So, I've done my basic introduction to the place I live. Cambodia. A country in southeast Asia.. blah blah blah. But no, I have yet to convince you that it's a beautiful, amazing place to be. So, here is my lovely list of why you really should get over here to experience (and fall in love with!) this stunning country for yourself.
1. It's cheap.
If you've ever been a tourist in Switzerland, you'll have experienced the usual 25-dollar meals and 100-dollar train tickets up the Alps. Expensive, I know. But you'll be shocked to come to Cambodia and find that you can get five t-shirts or four lunches for the price of one in Switzerland. Yep, Cambodia is cheap. And if you come here finding that it's NOT, let me just tell you that you've been ripped off. Big time. You can go to the movie theater for 3 dollars, for goodness' sake.
2. The people are friendly.
One of the first things that people notice about Cambodia is the fact that everyone smiles at you! Wherever you go, there are kids screaming "Hello!" from the sidewalks and old ladies giving you crooked smiles from their shady street-side shops. The Cambodians are beautiful, in the way they smile and laugh, and I guess it's probably the one thing I love most about this country.
3. The scenery is actually really beautiful.
It's true that the dusty, flat Cambodian landscapes are nothing compared to the mountainous, green scenery you'll experience in Switzerland. But I guess that once you get out of the city, Cambodia can amaze you in many ways - and one of them is that the landscape can really make you speechless. For as far as you can see, there are endless fields of luscious, green rice fields, dotted with palms, and it's really amazing. Cambodia may not have the mountains, the snow, or the amazing forests, but it's got a beauty of its own. If you just take time to get out of the city, you'll be able to see it.
4. The weather is always warm.
Although I've never actually witnessed snow fall from the sky before, I can only imagine how dreary the winter months must get in those non-tropical countries of the world. Although some of you probably tend to stay away from hot weather as much as you can, it must be a real relief to be able to come to a country to defrost for a while. Enjoy the sunshine. Get a tan. And indeed, Cambodia is the perfect place for that. As long as you don't come in the rainy season, you'll have the guarantee of at least a few days of brilliant sunshine during your stay. Cambodia is hot sometimes, but the results are worth it. Even I can get a tan here! And that's saying a lot.
5. Cambodia is culture-rich.
It's probably the main reason so many tourists come here each year, and honestly, Cambodian culture is definitely not overrated. Asia in general amazes me so much in the way that every single country manages to have it's own unique and beautiful culture. And Cambodia is yet another example of the brilliance of Asia's adversity. In Cambodia, there is art, music, dance, food, but also smiles and little things that will leave those tiny impressions in your memory that will last a lifetime.
There is so much to do, to see and to taste here, but I think one of the main things that makes me so in love with this place is that it's the only thing I've ever known. Cambodia is one of the many places I can call home, but I think that in the end the one thing that I love most is that somehow, there are little bits of heaven everywhere I go.
