VietBlog

The blog has taken a few days off as we travel to the land of Khmer people and its ancient and magnificent ruins. It also has been a land scarred by the violence in the last century in one of the worst acts of genocide ever. Cambodia is a pretty amazing country of great contrasts.

And although our group is only one country away from Vietnam, the sights and experiences have been unbelievably different. (Photos hopefully for later…)

Up The Mekong

We took a boat up the Mekong three days ago to Phnom Penh, the capitol of Cambodia. The trip took almost 6 hours (which included perfectly timed stop on the border). Immediately getting off the boat, you could tell that Cambodia was something new entirely. The mode of transportation commonly used is a motorcycle drawn wagon call the tuk-tuk. English is spoken relatively well among Cambodians and transactions are done mostly in dollars (which also the place considerably more expensive). The local currency, the Riel, given back like they were quarters or dimes.

The current exchange rate for the Riel makes it pretty simple as the rate is 4000 Riel to a dollar.

The country also is known for its corruption and human trafficking. For older Americans, the memories of Cambodia might be linked the Khmer Rouge and the devastation the regime wrought upon its people. The Khmer Rouge took the world by surprise once it took control of the country in 1975.

Almost 2 million Cambodians died during their reign in the late-1970s due to starvation, executions or disease. Their brutality was ended by an invasion by the newly united and communist Vietnam.

It is pretty hard to imagine how a society rebuilds after such acts. Today the world faces many conflicts that are escalating or never ending. Such places like The Democratic Republic of the Congo or face the same tragedies which Americans well recognize. But much of what we know about the Khmer Rouge came late or in retrospect.

But there is something stands out the most. The ruins of Angkor Wat- a symbol of national pride. It is on many things- the flag, nearly every hotel (at least in Siem Reap, which is right outside of Angkor) even its national beer- simply called Angkor.

Cambodia is showing signs of pretty rapid development- much like Vietnam- but it appears mostly around tourism (and thus sex tourism, a big issue here.) Angkor is the anchor of Cambodia tourism industry.

We have visited social service agency- Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) throughout the trip. IN Cambodia we visited one organization fighting human-trafficking and in Siem Reap, a vocational school training impoverished Cambodians in hospitality industry.

We visit Angkor tonight- reports forthcoming. Good Morning!