Cambodia Update from Rodney

I am going to owe Rodney a beer when I get back to Phnom Penh Cambodia for taking time out of his day to give us the current situation in Phnom Penh. Not surprising on the rate increases, but you can negotiate and that will bring the prices down. As a professional Cheap Charley I use humor and be polite and don't be affraid to walk away. Allways try to remember to leave a little meat on the bone you don't want to be a carpet bagger and kick them when they are done follow the golden rule do un to other as you would od on to them, That is kinda of heavy but is good advise!

Hi Fred,

Tourist numbers are way down in Cambodia. Bars are empty to almost empty.
Guesthouses not filling up. Rain has started early. Prices have gone
up as response to the losses, every where, as a solution to falling
income; stupid solution which makes people pass through faster.Some
groups of male foreigners now seek out bars where there are no
Freelancers or Bargirls due to their aggression and sex fees rise. I
saw that in Hong Kong before I left on 28 December, prices went up 5%
a week as soon as the Credit Bubble burst. Same in Thailand too.

The Riel against the USD has strengthened over the past 3 weeks, now
at 4080 to $1, but up from a high of 4230 3 weeks ago. Cambodians
don't like that because they only give 4,000 to $s so their exchange
profit is down There's too many hotels, guesthouses, taxis,
tuk tuks and bars here built solely on International Tourism and NGOs.
NGO numbers are down too, with many being sent home.

Thank you Rodney for your updates on the situation in Cambodia Phnom Penh.