But it is natural to form these snap judgements, which invariably change – for better or for worse – over time. In the case of Cambodia, it is pretty difficult not to fall in love with the country at short notice.

Reading up about its history in advance – and not much of it is terribly happy – does not really prepare one for the experience of being in the country for a few days.

Landing in Siem Reap, about the fifth largest population centre in the country, one is struck by the modern, efficient airport staffed by smartly uniformed officials.

The night drive from the airport through this bustling, vibrant city is fascinating. Tuk tuks and small motorcycles weave through the larger vehicles and tourist buses without fuss and in good temper. It appears intimidating at first, but everyone seems to know what the others are doing and respect their space, whether a 50cc scooter or a five-tonne truck.

Hotels of varying grades line both sides of the main boulevards, a testimony to the more than one million people who visit Siem Reap every year, most with the intention of visiting the holy temples of Angkor Wat, a few kilometres from the city centre.

Accommodation can range from a rough and ready $US3 per day to the more upmarket establishment, Borei Angkor Resort and Spa used by Geopacific Resources, which costs $75 per day and includes a truly memorable breakfast, catering to the tastes of Europeans, Americans and locals.

A very comfortable establishment, it has a massive swimming pool and well-equipped gymnasium.

There are also far more expensive hotels, all of which appeared to be doing brisk business.

Transport has to be by tuk tuk, and getting around town to see the sights will set you back a few dollars.

Most importantly, draft beer costs just 50c a pint at most bars and pubs. You will not pay more than a few dollars for an excellent feed, whether you choose exotic or local.

The most popular place for Western tourists, though, has to be Pub Street, which is a precinct devoted to food, fun and music.

The variety of music, like the food, is endless. You can torture yourself with the strains from a karaoke bar or spend the night having shots where dance tunes are being spun.

Siem Reap is a safe city. Throngs of young people, many of them backpackers, from all over the world can be seen at all the markets, pubs and museums. It is all very relaxed and just about everything costs a single dollar.

The pleasant aromas coming from patisseries is complemented by a lot of the older, downtown architecture which has distinctly French.

It is a bargain-hunter’s paradise. Really well made clothes of all fabrics are very competitively priced, as are silk items.

You can get shoulder and foot massages on the streets for a few dollars, a welcome help to recover from all the walking to be done admiring the sculpture and structures at Angkor Wat.

The Cambodian street sellers obviously want your business, and will continually encourage you to look at their wares, but are not overly pushy and definitely not aggressive.

Perhaps it is the Buddhist religion, or because they have something of a horrid history, all the Cambodians encountered were polite, respectful and cheerful – traits that those of us in the so-called First World often seem to be losing.

It is not all sunshine and roses. There are political challenges, simmering border disputes and some social issues. Cambodians do it tough, and the average wage is around $US3 per day. But you do not see the kind of disease and distended stomachs due to starvation that one might witness, for example, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In some areas, there is unsightly litter and some of the waterways are polluted. There is a lot of neglect, but by South East Asian standards generally, Cambodia is not in bad shape.

Also, everywhere there are attempts to spruce things up and throw out the welcome rug for tourists with plump wallets and purses. Cambodia appears to be pulling itself up by its bootstraps.

It is quite clear that there is depth to the understanding of what the tourism industry needs and if this mindset can extrapolate to the mining industry, what a lovely destination in which to have a project.

The chief executive of a major gold mining house once famously said that he would not develop a project in any country where he would not feel comfortable having a holiday with his family.

He should take his family to Cambodia … and tuck a geology pick into his suitcase.