In Phuket, Thailand, I spent some creepy time chatting with womanizing older German men. They all had twenty-something year old Thai girlfriends already, but they had big other plans.
“Every day vee play Poker together,” said Hans with a leer, “And vee put money in a pot. Vhen we have a full pot, you know vhat we do?” I didn’t know. “Vacation! Cambodia!” he gave a wink. “They haff niiiice young girls there. Very young.”
Cambodia is notorious for it’s horrific sex trade, most notably, providing older Western tourists with very young girls, and sometimes boys. Upon entering the country, I was slapped with numerous billboards that stated “PROTECT OUR NATIONAL TREASURES,” showing a photo of a young Cambodian child. “A CHILD IS ANYONE UNDER 18.” said the poster. “It is illegal to sexually exploit a child.” At the bottom of the poster, a telephone hotline was provided for bystanders to report sexual wrongdoing.
Today, eating spicy green mango salad in a sun-drenched cafe, I suddenly wished I had written down the hotline. Across from me sat two large, pasty Western men, lecherously feeding Sprite to two EXTREMELY young Cambodian street girls. My breath came faster and my blood churned. What should I do? I glared at the men, scheming a plan.
Then, two more young girls appeared, begging every tourist they met to buy their small trinkets. The two Western men gestured them over. They sat them down at the table with Sprite, gave them crayons and paper, paid the bill, left a stack of money for the four grinning children and walked away.
The girls enjoyed their sodas for a hour, giggling and gossiping, with huge smiles on their faces. I snapped a photo.
Maybe the men came back later to collect favors from the children, but I like to think they actually just wanted to be nice. Sometimes paranoia is necessary, but sometimes people are just sweet.
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Stephanie says
This is really interesting to know. I never knew that this is happening in Cambodia. I am also glad to know this because it gives me information on what goes on in a different part of the world. I hope every time you visit a new place you are safe and treated well.
Shobha says
I’ve come across these types of Western men too when I was in Phuket. It is very open and brazen, I agree. And, they know what they are doing. The Thai girls I saw were old enough (20?) so not illegal but skeevy nonetheless. They were saying they come every year for a couple of weeks to Thailand for the ‘girlfriend’ experience. Just so disturbing.
Lillie says
Really unsettling.
Triston X. says
I think that Thailand needs more control over there people. It is horrible that they have the children sex slave. Thailand need to protect their children. I hope that they improve their government and they begin to crack down these heartless monsters.
Lillie says
True, but this article is about the country of Cambodia, not Thailand!
Vivian Greene says
Men like this are gross. And it isn’t a matter of whether they know “spending time” with VERY young girls is wrong, they traveled all the way from Germany to see them, they know exactly what they are doing. Thailand’s government really needs to start cracking down on this child sex trade. Honestly, it has been going on for way too long, and the same goes for America with prostitutes that have been smuggled from places like Thailand and El Salvador. That poster doesn’t do any justice either because it says only “if you are caught sexually abusing a child”. So, if you aren’t caught in the action you don’t have to face any consequences? That seems more than a little unfair to the child and it is just plain stupid. I know that there are a lot of people in places like Cambodia. but that must mean that there are a lot of cops/policemen/firemen, it only makes sense, but in a place like Cambodia, nothing seems to make any sense when it comes to laws. I mean in Thailand there is no age limit on how old a child can be to smoke, the tobacco companies don’t even worry about it, as long as they get their money from the tobacco they sell to young children openly.
Fiona P says
I think that is creepy and stalking.
Sofia L :) says
That’s probably the reason why my mum doesn’t trust me to walk to my bus stop alone or anywhere by myself. She keeps reading and watching these shows about girls usually around my age who get abused, rapped, kidnapped and some even taken away for human trafficking. It’s horrible!
Yara says
Very creepy. I only (rarely) hear cases like this on this Hispanic show called “Caso Cerrado”.
Imported Blogger Comments says
Luddy Sr. said…
Traveling alone as a woman has some obvious disadvantages, but one advantage is that you’re not going to be mistaken for one of these creepy guys looking to meet children for sex.
I am always a bit paranoid around children, especially as a photographer, that the adults will think I’m after their kids.
It’s really unbelievable how open those guys are, actually bragging to you about it! Not even a bit of shame fellas?!?!
December 6, 2009 9:00 AM
Dominique Vanherpe says
I want find the mail-adres from a Spainisch girl from Catalonia – see was in Siem reap for helping the cambodia childs… see was dear in 2009 from 20 NOV- maybe 20 dec. I want find her MAIL… I drive with her and outhers to siem reap my name: dominiquevanherpe9@hotmail.com FROM BELGIUM
THANKS IF YOU WIL HELP ME !!!!!!