Rural Cambodia
The cities of Cambodia are lively and great but the countryside is absolutely beautiful. We took an all day quad bike ride through numerous villages taking in the workers in the rice paddies, irrigated streams, rickety bridges and tiny bumpy dirt roads just big enough for a quad or an ox and cart.
The villages were tiny with only a handful of houses lining a street and children, dogs, and chickens all running out to greet us. We took along some candies to hand out to the kids along the way and it seemed like Christmas. They only knew hello and goodbye in English but would repeat it over and over again. My heart went out to them. But they seem to live happy lives in the country. For lunch we took a picnic by an amazing spot on a local lake with floating huts and hammocks. It was a sunday and a hot spot for local families. We sat in our hut and watched the children swimming and splashing in the water. So far a very peacefull and relaxing day compared to the atrocities faced in the city.
But then we also took an afternoon visit to a reserve for endangered animals and animals rescued from poachers. Poaching and logging the local habitats are extremely big problems in Cambodia. We met and fed a little elephant who is still recovering from the poachers trap. Why would anyone want to hurt such a beautiful creature?
I think I am more than ready to go visit Ancient Angkor and celebrate the great culture and moments in this country's history.
The villages were tiny with only a handful of houses lining a street and children, dogs, and chickens all running out to greet us. We took along some candies to hand out to the kids along the way and it seemed like Christmas. They only knew hello and goodbye in English but would repeat it over and over again. My heart went out to them. But they seem to live happy lives in the country. For lunch we took a picnic by an amazing spot on a local lake with floating huts and hammocks. It was a sunday and a hot spot for local families. We sat in our hut and watched the children swimming and splashing in the water. So far a very peacefull and relaxing day compared to the atrocities faced in the city.
But then we also took an afternoon visit to a reserve for endangered animals and animals rescued from poachers. Poaching and logging the local habitats are extremely big problems in Cambodia. We met and fed a little elephant who is still recovering from the poachers trap. Why would anyone want to hurt such a beautiful creature?
I think I am more than ready to go visit Ancient Angkor and celebrate the great culture and moments in this country's history.
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