he world to me is like a blank, white canvas and every new color that I paint onto it is a new place that I’ve had the opportunity to explore. It never seems to matter how

many colors I move from the palette to the canvas since the colors can never quite fill the page. I am always discovering new crevices or corners that cannot be reached, even with the thinnest of thin paint brushes. Like a moth to a flame I have the insatiable desire to travel the world and discover new destinations, which led me to Phnom Penh,

Cambodia. Cambodia, a third-world country where the first language is unbeknownst to me, the money currency consists of absurdly large numbers on their bills and there is not a single familiar face in sight. Yet I knew what I was getting myself into when I made the decision to embark on this solo trip.

AttractionsAfter arriving in Phnom Penh via plane and grabbing a quick lunch, I jumped right into my search for the closest tourist attraction with nothing but myself and the giant backpack on my back. My search for the

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Perusing Phnom Penh Written by Stacy Dahl

MAY 2019MAY 2019

nearest tourist attraction, which in this case was Wat Phnom, happened to be the tallest wat in the city. This particular sight is a favorite among locals who enjoy lingering with loved ones and children. It is also an ideal place for people to come and worship. The calm atmosphere up on the hill compared to the congested city streets below made for a peaceful first experience.

During my time in Phnom Penh, I made several trips to the popular Central Market, the perfect place to bargain for low prices on clothes and shoes. I managed to get the price lowered on a pair (or two) of cute Cambodian elephant pants that I so badly wanted and picked up a new backpack and sunglasses.

Cambodian Cuisine My mornings in Phnom Penh consisted of visits to local cafes and smoothie shops since I am obsessed with both drinks. Down the street from my hostel I was lucky to find a local shop that made fresh fruit smoothies and juices. I remember one morning I bought two fruit smoothies at once because they were so delicious and nice to drink in the hot weather.

In the evenings once the sun had cooled, I ventured to different restaurants trying new dishes or eating Pho to satisfy the Vietnam-ese part of me. My favorite Cambodian dish that I tried is Lok Lak beef. It was like heaven on a plate and sadly I found this dish on my very last day in Cambodia. Had I known about it earlier, I would have substituted some of my bowls of Pho for plates of Lok Lak, but still it is better to have tried it once rather than not at all, right?

Visiting UNICEF CambodiaAs someone who has a love for social justice and working with children, I managed to score a visit with the Child Protection Officer at UNICEF Cambodia. The non-profit organization works to promote awareness of child abuse issues in Cambodia as well as provide educational classes on how to detect these issues and prevent them. UNICEF also works to keep children in their home with their family rather placing them in residential care institutions with strangers since this is detrimental to both their mental health and emotional well-being. I am grateful to have stepped inside UNICEF’s office and learn of the great work that they do.

From my perspective, Phnom Penh is a city where there is much more than meets the eye. It is a city filled with culture and religion, love and life. Although I was only there for three days, I felt as though Phnom Penh

welcomed me with open arms. A place that welcoming and enchanting is hard to leave, so when I left I didn’t say goodbye because I knew I would be back one day. Instead, I told myself that I would see Cambodia again soon.

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When I wasn’t shopping, I spent many hours walking along the Sisowath Quay, a beautiful and extensive river located across from the Royal Palace. This portion of water was used during Water festivals in the past to watch boat races. A stroll along this river is both tranquilizing and scenic, as well as convenient since there are many tuk tuk drivers waiting along the curbs for tourists that are looking to go to their next destination.

Probably one of my favorite sites in Phnom Penh; however, was the National Museum of Cambodia. I arrived in the evening when the sun was just beginning to set. As the sun set, candles were lit that reflected beautifully on the gold flecks among the buildings. All around me were tourists from around the world and monks with shaved heads dressed in orange garments.

Of all the places I visited; however, I found the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum to be the most moving. The museum was the actual place in which the Cambodian genocide took place and the Khmer Rouge Prison was where people were tortured. For a small price, you can rent an audio tape that will tell you in English the tragic story that took place 40 years ago. It may not be the most pleasant experience, but it is an important part of history that should be known about and remembered.

he world to me is like a blank, white canvas and every new color that I paint onto it is a new place that I’ve had the opportunity to explore. It never seems to matter how

many colors I move from the palette to the canvas since the colors can never quite fill the page. I am always discovering new crevices or corners that cannot be reached, even with the thinnest of thin paint brushes. Like a moth to a flame I have the insatiable desire to travel the world and discover new destinations, which led me to Phnom Penh,

Cambodia. Cambodia, a third-world country where the first language is unbeknownst to me, the money currency consists of absurdly large numbers on their bills and there is not a single familiar face in sight. Yet I knew what I was getting myself into when I made the decision to embark on this solo trip.

AttractionsAfter arriving in Phnom Penh via plane and grabbing a quick lunch, I jumped right into my search for the closest tourist attraction with nothing but myself and the giant backpack on my back. My search for the

22 23

traveltravel

Perusing Phnom Penh Written by Stacy Dahl

MAY 2019MAY 2019

nearest tourist attraction, which in this case was Wat Phnom, happened to be the tallest wat in the city. This particular sight is a favorite among locals who enjoy lingering with loved ones and children. It is also an ideal place for people to come and worship. The calm atmosphere up on the hill compared to the congested city streets below made for a peaceful first experience.

During my time in Phnom Penh, I made several trips to the popular Central Market, the perfect place to bargain for low prices on clothes and shoes. I managed to get the price lowered on a pair (or two) of cute Cambodian elephant pants that I so badly wanted and picked up a new backpack and sunglasses.