An Introduction to Cambodia

What’s astounding about Cambodia isn’t the choking density of the tropical rainforest, or the glorious majesty of Angkor Wat, or the power of the mighty Mekong River. (Well, actually, all of those are astounding, but none are the astounding bit I’m talking about here.)

Afternoon at the Haunted Hotel

It is a huge and terrifying structure. It’s no surprise that the first reaction most people have to the Bokor Palace is to be instantly reminded of the nightmarish hotel from the film The Shining. And like its fictional counterpart, the ground the Palace sits upon is blood-soaked.

Snapshots of the City

Most travelers tend to pop into Phnom Penh just long enough to see the major sights, get the bejeesus scared out of them by the traffic, and move on. Not us. Ever the lazy, slow-moving hedgehogs, we spent 13 days there.

The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

When we first started planning our trip, we knew there were two main reasons for visiting Cambodia. First, to visit the mighty Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples located near the town of Siem Reap. And second, to visit a museum called Tuol Sleng located in Phnom Penh.

Deep-Fried Tarantulas

Warning: This entry concerns the consumption of enormous spiders by your friendly neighborhood hedgehogs. If you are disturbed by spiders, you may not wish to read this entry or see any of the pictures within. You have been warned…

San San, the Mekong River Dolphin

On the western shore of the wide Mekong River, a world away from the hustle and bustle of noisy Phnom Penh, the tiny town of Kratie slumbers. The small handful of visitors it receives tend to drop by for one of two reasons: either to see the dolphins, or to catch a night’s sleep on the bumpy road down from Laos.

Teaching in Kratie, Cambodia

We taught classes that night and the following two nights too. Every class was different for us because we switched students and teachers each day. On average each class had 15 students in it, although Tim had one class with nearly 40 students one night.

Let’s Talk About Monks, Baby

Until we got to Kratie, we had little interaction with monks outside of making way for them on sidewalks (they’re not permitted to touch women, so as a courtesy Jessica would always give them a wide berth). But that was about to change.

Three Kilos of Fruit and an Origami Pig

The Lonely Planet guide to Cambodia advises when visiting a Cambodian’s home it is polite, although not expected, to bring a small gift for the family. I had no idea when I read that piece of advice that I would actually use it.

Ten of our Favorite Angkor Photos

During our six days in Siem Reap, we explored not just Angkor Wat, but many other temples as well. There are in fact somewhere around seventy temples and other ruins in the area, each one more beautiful than the last.

Five Tips for Enjoying Cambodia

So, yes, we did indeed return for a second pass at our beloved Cambodia. That we were so enamored with this beleagured nation begs a simple question… Why?

The Long Road to Krong Koh Kong

This story happened the few days before it was time for us to cross the border back into Thailand once again. It is a story we deliberately did not tell while we were traveling in order not to worry our families unnecessarily.

A Day in Kampot

Kampot is the essence of why we fell in love with Cambodia. This sleepy provincial town could not be more removed from the hustle and bustle of hectic Phnom Penh. Instead of cars and motorcycles, here it seems virtually everyone travels by bicycle.