Cambodia forum

I have to defend Sharkys here

I've been a few times to this place and never had a problem. Waitresses, managers and owners have always been very correct to me and all customers. R 1000 per game is correct yes (I've paid that many times for a game there) and you really think they would actually think up a scam to gain an enormous amount of..... $0.75?

That last thing you mention about the doors and the drivers sounds pretty over the top but my guess is that you wanted to dramatize things to warrant the bad review.

Really, the place is not bad at all and they recently have been much stricter with allowing working girls in and turned it more into a music bar with live gigs. For me still one of the best western style bars in PP and a favorite haunt for loud rock music, cold beer, decent service and a game of pool. I'm not always in the mood for that but if I am Sharkys is the first stop of the evening (followed by a visit to Zeppelin cafe). And the 9-ball table is probably one of the best pool tables in PP. 1000 riel is a bargain for that.

my point is basically I wanted to talk to him and understand but before i could get in a word he just blew up and had his henchmen lock the doors on us and get very confrontational and threatening. I would avoid this place as i have never had any problem of this sort in asia and am actually quite a mild mannered guy that is very reasonable. And as far as exaggerating, trust me, I wrote that exactly as it happened, maybe even left out a few things that he did which were quite uncalled for also..

Addendum:
Reading your post maybe you didn't have a shouting match but it was a confrontation so there was danger.Take care of yourself.

Rule number one in SEA - be polite. It gets you a long way here, and the inverse is also true, being impolite can get you killed. It is probably the single biggest difference between western society and Asian society. Even though I am a gruff, sometimes arrogant little dickhead, I am always polite here and it has carried me a long way. I have another friend here who is really a much nicer person than I am, and has lived in Thailand a very long time, but he can't help but be confrontational and call people out when they are trying some little deceit. It ALWAYS gets him into difficulty, but it's something he can't let go of. Even if it doesn't apply in this particular case, it's important to remmember you have to allow people here their little face saving lies. Calling them on it can not have a happy outcome.

Gilet
have you shown her your change and politely pointed out the error.remember a lot of people out here can't count.theyre basically unschooled.
Madmac
I agree let them have their 'face'.I'm a Westerner the concept means nothing to me.Most situatios that are getting out of hand can be defused by a'wai' or .som pee as they call it here and an apology.This gives them 'face' and you lose yoors.but,hey, who cares.Better than taking a beating.

"...we thought it was wrong of them and we told them that we werent going to pay (it was only 1000 riehl a game, but it was the point of the matter)"

Lesson 1: Never make a big deal out of being (possibly) scammed for pocket change. Just pay it, forget it, and move on. "Taking a stand" in a situation like this is just plain idiotic. First it sounds like it wasn't actually a scam, but even if it was is 75 cents worth ending up in a hospital, jail or worse?

"Is this the kind of behavior an owner of a bar is supposed to display?"
Lesson 2:
Bar owners anywhere in the world are often drunk, violent, and unreasonable. That's why they're bar owners and not librarians.

"BEWARE: Sharky's Bar"
Lesson 3:
Beware of any establishment anywhere in the world that's called "Sharky's"!

Did a girl set the table up for you each time?

Meun ai tay.
I'm amazed this thread has gone on so long.most of these bars are just overpriced pick-up. Joints with 60's music,full of skanks looking for losers to rip-off.your average trave,,er would be bored to death.they hardly contribute to local culture.much nicer are the bars on the Riverfront.

Try and improve your reading skills.i said I didn't go to Sharkeys not that I'd never been there. I'currently in Mekhong River bar sitting outside enjoying the breeze drinking large,good beers at 75 cents each.how much is a beer in Sharkey's? Ambience is great here,come and join us

BTW We have lots of local culture.the place is teeming with beggars and hawkers

Which is which?

Everybody in this unfortunate spat has a point, I suppose.Firstly, it is true that in most bars (well the ones I've visited, but I'm not familiar with the hostess kind) in Cambodia pool is provided gratis, unlike Europe.So probably the OP felt a bit aggrieved with having to pay.
Saying that there was a sign, albeit a small one, which pointed out that 1000 real was required each game.Now 1000 riel is small change and I don't think it's a bad deal for a game of pool and certainly not a sum to get worked up about. Everyday the local shop tries to pretend they've made a mistake with my change.Until I point out the discrepancy.Cambodia is the land of scams basically because the rot starts at the head.The people in charge are no paragons of virtue and the poor people get constantly ripped off by people they should be able to trust, like doctors, lawyers etc.The habit is ingrained.So if this was a rip-off ( a very minor one) then please forgive the people as they are taught badly by their 'betters.'

The thread was dead you just resurrected it.But your point is taken. IMO you're more likely to lose money taking one of the skanks which hang around these bars back to a hotel and wake up minus your wallet etc.