29.12.2016 - Jordan

​

​

​

Arrival in Cambodia.

It's the beginning of a new step for us! We left Korea for a journey, in South Asia  this time, and it starts with Cambodia! We have had very little time to prepare us, but knowing that we were joining my brother and his friends, in a current world tour, we had no worries.

We had barely stepped out of the plane, we could already feel we left our Korean world. Cambodia is a country way more tropical, hotter, but also poorer. We expected it, of course, but not at this point, we were thinking the quality of life would be closer to Thailand’s.

A scene which made a strong and sad impression to me, was to see a 3 years old child, walking naked in the streets of Phnom Penh, when a Porsche passed-by in the background. Of course, not everyone live in the streets, and the country is in full expansion. China invested to build huge structures everywhere in the city, which attests of the economic attractiveness of the place, but also creates the impression of an empty city in some precise neighbour hoods.

Phnom Penh is a huge mess: the roads are overrun by scooters, cars, bikes, motorcycles and tuk-tuks. Almost no light: they are mainly using klaxons and a lot of courtesy. We could almost cross the streets with closed eyes: Cambodians are careful while driving in town (Because anything can emerge from a perpendicular street). Scooters with four children on it are legions, and tuk-tuks drivers jump on us every 10 secondes with only two different words: ’Tuk-Tuk?' and ‘tomorrow?'.

Another difference that we immediately felt: in Korea, we were seen as banal, without different treatment in our favor (in the streets, not at school) or the other way around. Here, we are French tourists and so, seen as rich. Which creates a barrier and makes the communication with Cambodians only based on our wallet and therefore less interesting.

In addition to touristic and historical spots, Phnom Penh is full of little treasures. Out of nowhere, the 'Diamond Island’ is a Carnival/peninsula. As if there was a bubble of happiness in this world, which seems difficult to live for kids.

Also, every night, many Cambodians go to public places to dance and do some gym. It's magical to see and uncommon for us. In addition to the restaurants, you can find many street food stands where we really want to eat, but often, we see how dirty they are, and we change your minds. During our 5-6 days in Phnom Penh, we have enjoyed the city, ate vegetarian with a lot of ease, and visited many places, including the moving S21 museum about the ‘Khmer Rouge’ (sad part of Cambodian history, led by Pol Pot).

In addition to the young children who work everywhere, one last point gave us a will to vomit. Prostitution. Looks like it's common, and the town is 'full' of white sixty years old males, who look disgusting. Every night, they’re in the bars, alone, drinking. And as soon as they see one of their 'colleague' going home with a sex worker, you can see their eyes crossing and saying 'congratulations’.

Phnom Penh is different from everything we know, we're not totally comfortable with it, but it is what makes the journey.