Keith & I just came back from Cambodia for a 3D/2N trip. Honestly, when come to holiday destination, country like Cambodia would never be our pick because our impressions on the country was sloppy and certainly nothing much for us to explore around as we are not interested in temple visits.
As it is not convenient for me to disclose the reason that led us there, so let's just say it was a God blessing to allowed us to have such humbling & enriching experience after seeing the life styles and living conditions of the majority of the low/medium income Cambodians.
It was a whole new experience altogether seeing the real thing comparing to what we saw on TV/magazines. The impact is so much greater after talking to the locals during our visits to all the major old ruined temples like Angkor Wat, Bayon, Pink Lady, Tomb Raider and many others to understand more about their history and the life of their people. It really made us realise that what we have back home in Malaysia is some sort of a comparison between Heaven & Hell in many ways.
There is no regret of the trip eventhough there really isn't much to do, so a 3D/2N trip was suffice for us. Foods that we have tasted in different stalls and restaurants were pretty tasty. However, the cost of living in Cambodia is certainly very high comparing to their earning power. Majority of them can't afford to eat out in their entire life, with the exception of those working as tour guides which they get the chance to get free food from the restaurant in return of bringing the tourists there for meals or the driversbeing invited by the tourists to have theri meals together (which we did). It is common for Cambodian to have home cook food for all 3 meals a day. Even for Keith and myself, we find things in Cambodia are expensive.
Everything in Cambodia is transacting in US Dollars. Imagine people are earning as low as USD30 - USD600 a month but a plate of fried rice actually cost USD4. While a can of Coke cost USD2 in Cambodia, a can of beer cost USD2.50. So just do a simple math.
Life there is really tough. Children as young as 3 years old are being exploited by their parents to sell souvenirs at all the tourist hot spots. You would be approach by at least 10 people asking you to buy something which mostly are selling the exact same things. But luckily they would just ask & beg but not touch you.
This short trip make us realise how bless we are with all the things we have. It was certainly a worthwhile trip. If you think you have a lousy life, terrible job, envy of your friends who can afford branded goods but you can't or not satisfied with anything in your life, go make a trip there and see what kind of life people are leading in country like Cambodia. You will realise how lucky you are after that.
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