First off, wow! It is hot here in Cambodia. It’s been a consistent 93 degrees Fahrenheit for the past 2 weeks.
I’ll be honest, Cambodia didn’t blow me away when I first arrived. As I’ve been told by all the travelers I meet here in Southeast Asia, their favorite countries are either Thailand or Vietnam. I guess Cambodia is overshadowed by its neighbors, but to be a little more specific, it’s not that Cambodia is not an interesting or a fun place to travel, I think it just lacks the immediate appeal of places such as Thailand.
I started off this trip flying into Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. It’s a busy place. It also didn’t help that I stayed at a hostel situated amongst all the bars. Regardless, I had to come here because I wanted to visit the killing fields. I felt it was only appropriate that I come and learn about the Cambodian genocide from 1975 to 1979 and pay my respects.
From there, I went to Kampot, a sleepy town in the Southwestern tip of Cambodia. It’s got a charm of its own and has a nice river you can hang out by. If you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh for a weekend, this is where you’d come. I felt this was more a place for couples but I still liked it. I mean, it has a giant durian statue right in the middle of town! Oh, and renting a scooter and going up to Booker Hill and La Plantation to learn about the delicious local Kampot peppers was cool too. Granted, the tour itself was kind of underwhelming, but I always enjoy the opportunity to hop on a scooter and explore a new city at my own pace.
After Kampot, I went to Siem Reap, because duh, Angkor Wat. You have to come to Angkor Wat! I honestly didn’t think I was going to be as impressed as I was, but it blew me away. It’s so funny because you’d think I’d be sick of temples by now, but they’re all so different and have charms of their own. From the temples in Chiang Mai, to the white, blue and black temple in Chiang Rai, the pagodas in Bagan, and now Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, which is in a league of its own. Wow. I still need to research how they built such a magnificent monument to the gods such a long time ago.
I liked Siem Reap. I would come back to Siem reap and I would suggest it to others as well. It’s nowhere near as busy as Phnom Penh, and it’s got a nice balance between tourists and locals. Overall, it’s an easy entry point into Cambodia that won’t overwhelm you.
Still, I wasn’t quite in love with Cambodia yet, until I came to Battambang, the country’s unofficial cultural capital. I was only going to come here if I had the extra time, and I’m so glad I did. There are several reasons why I like Battambang. First off, the early 20th-century French architecture is beautiful. There are also many boutique shops, art galleries, and cafes that are easy to explore on foot. At night, you can have a delicious dinner right along the Sangker river, and if you’re looking for a bit of nature, you can head over to Phnom Sampeau. The pace of life is slower here, and it also seems the smog isn’t as bad as the rest of Cambodia.
I’m glad I found Battambang. Originally, I thought it was going to be just another city to do touristy things like seeing the bat cave or hopping on the bamboo train. However, I didn’t find many tourists at all. Of course, there are the restaurants and bars catered towards foreigners, but it’s manageable, you never feel like you’re being pushed to all the tourist places.
I enjoyed just hanging around the city and being able to talk to the shop owners when I managed to find someone who spoke English. The economy hasn’t been very good this year so I guess they’re happy that a tourist like me would still come and provide some business.
Some interesting things I’ve found here are taro imperial rolls, a really delicious grilled fish cake wrapped in banana leaf, a dessert similar to bua loi in Thailand, and of course, the Khmer coffee, which I’ve found out is made with robusta beans versus the more commonly used arabica bean in the United States. It’s also the same one used for Vietnamese coffee which I’m sure I will have a lot of when I make my way over there.
So, should you come to Cambodia? I’d say yes but set your expectations. This is one of Southeast Asia’s poorest countries. The people here aren’t as outgoing as those in Thailand, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t anymore nice. Just takes a little more time to open up, as I’ve experienced. If you have a limited amount of time, just go to Siem reap, if you have at least 2 more days to spare, come to Battambang and experience why I like it here so much. Lastly, if your heart desires, make your way down to Phnom Penh to pay homage and learn about the genocide that happened here from 1975-1979. It was a very dark period in their history but I also feel it puts everything in perspective here and overall just makes you more grateful for everything you have in your life.
Until next time Cambodia.
by Jason Lam