ChinaTeacher

I’m back in Hangzhou, a week early.  I shortened my trip to Cambodia from 4 weeks to 3 weeks.  Reason: To be honest, Cambodia cost much more than I expected. 

The guide books say that one can budget 20 USD per day.  You can get good basic accommodation for 8-10 USD and meals cost USD 3-5.  So, that’s okay.  But, everything else costs 1 USD – you need a tuk-tuk or a motorcycle guy to go anywhere (1 USD), a softdrink (1 USD), internet cafe (1 USD), so those bills slip through your fingers like grains of sand.  So, before the end of my ‘first’ day in Cambodia, I had already upped that figure to 30 USD. 

By the time I got to Siem Reap, I had to UP my budget to 50 USD per day (10 USD per day for the Temple pass, and 10 USD per day to hire a moto driver to take me to the temples – they aren’t exactly next door!). 

But, shortening my trip didn’t mean that I missed much.  I visited most of the places that were priorities for me.  I wouldn’t mind a return visit some time, to see some of the outlying areas in the northeast, such as Ratanakiri and Mordulkiri, but these are best seen in a small group, I think because there are few facilities out there.

PHOTOS

I was finally successful in Cambodia in downloading some photos to share with everyone.  But, I have TONS more to download!  Problem is, here in China, I sometimes run into problems (which I have done tonight).  I have two full CD’s full of temple pictures – maybe you don’t really want to see them after all!  But, when the internet cooperates, I will try to download some of the best ones for you.

CAMBODIA

Cambodia is by far the poorest country I have ever visited.  There are many things I loved about this country and many things I hated.  But, learnin what their people have gone through over the years has made me realize that I have no right to complain. 

Each and every day brings new landmine victims, despite the fact there has been no ‘war’ in Cambodia in years.  The Khmer Rouge invasion destroyed people’s bodies and minds for 4 years in the late 1970’s, and when the people tried to return to their former homes in the cities, they learned that the government had confiscated them and refused to give them back.  After 4 years of horror, the Cambodian people had to start over, again. 

After all this, it is difficult to imagine how they find the strength to keep going despite such hardships.  They have a resilience that is hard to deny, and that is what I admire most about these people. 

 

Tags: Travel

This entry was posted on Friday, August 11th, 2006 at 3:30 am and is filed under Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.