For the final stop on our SE Asia tour, we asked Narla and Brandon about their favorite things in Cambodia. Keep checking back for the next few days to see all of the things they love about this country, and what’s happening here in 2011!
What are your top five places and things to do in 2011 in your country?
1. The temples. It’s the main reason people come to Cambodia and once you see them you will understand why. No matter how many times I see them I am still amazed at their size and the quality of the work that went into them. Anyone visiting Siem Reap needs to see Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom (Bayon), and Ta Prohm. While these temples can be rushed through in a single day, it’s best to get the three-day temple pass and spend the time to really see the temples. The more you look the more you will see how much effort individual people must have put in so many years ago. Note that each Apsara in Angkor has a slightly different look, and that in the bas relief you can see scenes of war with Champa as well as people playing board games and a woman giving birth.
2. Talking with people. People here are very open and they love to laugh and will smile at anyone. They are also very open to tell you about their lives and what they went through in the years of wars and how the country has rebuilt itself. From the guides that can teach you the country’s history, to the driver learning English and wanting to tell you about his family, they are all great to talk with and learn from.
3. A trip down to Kep lets you see a quiet town by the sea and the French Colonial buildings that still stand. Kep is growing, but right now it is still not on most people’s must-see list, making it a good place to visit before it gets too busy. Also, Koh Kong is another great place that you need to see.
4. Do you know how to grow rice? You should by the time you leave, as 85% of the country grows rice and most of the others have done so at some point in their life. Cambodians don’t ask if you have had breakfast or lunch, they ask if you have “had rice”, because they can not believe a meal could be had without it. On the way to a far off temple stop along the side of the road and watch the people planting or cutting rice. If you have time, set up a tour to go see a local village that lives off the rice trade. You don’t need to go far from downtown Siem Reap to visit a real farming village. During the time of Angkor, rice was the currency, and to this day rice isn’t just a food, it’s what shapes the culture of this country.
5. Visiting a local village is an experience that you will never forget. Cambodians love to wave at you when you are walking by their house or village. You get to see their life style and the real communities in Cambodia.
