The Faces Of Cambodia

Prologue:

These Cambodians I have come across in Phnom Penh & Siem Reap have in some ways affected me personally. It's who they are and what they do.

They do not have many material possessions in life and will never have what we have. I can say they look, in their eyes, empty out. They want more from life, and they have the right to.....

She's a waitress of a Khmer restaurant on Pub St in Siem Reap. She warms to me after initially being quite rude perhaps I am just another tourist. At the core of things she is a very friendly and lovely person. She's surprised that I want her picture taken.

He is a waiter colleague. He lost his grandparents to the Pol Pot regime from 1975 to 1979 for 3 years 10 months and 25 days. I can sense he is ambitious in life and wants to achieve great things.

This little girl is picking a drink can from the rubbish bin when I walk by her at Angkor Wat. She's barely 10 or 11 years old. I can sense she does not want to do that job for the rest of her life

I give her a paltry $1 (beat myself that I should have given much more) and ask if I can take a picture of her. She does not expect money, and is so sad-looking. She smiles .... maybe just for me? Then she says, quietly, "Bye". My heart breaks for her

This boy is also collecting drink cans and plastic bottles in the Angkor Wat ground

Vichet is our Angkor tour guide. He is the eldest son at 28 years old and has 6 sisters. He lost his grandparents, uncles and aunts to the Khmer Rouge's brutality. I call him "Brother". Brother is the only one in his family to have completed high school and he spent another 2 years getting his tour guide licence. He is well-articulated and trust worthy

This little girl is selling postcards at Ta Phrom. She asks, "Mr. do you want to buy?". I ask, "How much?". "$2". I give her the money and she beams; happy that it is a sale. She is so little and defenceless.

This girl sits quietly with some friends at the Ta Phrom ground.

Jatna is talkative and speaks quite good English. She is 14 years old and goes to Grade 9 at a high school. She starts telling me how many steps there are up to the Chisor Mountain Wat. She walks with me and talks to me about what she knows

This young man wants to sell me a couple of Angkor guide books. "$8, Mr" he says. I say to him "$5 ok?". He replies "Let me make $1 so $6 ok? And this other guide book for the same price". I give him $12 and buy the 2 books I ask him "Are you happy now that I buy 2 books?". He beams into a wide grin and says "Yeah!"

Penya, the tuk tuk driver in Phnom Penh. He asks for $30 for the fare to take us around for one full day, and agrees to $25. At the end of the day I pay him $30 and he is surprised, and smiles. He knows it is his "lucky" day, because there are hundreds of tuk tuks willing to accept less.

Epilogue:

The people of Cambodia, the Khmers; are proud and courteous people. They are hard working ( I don't see any of them not wanting more work from tourists) and are hungry for more. But they are not jealous of the tourists. They cajole for business and try hard because it is so competitive out there - like they have to fight to live another day.