Sihanoukville Impressions
Everyone I told I will be going to Sihanoukville soon, said it’s a horrible place. And it probably was before Covid, with ten thousands of Chinese tourists and construction work going on everywhere.
But now, with most business closed and most construction work stopped, it has a feeling of abandonment and post-apocalypse which I like. Reminds me of Berlin in 1945. But still enough places (hotels, restaurants, markets) open to satisfy my basic needs.
With most hotels closed and public transport reduced, I have to call bus company to ask if and when they have a bus (nowadays mostly only vans) and call hotel to check if they are open. Originally I wanted to go to Kep, but for lack of public transport changed to Sihanoukville. Two lions roundabout, a landmark in Sihanoukville:
There are still empty plots of land:
A small house between two big buildings:
Three generations of urban development from left to right: 1980, 2000, 2020 (my interpretation, I don't know how old these buildings are).
One of the many abandoned construction sites:
Most of these structures don't have load-bearing walls, only floor/ceiling and columns. At the right angle, you can look through them. Another one with a shack in front (instead of moving in):
The casino is closed and all buildings behind are unfinished. Many people must have lost a lot of money in the real estate and construction and entertainment business in Sihanoukville.
Abandoned sidewalk and sewer construction:
When everything is finished, they will have nice wide roads and sidewalks. But at the moment, it looks like North Korea or Naypyitaw (wide roads and sidewalks, but no cars or pedestrians; info from internet, I haven't been).
But some business will be up to 1 m above or below the current road/sidewalk level.
On the hill, there is no sewer and water runs down the road like a river:
Few windows to road, but many to the side with no view due to new building under construction:
Inhabitants of this building (front and side view combined to one picture) face an even worse fate when the plot next to them gets a high-rise:
First I thought these statues are Greek or Roman gods, but then I went close and saw they are Jesus and (who is in the middle?).
All casinos do not allow Cambodians to enter. This is the first time I learnt of something like this, no entry for locals!
In Street 805, there are several lady bars, one with three levels of steps to sit on. And in the same road, 50 m away from the nearest lady bar, is a church (Sihanoukville Presbyterian Church)!
I read somewhere about streetside prostitution called Chicken Farm, but on the internet I found only old reports without location. Most interesting first:
https://www.volkerzobelt.com/cambodia-sihanoukville-sihanouk-hell
http://www.mangozeen.com/2021/04/14/travel/da-chicken-farm-de-sihanoukville.htm
https://dreamholidayasia.com/destination/cambodia-guide/sihanoukville-girls-and-nightlife/
https://dreamholidayasia.com/travel-blog/sex-trip-report/a-journey-
around-cambodia/
The following title sounds promising, but this must be the worst video I ever watched. Very little content. 2 thumbs up and 12 thumbs down is justified:
Sihanoukville Chickenfarm brothel Sex at USD10 -ft. Notorious Austmon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhITWjOTslE
One would think after exposure to Chinese tourists and current economical hardship due to Covid, everyone is hardened and wary of Foreigners. But no, everyone I met here was nice, even tuktuk
drivers not pushy. All boys I met here could speak Chinese, some even read and write. Most businesses have Chinese names, and in the supermarket there were mostly Chinese products.
An amazing place if you like abandonment and urban decay! A fascinating juxtaposition of partially demolished old buildings, abandoned construction sites, interrupted sewer and sidewalk construction (at one end not finished yet, on the other end already damaged).
Copyright 2021 ChristianPFC
