The toilet – a freestanding outhouse measuring 8 sq metres – is fully air-conditioned, took two weeks to build

There's a cinderblock, handi-capable bathroom structure of about that size at a local park, though lacking air conditioning. And the fact that it took two weeks to build doesn't make it sound like there's gold leaf or anything involved.

Thai building firm SCG Cement-Building Materials was tasked with the job, bringing in contractors and special materials from Thailand.

We're talking Cambodia. "Special building materials" could very well mean "cement" and "pipes."

Ven Churk, head of the Yeak Lom lake committee, which is helping to coordinate the visit, said SCG workers had told him the bathroom had cost “more than $40,000 to construct”. It is unclear who is footing the bill.

Tin Luong, the chief of Yeak Lom commune, told local media he had seen the outhouse and was impressed. “I would estimate that they spent about $20,000 to $30,000 for the bathroom’s construction because all of the materials are very modern,” he said.

So all we're getting is third-hand accounts of the price tag (which don't even agree), from parties that could very well be interested in inflating the price tag for the sake of sounding impressive?

Once the princess leaves Ratanakiri, her special commode will be thrown out and the building will be converted into an office for local officials.

A free-standing building with a whopping 8 square meters of floor space is going to be "an office?" I'm afraid to ask how many cubicles they'd fit in there…

In any event, from the hearsay I get, this particular Thai princess is much beloved, to the point that her brother, the heir to the throne, will likely have her killed as soon as Daddy's pulse stops.

There is no mail delivery in Cambodia, and such public education as there is stops at about 6th grade. Cambodia's per capita income is about $1,150/yr, vs about three times that amount in Thailand. So this makes perfect sense.