So much fun, the first driver was amazing and the artist did beautiful work. It also occurs to me that you are being a wonderful ambassador for America by being so kind, graceful and respectful to the people and places you visit. Hugs to you Allisdhair and Millie. Stay safe and healthy.

i went to cambodia in september and that artist in the wheelchair was around almost every day, never thought id recognize someone in a random youtube video. cambodia was absolutely amazing and everyone was so kind easily my favourite place ive been to

I've been to Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Sihanoukvile in Cambodia. What the guy's weird hand gesture meant: he was letting his friend know that he was going to take you and your buddy to an area that offered "services", which is where he did take you. That's very common in that country, to just bring any guy to places like that. It doesn't sound like any trafficking or anything scary (for you) was going on. For women who work there though, for them yes.

Cambodian here, the 2nd tuk tuk driver took you the wrong way to make your destination seems further than it really was so that he could charge you more. This scam is a lot less common now but unfortunately people still run into it once in a while. It is not dangerous but it can be frustrating, especially for the tourists who cant speak the language. I would stick with Grab or Pass App for all short distance traveling. Nonetheless, i hope you had a good time in Cambodia. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

I hope you gave the 1st driver a decent tip and not just 5 bucks if he spent the whole day taking you around.

Oh, Ethan, so much to unpack in this video. It was wonderful. My husband and I travel to Siem Reap every year. If not for covid, this year would've been our 7th trip. The artist is named Ly and is one of the cheekiest and most generous souls you could ever hope to meet. We have known him since our 2nd trip to Siem Reap. He is the real deal. We always buy art from him (& he remembers us!) and this last trip, we bought art paper and 6B pencils for him. The wonderful driver that was with him and who took you on that great ride is also one of the most genuine people. We know him but I cannot remember his name just now. You were in the safest hands with him. He brings Ly and his wheelchair into town most days and takes him home in the afternoon. The other ride you had we suspect was a setup. The driver was probably getting a kickback from a brothel for bringing visitors their way. He doubled the price because he wasn't going to get a commission. Be wary of saying yes to drugs over there. If a driver asks you if you want weed, say no and then look around carefully. You will most likely see a policeman waiting to arrest you. Weed is a traditional food/therapy for locals and they can grow their own but it is absolutely illegal for any visitors to have possession of it. Thank you for being friendly and respectful of these beautiful folk. We love that you are learning Khmer whenever you can. Ly said to you "orkoon" which means thank you ("orkoon- tran" is thank you very much). The night market that the driver took you to is fantastic. So glad that he offered you street food and you accepted. Some of our happiest food memories are of street food. Near the main markets in town, on the river are some of the the best vendors. They roll up with a mobile kitchen and plug into cables in the trees. The best food!! We hope you plan to go back to Siem Reap and surrounds. If you don't mind going out of town for a few days, we can recommend Pailin province, near the Thai border for a 7 level waterfall at Phnom Kheiv and there is a bat cave in Battambang (pronounced Battambong) province, where several million bats depart nightly looking for food. Many temple ruins and pagodas and shrines to visit. We would be happy to put you in contact with trustworthy and knowledgeable drivers. Anyway, we are enjoying your videos. Thank you and take care.

I've been there a few times. My advice is to give the driver the original amount and walk away. Just throw the money on to his seat as usually they will refuse to take it in their hand. The first time it happened to me I was in New Delhi and a cop came up to us as we were arguing over the fare with the rickshaw driver. We explained he doubled the price and the cop turned to the driver and just slapped the guys face quite hard. We walked away. So do not argue for long, just throw the money down and leave. Happy Travels

I grew up in Manhattan, and I’ve lived in Thailand and been around most of Southeast Asia, and Japan. NYC is far more dangerous than anywhere I went in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Japan. You obvious have to be careful of theft in any city, or someone trying to scam you. But the worst things that ever happened to me was local people trying to scam me (an American) by telling me something cost much more than it should. In NYC you know you could easily get shot or stabbed to death for no reason, and New Yorkers are usually pretty rude and nasty. The vast majority of people in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Japan are very nice, being polite is the norm (especially in Japan!). People will come up to you and try to sell you things, but if you’re nice and say no thank you, they almost always will be nice and leave you alone. The way that Ethan’s first driver was willing to spend so much time with him for very little money is not unusual, you’ll find lots of people in Southeast Asia who will go out of their way for you just because they like you, being nice to people there will really take you far, being nice to people in NYC won’t get you very far.

Hi Ethan, just a little story about those street artists: I had a booth in a flea market for awhile and there was an older man there who would sit and whittle on a piece of wood. He had shelves full of little wood figurines that everyone just assumed that he had carved when they were actually massed produced junk that he bought wholesale from a company in China!

So glad you survived that little encounter, really scary. There are crooks etc everywhere of course but it always comes as such a shock when everyone else you come across is so nice. And the artist at the beginning, I loved his cheeky humour at drawing himself going up the tree in the chair. Nice!

The first driver is very respectful. It's very nice that he shows you local areas. And 5 USD for the whole city tour is such a cheap price! I'm so sorry about the 2nd driver, glad you arrived at your hotel safely after all. But I believe everywhere have good and bad people so I hope you still enjoy your travels. Stay safe!

TukTuk drivers can be pushy at times it’s their livelihood… but I’m sorry, I don’t see how you were “potentially almost trafficked” that’s a long shot. If you stay there longer than a couple of weeks you will understand that communication is different and what you may see as inappropriate they may not see it as that. I do want to say that I’m sorry you felt like you were in danger. Hope your experience there only gets better. 🙂 Best wishes for the holiday season 🙂

I’ve been caught out in a similar way in Bangkok before Ethan. 99% of people in this part of the world are kind, honest and trustworthy. The 1% that aren’t don’t affect my love for Asia but they do make me be a little cautious. Your experience with the tuk-tuk driver that showed you around is far more representative of what people are really like. Loving your videos and seeing you happy ❤️

I am so sorry to hear that 😢 Cambodia is my country and I don’t really want something bad happen to you. Hope everything will better for you guy!

What a kind and respectful guy. You also have a very soothing voice. Never lose your sense of adventure. Wishing you a safe return wherever you maybe

my family and i traveled to cambodia last year. 2019, traveling through the poipet border to siemreap and phnompenh before boarding the flight back. we have used the services of local guides there. overall a good experience, we didn't encounter any problems during the tour. It's sad that you have to have a bad experience. but there are bad people all over the world. wishing you a fun and safe trip.

Great video, Ethan. A friend of mine turned me on to your profile a few weeks ago, and I'm glad he did. I've enjoyed watching your content. Looking forward to seeing your new adventures! Stay safe!

I was just going to sleep when I got the notification. What a great way to end my night! Great video, but make sure you're safe. I feel better that you're not alone on your journeys.

Cambodia is incredibly safe. Like all large cities in the world, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap have areas where you need to keep your wits about you, but overall the country is incredibly welcoming and safe.

Loved this video. There are little things, like buying the drivers dinner, that show what a beautiful heart you have. You’re truly an amazing person.

lots of food and shoe stores. sounds like heaven

Overcharged for the ride, yes. _Potentially almost trafficked,_ highly unlikely. The driver was trying to upsell you on services and substances. The hand gestures should have been the clue. In his mind you understood what was on offer. Since you were not interested, he made up the difference by charging you more than the going rate. Just always agree on the price and be clear on what you want before getting into a tuktuk and you will be fine. Excellent choice on where to eat. We always go there when visiting relatives in Siem Reap.

My guy, scammed in Cambodia. It was $5. You scammed you’re first tuk-tuk driver by only paying $5 for hours of his time. That $5 pretty was for gas, and the dinner was to make yourselves feel better about it. Their gas prices are pretty much the same in the US.

I lived in Cambodia for 2 years in 2017. The guy in the wheel chair doesn't do the art :) It's all mass produced to sell to tourists and they get people with physical disabilities or young children to sell it because they get more sales.

"Potentially almost trafficked", What does that mean?. A lot of nothing?

I have to say whilst I really enjoy watching these kinds of travel vlogs when I'm getting excited about visiting a place, I do find it a little awkward when the vloggers wander around putting their cameras in peoples faces without asking. You can tell by the facial expressions it makes some people uncomfortable... That's why I wanted to say really well done for asking people for their consent first! It made me feel a lot more comfortable as a viewer knowing that you asked permission first. Huge respect!

Off to Cambodia tomorrow. Watched this, noted.! But yes fully agree that some people are not representative of all people. Thanks for taking the time to make the video! Merry Christmas:-)

Hello Ethan I’m from Cambodia, and i want to thank you for visiting Cambodia it means lot. And btw if you can stay till the the last day of the month, there might be countdown almost like a concert and stall selling foods and other stuff. In April they’ll be a water festival where everyone’s playing water gun from 14th to 16th. Hope you enjoy your time here and stay safe!

I am glad you are safe. The traffic looks like something James Bond would drive through to escape his pursuers. They need less shoe stores and more bicycle repair shops. You are nice. Great voice and talented man behind the camera images.

The 1st driver was an angel 😇. A lovely example of the sweet & kind people in Cambodia. I'm happy you shared the scam part from the 2nd driver because it will help other travelers make better informed decisions. Thanks for sharing your experience with us. It is very helpful!

It's great having my own country getting recognized, thank you for visiting us!

Fascinating and interesting experience! After your story about the 2nd tuktuk driver, I think he might have made some extra $ if you guys had agreed to the ladies and substances, and since you didn't, he charged you double for the ride. Glad you're safe, though! Keep up the amazing work and exciting adventures! 💖

As someone considering retirement in Siem Reap, ty for sharing learning experiences that may benefit all of us who may follow

The fish foot massage is awesome, and the people running the shop are very sweet.

Clickbait, this is all I that hate about these videos, seriously how many tourists [Male] have been trafficked. Bit like the old organ stories, found in bathtub etc... If someone is pushy, move to someone else or tell him to go away. Also, if you know what it costs to get back to the hotel say $5, just pay that amount, not $10. The driver knows he is trying it on & will just go away.

The good and bad tuk tuk drivers definitely stand out. I still remember my tuk tuk driver from visiting Siem reap in 2015, he was great!

Cambodia is super safe! Don't be cheap and stay safe!

When I went to Siem Reap, I hired a Tuk Tuk driver full time. Amazing dude who looked out for us during our entire stay including New Year. The New Year street party was so much fun. Just got to be careful.

Good thing you had been paying attention and had a another person with you who also is keeping lookout you could've wound up very far away and lost...always travel in pairs...

Thank you so much for your videos! Just want you to know your hard work and tenacity are appreciated by an old guy from Ohio. Stay safe! And Merry Christmas too!

When you asked the first driver what is his favorite restaurant to recommend. Guys, he is a tuk tuk driver. He can never afford to eat in the restaurant. Just street food!! His awkward expression tells. He doesn't know which restaurant to recommend to a white guy (considered rich) like u. That's why you should tip him more. He puts 5$ price to show his generosity and expect to get more tip. As it's his work so he needs money not for his own but his whole family. 🙏

I’ve watched several of this kid’s video and each is a bigger disaster than the last. Food poisoning, abandonment by cab driver in the middle of nowhere, and now this near kidnapping or whatever it is - this s either fake or he’s the last person you should ever take travel advice from! Go home and lock yourself in the bathroom.

Amazing vlog, glad nothing "bad" happend. The first driver was great.

I was there in November. You have to determine the price before you get in the Tuktuk

I had the same kind of conclusions. Cambodia have the loveliest most helpful people, along side the sketchiest. I was lucky to find the best tuk tuk driver. He was awesome and very respectful towards me! We are still friends to this day! As a solo female traveller, it made me feel much safer while I was there.

That is so crazy! I stayed at the same hotel as you and sat at (I believe) the same table for breakfast, only at the time it was called the Golden Temple. The hotel lent me a bike, which I used to see all of Angor Wat. I also got scammed in Cambodia by a young girl saying she needed formula for her baby brother. Bought the formula and then found out they just return it to the store and split the money with the owner 😒. Overall, people were super nice and welcoming. Within just a couple hours of being there, some random people called me over from the street to have beers, and I sat there drinking with them for hours. None of them spoke English but we had the best time. Been to 43 countries and Cambodia is still my number 1!

Ethan you are on a Adventure of a lifetime, you and your friend just be wise and be safe. Remember It’s all part of a Indiana Jones Adventure you two are on. Enjoy your travels and holidays.

I've watched your channel all day. You have a welcoming and loving way of shooting your life and sharing your stories. Thank you for sharing all the joy and all the love❤

I am Cambodian, Thankful for coming 🙏 hope you enjoy staying here

Hey little brother, amazing video. Glad you are safe. You have a wonderful life. Peace,Todd..🤘🏻🤘🏻

I hope you paid more than $5 to the first tuk tuk driver. Although you did treat him to dinner, $5 for a 5-6h of service is very under paid. A fair price would be around $15 for 6h or $20 for 8h (or more if the distance is far). He probably went home as he knew that you were not understanding the local custom of paying more when you take more of his time. I suggest being a bit more understanding to that next time. As for your experience with 2nd driver, always ask for the price before hopping onto a tuk tuk. Unless you can speak Khmer, you really don't want to get into such an argument with the driver after taking the ride. This is from me who has travelled to Cambodia more than 50 times and stayed there for more than 2 years cumulatively.

With a mix of French colonial and Chinese style architecture, Siem Reap is one of the most attractive cities in the area. This is thanks to its sad history.... occupied by the French for over 100 years, then the Japanese during WWII, etc.

Love your documentary style, the relaxed informative way you take us along with you. Thanks for the ride, stay safe, oh and I hope you have a very Happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year. Best wishes from Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿.

Forgive me for saying so, but it's no fun; but interesting, and educational seeing your adventures. Sometimes adventures include the seamy side of a given place. As a retired taxi operator it would only be fair to point out that being taken advantage of can happen anywhere, including America. Fortunately for you, you seem to have a developing sense of street savvy. You're learning in real time what few people like you ever learn. Best wishes. 🌎

Ethan, I’m so glad you are safe!

Great video Ethan! I'm glad that your first driver was so good. The way you set up the video I could not relax and enjoy because I was waiting for the big scam. I'm so impressed with your courage! Great lesson learned for very little money! Take care of yourself. Peace.

Ethan, so happy you are having these experiences both good and bad and admire how you are processing them with your usual positivity. Your generosity of spirit is a precious asset. There are always a 'holes but they never prosper and i think you know that already

I'm so sorry you went through that, Ethan. You're a great guy!

Wow. Cambodia! You negotiate these new worlds (for me) so well, Ethan! Wonderful video!

Did he changed the title and thumbnail? I think I saw something like "scariest moment" in my notif yesterday but didn't have the time to watch it immediately.

Thanks for the recommendation on FCC Angkor Hotel. I stayed there last week and can say that the experience (room, staff, breakfast) was fantastic. The location beside the river is great. I rented an ebike from Greenbikes for $10 per day and explored the temples on my own. Siem Reap is so inexpensive - lots of restaurants to try.

Such a beautiful country thank you for sharing

Ethan - Stay safe - excellent advice for everyone to always be extra careful. Thank you for sharing it.

You even make scary things amusing.

If you are in SR you should visit ICF Wakepark! It’s a real oasis here. Not only to Wakeboad, kneeboarding or waterski. It has a relaxing beach, chillin hammocks and yummi food! I live as expat here and my whole family just loves this place to unwind!

I share your frustration. I had the same situation in BKK. What I learned from that experience is that I will always confirm it’s $5 total as opposed to $5 per person. My partner and I were caught in the same type of situation when we flagged down a motorbike in BKK to take a ride down a street with literally is 1 min away. It was hot and we didn’t want to walk. We initially wanted to flag down 2 separate bikes but he told us it’s ok to ride on his. When we arrive, he insisted it’s double the price because the price quoted was for one person. My partner was afraid our our danger and paid him and we left. Never will I make the same mistake again.

Omg that happened to me in the Philippines! The taxi driver drove all around way the city instead of going to the hotel. I made him stop and I got out. However ..only time this has happened though. Philippines is amazing and the people are fantastic!

Thanks for the video, it bought back so many memories of when I was i in Siem Reap, I had a similar experience my first night there and I was by myself, coming back from a place called Chilli's late at night this tuk tuk driver I had first offered ladies then he wanted me to go buy jewelry from his brother, I got a bit angry and he took back to my hotel, quite a scary experience but it was the only bad experience there and I loved Siem Reap

I am Cambodian. Sometimes being a local also gets scammed from your own people too. Trust your gut and be cautious with everyone. But we are kind and polite towards tourists, not just my country even Thailand Vietnam or Lao. We do not stab you for no reason. We are welcome to every tourists.

Your 1st TukTuk driver is a kind guy.... Just 5$ for a whole city trip... N he took you to a cheap price eating fry Rice... Respect Him 😘😘😘

Stay Safe! I was Brazil this year for 5 months. The day I got off the plane in Sao Paulo. I got into a car at the airport that was not a pre ordered Uber, but was with a guy that was parked in a section of the airport a pick up / drop off street that was labeled UBER and he was holding a sign printed UBER. Turns out he was a private driver, I thought no big deal. But after we got onto the freeway he asked me if I wanted to give him a "BJ" in addition to pay him for the ride! It was quite the experience to be on the crowded freeway in his car and not sure if I was actually going to get to my Airbnb apartment or not, unless I gave him what he asked for. Ended up that I didn't do it, and my Brazilian boyfriend was waiting for me in front of the Airbnb, and was able to give the driver a lecture about appropriate behavior! I was lucky I guess, that it all ended alright.

why the drama queen title?

The old guy's drawing are so darn good!! I hope he has a long life, and encounters good opportunities!! Stay safe everyone

The local man ,tukttuk driver is so nice, and gesture is also polite doesn't seem threatening.

Another amazing travel vlog. You have a great spirit. Scary moment there! Maybe not as scary as the wild monkeys.😊

I love your nativity. Everyone’s selling those paintings all over Cambodia. Because Americans aren’t exposed to the culture of art. If you notice looking at the paintings each one looks like someone else painted it? It’s because that man did not make those paintings. Possibly done by orphans or who knows? But at least you’re getting something for your money. A memory.

Dude, you are young. I lived in SEA for 28 years, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia , Vietnam and been many times in Camobdia and love it. These people are dirt poor, of course they try. Go to Egypt man, 2 minutes from terminal to terminal at the Airport is over $ 20 and if you get upset you get into serious trouble. In our Western countries they run after you if you do not tip the right way, even if the service was shitty.

i had a similar scary experience myself when i travelled to bangkok with my sister. basically we wanted to get a ride back to the city center where our hotel was. so we flagged down a cab. at first the streets that passed by were still familiar to us so we didn't really pay much attention. and then the high-rise building got lesser as we journeyed, there were more villages, cars were lesser, and we couldn't even see any high-rise building at the direction where we were going and we were super scared. i rmb we just looked at each other and we immediately knew something was wrong. and then i typed a msg on my notepad and showed it to my sister: "if we don't see any high-rise in the next 10 minutes we are jumping out of the car and run." and i was ready to be physically hurt from jumping out of a fast moving car but that was survival instinct. idk what route our driver took but 5 minutes later we started seeing high rises and recognisable building again and it was such a relieve. so i can understand your fear.

I feel ya buddy , safe travels , i opted out of Cambodia on this trip , i wanted to record the Ankor Wat temples etc , but its been over done , i found Cambodia the most hassle of SE countries ive been to , always getting bombarded on the streets with everyone trying to sell something , my friend was there a few weeks ago and after 4 days he had enough , so i decided to come back to Thailand for the holidays before i head off to Philippines , Japan and S. Korea , Safe travels and all the best

I was scammed by a 90 year old man with no arms in Cambodia. I don't trust ANYBODY in Cambodia. It's the only country I've been to that I didn't like. Will never go back

Excellent video !! Thank you for sharing it. Keep up the great work !

I thank you for posting these videos, they are very interesting and I enjoy seeing your travels. Be safe and continue to enjoy

Love your travels all around the world. As a Finn I have to ask - did you have to make a good 'back-ground check' to know what is 'allowed/acceptable' in e.g. Cambodia. Is alcohol allowed there, what is their opinions on LGBT people etc.? I've only travelled within Europe and the US... My parents have visited Thailand and some other country in the region but they complained it was too hot for them outside😄 They are ok with -30C(-22F) but +30C(+86F) starts to be their maximum - I truly believe by experience that different peoples have different metabolisms and it takes a long time to adjust to a different climate.

Love your videos. Stay safe!! There's always an ass somewhere watch out for them.

I'm really glad you never had the fish eat the dead skin off your feet. The bacteria from these fish meant it took the skin on my feet almost a year to go back to normal. Good instincts kid!

Cambodia's health system is almost entirely dependent on donations, but unfortunately, only 10 percent of the funds actually reach the people who need them. This means that the majority of the donations are either misused or lost to corruption. As a result, many Cambodians do not have access to adequate healthcare, and the situation is particularly dire for those living in rural areas. The government and international organizations must work together to ensure that the donated funds are used effectively to improve the health and well-being of the Cambodian people. #Stop corruption in Cambodia

Cambodia is coming out of some hard times back during the Vietnam war. Glad to see that they have been able to start turning things around. Cambodia is not Mexico and thus not really a big deal in coughing up the extra money but I would have notified the hotel so they could notify the authorities and run a sting in order to protect their tourism economy. My neighbor here in Texas is from Mexico and he was telling me a story in which his father and he were pulled over by the cops in Mexico and the cop demanded a few hundred dollars for running a manually triggered red light. My neighbor's father argued with the cop for an hour before the cop let them go. He said it was extremely frieghtening. Asia does not have any problems like this and so you are okay. Not a big deal. Keep them videos coming and let us know how the gay community is surviving in those parts of the world. Respectfully,

You weren't suspicious of the second driver because you had such a positive experience with the first one and let your guard down. You better be careful not to be kidnapped over there because you would bring a very high price on the white slavery market! Also, kind of funny and scary at the same time that the second driver's friend wanted you to take his hand - and not in a good way!!!

That's a really common one in Cambodia. Some drivers will take long routes, act like your destination is difficult to find when it isn't, or try to take you to businesses where they can get a commission. It can be a little scary, but the aim is only to get a few extra bucks out of you. Good call on using Grab, and I recommend that to anyone travelling in SE Asia. It's a no brainer.

This feels so clickbait… I am a Cambodian and I am seriously offended by this title.

In Thailand soapy massage parlors give money to taxi drivers that bring you there, then they add that to your price.

Enjoyed this travel. Scary experience but happy to know you made it back to your hotel safely. 😊

As a local, I might want to explain and cleared up the reason he was missing the turns. Actually the road straight from the river side near pubstreet to your hotel is only for one way drive. And that is from the direction of a roundabout near ur hotel and straight forward, you can’t come back wards because the police might fine you real good. And the reason why they are doing the hand gesture well that’s pretty normal for foreigners to get harassed. I didn’t say it’s a good thing but Tuktuk tend to offer a prostitution bar … because I’m a local in Siem reap and kidnapping cases here is almost impossible.

I was a Tuk Tuk driver once. Everytime someone rides my Tuk Tuk it is my job to make more money and ironically most riders want to pay less for long ride. Make sure you must agree how much it costs you for a ride before getting into the Tuk Tuk.

Ethan: I loved your video of your visit to Cambodia 🇰🇭 . See the talent of a people, their food 🍲 , the beautiful Royal Palace and all kinds of situations. All very interesting! Thank you for telling us about your experience and always remember to travel with a trusted friend. It's for your safety. God bless you 🙏🏼big boy and a big hug!❤

This brought back good memories of our time there. I think we stayed at the “Happy Angkor” hotel is Siem Riep! Lol. Everything was Angkor something.

nice job buddy, buying paintings, taking him to dinner. so many youtubers are selfabsorbed and have main character syndrome. you're looking out and helping out those who are less fortunate. proud of u bud. keep it up.

He said: there are many bat man's " that's made me go laughing so hard

Had the same thing with a cyclo in Hanoi - and I was on my own, hadn't even checked into the hotel yet, so no one would have known / there would be no record at all. Conversely I've also met local guides who were more than happy to spend the entire day for a reasonable amount and take me way outside the typical tourist areas showing really interesintg slices of the country I would never otherwise see. I guess that's the risk risk/adventure of travel off the beaten path.

1. Always book your ride via PassApp 2. Always book a Rickshaw, not a Tuk Tuk