Sad as it is, it is common to see half naked kids working.
Arriving in Cambodia for the first time was a culture shock for sure. We have travelled to numerous third world countries so I thought I was prepared for what I was going to see in Cambodia, however, nothing could have prepared me. Pictures just don’t do it justice.
Cambodia is super dirty, but as dirty and impoverished as it is (what I have seen of it) it is also stunningly beautiful. There is so much to admire amidst the chaos and chaotic it is.
My God, the chaos is both fascinating and mind boggling.
Pretty normal transportation
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We arrived in Cambodia via Bejing on Air China at 11pm. First thing we had to do was get our visa. Before leaving Canada I was worried about things like the size of my passport picture and the process of getting the visa. Upon arrival I realized, it was no big deal. As long as you have cash, everything is no big deal.
The airport is basically one big open building. Surprisingly, it is new and beautifully clean. Getting off the plane you are ushered through the first set of doors to get your visa.
Thirty USD is the cost but this is the first place in Cambodia where they may ask for a bribe of five dollars. If you kindly say no, they will accept it but be prepared to wait longer than usual for your visa.
Since we were the last group to arrive that night, our visa was processed quickly. We watched as one officer loaded stacks of US dollars into a brief case and our passports were literally tossed down the line from one immigration officer to another signing, sticking and stamping our visa.
We were in. Phew.
We thought all was good and we were quite proud of our uneventful arrival to Cambodia until we learned that Air China had lost one of our bags-
Shit- the joys of travel
After filling out all the paper work and hearing that Air China didn’t care about our bag (comforting) we stepped outside to meet our driver. I had pre-arranged someone to pick us up from the airport and although initially I was comforted by the thought of having transportation waiting for us when we arrived, I wouldn’t do it again. The driver charged us 15.00 USD and showed up in a fancy Lexus SUV. We found out later the hotel had a free tuk tuk pick up.
Speaking of our hotel it was amazing. Small, family run nothing fancy. I’d say it was a 3 star by our standards but the GOLDEN MANGO INN was by far one of the very best hotels I have ever stayed in in my life.
Our rooms were clean, the employees were super accommodating and the food was fantastic. It is located about a 10 minute tuk tuk ride from downtown and for 30.00 a night breakfast was included.
We started our trip off in Siem Reap by visiting the infamous pub street. Our ride in the tuk tuk was an adventure in itself. If you are worried about shitting your pants in Cambodia from the food, forget it. You can survive the food, if you are going to shit your pants it is going to be because of trips you take in the tuk tuk.
There is literally no organization to the way people drive. There could be twenty people loaded on a cart behind a tuk tuk six small children on a motorcycle and large trucks with people stacked upon garbage. There are no stop lights, and even the main roads in the the city are still dirt roads.
Everyone communicates with each other by honking their horns and it is stressful as hell to see 45 vehicles coming at you laying on the horn.
They are coming over no matter what, and even if it seems impossible that there is room on the road for them, there is room.
So my only advice is to keep your hands and legs inside at all times.
We loaded 5 of us in the tuk tuk and this was our mode of transportation the whole time we were in Siem Reap. For 2.00 USD you could go anywhere in town.
I have videos to post of us in the tuk tuk. Honestly I still can’t believe how they drive.
I asked what the legal age is to drive- it is 18. I pointed to a 10 year old next to us on a moped- our driver nodded. “It’s no problem”
It is clear that anything goes in Cambodia and that there aren’t many rules but there is in fact many problems. People are so poor. Unbelievable poor to be honest.
I asked one of our drivers what an average salary was for people working in Cambodia and he said “maybe 5 dollars a day but I can tell you that there is a shit load of people who do not make 5 dollars a day.
Google says the average wage is more like 2.50 USD a day and I would say that is more accurate.
To see kids without shoes is common. To see babies without any clothes is even more common and no one ever seems to bat an eye at a tiny toddler baking in the sun without protection.
The children broke my heart of course but it is the elderly that really made me feel sad. When you see an 80 year old man with no shoes, skinny as hell, working in the blazing heat moving hot rock something inside you feels almost ashamed for how good we’ve got it and how much we take for granted, and how we always want more.
There is a documentary by the name of HAPPY. In this documentary it says that your level of happiness is not increased by how much money you have. It says that once your basic needs are met (food, clothing and shelter) you will have the same level of happiness as someone who has much more. It also says that when your basic needs are not met, your level of happiness is substantially less.
It is easy to see this basic concept in Cambodia and it is heartbreaking to see people literally living by rummaging through garbage to survive.
It is hard not to see that the people that make 5.00 a day are substantially happier for the opportunity to just survive.
I learned a lot in my first day in Cambodia-
Fish hanging at the market
Here is what I know.
Shoes are optional anywhere but you can never wear them inside a building, home or temple. Even if your feet are dirtier than your shoes-always take them off.
Clothing is optional for small children- naked babies everywhere
Breakfast sausage is hot dog wieners
Orange juice is Tang
Massages for 2 dollars are worth every single penny
Cambodians speak very good English or at least try.
A ride in a Cambodian tuk tuk will take years off your life
Cambodians don’t know who Ellen is
Everything is a knock off- and the Nike shoes are hand painted.
December is the cool season- and it is fucking hot.
The bathroom situation is not as bad as you think it is going to be. I actually enjoy the sprayer thingy beside the toliet to clean my package. Jared has a germ phobia and is totally disgusted in me for touching that dirty thing….
You say thank you by putting your hands together- and people say thank you for everything.
Everything is one dollar…. and if it is not a dollar, you can get it somewhere else for a dollar.
My first day in Cambodia was a culture shock but I already know that I love this country. I love the innocence of the people, I love the freedom that comes with the lack of rules.
I also know I know nothing about this country which basically makes me just another tourist
