Cambodia Beyond Angkor Wat

As I have mentioned several times in this site, going to Cambodia has been a dream come true for me.  Not only because of Angkor Wat, but mostly about seeing Cambodia as a country and as a people.  When I told my friends that I'm going to Cambodia, they asked me, "Why Cambodia?" They said that there isn't much to see there aside from Angkor Wat.  I still pushed through because I know that there is more to Cambodia than just the Angkor Wat.

Cambodia has experienced more than 30 years of war.  Also, thousands of people died during the reign of Khmer Rouge leader, Pol Pot in an attempt to create a peasant farming society which killed 25% of the country's population at that time due to starvation, overwork and execution. Some of the remains of war are still in its soil. Victims of land mines can be seen in the Angkor Wat complex. The Khmers have seen their families die before their eyes during the war.  They have experienced oppression in all its cruel forms.  And yet, what I admire about them is their positivity and willingness to rise up.  Cambodians have been one of the warmest people I have ever met in my life.  When you see them, you wouldn't know that they have been through a lot of things in the past.  They have this positive and happy attitude that uplifts my spirit.  Angkor Wat is just a backdrop and the main stars are its people.

That's what I love about being able to travel.  Traveling has allowed me to see things beyond famous attractions.  It has made me experience first hand the people and culture of the places I have been to.  And Cambodia is one of the most beautiful countries in the world for me.  I would like to explore it more and experience it more.  Maybe someday, I can spend more time there to really get to know how wonderful that place is.