i am not a dark tourist, the world is a somber place

Arriving in Sri Lanka end of January this year, it struck me that over the past one and a half years, this was the third country with a really dreadful past that I was travelling.

Visiting a country and learning about its history can lead you to quite dark places. 

I'm not talking 'bout Stalingrad and WWII. No, here, dreadful past has been so recent that I do remember it being present, watching the news as a child.

How is that even possible? Am I subconsciously searching for terror and horror? Am I a dark tourist? Or is the world, sadly, just a quite somber place?

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CAMBODIA - a complete travel guide

"...now you can go where people are one
Now you can go where they get things done
What you need my son:
Is a holiday in Cambodia
Where people dress in black
A holiday in Cambodia
Where you'll kiss ass or crack..."

This is an excerpt from the song "Holiday in Cambodia" by the US band "The Dead Kennedys". Being a punk band, the lyrics are ment to grate on you in their very cynical way; and as a matter of fact, Cambodia has always been a synonym for murder and destruction and by no means a holiday destination; apart from Angkor, Asia's most important sanctuary, that has been a World Heritage Cultural site since 1992.

While Angkor Wat was always an admired historical and cultural site, the rest of the country was considered a grave yard filled with the victims of Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge. Four years that pushed the country back into the Stone Age.

Only when my friend Philippe told me about his plans of travelling to Cambodia, I took into consideration that it might be an interesting destination and a country worth exploring. I decided following his example.

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CAMBODIAN DIARY - 8th CHAPTER - Conclusion in Siem Reap

So this is the final chapter of my Cambodian Diary and I intended to call it 'Climax in Siem Reap' since I expected this stop to be this journey's highlight - and because I was counting on the sexual connotation to rocket me up the search engines.

The world famous reflection can be captured as well at 7 a. m.

But as a matter of fact, Siem Reap was not this trip's most memorable part; and even Angkor was only one of the highlights. But that's definitely a personal story. Here's a roundup of four days in Cambodia's tourist hot spot.

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CAMBODIAN DIARY - 7th CHAPTER - Couth on Thansur Bokor

It's almost spooky: In my last post I've complained about too many options, too little time - and today I got stuck since noon at a wonderful place in a luxurious hotel room with oodles of time to get a lot of pleasurable things done.

The golden Buddha at Wat Sampov Pram. One of the many sights we were not able to see on the first day in the mist.

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CAMBODIAN DIARY - 6th CHAPTER - Charming Kampot

I want more. Much more. Money? No way! I want time!

Wat Trauy Kooh on Fish Isle Kampot: Studying with a view

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CAMBODIAN DIARY - 5th CHAPTER - Connecting in Kep

Guess what: I managed to escape the fresh hell of Alcatraz aka Koh Rong Samloem.

One of the numberless fish hawkers on the famous Crab Market in Kep.

And since then it's all coming up R...enata.

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CAMBODIAN DIARY - 4th CHAPTER - Complete Chaos in Koh Rong Samloem

There are these really perfect days in Edenic locations that are perfect for me as a traveller, but are challenging me as a blogger - there is simply not much to write about. 'Pretty' is quickly described...and then there is not much left but enjoying and cherishing the moment.

As you can see, I began the day - and the boat trip full of optimism.

Today, my friends, was quite the opposite: extremely challanging for the traveller in me and a great gift for the blogger.

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CAMBODIAN DIARY - 3rd CHAPTER - Calmness in Koh Rong

A makeshift beach bar in the middle of nowhere.

You might not see it on this picture, but this chair just has my name on it....

You don't have a clue how beautiful nowhere can be!

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CAMBODIAN DIARY - 2nd CHAPTER - Confusion in Sihanoukville

After today I think I should change my blog's name: Even after four days in Cambodia, I haven't said that loudly "bye" to myself. And the ongoing mishaps really keep on testing me big time.

Yes, don't frown. Mind you, it's a journey, not a vacation.

I want my life - and my travels, too - planned and organized just as booked.
My life - and my trip - don't seem to know...or they just don't care.

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