Escape to Shape | Travel

As some of you know, I travel. A lot. I have been lucky enough to build a life around what I love, and, through my travels, my love affair with life continues to grow. Next month I head back to Asia, a part of the world that I was lucky enough to visit many years ago, and then recently re-visited earlier in 2011.

My most recent travels to Asia were unlike any of my past experiences. Perhaps it is wisdom (ahem, another word for age in this case, as I turned 40 while on my journey) or perhaps it was the shear simplicity of Laos, the old world beauty of Vietnam, the hospitality of Thailand, or the perseverance and spirituality of Cambodia; each country so unique and unparalleled.

I must admit it took me some time to venture out into this part of the world again. My first trip to Asia only brought me to Hong Kong and Indonesia. Why did it take me, a constant traveler, so long to visit Southeast Asia? Laziness? The long plane flight? Or was it the subconscious fear of never wanting to leave? And while each location afforded me a rich new outlook on life, and a sense of gratitude and appreciation like no other, one place, for me, stands out amongst all the rest: Cambodia. With a history so laced with pain and yet a people so present, so resilient, and so hopeful, there is a lesson to be learned for all …

We all do the best with what we have, or at least we ought to. I saw evidence of this in the way each Cambodian person I encountered lived their day-to-day life. From the numerous guides who lost their parents at the hands of the Khmer Rouge to the countless half-clothed children playing in muddy river water with huge smiles on their faces. To the mother forced to boil filthy water before giving it to her family to drink on a sweltering hot summer day to the elderly man drying snake on the side of the road and the children carting bundles of sticks through lotus fields.

This is their life and they embrace it with so much dignity, so much acceptance, so much beauty, and so much joy that I could not help by feel humbled and guilty for the many times I wasted food, left the water running too long, was frustrated by traffic, complained about being too hot or too cold, or have taken conveniences such as electricity, clean running water, and a roof over my head for granted.

I was, indeed, allured by the culture in Cambodia: the temples of Angkor Wat, the fun finds of the night market in Siem Reap, and the delicious culinary treats; none of these disappoint. But after spending a day touring the stilted and floating villages, watching real life happen all around me, it dawned on me that the real attraction of Cambodia is the people.

A few tips on Siem Reap/Angkor Wat:

1. Do not be afraid to venture to the off-the-beaten path temples; they are well worth the extra drive and offer a wonderful way to dig deeper into the history and culture of Cambodia. You can also use your time in the car to get to know your guide. He will surely have some interesting stories and be able to shed some light on the ‘post-Khmer Rouge Cambodia,’ which is young and hopeful.

2. The night market of Siem Reap has some fun finds. My personal favorite are these cute but kitschy bags, each made out of recycled animal feed or fertilizer bags. The lotus and mermaid pattern always get lots of compliments.

3. Do not let the crowds at the main temples of Angkor Wat get in the way of your experience. Remember, you are actually at Angkor Wat, THE Angkor Wat; how amazing is that? Nothing can get in the way of the magic of actually being there.

4. Do spend time with the Buddhist monks at a Pagota. This can take some planning and sorting out, but it’s worth it, even if you have no idea what they are saying. It is an authentic experience.

5. If you time it right, there are lotus fields abloom all over. Need I say more.

6. Yes, the food is fabulous. Even dried snake is worth trying.

7. Walk through the villages and be with the people as much as you can. It is where the heart of this country lies.

8. Study up on their history, although it is bleak. Books such as “First They Killed My Father” by Loung Ung provide a firsthand account from a survivor of the Khmer Rouge. Movies such as “The Killing Fields” also offer an honest depiction of a time that should never be forgotten.

9. Walk as much as possible, start each day with a few Sun Salutations, and savor ever moment of your journey!

Want to experience all that Cambodia has to offer for yourself? Join us in February 2012 for an Escape to Angkor Wat!