Cambodia

I can’t imagine why any foreign traveller would set foot in Cambodia without planning a stop at Angkor Wat, the famous ancient ruins. This place blew up in popularity after Angelina Jolie’s Tomb Raider, where I basically got all my previous knowledge of Angkor from. In the pictures, it looked so majestic and grand and beautiful. Be warned: if you ever want to visit, don’t. Or at least really think about it first. From a scale of 1 to disappointment, I was pretty let down.

Don’t get me wrong, the ruins themselves are BEAUTIFUL. Take a look at some of these:

Angkor Wat at sunrise

Angkor Thom

Inside the temples at dawn

Strangler fig growing all over the ruins

Sras Srang lake at sunrise

The people, however, were scumbags. This is only from my personal experience, but everywhere we went, there was a rip off waiting around the corner. Tourists were charged 10 times more for everything, and no one wanted to talk to you unless it was so sell you things. “Ladyyyy, you want to buy something? I give you for 5 dolla.” Their nagging voices will forever haunt me in my dreams. Women, men, children, disabled people, cats, dogs, you name it, they’re selling it.

I had to do this tourist trap though....fish massage! You put your foot (or whatever body parts you want) into this tank with these fish who will eat off your dead skin or fungus or AIDS leaving you feeling healthy and refreshed!

I know what it looks like, but it's more BA than a pedi

Some of the ruins were also under heavy construction. I hope it’ll get better and less unsightly in a few years.

Overall, I will never ever go back to Cambodia. Siem Reap is super touristy, and I heard Thailand is also pretty bad. Everyone thinks the Philippines is dangerous and thus it doesn’t get many visitors, but being far away from fellow travellers on a deserted beach is absolute paradise. The ruins, on the other hand, are just fucked.

The palace with the king's face emblazoned on the front. I aspire to be him one day.

They were selling Butto crackers everywhere. Kinda yummy.

Yippee!