cambodia1cambodia2 cambodia3 cambodia4 cambodia5 cambodia6 cambodia7

Yet again it has been a crazy long time without a post. What can I say? Computer issues – major computer issues, the upshot of which is I am now sitting here with a new and extremely shiny new laptop (I finally made the switch to mac and I’m very happy to have done so). Anyway along with a new computer comes a certain amount of copying and installing and I’ve been going back through all my old photos as I import them and doing some long-overdue organisation.

I did so much travelling in 2008 that the folder is organised by country instead of month. Looking back at my Cambodia photos now, it strikes me how similar it is to Bali – the scenery, the temples, the people, even the script is all very similar to the Balinese versions. I only had a brief stay in Cambodia but even that was enough for me to see that there’s so much more there worth seeing.

I think when most people think of Cambodia, they either think of Angkor Wat and/or the horrific genocide led by Pol Pot – I know I certainly did. And yes, these things are an important part of what Cambodia is today but they’re far from the only part. For example I had no idea that Cambodia had a beach resort – just look at that first photo! Sihanoukville is stunning and much what I think Thailand (or indeed Bali) must have been like before all the tourists discovered it.

Siem Reap is famous for its temples (and yes obviously they are a must-see) but it’s also a gorgeous little town in its own right – I could have quite happily hung out there for a couple of weeks not doing much. It had the same kind of vibe as Luang Prabang in Laos or maybe the Ubud of 20 years ago. Also the best ice cream shop in the world can be found there – no joke, it’s really worth going to Cambodia just for that ice cream (Blue Pumpkin, – I just googled it and found a post about it from the lovely Kaho of all people)!

I’ve head a lot of people didn’t like Phnom Penh but I really did – it has its problems like all big cities but I found it much more pleasant than say, Jakarta. Also the food there is pretty amazing (this is starting to sound like I just went to Cambodia to eat)…

My travels in Cambodia also included a pretty special overnight experience in a small family home where we were kept up all night by the neighbours having a rice threshing party…

Anyway, I would jump at the chance to go back and explore some more of this beautiful country. I was just checking out the flights at momondo – KL to Siem Reap from 52GBP sounds good to me! My dad and Sue were actually thinking of going over to Cambodia the last time they visited but they ended up just doing Thailand and Laos instead. I think I might have to insist they go and tag along myself next time 🙂