Starting off the journey in the old town of Siem Reap I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of peace. An aura, maybe? Chickens roaming on the roads, scavenging for leftovers to overbearing rays of heat punishing my skin. I loved it all. 

My itinerary landed me in Angkor Wat, roaming Bayan Temple, weeping through the Landmine Museum, talking to farmers in Tonle Sap, to acknowledging the dark history of S21 prison. It was around there, I also got introduced to the Cambodian delicacy called Kampot Pepper, found in the Province of Kampot.

The thought process behind each building, the stories behind each carving & the meaning behind each statue left me in awe. I still struggle to encapsulate the feelings of wondering around an ancient civilization, drenched in my own sweat. 

Reflecting back, on my time, a couple of thoughts come to mind; it’s latent with many complexities, juxtapositions & a land in need of healing. 

From 1975–1979, approximately 3 million people died under the brutal regime lead by Pol Pot under the political party, Khmer Rouge. Guided by a loose interpretation of communism, he envisioned Cambodia will become an agrarian society leading itself into becoming self-sustainable.

It’s evident you can see the remnants of war, everywhere you go. But what you can also see under the veil of destruction is the re-structuring of Cambodia’s cities & social systems. 

Alot of it has to do with the Chinese investments. The concentration of wealth fueling a rising middle & upper class, is especially evident in the town of Phnom Phen & Sihanoukville. According to Asian Development Bank [Provide link] they are one of many growing economies in Asia & the Pacific.

To re-build a country is a daunting task. But, in an era of technological upheaval, learning to re-adapt & re-align to be it the calling of sustainable practices, re-structing an educational or social system is the silver-lining in having been pushed back economically. 

Adaptability is evident all over Cambodia. The story of our guide Meng(猛), named by his mum in the style of Chinese emperors, learnt English by working at a guesthouse. He like many locals, are connected to those who have died in the regime. Children, practice English with passing tourists daily are some examples of adaptability on a micro-scale. I have mixed feelings about the latter, but it’s still an opportunity none the less.

In Siem Reap, adaptability shines through in the creative wonder of Angkor Wat. A city enshrouded in mystery, its structures bend to the environment it lays on. Surrounded by a magnificent moat, back in its prime would be utilized for storing excess water from the wet season to aid in farming for the dry season. 

The implementation of Theravada Buddhism in learning & education, to help in easing the prevalence of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). 

Why is adaptability so important to see from many different angles? 

Time & time again, throughout my travels a re-occurring thought plants itself in the back of my mind. With the AI ‘revolution’ arriving quicker than anticipated, moving at a pace nobody can keep up with, rebuilding a social structure from the ground up won’t be reserved for war-torn countries.  

How these countries decide to build from the ground up could provide valuable lessons moving forward. To re-adapt to an ever-changing environment. 

Although, a lot of the focus when it comes to Cambodia is on how much the war has set them back. The country is ripe, full of untold stories and opportunities. There is so much more than what meets the eye. 

I still think back to my time in Cambodia. The invisible string, that keeps pulling me back to Asia. As cliche as it sounds, the direction of my life changed when I started travelling; I too needed to re-structure myself, from the ‘ground up’.

PS – I will be back Cambodia! Hopefully, sooner rather than later #mwah! XOXO