We are leaving Cambodia feeling a bit sad, confused and awestruck. The country's tragic history and current plight are impossible to ignore, especially when juxtaposed with the kindness of the Cambodians we met on our trip. Angkor Wat is an incredible sight - one that justifies the trip to this country itself! Here are our top takeaways.
The bridge to Angkor Thom.
1. US dollars are accepted - and preferred - everywhere. This was especially strange to us because English is not spoken widely and the Khmer Riel currency isn't pegged to the dollar in any way. Easy exchange rate math! (And lesson learned: don't take out Khmer Riel at the ATM!)
2. Surprisingly, Cambodia was more expensive than we expected. For some reason I thought prices would be lower than Vietnam and Thailand but they were definitely higher, albeit not much: $1 beers were still widely available. I think we were a bit spoiled by just how cheap everything was in Vietnam!
3. We are still having a hard time grappling with the genocide that occurred during the Khmer Rouge regime. 40 years is really not that long ago (only a decade removed from our lifetimes) and we just cannot understand how a quarter of the country's population was massacred so brutally without the world taking notice. Having said that, every time we see ISIS mentioned on the news we're reminded that even today atrocities are still being committed.
4. Cambodia is by far the most undeveloped place we've been. Infrastructure is nearly nonexistent and garbage is everywhere. Most people live in poverty that we just haven't seen before and it's even more heartbreaking because it doesn't seem to be getting better.
5. We tried really hard to enjoy Khmer food, despite hearing that it was just sub-par Thai food, but we just didn't care for it. Sadly, we ended up seeking out Western food more often than in previous locations.
6. Angkor Wat is as incredible as we hoped. We were struck by how beautiful the temples are and how incredible it is that they are still standing almost 1,000 years after being built. We hope that Cambodia and UNESCO are able to preserve this wonder of the world for many years to come.
7. A tour guide at Angkor Wat is a must. We have normally avoided tour guides - due both to cost and our preference for self-exploring - but we wanted to make sure we saw everything during our brief stay. Once I found AboutAsia, who promised to "avoid the crowds," I was sold. Our guide, Hong, was the best - showing us all of the most famous sites, avoiding the many massive tour groups, pointing out the best photo-ops and taking our picture everywhere! We learned a lot from him and have some great shots of the two of us!
8. Relaxation after Angkor Wat is also critical! Between the early wake-up calls, the heat, long days and uneven terrain, we were pretty tired after a couple days in Siem Reap. We have never been happier to have a hotel with a pool!
9. Don't feel the need to see the countryside in Cambodia by taking a bus. We did this on our way up to Angkor Wat and it took all day. A private taxi would have taken only five hours. The cost difference is relatively substantial, but still very affordable in absolute terms. Hire a taxi or fly if you're looking to get around Cambodia quickly.
10. Many locals make their living off the tourists in the places we visited in Cambodia. That said, we have never felt so harassed by tuk tuk drivers! We would hear "Tuk tuk!?" shouted at us at least three times on every block. Fortunately the drivers left us alone after I made eye contact and shook my head no. (I think Alex's beard is working in our advantage in this department!)
Peak: Angkor Wat
Pit: Alex's cold and eye issues (hopefully all behind us now!)
Next Stop: Krabi, Thailand