When the Khmer Rouge marched into Phnom Penh on April 17, 1975, the weather was a little warmer than the unforgiving heat I experienced during my visit. Clad all in black, two-piece pajama-like uniforms with checkered scarves around their necks and rubber sandals made from car tires strapped to their feet, they marched to cheers from the crowd. After five years of enduring a complicated civil war and periodic skirmishes with Vietnamese military, the people were likely happy just to see a familiar-faced Khmer army seize control from what had been a corrupt government. [Read more…]
Cambodia, Take Two
Living in rural Malaysia makes you appreciate the heavenly manna that is pork. Cambodians eat a LOT of pork. So right off the bat they’re on my good side. Their traditional breakfast (picture below), is rice with pork strips on top and a small spicy cucumber salad. Or you can try to pronounce Bay Sach Jruk. Good luck. Yes, it is excellent. A very simple dish, but they know how to cook their pork. [Read more…]
Etched In Stone: Cambodia’s Khmer Empire
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Cambodia. Not intentionally, I chose to go during Cambodia’s dry season. Let’s just say the heat was impressive (Phoenix, Arizona born and raised here…) It’s not the ideal time to go if comfort is your aim, but there are fewer people and it’s probably cheaper than the cooler rainy season. Dry season can be dusty, dry, cloudless, and just kind of ugly. During rainy season, I’m told it is absolutely lush and beautiful. Oh well, I didn’t really come for the natural beauty anyway. [Read more…]
