Of all the places I have visited while insisting on being referred to as “Lady Croft,” Cambodia was by far and beyond my favorite. Yes, eating street food that one time during monsoon season was probably a mistake – but something about the country gets under your skin, like the residual Agent Orange dusting the plant life.
1) It’s affordable.
Tourism is a relatively new venture for the kingdom, so travel costs are scandalously low to our Western sensibilities. Though the airfare may be daunting, staying and playing in Cambodia is doable for even the most penny-pinching of backpacker – at least for now.
2) The sightseeing.
I wasn’t kidding about the Tomb Raider-worthy adventuring: The temple complex near Siem Reap was one of the locations for the first film, and it looks just as cool (actually, cooler) in person as on the screen. Since few tourists are brave enough to add it to their itineraries, these ruins, as well as many other sights across the country, have been left unmolested by the Disneyfication you see at so many other big landmarks.
3) It’s unexplored.
It wasn’t too long ago that Cambodia was a nation brutally ravaged by civil war, but since that time this former French colony has undergone tremendous economic and societal development. Nevertheless, few travelers dare venture to this corner of Southeast Asia, and that translates into better bragging rights for those who have the cojones.
4) The history.
In 1975, one-fourth of the Cambodian population was killed by the Khmer Rouge under the leadership of Pol Pot. Evidence of the regime endures in the form of museums, publications, and the scarcity of individuals over the age of forty. Simultaneously a land of ancient wonders and recent genocide, Cambodia refuses to be defined by any one thing – another way of ensuring that there is sincerely something for everyone.
So take a chance on Cambodia. Parade the palaces, tour the temples, and meander the museums. Immerse yourself in a culture that redefined what it means to be a survivor. Just be careful during monsoon season with the street food.
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