Cambodia is a spectacular place and it offers so much more than just it’s temples. There is so much poverty yet the people are generous and always so happy, their smiles are infections.
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Interesting .Lovely pics. Do keep reading to be swept off to lands unknown http://www.enchantedforests.wordpress.com and http://www.travelwithmukul.wordpress.com
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Ugh I just came back from my first SEA trip and all I heard was wonderful things about Cambodia. So naturally I’m going back in a few months. What was your favorite aspect?
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The temples were just amazing!
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Out of all of the countries I have been to in Asia, I struggled with Cambodia the most. For me, it was the signs posted all over that begged travelers to “respect the children”. After that, I felt weird about being there. I noticed that if my husband walked too far away from me and looked like he was on his own, locals would sometimes give him this look. It’s hard to explain the look; sometimes it was a business opportunity, other times it was disgust. When I learned more about the child sex trade that occurs there, I had an even more difficult time being in the country. Then, I met some people who were doing charity work to help children in need, especially young girls, and my attitude started to improve. Cambodia has some very real, very serious problems, and I think sometimes it’s easy for travelers to overlook them because they are in awe of its temples or beaches. I hope more work continues to be done to eradicate some of the worst issues plaguing the nation. CNN has a very compelling series about Cambodia’s child sex trade. I think it has certainly brought the issue to more people’s attention.
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I find the sex trade in many parts of Asia to be very disturbing. Unfortunately it happens all over the world and we just had a horrible case over here in Perth, Australia. I will have a look at the CNN series.
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Nice pictures! Sometimes we visit a country to see a landmark or natural wonder but leave amazed because of the people. People never fail me during my travels. I always learn a lot form the ones I meet in other countries.
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I agree you can learn so much from people and their cultures.
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Lovely photos! The temples in Cambodia are simply stunning!
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Thanks, they sure are!
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Siem Reap was an incredible place to visit – it was however a place of extreme contrasts. Some super-luxurious hotels more-or-less next door to extreme poverty. It will be interesting to see how as a society Cambodia handles the rapid influx of tourism, and whether it results in better life outcomes for all Cambodians. How amazing are those temples? Sunset on Pre Rup was magic.
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The temples sure are amazing however the poverty is very confronting.
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Your photos take me back to my own visit to Siem Reap. We never made it to Tonle Sap Lake though, so I found your photos of the boy in the tub especially interesting.
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That is a shame you never made it to Tonle Sap Lake as it was very interesting.
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We love Cambodia. The temples are amazing and the people do seem friendly and optimistic in the face of the challenges of both their horrific past and the future of increased tourism. Thanks for a little trip down memory lane.
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It is always nice to go down memory lane!
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We’ve been to Singapore but besides that, the closest we’ve gotten to Southeast Asia has been the Bangkok airport.
So let me ask you: As amazing as the temples were, I’m also curious about the food. What was Cambodian food like? Did you eat street food or stick to sit-down places?
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I used to work in the travel industry so many of my meals were hosted in hotels while I was there. We did eat in a few local places and it reminds me a lot of Vietnamese food. There was lots of seafood, spices, rice and noodles. I love Asia food!
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Siem Reap and Cambodia are on my bucket list. Love the look of the history and culture.
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I guess you want to wait until the kids are older before you head to Cambodia so they can appreciate it.
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I spent a month volunteering at a child care centre in Phnom Penh earlier this year. Fell in love with the place and the children and still think about them daily! It’s an infectious place..
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That would be an amazing experience.
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One of the most mystical places I’ve ever been to, and despite the poverty in most places, the happiest kids and kindest people I’ve ever met. It’s where I truly got to reflect and realise that less is really more! Beautiful pics!
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Couldn’t agree more!
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We have just returned from Cambodia and I found it to be an amazing place. Our reason to visit was to visit our sponsor child. We had a wonderful day spent at the orphanage which is Australian run and funded. We didn’t see any signage regarding the children, maybe I was distracted with travelling with my own 3 young kids that I didn’t notice. I hope that maybe things have improved for the lovely people of Cambodia.
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How wonderful that you got to meet your sponsor child, that must be such a heart warming experience.
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Sure was amazing. We spent the whole day with all the kids & my kids had a ball. I always find it interesting what the kids tell their teachers when they get home & the orphanage was at the top for all of them. That makes me proud.
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