Thoughts on Cambodia

Well we have survived Cambodia and we are now on route to Myanmar via a short visa stop in Thailand.

Our trip is slowly but surely coming to an end as we have to be back in NZ for November to see Nicki’s brother walk down the aisle. And that is too big a day to miss!!!!!! Can’t wait to see Hayden and Josie!

And now that we have a date to go home we are getting very excited about it all. We are looking forward to good food and not having to live out of a backpack which are getting heavier everyday (or are we getting weaker due to too much rice ?)

Onto our thoughts about Cambodia then, we absolutely loved the country. The people are amongst the most friendly and hospitable that we have met in Asia so far. We had been warned about a few things from other travellers but we had a great time. Lucky us for a change huh.

The volunteers there helping the disadvantaged people are amazingly motivated to do anything to help.  Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge left the country with no intellectuals, no religion, no family units and no food. It has been a hard road for the people of Cambodia, but they have really turned their country around!  We kept thinking, if not for Khmer Rouge, Cambodia would be equal or even better than Thailand economy and world status wise.  From the years 1975 – 79 the Khmer Rouge decimated the population from 8 million down to 4 million (not just brutal murders but also starvation) The National Library was really hard to see, a National Library should be a dispository of a nations history, yet the Khmer Rouge burnt books and killed librarians, in some countries (Laos) they were able to hide books in temples during wars, but the Khmer Rouge also destroyed the temples and tried to eradicate Buddhism from the country, murdering some top monks and working the rest to death on ‘farms’.  It’s hard to believe this is still the same country.  We were embarrassed at times looking at things like the killing caves (our guides parents were 22 and 18 years old during Khmer Rouge time) but they say they want tourists to see these things, because if we all see it, surely it can never happen again.

We talked to some Cambodians about the elections coming up (one 16 year old student and one 29 year old tuk tuk driver) they have had the same president for 29 years and next year is their first election.  They said they were excited that they are finally allowed to, but that the same president (who they DO NOT like) will get in.  When asked why, they said he controls the army, if the people vote against him, he will mobilise the army and the people do not want anymore war, and they truly believe no country would aid them if it happened (they still can’t understand where was the rest of the world while their people were being slaughtered?) so instead, they will all vote for him.

The country is stunning, transport good enough, hostels very good and the service great. No hassles being a light spending backpacker as compared to say North Vietnam. (Sorry North Vietnam but I still have a bee in my bonnet about my treatment there!)

The temples in Cambodia are unbelievable and the temple complex at Anchor Wat does not have a equal anywhere in Asia.

If you have any inclination to spend some time in Asia for a holiday then please consider some time in Cambodia, it is worth it.