During the holidays, I had a hard time picking what book I wanted to read. So, I ended up reading multiple books. I like all of the books I am currently reading. But when I read so many books at once, I get stories mixed up. Keeping a separate journal for each book might help. On top of reading, I completed the Walking Dead Definitive (Season 1-4), which I mentioned that I was playing in the Setting Realistic Goals for the New Year post. I have so much to say, but I need to give my brain a rest. And since this a new year, I want to do something different. Be more social in the blogosphere. So, I decided to participate in WordPress daily prompt: “Think back on your most memorable road trip.

In 2018, I didn’t just visit Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, the world’s largest religious complex. I also visited Battambang, Phnom Penh, Prey Veng, and Palin during my two-week trip with my family. I also brought a work friend because she loves traveling. Even my friend from Bangladesh joined in. She was courageous to travel alone, considering there was an ongoing human trafficking problem in Southeast Asia. Luckily, I did not have a bad experience. In fact, if I had listened to the media, I would have missed an amazing road trip. It ended up being one of the best experiences of my life.

What I Love Most about the Road Trip

Between the city, we saw the countryside. Somewhere in the distance, you’d see a monument just sitting on a hill. A woman sitting under a stilt house staring into space. Instead of a rest stop area, you’d find hammocks on the side of the road. You can use them if you need to rest from the brutal humid heat. Rows of gasoline in a jug for motorbikes. It was like stepping inside a different world. There’s real beauty in chaos. I found peace and solitary, staring at the landscape.

Pretty Architecture Matters

Sometimes, I wonder why violent histories inspired beautiful monuments. Cambodia’s history is far from peaceful. Nonetheless, magical and breathtaking compared to the U.S. In Cambodia, people are dining out in the streets. Playing with their children in the park by the river. Relaxing underneath the tree. They don’t pretend to be productive when business is slow. However, when they work, they work hard. The monuments on the hill reminded me of their good spirits. When they smile, it’s full of genuine radiance. There is a warm community unlike here in the U.S where everything is fenced in and private.

The Food Is Good

Apart from the architecture and monuments, I also like Cambodian cuisine. The food is full of flavor. Their Western dishes are also good. You can’t get it here in the U.S. because everything has a big price tag, including human labor. Likewise, the same rule applies to food. If you want to eat well, you have to spend more. You have to spend your whole paycheck at Wholefoods! Joke aside. You can eat so cheap and so well because they don’t have fast food restaurants in every block. And the best part was eating outside!

Another point I would like to make is Cambodian’s hospitality when it comes to food. One time in Phnom Penh, my brother and I ordered food for our dad. We intended to bring it back to the hotel. We were short on change because we didn’t know how to count in riel (Cambodian currency). I was expecting to walk away empty-handed. Surprisingly, the waiter was kind enough to accept whatever change we had. He still wrapped our food nicely and did not treat us like a nuisance. If that happened in a major American city, all we would likely receive is a simple sorry–and the food would be thrown in the dumpster.

Final Thoughts

In the two-week period, we saw a lot. We were planning to visit Koh Rong. However, I was very tired from traveling from city to city. We stayed in Phnom Penh the remainder of our trip. Out of the cities, I like Battambang and Palin the most. That is because I like lesser-known places. Also, the best place to eat wasn’t in those fancy Western restaurants. It was one of those shack-like places that serve the best food and tea! Sometimes you can’t put a price on quality food because it has to come from the heart. Likewise, we can’t learn to appreciate life if we are not a little hungry and a little uncomfortable. The trip to Cambodia did change me, but in a good way. Next time I visit Cambodia, I hope to visit Preah-Vihear.