Cambodia

It is rainy season. It rains every day. The river running through the town of Siem Reap is swollen and running over its banks. Cambodia for the most part is low lying so fear of flooding seems to be a way of life. Heat is not the issue now but we are limp from the humidity.

Cambodia has a long and recent history of unrest. After almost 100 years of French occupation ended in the 1950s, there were then long years of war and conflict. Peace came to the country only in 1999. Our guide Kong was born in 1972. His father, a policeman, was killed in the conflict. This is seen as a good thing. The alternative was torture. Kong's family was separated and he spent his early childhood in the jungle alone for much of the time depending on his wits to survive. It is difficult to really appreciate the effects of such a history on the people as those whom we meet don't let on.