In the US, a crown probably starts around $1500 and could go as high as $4000!  If you also need root canal, that would add at least an additional $600 to the cost...probably more.  A simple, uncomplicated extraction here can probably be done for around $75-100.  

Cam is feeling much better now.  He is able to eat solid foods again, although he said he is avoiding anything spicy at the moment.  Little to no pain now, and that is not from the tooth but from the extraction.  The Cambodian version of Tylenol works for that pain...as does one or two beers.  lol.  He and his brother were drinking pretty heavily last night after unloading the wood for the concrete molds.  

Hi Jimmie, how is the building work going? Looking forward to an update.

 

8 hours ago, khaolakguy said:

Hi Jimmie, how is the building work going? Looking forward to an update.

Thank you for asking.  I haven't posted much about it recently as I didn't think many forum members were all that interested.  The Gay Cambodia section is not nearly as lively as the Gay Thailand section.  lol.  

Things are progressing nicely.  They finished digging for the footers, building the framework out of steel rods, and poured the concrete for all of the footers and columns.  Mind you, all of this is basically being done by Cam, his brother and his father manually.  Even the footers were dug by hand with a shovel.  Just yesterday they started to lay brick.  They were all very happy and excited to reach this stage.  Even his mother is out there helping.  She is bringing them buckets of mortar and has her little red plastic bin she fills with brick and brings to them.  Certainly is a family affair.  Cam assures me they will be finished with the project by the time I arrive next month.  I certainly hope so, but understand that things happen with construction all of the time.  I will need to keep an open mind and think positive.  

I am including a couple of photos that show the work but none of the family members for privacy reasons.  Cam is okay with me posting as long as nobody is actually in the photos.  

Thank you. Both the construction element and your relationship are all an adventure and interesting. Rooting for you and Cam.

I know you don't want to butt in on what they're doing,

I always give this example when anyone builds new....

Plan for the future, make those footings deep enough and wide enough to hold a 2nd or 3rd floor someday.

So much easier to do something like that now, hindsight is always 20/20

Same thing with running cable for outlets, lights and also water pipes.........

"Mind you, all of this is basically being done by Cam, his brother and his father manually.  Even the footers were dug by hand with a shovel"

It's like this is many parts of the world, kind of like  the Flintstones 😝

2 hours ago, floridarob said:

It's like this is many parts of the world, kind of like  the Flintstones 😝
 

because world is generally poor place and can't afford qualified contractors

5 hours ago, floridarob said:

I know you don't want to butt in on what they're doing,

Yes, I tread softly here.  My father was a stone mason.  I spent many summers during high school and college working along side him as the 'helper'.  I have offered suggestions a couple of times, but in general I just smile and nod my head a lot.  lol.  

2 hours ago, vinapu said:

because world is generally poor place and can't afford qualified contractors

Probably in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap there might be a business where they could have rented a small excavator, but in their rural area and his hometown there is nothing like that.  I did ask if that was an option.  I also asked about a gasoline powered cement mixer.  I didn't tell Cam this, but if either of those things were available to rent I would have probably offered to pay for them to make their lives much easier.  To be honest, Cam is very independent and determined to complete this project and move on to the new house construction in December.  I am not sure he would have even accepted my help.  Anyway, they are satisfied and happy with the results.  That is all that really matters.  

Attached photo gives a better idea of the brick work they are currently doing.  They have something planned to go from the top of the brick up to the same height as the top of the columns...I just don't know what that is.  Cam has tried to explain it to me but my understanding gets lost in the translation.  He just says wait until they start that part and he will send me photos.  

6 hours ago, khaolakguy said:

Rooting for you and Cam.

Cam is busy working every day, so he is handling the separation probably better than me.  I try to stay busy with my volunteer work at the local senior center and my family helps to keep me occupied.  I did find several interesting books about Cambodia in the local library I have been reading as well.  

We have established a daily routine, though, where we video chat every morning and evening plus exchange text messages throughout the day and share photos/videos.  We are both anxiously looking forward to September and being able to spend the next three months together.  First item on the agenda once I arrive is to contact one of the local agents to assist with the application for a retirement visa.  

51 minutes ago, jimmie50 said:

...My father was a stone mason.  I spent many summers during high school and college working along side him as the 'helper'.  I have offered suggestions a couple of times, but in general I just smile and nod my head a lot.  lol.  

So one could say you're now a free mason? 😏

6 hours ago, vinapu said:

because world is generally poor place and can't afford qualified contractors

Even qualified contractors don't use modern equipment and power tools, actually the Flintstones seemed more advanced in contrast.

Big jobs like a mall, government contract or office building they might....but building a home, in Mexico for example, even if it cost a million dollars....mostly done all by hand.

Quick update...they have finished laying all of the brick.  Everyone is pleased with the progress, but also a little tired and they plan to take a few days off to simply relax and recharge.  They also need to order the supplies for what is going above the brick portion of the walls.  I am still not quite sure what that is, but Cam will send me photos once they get start so I will have a much better idea then.  The finished brick work actually looks pretty good.  Cam even sent me a video of him laying brick and he looked like a professional.  Brought back memories of watching my father do that.  It would seem they will be finished with the fence project in time for my arrival in early September...thank goodness.  I must admit I was a little concerned as the scope of this project was far more involved than I expected.  

9 minutes ago, jimmie50 said:

Cam even sent me a video of him laying brick and he looked like a professional.  Brought back memories of watching my father do that.

Cam will be thrilled to know he reminds you of your father. 😏

10 hours ago, mauRICE said:

Cam will be thrilled to know he reminds you of your father.

OK, to clarify...Cam does NOT remind me of my father.  lol.  Watching him lay brick brought back memories of my father doing the same thing...that's it.  Period.  Any other resemblance does not exist...thank heavens.  

As much as I loved my parents, I would not be flying halfway around the world to a place I know nothing about nor have ever been to before to spend the next three months intimately with someone who resembled my father.  LOL.  

 

9 hours ago, jimmie50 said:

As much as I loved my parents, I would not be flying halfway around the world to a place I know nothing about nor have ever been to before to spend the next three months intimately with someone who resembled my father.  LOL.  

No, of course you wouldn't. You're doing it for love.

Cam is visiting with sister #2 for a couple of days since they are taking a break from the fence project.  Sister #1 and #3 live in his home town so he sees them all of the time.  Sister #2 lives about one hour away, about halfway from the Thai border and the home town.  They own and operate a small convenience or general store.  He refers to them by number for me so I will know who is talking about by order of birth.  lol.  What I find interesting is he does not hesitate to video chat with me when he is with his family.  This morning his little 3 year old nephew was right there beside him while we were chatting and his sister was in the background holding the 8-month old baby.  There is no attempt to hide me from anyone in the family.  All of his sisters have added me as 'Friend' on Facebook.  He will spend two days with his sister and then return home to collect his parents and the three of them will spend a couple of days visiting relatives in Battambang.  I believe both parents have siblings that live in Battambang, so many cousins as well.  I believe his brother (and family) will also go on the trip to Battambang.  I knew from some of our conversations that Cam had people he knew in Battambang when we discussed where to live...there or Siam Reap...but I didn't realize just how extensive that network was and how much of it was family until he actually went home.  Battambang is also where his mother goes to see the doctor, so I believe this is on the agenda as well.  I don't completely understand what her health situation is, but I do know she takes medication daily and sees the doctor on a regular basis.  It is an hour ride by motorbike to Battambang from his home town.  

2 hours ago, jimmie50 said:

There is no attempt to hide me from anyone in the family.  All of his sisters have added me as 'Friend' on Facebook

💓😍😘🤩

An hour on a motorbike is a long time

3 hours ago, Travelingguy said:

An hour on a motorbike is a long time

Pretty dangerous hour as well! Did anyone see the Top Gear episode, where they had to ride by motorbike from HCM City to Halong Bay? Quite frightening,  (though also funny) even allowing for exaggeration for TV.

29 minutes ago, Keithambrose said:

Pretty dangerous hour as well! Did anyone see the Top Gear episode, where they had to ride by motorbike from HCM City to Halong Bay? Quite frightening,  (though also funny) even allowing for exaggeration for TV.

hope they did not try to do it in 1 hour

On 8/14/2026 at 8:49 PM, jimmie50 said:

Attached photo gives a better idea of the brick work they are currently doing.  They have something planned to go from the top of the brick up to the same height as the top of the columns...I just don't know what that is.

They seem to be aiming to have a tree growing in the middle of the house. But I guess we will only know for sure when it is completed! 

I wouldn’t want a tree in close proximity to the foundation of my house. I would plant the tree out in the yard.

On 8/18/2026 at 12:09 PM, Travelingguy said:

An hour on a motorbike is a long time

I guess I will find out soon enough.  Cam will have the longer ride from his hometown to Siem Reap.  We will meet in Siem Reap and stay there for a few days at first, then travel by motorbike to Battambang.  He says he has made arrangements with a friend of his who works as a delivery driver to take the luggage to Battambang.  We shall see.  I certainly hope we don't have to travel one hour with me holding the bag all of the way on the back of a motorbike!  LOL.  The reminds me of some of the motorbike escapades I have seen in Thailand before...mother, father, three children, a dog and bags all on one motorbike!  I feel a TikTok video coming...

18 hours ago, hank75 said:

They seem to be aiming to have a tree growing in the middle of the house. But I guess we will only know for sure when it is completed! 

I was surprised they had not cleared more plants away when they were digging the footers and pouring concrete.  However, as I said before, I tend to keep quiet about such things.  At one time, Cam's father raised chickens and would have as many as 100 chickens scurrying around the yard.  I think I prefer the trees to the chickens.  It will be interesting to see what happens to all of the plants when they start to demolish the existing house to make way for the new one.  The temporary housing they are building is kind of nestled in amongst all of the greenery on the back of the property, so they didn't remove anything for that.  Sometimes, it is best to adopt the old phrase "don't ask, don't tell" to avoid any disagreements.  It really is between Cam, his brother and his father.  My comments are really only worth 2 cents, and as we all know, the orange bobblehead has done away with the penny...which means my opinion is worth zero.