Land of ancient ruins, lotus flowers, beautiful people and flooded plains, Cambodia is one of the most beautiful countries I have visited. The locals live a carefree, happy life, despite of their poverty. They laugh much and are very friendly. Adorable dark-skinned children sell souvenirs and pester you to buy their wares. Mini processions of lorries jam-packed with villagers, head to pagodas to give offerings, through dusty, bumpy dirt roads. When it rains, village children roll in mud and swim in little pools. That is their entertainment. Paddy fields can be found everywhere on the outskirts of town, always flooded and full of water.
Our driver-cum-guide, Mark (actually his name is Markaraleng, which means January) speaks English. I can never forget his laugh and the way he pronounces the word ‘vegetables’ as ‘chetables’. Toilets are called ‘happy house’, and pigeon, quail, bird and chicken all mean the same to him.
Tonle Sap is an eye-opener, actually the whole trip was one. How the people live there is so different from life in KL. On the huge lake, people live on the water, fishing out a living on the muddy waters. They also have fish and crocodile farms which also offer cold drinks to tourists. Everything here is based on the US dollar for the tourists and prices are often double what the locals pay. But we don’t mind as it gives the people here a chance to have a better life. The village on the lake is very picturesque and offers many photo opportunities. Never come here without a battery charger or extra rolls of film. The scenery and people is always beautiful and often breathtaking. Luckily ours ran out only at the end of our trip.
Out of all the temples we visited, I find Angkor Wat, Bayon and Bantaay Srey the top three ones to visit. These three have different and distinct styles of architecture and are the most magnificent sites to see. It is definitely an experience and is one of the most impressive monuments in human history. Words won’t be enough to describe the enormity and grandeur of the temples, you really have to see it for yourself. And get a guide book. Read it before visiting the temples as it really helps, especially if you don’t have a guide to help you understand the carvings and point out interesting pieces.
Cambodia really is a beautiful place with beautiful people and a beautiful culture. As Dad noted, city people work so hard just to make money so that we can enjoy comfort and a good life in later years. But here in the villages, they already enjoy their life.
There’s a story about this ironic cycle. A rich man said to a fisherman, ‘You see, I work so hard in the city, so that I can enjoy life, eat good food. Now I can relax, enjoy, take in the fresh air, stay at the countryside, fish at the river and just take things easy. No fuss, no muddle, no hurry.’ And you know what the fisherman said to that?
‘I already have all that.’