Story 8: Wild and Free in Cambodia!
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Cambodia was WILD. Wild, as in untethered, raw and real. There were still a lot of tourists, but because the country's infrastructure was still under-developed, it felt like what I imagined rural Africa might look like — only dressed in Asian scenery. It was the perfect holiday destination. Koh Phangan was already a paradise island and attracted a lot of people who wanted to relax and come down from the rush of Western civilization, yet Cambodia allowed you to come down even more.
We booked most of our accommodation online, travelled between towns using a bus and hired a scooter as soon as we settled in. I remember that on our very first day we arrived on Koh Rong Island, a popular tourist attraction for revelers, we went straight to an Indian restaurant and ordered the most delicious Butter Chicken I've ever had in my entire life. It was the first time in my life that I cried over food. It was prepared by two authentic Indian brothers. They brought India to Koh Rong. Our accommodation was on the beach road, and every day I would go for a walk, do yoga, swim in the ocean, read, write and sketch. It was bliss. I felt removed from the society where I grew up in... removed from a place that defined me and away from people who labeled me based on my background. In this unconventional, new world with friends whom I only met a couple of weeks before, I could be anyone I wanted.
However, at this moment in time, I didn't necessarily want to create a new identity for myself. I also didn't miss my old life. I just wanted to be free from the responsibility of needing to "be someone". My nervous system had a chance to remember what it was like to just "be" — like when I was a child — no obligations, no responsibilities, no expectations. I treasured every moment in this blissful state. It was very healing to be amongst nourishing friends, eating fresh food and refilling my own cup by having the freedom to do whatever I wanted.
No-one asked anything of me.
I was in limbo — in-between chapters: open to whatever the next chapter would present me with. Sometimes, when we don't have a plan, we might feel lost and that might cause anxiety. But not having a plan is one of the most liberating periods in our lives, because we get to discover a part of ourselves we would otherwise never have discovered if we stayed in our moulded box with our blinkers on. If you trust in life, you will remain calm, even if you're "lost".
After a couple of days of island hopping, sipping fresh juices and coconuts and enjoying vegan meals (because we watched The Game Changers and decided to go vegan), we traveled to Kampot — another beloved town of mine. Situated next to the Kampot river, this town was where a lot of immigrant families settled. It had less of a party atmosphere and more of a home-like, wholesome neighbourhood vibe. Every Cambodian I met was welcoming, helpful and kind. People from different cultures, religions and backgrounds all lived together harmoniously. After a couple of days, the town's slow rhythm and creative influence started to draw us in and we decided to extend our stay. We continued to converse in different cafes and restaurants, enjoyed a sunset boat cruise and explored the town's unique art, culture and history.
The highlight of this experience was Bokor Mountain that reaches a height of 1,081 meters above sea level. The view took my breath away. The ocean in the distance, the gentle caressing of the mist on the shore, the orange and pink hues of the setting sun on the horizon and the amusing conversation of my friends made this an evening to remember forever. We sat in silence as a group of nomads, feeling connected by the beauty and gravity of what lay ahead of us: both literally and figuratively. Neither of us knew what our future held... and that truth kept us in the 'here and now'.
Last, but not least, we spent a couple of days in Siem Reap visiting Angkor Wat. This religious monument was initially built as a Hindu temple and then later transformed into a Buddhist site. It was built in the early 12th century and the stone monuments are tributes to both the Hindu gods and Buddhist cosmology. What surprised me most was that thousands of feet walk through these temples every day, yet the location still holds an almost tangible, magical energy that is quite remarkable. It was as if the ruins held secrets that were accessible only to those who were silent enough to hear them.
Towards the end of the trip, I felt a bit sad to let my friends go, but also excited to meet my brother back in Thailand. He decided to move to Koh Phangan too! Stay tuned for my next blog about my first job in Thailand and island life during the pandemic...
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