Goodbye (for now) Cambodia

---

Goodbye (for now) Cambodia!

If ever you get a chance please visit Cambodia…both for yourself and for the people of the country. After a month we couldn’t recommend it more highly.

Cambodia is a country healing after a brutal recent history and making amazing attempts to forge a new and more prosperous future. While in our brief visit there are things that are very disturbing, the street children, the beggars, the victims of landmines, the rubbish and the poverty there is a sense of real hope for the possibilities ahead. The best thing that we can do for Cambodia and its people for now is to visit and to let them show what there is to learn from and what there is to be proud of.
The history from the Temples to the life under the Khmer Rouge provides for an amazing education on the possibilities of human nature.
The scenery is beautiful and the landscape varied. The people are amazingly kind, patient, generous and resourceful and you will receive more than you give!

Here are the Mitchell top picks for our trip in Cambodia:
(You may have noticed though that we are creatures of habit so there is lots left unexplored, next time!!)

Favourite Overall

Mac: hmmmm
Finn: too many to choose
Olivia: the street kids
Grace: the people
Deb: the people
Mitchy: fortieth birthday at Angkor Wat

Favourite City

Mac: Siem Reap
Finn: Siem Reap
Olivia: Siem Reap
Grace: Siem Reap
Deb: Siem Reap
Mitchy: Siem Reap

Favourite Attraction

Mac: bamboo train
Finn: bamboo train
Olivia: temples
Grace: bamboo train
Deb: temples, followed closely by the bamboo train, followed closely by the river (writer gets more picks!)
Mitchy: Angkor Wat

Favourite Restaurant

Mac: Khmer Kitchen, Siem Reap
Finn: Bayon, Sihanoukville
Olivia: Green House, Battembang
Grace: Khmer Kitchen
Deb: Green House
Mitchy: Green House

Favourite hotel

Mac: Sea Breeze, Sihanouk Ville
Finn: Sea Breeze
Olivia: Seng Hout, Battembang
Grace: Seng Hout
Deb: Seng Hout
Mitchy: Seng Hout

Things we will miss
Seeing seven (yes the new record) on a motorbike, the people, socks and thongs worn together on a regular basis (not us), breast enlargement cream at the markets, merchandising strategies (yep, the gizzards next to the bra’s), the tuk tuks, street kids happy faces, the food, Siem Reap fairy night lights, Battembang sunrises and sunsets, Ara, Seng and family, Jan and Mark, the food, the plumbing

Things we won’t miss
Dusty streets, rubbish, stray dogs, seeing children eating breakfast in the back of their parents rubbish collection cart, the plumbing!

“The full extent of Cambodia’s tragedy will never be known, the remains of some of the victims of this genocide may never be recovered nor their murderers identified. But the gentle and forgiving Khmer, an energetic and optimistic people will now walk confidently through the wall of shadows to reclaim their ancient culture and restore their beautiful land, to become again, the legendary paradise of celestial Apsars.”

Memorial to the victims of the Khmer Rouge, Battembang.

---

Comments

[Ada again!]

I wish I was there with you!
Hi everyone, me and dad have just looked through your blog and I absolutely wish I was there with you. It all looks so fun. Back here it's getting cold and the leaves are falling. from Ada

[Sue Taylor]

Cambodia
Loved reading - we are going to Siem Reap in April next year. I have a 13 yo and believe he will be a great education and appreciate what he has at home.