Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is one of the 7 wonders of the world. My first impression of the temple ruines that once was the crown Jewel of the vast Angkor empire was absolute amazement.

Then I thought to myself, "How could a country that once was such a great empire and hosts one of the wonders of the world be so poor?". Cambodia had its woes in the recent decade when Pol Pot took over and slaughtered millions of people in just few months.


It seems that everything can be bought with just 1 US dollar in Siem Reap Cambodia.

sidebar - Siem Reap is the city that houses the millions of tourists that visit Angkor Wat every year. Siem Reap means Siamese Defeated.

Your local taxi/tuk tuk driver is the pimp, the drug dealer, and your tour guide. In every street corner and in every temple you can find a child no older than 10 years of age who speaks 3 - 5 different languages. He/She knows how to say the following in the languages of choice:

1. Mr/Mrs, give me a dolla.
2. Mr/Mrs, want pineapple?
3. Mr/Mrs, want to buy post cards? 10 for 1 dolla
4. Where you from? followed by - Capital of the country that one is from

Cambodian people are extremely smart. Even though the country is poor, the people adapted to their situation uniquely and took advantage of the fact that so many millions of people (especially Korean, Japanese, and Chinese tourists) that come to see the pride and joy of their country every year.