3 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

Emirates fly Bangkok to Siem Reap? What do they fly, an A380?

not yet, but neither BD (Barn's Door ) as thaiophilus pointed out

1 hour ago, thaiophilus said:

A 777, apparently.

https://www.emirates.com/english/destinations/sai/bkk/flights-from-siem-reap-to-bangkok/

thank you

not apparently but surely.

In January when we got stuck overnight in Phom Penh due to aircraft malfunction few people from our flight worried about losing connection from Bangkok next day actually booked out flight to Siem Reap and on Emirates to Bangkok from there . It's how I learned about that option.

9 hours ago, thaiophilus said:

A 777, apparently.

https://www.emirates.com/english/destinations/sai/bkk/flights-from-siem-reap-to-bangkok/

Interesting, I see it flies 3 or 4 times a week.

Well, in less than 24 hours I will be in the air from Denver to SF and beginning my next adventure.  I have just a couple of last minute errands to run this morning and then need to finish packing.  Unfortunately, it does not seem like the last bit of work on the fence project is going to be completed by the time I arrive.  This does not surprise me.  Weather has been a big factor as they have received a lot of rain this week so work has been difficult to complete.  They even hired an extra person a couple of days this week to help.  I asked Cam how much they pay the extra help hourly and he said in Cambodia they pay by the day, not hourly, and for construction like this it depends on their experience.  The helper is a friend of his who is currently unemployed and has no construction experience, so they pay him $10 USD per day.  I must admit I was a little taken aback by such a small amount, but was careful not to criticize or say anything other than to simply acknowledge what Cam said.  He said for someone that has experience, knows what they are doing and needed minimal instruction or supervision they would pay $15 USD daily.  Compare that to general labor construction workers in the US who probably make around $30 USD PER HOUR!   As I said, I made no comment and showed no reaction being careful not to offend Cam or his brother (yes, we were on video chat).  The friend was happy to have an opportunity to work and was happy with the pay.  I know Cam is feeling a little pressure to finish as much of the project as possible before heading to Siem Reap to meet me on Sunday.  He also has a good heart and was trying to help out his friend.  Who am I to judge.  It is not my place to question.  I am just excited to begin the journey and reunite with Cam.  The last few weeks have not gone by fast enough for me.  My posts will most likely be few and far between for the next week or so.  Cam is already making plans of all the things he wants to show me in and around Siem Reap before we continue the adventure in Battambang.  It sounds like the first week in Cambodia will be a busy one.

Wishing you a safe and stress free journey, so that when you re-embrace Cam again he can feel your love and excitement for this new chapter in your life. 😘

All the best 🤩

2 hours ago, jimmie50 said:

Well, in less than 24 hours I will be in the air

.......

The helper is a friend of his who is currently unemployed and has no construction experience, so they pay him $10 USD per day.  I must admit I was a little taken aback by such a small amount, but was careful not to criticize or say anything

Enjoy your flight (s),

as for pay, you were wise to keep quiet as obviously they know reality on the ground there and what day's pay is fair . In rural Cambodia 10 USD goes much , much further than in downtown Denver.

1 hour ago, vinapu said:

much further than in downtown Denver.

1 beer from what I saw 😳

I'm going back to emojis, I just noticed the new interface has more options 🧐

I sincerely hope everything will work out for you and Cam @jimmie50 but if it doesn't, remember it's never too early to cut your losses and go back to Denver and regain some perspective before deciding on your next move. Good luck and safe travels!

4 hours ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

Wishing you a safe and stress free journey, so that when you re-embrace Cam again he can feel your love and excitement for this new chapter in your life. 😘

All the best 🤩

The average wage for a construction worker in Cambodia is $7.50 to $10 per day. An unskilled worker about $130 a month. They are not entitled to the so called minimum wage of $210 per month! Even in Pub St, in Siem Reap, a beer can be less than $1.00. There is something of a contrast with Europe and the USA. On one of my visits a couple of years ago, (I help support a Children's home there), I queried the bill in a nice Cambodian style restaurant, Khmer food, but many tourists, as I thought it was too little! I was assured that it was correct. I rarely do that in England!

Incidentally, I hope to be there 22nd to 25th September!

On 9/1/2026 at 6:40 AM, jimmie50 said:

During our video chat this morning, Cam said he used the $50 USD I had sent via WU as a trial run to buy toys and treats for the 14 nieces and nephews.  The youngest nephew is just 6 months old, so he bought the baby a sit-in walker.     

It is obvious that Cam has a loving, generous soul which combines determination and hard work, true, long term friends, enjoying sports and beers and chatting and laughing with the guys, and strong extended family connections that he loves and adores spending time with. It's indeed a simple yet wonderful life.

And soon these will all become your top priorities as well... continually and graciously helping to ensure Cam lives his best life possible.

2 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

The average wage for a construction worker in Cambodia is $7.50 to $10 per day. An unskilled worker about $130 a month.

$10 a day covers 3 meals a day and then some in the countryside. In Phnom Penh a basic office salary is $400-600 a month. An ex-regular of mine is in a tough situation (long story but this is the first time he’s asked in over 2 years) and needed some help even paying for food, so I sent him $200 last week. I calculated this should tide him over 2 weeks since he is staying with friends at the moment.

When I was in Koh Samui recently I saw a job offer for a kitchen hand at 12,000 baht per month. Wages in Thailand aren’t much higher. I will add that the intention for this position was clearly to be fulfilled by some desperate, uneducated Myanmar citizen fleeing the civil war. I don’t know how I feel about that.

@jimmie50 have a safe, good flight and congratulations on your new Cambodia chapter.

I asked google AI whats the typical entry level daily wages for rural cambodia.and it says usd5-8 per day. So Cam's friend getting usd 10 per day is actually slightly above the typical daily wages.

Mexico is $18usd a day min wage, the current and last president has raised the min wage each year they've been in office..... but the cost of living in higher in Mexico than Cambodia and rural Thailand

we are talking and jimmie50 is flying in meantime

@jimmie50 should have arrived in Cambodia by now. Hope he's alright.

10 hours ago, mauRICE said:

@jimmie50 should have arrived in Cambodia by now. Hope he's alright.

for sure he is but certainly has more pressing issues of reuniting with Cam and settling in than updating us here. I, for one , am waiting patiently for an update

6 hours ago, vinapu said:

for sure he is but certainly has more pressing issues of reuniting with Cam and settling in than updating us here. I, for one , am waiting patiently for an update

You, waiting patiently?

4 minutes ago, Keithambrose said:

You, waiting patiently?

Yes, September in my month of patience

Despite the joys of the reunion, for someone who has been so diligent about sharing his experiences the absence of an update gives cause for concern. Perhaps Jimmie has been unable to log in......

8 hours ago, khaolakguy said:

Despite the joys of the reunion, for someone who has been so diligent about sharing his experiences the absence of an update gives cause for concern. Perhaps Jimmie has been unable to log in......

quite possible as he is somewhere rural , on another hand was able to talk to Cam almost daily so indeed it's bit concerning.

JIMMIE50 , WHERE ARE YOU ???? CAN YOU HER US ?

Perhaps he lost his phone or his phone got broken and he has no access to his forum account?

I am travelling to Siem Reap on Tuesday.

24 minutes ago, Keithambrose said:

I am travelling to Siem Reap on Tuesday.

I'm jealous !!!! I mean it.

On 9/18/2026 at 12:35 AM, khaolakguy said:

Despite the joys of the reunion, for someone who has been so diligent about sharing his experiences the absence of an update gives cause for concern. Perhaps Jimmie has been unable to log in......

I'm concerned too. @jimmie50 hasn't logged in since 11 Sep 2026, nine days ago which is very unlike him. Internet connection shouldn't be a problem as Cam used to chat with him everyday. Perhaps he's made friends with Angela Jolie, adopted a Cambodian child and decided to abandon us?

13 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

I am travelling to Siem Reap on Tuesday.

Yes, you could be our intrepid Bond on the ground. OMG! I just realised that you'd be the first Bond on His Majesty's service ever. How about that.

23 minutes ago, mauRICE said:

I'm concerned too. @jimmie50 hasn't logged in since 11 Sep 2026, nine days ago which is very unlike him. Internet connection shouldn't be a problem as Cam used to chat with him everyday. Perhaps he's made friends with Angela Jolie, adopted a Cambodian child and decided to abandon us?

Yes, you could be our intrepid Bond on the ground. OMG! I just realised that you'd be the first Bond on His Majesty's service ever. How about that.

Well are we ready for an older, overweight, gay, Bond?

13 hours ago, vinapu said:

I'm jealous !!!! I mean it.

Surely you can find a flight with 3 or 4 changes to join me?