Reflections On Cambodia

As we finish in Cambodia, I wanted to summarise a few reflections on what has been fantastic adventure going round the country from Phnom Penh, up country in search of wildlife and then Siem Reap.

First and foremost, the people have been the most friendly, welcoming and helpful I've ever come across.  Everywhere felt safe, from the streets of Phnom Penh at night to the middle of the jungle.  All the guides and hotel staff made the trip the brilliant experience it was.

The food too was a revelation. I think we only had one dish that was a bit meh! And that was in a monopoly tourist trap.  All the other meals from roadside stalls to more upmarket restaurants were fresh and full of flavour.

The downsides that we saw and heard in Cambodia were the almost total decimation of the forest and jungle and the corruption at high levels that is asset stripping the country.  You could understand it if it were the people clearing the forests to grow crops and make a living, but it is corrupt government and cronies selling off the land to Chinese and Vietnamese companies for backhanders with no money going into the treasury to improve the country.  The Cambodian people don't even get work out of it as the foreign companies bring in their own people.  As more and more Cambodians are exposed to the outside world and realise what is going on, they are getting more and more unhappy.  It wouldn't surprise me if it takes another civil war to resolve it, hopefully less bloody than the last one.

It was sad while trekking through the jungle to come across time and time again the remains of hardwood trees that had been illegally felled and shipped out for a dodgy deal with the foreign agents. 

Finally, on a brighter note, I'd thoroughly recommend See Cambodia Differently (now See Asia Differently) to anyone who wants a tailored, more adventurous boutique type trip to Asia.  All the people were great and everything worked without a hitch while giving a comfortable but less sanitised experience of Cambodia than the big tours.