Day 11

Today I started very early this morning with an inside your of local Cambodian villages. This was not a touristy tour and was private with a guide and a driver. Both from the area. Most people in the town didn't speak English but we're very happy to see an outsider. It was eye opening. Even though I felt so out of place, I felt so welcomed and safe. 

I walked around for a few hrs photographing and trying to talk to locals and learn about local life. It was amazing. 

After we were finished walking, the guide was supposed to take me to a resteraunt and eat local food but I wanted to see more village life. So he took me to his wife's village. Before going, we stopped at a local market where he bought local sticky rice, and full chickens on a stick. Literally legs claws everything and cooked on a grill. We saw cooked cockroaches, larvae, tiranchalas, grasshoppers and more. It was insane! I loved it. They treated me like a local. Not a tourist. Then we drove to the village where his wife is from and ate lunch and they gave me plenty of beer. Cambodians drink a lot while they eat I quickly learned. Then he gave me a full tour of his village and the local temple they go to. 

After lunch and touring the village, he took me to the war museum where an  ex Cambodian military soldier gave me a tour and told stories of his time at war. What an experience. 

He showed me all his wounds, fake leg and parts of bombs still in his body... I photographed him and everything else. It was amazing. This place is something I could never imagine. I will be coming back to Cambodia for the rest of my life. They need help here, the local NGOs aren't doing enough to help the people who need it. 

Tomorrow is another full day and can't wait to have another great experience. 

Thanks for reading!