Photo: Local Cambodian
I enjoyed biking into the sunrise this morning listening to the rice fields grow in the background. Little traffic afforded sometime to just chill and peddle. My last several posts have lacked substance mainly because I have not been inspired to write. The mood has to strike me for some reason. Otherwise, it feels like I am just adding BS to the already flooded world of BS.
Making my way closer and closer to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, the crescendo of horns and the viral population of scooters erased the peaceful start of my day. I've been on the fence about Cambodia. Many travelers have compared it to India. You either love it or hate it. I believe digging deeper into Cambodian history especially the period of genocide the country experienced in th 70's will resolve my scewed misanthropic viewpoint. Tomorrow I will explore S-21, the location where many victims were tortured and subsequently killed. Many victims were transferred for mass burial to the killing fields, 15 kms outside of the capital. In part, I honestly can't blame this society for the number of beggers and hustlers it has produced. Yesterday, I was invited by a 12 year old girl to see her house. Prior to seeing it, she remarked "please forgive, my family is very poor." Her house was a shack. One room for a family of five. Their income was derived from her hitting the streets and selling sweet cakes at the morning market. I felt absolutely shameful sipping a coke. She had no concept what a library or the internet was. I later found out that the Khmer Rouge destroyed most of the books in the country during their rule.
There is goodness though hidden in the remote villages of Cambodia. They offer what little they have and refuse payment. Many are eager to learn english as this is their way out. Their way of breaking the viciouis cycle.
My thoughts on Angkor Wat remain brewing in the back of my mind or perhaphs I feel my words would not give them justice. Hopefully this picture will describe some of my thoughts.
Photo: Working our way south fro Laos Border. Got Meckong?
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