5 Rolls Cambodia Part 3

Leica ME, not all of Cambodia is best seen through B&W.

The mixing of religions, cultures and philosophies has defined Cambodia and its people. The constant wars with neighboring states as well as countries that few Cambodian's knew existed, helped shape the art and attitude of its people.  When I first arrived, I took everything that I saw for granted, as if it was the singular culture of the region. As I began to look closer, and compare what I was seeing with my other travels, I was able to see the pattern for its individual weaves. From the influence of India and China, due to the Silk Road passing through there, to the modern impact of imperialism, communism and democratic ideology.

Nikon F2, Local seller in front of international store. The culture clashes have only intensified with the influx of tourists.

This is a culture that keeps assimilating, adapting and changing. The people are poor, the government seeks to remain in power by jailing opposition, the Chinese seek to buy up resources, the King refuses to marry and the nation still struggles with coming to terms with the past. Mass killings, the complete cancelation of any educational system and the constant battle to keep Vietnam at bay, permeates modern day Cambodia. All the Angelina adoptions, international documentaries and action movies fail to capture what Cambodia is becoming.

As a tourist, spending only a few days there, I was only able to grab a glimpse of it. Meeting Mr Chum Mey, one of four grown survivors of the S-21 prison, helped bring all the faded pictures to life. True atrocities occurred here, and reading Mr. Mey's book, highlights the lack of understanding the people had for what was occurring. There was no historical reference for them, there was no international attention being brought to bare, and even when American lives were lost, nothing stopped the purge. 

Nikon F2, barbed wire on the S-21 prison camp. Thousands of people were tortured here before going to their deaths in the killing fields.

Nikon F2, locals work to save for a motor bike and adapt it to become a Tuk tuk, the preferred transport of tourists.

As the country wakes up, and starts to understand the extent of the atrocities, there are new pressures laid before them so they look to their past to help. The temples they have serve as a critical income for the country as tourists pile in. The nation learns English, learns about it's past in order to become tour guides. The interaction with people from all over the world open's their eyes to what can be versus what it.

I was speaking to my guide, who told me of his struggle to receive and education.  Both of his parents were poor, illiterate farmers and it was at the urging of a friend, that he left home and went to the city to study. His father refused to speak to him, did not believe him that he had learned English and was a travel guide. Still to this day, the father does not know how to speak to his son. But the most telling part of his tale was when he explained how his friend convinced him.

iPhone, shot of our guide, family and the monk who drove us to a temple at the top of a mountain.

"My friend called me and was telling me to go to the city and learn. I was doubtful, until my friend told me something that drove me to leave everything I knew, and everything I loved. He told me, 'if you do not come to get an education, you will never be able to travel and see the world'.  I could not imagine a life without traveling to see the world. The next day I left home."

Our guide and his family on a trip he took them to see a bit of their country.

His relationship with his family is improving now, as he takes them on some travels to get to know Cambodia. He is encouraging his younger family members to go out and study. He has bought a motor bike, and is helping a family member while he studies.

He is the new Cambodia. An educated, hard working people, who want to understand the past, without being tied to it.