Cambodia: Ends of the Earth?

We recently watched a documentary on Cambodia, playing up the Khmer Rouge presence and how it's still part of everyday life... lurking in the shadows.
In part of the doco, the reporter was travelling down the Bassac river, proclaiming that "there were still pirates in these parts" and how dangerous it all was - the boat driver didn't think so though, he had his entire extended family on the boat and had obviously done that trip many many times before.
Then the reporter travelled up North to see Pol Pot's grave site (they burned him on a rubbish pile by the way) and showed how heavily guarded by police this area of the country was. The reporter was saying things like, "We're not sure if we're going to get through these barriers... as these policemen are all ex-Khmer Rouge officials, but we've brought gifts of cigarette packets to pave our way... but they could turn on us at any second..." while hunching down in the car seat. Then he got out of the car with the driver and the interpreter, and went cautiously up to one of those scary policemen to interview him - unfortunately for the reporter, the policeman was still smiling broadly and bowing with his hands together in the position of utmost respect, as thanks for the gift and welcome to the area.

The funniest thing about this documentary? We were watching it in Siem Reap (only 50 kms away from some of the areas he was talking about) on satellite tv, in our guest house which also included features like: hot shower, a western toilet, fridge and double bed for US$8.

Cambodia: Ends of the Earth? Yeah, right!!!