Cambodia

Serene waters greeted me. The river meandered by, passing time. Couches and futons sprawled out across the large deck, and delicious smells wafted out of the kitchen behind. I set my backpack down in a simple bungalow behind the deck, which was essentially a treehouse. I was at peace.

Of all the countries I visited so far, Cambodia was the most different than my expectations. Poverty and wealth existed side by side, and nowhere did I feel this tension more strongly than in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital. Wandering the streets I felt surrounded by opposites in so many dimensions, coexisting in an odd normalcy.

I took a bus between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, which turned out to be a surprisingly painless 6 hour journey. I’ve decided to avoid flying on my whole backpacking trip, just so I can get a better sense of each country and to feel like I’ve really been there. I spent most of the time on the bus between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh staring out the window. So here’s what I saw of rural Cambodia, from one of the main roads through the country.

Angkor Wat is a wonder of the world. It’s high on every traveler’s list in Cambodia, and draws millions of visitors each year to admire the beauty and craftsmanship of these ancient temples. I had the privilege of visiting Angkor Wat one morning, leaving the hostel at 4:45am to see the sunrise behind the temple. We hired a tuk tuk driver for the day, and he took us around to the different temples in the area after the sun rose.

It’s the golden hour. Fields are gleaming yellow green in the fading light. Sun sags behind us, we are traveling east. Behind us, Thailand, ahead, Cambodia. Land as flat as Midwestern plains. (It’s not the golden hour in the photo.)