Cambodia: First Impressions

I am in a tourist bubble.

From the border to Siem Reap, I am aware that nothing is authentic. It is made as it is to be comfortable and easy for me to spend my money with the locals.

Food is more expensive here than in Thailand, which is odd considering the disparate states of stability of the currencies.

The people are nice here, but there is sort of an unspoken shield of customer service that encases all interactions. I think I have yet to actually “touch” someone.

Siem Reap appears only to employ people who serve tourists. This is not surprising as the proximity to Angkor Wat makes any business that does not cater to the foreign tourists somewhat less profitable than those that do.

I’m surrounded by American dollars, American citizens, and American Music. The feeling is rather surreal.

Not everyone is an American, though. I’ve spent the last several hours speaking Japanese and Spanish with a couple of other tourists here, Toshi and Gabriel, just for practice. It’s a nice change.

Soon, I’ll be jungle hopping and checking out the rougher side of things, but for right now, at least… I feel a little displaced.