Photo from Stephen Voss Photography
We have one last steamy night in Bangkok and then we leave for Cambodia. Our visas were easy to secure. We simply dropped our passports off yesterday at one of the dozens of travel agencies in and around Khao San Road. I’m on my way to pick them up again once I’ve finished writing this. We were also able to book our bus tickets to the land border of Poipet, where we will cross into Cambodia and hire a car to take us the rest of the way into Siem Reap.
I’ve been trying to muddle through my thoughts and expectations about Cambodia before I arrive, partially because I want to see how my anticipations will work out and partly because I’ve never really written down my expectations before.
Cambodia’s biggest tourist card is Angkor Wat. When I speak to most people about Cambodia, they all gush over Angkor. I never hear them mention anything else. Angkor Wat is hailed as the 7th wonder of the world and it completely entrances people. This bothers me a bit, because Angkor Wat and its surrounding temples are not the sum of this intriguing country, despite being its heart and soul. I think most people get drawn up into the whole idea of temples and begin to overlook some of the other beautiful parts of Cambodia, all begging to be discovered.
So what am I dreaming about, when I dream about Cambodia? Of course I dream of ancient temples and lost civilizations. I dream of the mighty Mekong River and winding my way by boat through floating villages. I think of lazy lengths of white beaches, virtually pristine tropical islands and elephant trekking through lush jungles. I ponder over the Westernization of hot spots like Siem Reap and the mix of Asian cultures in Phnom Penh. I think of poverty and suffering on a level of which I can never dream of understanding in a war-torn country that has suffered through three decades of Khmer rule. Mostly I think about the people that I’m going to meet, and how they deal with their war-torn past and shining future on the global map.
Ah, Cambodia.
I have talked to people who return again and again to the temples of Angkor.
I was at a time completely obsessed by them, and longed to see them. Since I will later on this year, it isn’t too bad.
Naturally, the whole country can not be resumed by just the temples, but they are an important part.
When you adventure travel, you decide what parts to see and what parts you can’t see.
Carrie your thoughts on Cambodia are very deep and intuitive. Like you I also think of the path less traveled when I imagine visiting that country. There are scores of mountains, Tonle Sap Lake, and ancient temples like Prasat Preah which are often overlooked in comparison to Angkor Wat. Enjoy!
[...] We have one last steamy night in Bangkok and then we leave for Cambodia. Our visas were easy to secure. We simply dropped our passports off yesterday at one of the dozens of travel agencies in and around Khao San Road. … – more – [...]
[...] . Our visas were easy to secure. We simply dropped our passports off yesterday at one of the dozens of travel agencies in and around Khao San Road. … – more – [...]
superb! Can’t wait to read about it. I would love to serve in Cambodia at some point.
Thinking of you. Hope you are well. Safe travels.