A successful expat businessman, who owns an "adventure" franchise with locations around Thailand and now Cambodia, said to me last night that Cambodia is essentially Thailand 20 years ago. All you have to do is look at what worked in Thailand and do it here, and you will win. The return on your money is ridiculous, he says.
It certainly feels that way. There's so much construction going on in Siem Reap that you can hardly walk a block without seeing something being built or remodeled. There's building going on in every single direction I look if I step outside my hotel - it's insane. Come here 5 - 10 years from now and this place will be transformed (I predict the situation with the women will be very interesting by that time too once the money flows more).
On top of that, it's a snap to keep a current visa here, it's cheap as shit to live and party, and they welcome foreign entrepreneurs with wide open arms.
I've formerly been fired up on Myanmar as a place to dig some heels in, but I think the competition there is more fierce because everyone has their eyes on Myanmar right now. Hence the ridiculous rental prices in Yangon.
So just for the sake of brainstorming, if you could step back in time and go to Thailand 20 years ago, where would you start? Assuming you weren't walking in with a huge bank account already? Any other frontiersman with their eyes on biz ops in the Khmer Empire?
Note: Lest I paint too rosy of a picture, the political situation in Cambodia is extremely volatile right now. An older Cambodian guy whose restaurant I go to a lot always talks politics with me, and he advises not to go anywhere near Phnom Penh at the moment. Apparently, there's a lot of talk about revolution right now. Much like the ongoing political issues in Thailand.
It certainly feels that way. There's so much construction going on in Siem Reap that you can hardly walk a block without seeing something being built or remodeled. There's building going on in every single direction I look if I step outside my hotel - it's insane. Come here 5 - 10 years from now and this place will be transformed (I predict the situation with the women will be very interesting by that time too once the money flows more).
On top of that, it's a snap to keep a current visa here, it's cheap as shit to live and party, and they welcome foreign entrepreneurs with wide open arms.
I've formerly been fired up on Myanmar as a place to dig some heels in, but I think the competition there is more fierce because everyone has their eyes on Myanmar right now. Hence the ridiculous rental prices in Yangon.
So just for the sake of brainstorming, if you could step back in time and go to Thailand 20 years ago, where would you start? Assuming you weren't walking in with a huge bank account already? Any other frontiersman with their eyes on biz ops in the Khmer Empire?
Note: Lest I paint too rosy of a picture, the political situation in Cambodia is extremely volatile right now. An older Cambodian guy whose restaurant I go to a lot always talks politics with me, and he advises not to go anywhere near Phnom Penh at the moment. Apparently, there's a lot of talk about revolution right now. Much like the ongoing political issues in Thailand.
Beyond All Seas
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling