One of the most unique aspects of travelling is learning how to perfect the art of using public transportation wherever you are–whether that is bicycles, taxis, subways, boats, or tuk tuks! Here in Phnom Penh, the two most common forms of public transportation are tuk tuks and motos (simply remove the tuk tuk!). When travelling solo or with another person, hailing down a lone moto … Continue reading Tuk tuk, lady?
If you press play on this video and watch, I promise that 20 minutes later you will have a new perspective. Then I challenge you to keep an eye out for the “single stories” that are thrown your way. [I will be referring to this video in upcoming posts so if you want to be in the loop, give it a go!] Continue reading The danger of a single story…
(disclaimer: Because I am tailoring this blog to my readers as opposed to making it a digital diary, I was really hesitant to publish this post now because my last few have been rather heavy. However, as my “editor” and photography pointed out, much of what Cambodia is today has been shaped by its history revolving around this topic. Many believe that the Khmer Rouge … Continue reading walking on their graves
Any thought, any idea, any theory, is simply a way of seeing, a way of viewing an object from a particular vantage point. It may be useful, but that usefulness is dependent upon particular circumstances – the time, the place, the conditions to which it is applied. If our thoughts are taken to be final, to include all possibilities, to be exact representations of reality, … Continue reading poetry is good for the soul
It was a surreal moment as I watched a scantily clad, beautiful young Khmer woman saunter down a hallway inside the Red Light district “mall” here in Phnom Penh. Dull, flickering LED lights cast bouncing patterns on the brightly painted red walls, causing the whole hallway to glow. The further the young woman walked, the more the scarlet glow enveloped her figure, almost claiming it … Continue reading Red light…red light.
A little boy tromping down the street in man-size rain boots; a waitress with a face so chemical-stained white she looks like a mime; an ecstatic toddler poking his head up over the seat to look behind the tuk-tuk as he rides along with his family: these are the moments that ground me as I finish up my first week of living in Phnom Penh. … Continue reading Cambodian iced coffee > Starbucks
Apparently Cambodians idolize Korean and Chinese fashion and beauty, which would explain why most of the facial products that are for sale here contain skin lightening chemicals. It is so extremely ironic to have been in America a week ago where members of my own family use skin tanning lotion to be here in Cambodia where the Cambodians do what they can to make their … Continue reading The grass is always greener on the other side…even though yours is already green enough!
It’s bound to happen to all travelers at some point–I missed a flight for the first time ever! My flight out of Seattle to Seoul, Korea was over an hour late in leaving, causing me to miss my flight from Seoul to Phnom Penh. As I prepared to dash off the plane, I was hopeful that the next plane would wait for me (as the … Continue reading To eat or to sleep…the battle with jetlag
In less than 24 hours I will be on a plane bound for Phnom Penh, Cambodia! It seems unreal…it always does when I am about to leave the country. When I am breathing hot, humid Cambodian air is when it will hit me. There have been quite a few people who have told me that they don’t know where Cambodia is. So here is a … Continue reading I can smell the adventure!
I am excited to announce the next adventure that I will be going on! This summer I have been honored to be invited to work as a research intern with a very credible organization called Love146, which is a non-profit that fights against sex trafficking through research, rehabilitation, restoration, and awareness. The team I will be working with is located in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. For … Continue reading summer 2014 adventure!
Stowaways Welcome 