoxton66]

Colombia is lovely been there 15 times

[@Mark-gg6iy]

Wow, a Scottish man that enunciates and speaks so well. I am pleasantly surprised. I work with Scots mostly, for decades and some are nearly incomprehensible, by other Scots even.

[@luekezie4300]

as someone raised in england, i believe scots make the world a better place though.

[@Mark-gg6iy]

@luekezie4300 Yes, I agree. I was only addressing their speech and the difficulty other Scots (and Britsh) have in understanding them. The UK is a very unique place in this regard. Such strong and diverse accents separated by a relatively small distance. I can't think of another country equal.

[@IambiguousSegment]

incomprehensible* is the word you were looking for.

[@jamesdean1143]

He was formerly an English teacher.

[@naebodyknows7016]

Wit ye tawkin about??

[@MattSmith-pf5di]

Thanks!

[@ThairishTimes]

Thanks mate much appreciated 🙏🙏🙏

[@theparkestreetsocial2160]

Great story here Pete and Richard, really enjoyed this 2-parter, thanks a mill ! Hoping you both have a big 2025. Kudos from Blue Mountains, Aus 🇦🇺

[@Fran234-h9j]

Not sure what is crazier, haggling over 25 cents or renting a couch for 2 dollars. This guy is as crazy as the customers.

[@jpants5144]

yeah that cheap arse backpacker ending up coming out on top 😂

[@fs5775]

but of course that customer had enough money for beer!

[@joelwieland1767]

I think he didn't care about those $2 but if he made the couch free, this guy might want to sleep there for more than one night and would tell other cheap backpackers about it who then want that free couch too

[@303clear]

Great interview. Was on the edge of my seat waiting for part 2 and it delivered.

[@highlanderabroad884]

lol, I was on the edge of my seat as well waiting for it to drop. 🙂

[@fs5775]

The cheap backpackers sound like a nightmare!

[@sues3728]

Thank you both , interesting stories

[@divyas1937]

So entertaining and fun! Great storyteller and character. Thank you! And happy new year to you Pete!

[@sandgroper-ig9nk]

Another great interview get this fella back good to hear his adventures 👍

[@MattSmith-pf5di]

This guy is my favorite interview

[@andrewhammond2699]

Absolutely. I was hooked on both parts.

[@MattSmith-pf5di]

@ agreed

[@niallcollins1952]

I was checking every day for part 2

[@todayinsingapore]

Richard is really entertaining and has great stories to boot. He needs to come back more often. Happy 2025, Pete!

[@highlanderabroad884]

thanks for watching. 🙂

[@gavinwatters1293]

Amazing story! The stress of listening to his story - 😮😮

[@highlanderabroad884]

yip, thank God there was beer. 🙂

[@fergman300]

What a great interview

[@highlanderabroad884]

cheers, check out my book for even more stories. 🙂

[@FreeInPanama]

Wow, so good video, the best I watched this month. Wondering why not higher number of views.

[@highlanderabroad884]

cheers for the compliment. Check out my book for even more stories. 🙂

[@philipdupont2308]

Homer: Invest 16K to make 800$ a month for 4 months a year. But.... free beers. I do it.

[@jpants5144]

Harry was a great salesman, there’s no such thing as a free beer, the beer was 16k 😂

[@stefankropff]

This dude is so Cool, and a fantastic story teller, really enjoyed hos stories, please bring him on again, because i can tell he definitely got more too tell

[@highlanderabroad884]

I've got a hundred and one more stories, but you'll have to buy the book to hear them. :-)

[@healthwealthgurus]

Can’t wait to catch this in full later!

[@julianjustjulian2283]

Great interview.

[@highlanderabroad884]

cheers.

[@Rob-gg4it]

awesome story, loved every bit of it. hope it all goes well in the next chapter.

[@highlanderabroad884]

I'm living a sober life, so its a very boring chapter. 🙂

[@shanem4422]

Get him back on again Pete!. I really enjoyed that chaps stories and he speaks about them so well. I'd listen to him any day 😂

[@highlanderabroad884]

you should read the book, dozens more stories. 🙂

[@_Alfa.Bravo_]

Rick really has his own way in pronouncing "CAMBODIA" ... with this long O . He really loves the country and I love him doing it that way. Cool guy. All the best for his future !!!!

[@ViewTalay]

Very entertaining, Richard told the stories well. I stayed in Cambodia for a few weeks end 2015 and defo burned a fee braincells, especially at the New Year’s eve rave in the jungle

[@highlanderabroad884]

Cambodia's the biz, loved it here. 🙂

[@cathalrooney9409]

What an interesting guy Richard is. Great channel.

[@highlanderabroad884]

thanks for watching.

[@paulcleary7437]

I love the detail in his story and how you just let him tell it without interruption

[@ThairishTimes]

Thanks, I hate watching an interviewer interrupt and ruin the flow of a story

[@thecartersontour6179]

My husband and I ran a small hotel here in Siem Reap until last May and I can relate to an awful lot of the stories Richard tells. Its not just in hostels that guests try to cheap out, or sneak in a call girl (or 3 in one case)

[@highlanderabroad884]

how long did you own the hotel for, and where was it based?

[@thecartersontour6179]

@highlanderabroad884 2 1/2 years - off Sok San Road in SR!

[@thecartersontour6179]

@highlanderabroad884 2 1/2 years - off Sok San Road in SR. One of the best and worst things I've ever done.

[@highlanderabroad884]

@@thecartersontour6179 yeah, I hear ya. Running the hostel was absolute hell, but it gave me a heap of funny stories for my book. 🙂

[@martinhodgins1677]

Entertaining story. Richard is very relatable. Athbhliain faoi mhaise, Pete.

[@highlanderabroad884]

thanks

[@ThairishTimes]

Athbhliain faoi mhaisce freisin Martin

[@zappas10]

$600-$800 a month? The moral of the story, never do business with a Scotsman. 😂

[@normanlee31]

Good stuff Pete! Great story! athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh😊

[@diegoaespitia]

love this guy. hes a great story teller.

[@highlanderabroad884]

cheers, I'm also a decent writer. 😛

[@markhanley5432]

Great interrview

[@gertdrok9016]

Intersting Story. But many time the same problems in that kind off business. 🙏

[@palirvin1871]

Such a perfect Cambodia Story.

[@Thai.Farang]

Another great video. Definitely get Richard back on again for more stories please.

[@highlanderabroad884]

thank you. 🙂

[@jpants5144]

Is the mattress for sale? Im looking for a bargain deal......

[@ms_gk]

It's probably gone now, but try asking Johny Depp, he might have one.

[@highlanderabroad884]

yeah, I think its still lying on the street in Phnom Penh.

[@scottlittle3924]

Sounds like a shit deal

[@jpants5144]

@@ms_gki did, its now a bidding war between his and the Cambodian one, but tbh Depps one has some celebrity shite value. I have a smellier from German to review which is most pungent before making the final decision. I do like a smelly one!

[@moonna8088]

Awesome interview. I'm buying the Richard's book.

[@highlanderabroad884]

thank you so much, I hope you enjoy it. 🙂

[@Mullamoves26]

Really interesting listen

[@highlanderabroad884]

thanks for watching. :-)

[@_Alfa.Bravo_]

Richard, you never talk too much !!!!

[@highlanderabroad884]

thanks, I was prepared to talk for several more hours, but Pete's memory card would have ran out of space.

[@DakotaTPatterson]

Good storyteller

[@williammckeon6521]

There are a few hostel dwellers that are fortunate he came from Aberdeen. I would have liked to be a spectator, with a Glasgow bloke running the place. Great story.

[@highlanderabroad884]

yeah, I think we have slightly more patience in Aberdeen. 🙂

[@ingwisingwis8336]

Great. Very entertaining.

[@highlanderabroad884]

thanks for watching. 🙂

[@ronjones8981]

What a fascinating guy. It was so interesting listening to his experiences. Please have him back on your show.

[@poundofbananas9640]

This guy is a fantastic communicator

[@highlanderabroad884]

cheers. 🙂

[@jayy256]

Get this guy back on for a part 3. Really wanna hear about what happened after. Really enjoyable to listen to.

[@highlanderabroad884]

thanks for listening, I'd love to come back on. Don't forget to check out my book. 🙂

[@theasianjaywalker4455]

Just recently stayed in Cambodia (Phnom Penh) for a month and OH BOYYYY that's a helluva world. Consider this, I was working on the set of a movie about the seedy world of bar grirls and crazy expats (some know the book, Private Dancer) and OH BOY did they pick the right location on 172nd St. As for these guesthouses, holy cow there is madness going on over there. Literally, the last thing I saw/heard from the nearby guesthouse was a woman quickly departing saying "I'm leaving.. I'm seeing far too many knives laying around here and I'm out..". (btw i stayed at Long Live Hotel for sweet sweet zero drama mellow peace)

[@highlanderabroad884]

I heard about that film, what position were you working? Yeah, street 172 is wild, spent a few nights there. 🙂

[@theasianjaywalker4455]

@highlanderabroad884 i was being an extra aka background player. Some of us agreed that 172 is easily a wild documentary in itself. Thats a movie.

10 dollar's a night for a room with a fan and no windows in low season! That's expensive, I have a homestay with ensuite and ac,in 2024 5. We charge 11 euro a night and there's windows 😂

[@jannotasleep9551]

Love it great stories ,

[@highlanderabroad884]

thank you. 🙂

[@susanlindarice]

well certainly an adventurer! happy new year!

[@highlanderabroad884]

cheers. 🙂

[@sflxn]

Dude, the lower the tier customers, the more problems you will have. I could predict all the problems before the interview started.

[@ma3stro681]

Exactly. Especially in Cambodia … 😵

[@clivebaxter6354]

Can't abide backpackers, often from well off families but want everything on the cheap, or free.

[@highlanderabroad884]

just imagine having to listen to them whine everyday. 🙂

[@GreenIslandWoodworks]

@@highlanderabroad884" just imagine having to listen to them whine everyday. " now just imagine doing all that while making chump change! Sheeesh

[@barbaramarzec3074]

You guys have made my day

[@highlanderabroad884]

thanks for watching. 🙂

[@Carl-pl2ie]

Just got Richard's book, it's only a few bucks, I have yet to finish yet and I can already tell you it is great. Raw, real stories that take me back to my escapades in Thailand. It's like reading my old journal entries I love it.

[@highlanderabroad884]

awwww, thank you. You should turn your journal entries into a book. 🙂

[@Carl-pl2ie]

@ I’m considering it! Cheers

[@andrewhammond2699]

Absolutely fantastic guy to listen to all his experiences in Cambodia. I have just bought his book and will thoroughly enjoy reading it. I have also just returned to the UK from Phnom Penh where I spent a couple of months in Street 172 and stayed at 'The Big Easy' hostel. I really enjoy the vibe there and making friends with other expats who have lived there for many years. I fully intend to return to Phnom Penh later in the year to spend a long period of time to settle, live and maybe work there. Working and managing in a crazy hostel really appeals to me as I have spent over 35 years backpacking around the world and always stayed in hostels. Good luck Richard on the book and your next adventurous experience.

[@highlanderabroad884]

awesome, thanks for buying my book and I hope you enjoy it. I know Street 172 very well, do you remember Sundance?

[@CavanBarbell]

As a Scotsman myself who has worked and lived in SE Asia it's so relatable

[@luekezie4300]

i wanna read the book. especially wanting to be a business manager very interesting

[@AntidOto-fp8dr]

Great narrator

[@highlanderabroad884]

cheers, I'm up there with Morgan Freeman.🤣🤣

[@jakezywek6852]

I met Rich in Cambodia in 2018. There was a hotel owned by a Danish Brother and Sister and I got talking to Rich. Also an English guy from Northampton passed away in the hostel.

[@highlanderabroad884]

yeah, I remember the face. How's life?

[@jakezywek6852]

@@highlanderabroad884 Over 8 months sober and freezing to death in the UK, but I have a feeling I am not finished with South East Asia yet. Might try and buy a bar....

[@alexandernorrie]

I managed a hostel in British Columbia years ago and this guys story is very tame compared to what i went through! I lived all over SEA and expected his tale to me much worse

[@GreenIslandWoodworks]

You're right, it was a bit lame...I was waiting for crazy drug smuggling stories, naked bodies and fires......all we got was a drunk German and an Indian who wanted to borrow the kettle.

[@TheSurfrer1]

Sounds like a reasonable down to earth guy.

[@highlanderabroad884]

down to earth, yes.......reasonable........ no comment. 🙂

[@Ytorisv]

Exhausting🥴

[@AAAA-j5u8s]

I'm glad I never started any business. All the grief for small profits. Some people do succeed but they are in the minority.

[@Passport-Bro]

“I did it for the lifestyle.” What lifestyle? Dealing with cheap charlie drunks all the time doesn’t exactly appeal to me. Investing 14k in a money pit like a hostel…what a disaster. In high season we make 600-800 per month lol. Seems like a decent guy, but hopefully this was a lesson learned.

[@seanmann863]

Pete long time. Hello from Boston Massachusetts.

[@little_engine_goes_to_Thailand]

I ran a cafe in Shanghai for 10 years. Same sort of thing- people finish eating and say they don't have money to pay. 8 people come in order 3 desserts and drink our free water. People not wanting to pay because the pasta doesn't taste like the one back in their home country.Guy with an extremely long extension cord which he plugged iit in from our bar, and trailed it all the way through the cafe, back to his seat .Ahhh list goes on - never a boring day. Most of the problems came from foreigners. But , one thing is , you would never know people act like this if you didn't open a place that serves customers.

[@highlanderabroad884]

I was the same mate, I had no idea how these people behaved until I was in that situation. We used to have people checking out of their rooms at noon, then lounge for several hours, waiting for their bus, and they wouldn't spend any more money. I can also relate to the people with phones, we had randoms just walk in and plug their phones in and try to use the internet for free. I'm so glad I never have to deal with these people again.

[@little_engine_goes_to_Thailand]

@@highlanderabroad884 It is surreal and Funny now that I am out of it ,and looking back. But, I now look at people differently now, lol.

[@highlanderabroad884]

@little_engine_goes_to_Thailand I know what you mean. I feel like the experience will never leave my system. What are you doing now?

[@highlanderabroad884]

@little_engine_goes_to_Thailand I know what you mean. I feel like the experience will never leave my system. What are you doing now?

[@ma3stro681]

Being tied to a scummy hostel for $200 a week? Insanity … 🤡

[@silviokawakami3906]

His looking for the “free” beer 😆

[@andrewhyland9212]

Think that Harry may have known it’s easier to be out the back than dealing with CABS front of house. Think Richard got the short straw. At least he can have no regrets. HNY Pete…..looking forward to many of your what’s the sccchhhhttory this year.

[@Hangover-ry9bo]

The backpacker are NOT frugal. SEA's travelers and tourist have changed from people tossing the money like confetti to economic adventurers and refugees, even from a declining Europe. This is a not a well funded crowd. They dont have 20-40 years good jobs with a strong currency and favorable exchange rate. It is a generation which is very difficult to call customers, without rational and not understanding a no as a no. They are raised a bit different. Its a hang around low to no budget spiral. Its never boring and seldomly you come out on top.

[@TheSpence68]

Hes a lovely likeable guy 🎉

[@Ytorisv]

Fun times at the hostel😄.

[@highlanderabroad884]

only when I was drunk.🤑🤑

[@NEILBAGELSTEIN123]

I would have paid no more than $8,000 to buy into the hostel not a penny more.

[@jimcraiggeezer]

What I found travelling in Cambodia more so than Thailand is it's full of weird and wonderful characters..it's like the wild west of Asia.. FYI.. I had a chance to buy into a bar in Otres village, Sinanoukville about 10 years ago.. I didn't.. and definitely don't regret it.. they bulldozed the area a couple of years later.. so very pleased I passed..

[@walsakaluk1584]

What a ripping yarn! Happy new year everyone.

[@highlanderabroad884]

cheers, check out the book for more insane stories. :-)

[@glenloader639]

80 dollars for a fridge is nothing, what was he expecting . You can't by a decent bar fridge that you get in a hotel room for that price!

[@Serendipity-gj2me]

He was a great speaker Pete. Get him back!

[@highlanderabroad884]

I'd happily come back if he can afford my daily fee of $1000 per story. :-)

[@uptownonfriday]

Richard. You should've made a reality TV series of running the hostel and the content would've made a nice quid.

[@highlanderabroad884]

ha ha, tell me about it. But I was too drunk to operate a camera, so it was a missed opportunity. I did write a book about my hostel adventures though. 🙂

[@mr.bullion6786]

Great stories.

[@highlanderabroad884]

cheers, there's dozens more stories in the book, I barely even scratched the surface in the interview. 🙂

[@shauncawley1138]

I stayed there in 2016.

[@shauncawley1138]

Bo is the other guy in the thumbnail and remember there was a cab driver called Oscar that was always there. Had a great time there and had a few drinks one night with Richard. Harry = Hamish

[@martyhoare7558]

Honestly though, when you’re renting out rooms in a flea pit for less than the price of a bad cup of coffee to flea bitten travellers, what do you expect?

[@MyLoganTreks]

Pete was great, amazing when you have a guest house and invite friends who are far wealthier and they don't spend a penny or help with anything to make your place better, but like Pete says they have plenty of money to party and pay for flights and cost you money no thanks. In the FL Keys and Puerto Rico I invite nobody now. Moral of the story is be good to your gift horse and people who are kind to you.

[@francoiswilliams]

I had my Klub Safari in Philippines for 8 years...

[@johnjon5448]

Awesome story!! 14k well spent 😂 which I’m sure you got some of it back

[@highlanderabroad884]

I actually got all my money back..... But I shaved ten years off my life span. :-)

[@YuChiGongG]

The roof had became damaged? Teaching English might have been a bridge too far. Fortunately, he chose the right path, and became a hostel operator. Very interesting stories, for sure!

[@highlanderabroad884]

yeah, but then I strayed off that path and became an English teacher for three years, so my English proficiency isn't that bad.🤣🤣

[@tcmalley]

Great stories lol!!

[@highlanderabroad884]

thanks for watching. 😇😇

[@roscoehilton7727]

Durian fruit in the rooms? What's the rule?

[@highlanderabroad884]

no way...... it would be slinkier than that soiled mattress.

[@tonybaloney6656]

He’s a natural born storyteller and he has plenty to tell 👍

[@highlanderabroad884]

thanks mate, even more funny stories in my book. :-)

[@M.R.T.V.Videos]

The first couple minutes are just regular everyday southeast asia hostel happenings 😂😂😂😂 The hostel lifestyle is not at all amazing in reality. This accurately describes the neverending nonsense of international travel. You have to see it as comedy or you will never last very long 😂

[@paulredmond1280]

I was expecting more. Fridges for 80 quid and mattresses for 50 is hardly a big deal. A phone got robbed ffs🤣 is that it!?

[@fs5775]

how about the Cambodian employee scrubbing down the shit-stained mattress in front of customers saying she's taking it home? That's an image I won't easily forget

[@timtomp1234]

Please get the Dutch buyers on!

[@robertnicholson1409]

A fool and his money soon part company.

[@AAAA-j5u8s]

You were very kind to let him sleep on the sofa for 2USD, I would have charged him the full amount.

[@highlanderabroad884]

ha ha, I should have, but he probably would have just slept in the street out of spite. 🙂

[@healthwealthgurus]

This guy like 🤣 he needs to be on tv

[@highlanderabroad884]

that's my ego out of control now. 🙂

[@healthwealthgurus]

@ shite on the bed 🤣

[@Hoxton66]

And morals of the story he is now living at the same hostel now 😂

[@highlanderabroad884]

shhhhh, I was hoping that no one would notice.🤣🤣🤣

[@Hoxton66]

​@highlanderabroad884 😂 Nice one, all best fella, 👌

[@MakingGood-m8m]

I mean who doesn't bring strangers home to read books 😅

[@highlanderabroad884]

yeah, that's what I've always done when I get a woman in private. 🙂