reality check no. 1
the state of cambodia's safety and security is the subject of today's reality check.
so you tell your over protected and loving parents that you want to visit cambodia (with or without their blessings) by yourself. their mouth drops. now here it comes.
"son, don't you know cambodia is lawless and unsafe?" calmly utters my mom.
"ohh, the road conditions is horrendous. arent you afraid of car and moto accidents?
"at night, locals will rob you because you're a foreigner."
"i'm sure you heard stories about motodop drivers putting a spell or drug you, then rob every penny in your pocket."
"landmines. ohh, don't walk off the paved road or you will risk yourself in getting your limbs blown off!"
"and don't talk to any girls there. most of them are prostitutes and their only intent is to get you drunk so they can steal your money!"
"heuyyy" (the english equivalent of a sigh).
by no means is my testimony the *best* interpretation to the reality that plagues cambodia (as i've been here for only 15 days), nevertheless, let me share you my thoughts and observations to the aboveforementioned issues.
yes, much of cambodia is "lawless." but lawlessness, in my view, implies "anarchism." surely, not here in good ol' phnom penh. you can piss outside and you won't get whipped like singaporeans or ticketed for indecent exposure like in the land of uncle sam. if you get in a car accident, no police will "come to your rescue." no claim adjuster. no car insurance, no problem. two people (if thats the number of people involve), they settle through a cash settlement. usually, locals find a way to resolve the matter through non-violent means. motodops drivers are the most friendliest people i've met here. many know that i'm not local when i talk and are curious to talk to me about america. i never once felt uncomfortable or in danger when riding with them. and though landmines are synonomous with cambodia, much of the heavy hit regions are remote and uninhabited. of course phnom penh doesn't have that problem and surprisingly, i haven't seen a local who suffered from a blow from a landmine as i anticipated i would. local khmer girls? well, i haven't met any new faces to make judgment, but of course, the reality is not what my mom stated above.
the issue of one's safety and security is a matter of common sense. trouble comes when you put yourself at risk by making dumb choices. at night, walk in a small group. don't carry backpacks as that just screams, "get me, i'm a tourist, i got money!" arrange for a familar motodop driver if you are to take one back home at night to risk confronting a "stranger" who might pose a threat. if you hear loud screaming and shouting, of course, veer away from the scene.
all said, i want to make clear that although my interpretation is by no means the most accurate to the realities of cambodia, what cloud of uncertainty you might have for visiting because of our parent's grim and paranoic views, should be put aside and cleared away. come with no doubt that cambodia has progressed tremendously since peace was formalized when the khmer rouge surrendered in 1997. most of the region is safe to explore and most people here are genuinely hospitable.
