First impressions of Cambodia

It is our second day now in Cambodia and so far we've only been in Phnom Penh. We arrived yesterday late afternoon, and since it gets dark around 6.30 ~ 7.00 PM in South East Asia, there is not much to look at in the evening. And we didn't want to take the risk and do too much here because it is safe by day, but not advised to walk around by night, or even to carry bags because robbery is still a problem. Today we did all the sightseeing around the city, most of it by the numerous motos (tuk tuks), offering a lift literally everywhere along the way. But it is the most adventurous, easiest, cheapest (but you still have to bargain hard) and fun way to get around town. Phnom Penh is very different from all the big cities we've seen so far - dirty, stinky, dusty!, loud, crowded - but with its own charm and all the noise and dirt is easy to take :) The people still try to sell you things, but not that aggressive and they are very friendly, helpful and always have a smile for you. Cambodia has a very dark and brutal history of decades of war followed by a genocide era of the Khmer Rouge regime. Today we visited the killing field with the mass graves and the Tuol Sleng Museum, the largest prison of torture and unthinkable horrors wich happened there. All this knowledge gives us a better understanding why Cambodia is at this point of development where it is and also raises the admiration for its still optimistic people.

Tomorrow we head to Siem Reap to visit the world famous Angkor Wat and Temples before...