Monks At The Sea ๐ฟ Occheuteal Beach ๐๏ธ Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Sihanoukville is now worlds away from the somewhat sleepy place it was in 2010, having turned into a Cambodian Macau of sorts, awash in casinos and the problems that come along with these businesses.
Occheuteal Beach ๐๏ธ
ย ย ย Sihanoukville, Cambodia is a place that has changed rapidly over the last 15 years, and Occheuteal Beach has been situated right at the heart of that change.
ย ย ย When I used to visit Sihanoukville the big stories were always about the Russian and Turkish mafia fighting for control of the underworld there, with a few drive-by shootings and assassinations occurring every year. Locals couldn't have imagined the Triads would be much more violently prolific than the Russian an Turkish mafias.
ย ย ย At some point the Chinese government began eyeing the Cambodian coast, now owning nearly all of the country's coastline, as well as most of Sihanoukville's beachfront property. This town is now full of skyscrapers and casinos from massive Chinese investment, which strangely enough has already partially failed.
What Can We Do, Smoke Joint? ๐ฎโ๐จ
ย ย ย Weed-friendly beach bar shacks no longer seem like a serious threat to the Cambodian culture when compared to the Chinese influx of money, influence and power. The overwhelming majority of Chinese citizens in Cambodia spend their money at Chinese-owned business, so the trickle-down economics don't even reach the ordinary working class Cambodians of this once sleepy town.
Let's Get Zen ๐งโโ๏ธ
ย ย ย These pictures are now a bit historic I guess, as Sihanoukville will never be the same again. When I was here roughly 10 years ago, the sight of a pensive handful of monks and their orange robes contrasting with the blue sea made start snapping away with the camera.
ย ย ย These very beaches later became polluted with the unfiltered sewage runoff from the Chinese-owned casinos, making it a serious health hazard to go swim here. Things are changing though, and the Cambodian public has now pressured the government to shutter several of the worst casinos.
ย ย ย Hopefully the future is much brighter for Sihanoukville and Occheuteal Beach, but COVID-19 certainly ruined a lot of the Chinese tourism this town is now reliant upon.
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Sad to witness how many places are being brought to their knees by money, casinos, imported goods killing the traditional ways of doing business or living life.
Always be careful what you wish for, to many silent invasions are happening all the time.
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Yes, it's sad but there's a glimmer of hope in Cambodia. I really feel that now more than 50% of the citizens are skeptic of the Chinese debt trap. !ENGAGE 20
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Friends of mine managed to go there, said it is a beautiful region, like many throughout the world are facing different forces pushing boundaries.
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tokens.i remember when we went here a year ago... it really is far from the sleepy, beach town i was picturing.. thank you for sharing a part of this once serene place :)
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I can't even imagine, but for more than three years the Chinese have been pulling out and closing many casinos due to some bad PR. Nothing like the good ole' days. !ENGAGE 15
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Oh I miss Sihanoukville very much, I even to visit three times. Beautiful place and good to swim and relax!!!
Yes, beautiful, but not the same as 10-15 years ago. Now there is a lot of pollution and crime. !ENGAGE 15
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Heartbreaking how the most beautiful places on earth get destroyed just for the sake of money... We humanity are really a decease for this earth.. I hope the marine life isn't suffering too much overthere but I doubt it...
Unfortunately true, but I am hopeful for better days. The Cambodian people have had an awakening and are now of the Chinese debt trap and all the fallout that comes with it. The seas of Cambodia are mostly brown, tourists generally stick to Vietnam or Thailand for water-based holidays. Something about raw sewage just turns people off. !ENGAGE 25
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tokens.Such a Beautiful Place <3
Yes it is/was, perhaps will be again some day. Thanks for stopping by. !ENGAGE 10
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I hope so too ๐โค๏ธ The biggest of love to you
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tokens.