Cambodia - Could Have Been Better
Sep 2, 2000
The country is just not quite right after what they suffered at the hand of the Khmer Rouge.
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So many people flock to Angkor Wat and just love Cambodia. I'm not sure if they have spent enough time there to realize that it's called the Heart of Darkness for a reason. The people there went through such tragedies and horrific trauma at the hands of the Khmer Rouge that they have some very deep problems there. A huge majority of the people I talked to during my visit had a close family member killed and thrown into a mass grave.
The countryside is nice and the sights are amazing. The people will seem super nice but they would stab you in the back in a second. Visiting the pagodas filled with skulls and the feeling of pure grief at the Killing Fields is pretty much the vibe under the surface of the entire country. I have talked to other travelers who feel the same way. It's very sad and it will take many generations for them to recover.
I'm not saying it's not possible to go there and have a wonderful uneventful (in a good way) visit. Just be aware of the history and don't blindly trust.
The daily total includes all lodging, food, booze, transportation, sightseeing, visas, etc. I don't include the money I spend on gifts for friends and I do not include the flight price.
| Lodging (shared) | Food | Booze | Transportation | Other Stuff | $1 Exchange |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1.55 (✓) | $4.50 | - | - | - | 2 |
More of a personal nature, my un-related diary-like (hmmm or blog-like?) daily thoughts and activities; the things that don't warrant their own article/adventure post.