People of Cambodia There are many reasons to visit Cambodia: the amazing temples of Angkor, the beautiful countryside of Battambang & Ratanakiri Provinces, the entertaining nightlife of Phnom Penh and the laid back atmospehere of the southern coast.  For us, the one aspect that tops all of these attractions is the friendly and generous people of Cambodia.  We often found oursleves lingering longer than expected in some places because of the overwhelming hospitality of the people.  Below are some photographs of some of the people that made our visit to Cambodia such a unique and memorable experience.

This family approached us on one of our first days in Cambodia as we were visiting Angkor Wat.  At first, they were interested in our digital camera but soon found that the people behind the camera were far more entertaining.

This young man took over the driving duties on this large passenger boat as his father went to fix a small luggage problem at the back.  The children of Cambodia are facinating, taking on responsibilities at a much younger age than children in the western world.

Visiting the local markets in Cambodia is a lesson in both language and food.  The woman above is selecting fresh vegetables for our lunch in the provincial capital of Battambang.  The market women are some of the most interesting and funny people in Cambodia, usually they come to the provincial capitals from small villages to sell their fresh produce.

A shy child plays while the women of the family weave bamboo mats in the shade under their house.  The children of Cambodia are a great source of entertainment, especially on a long bus or boat journey, as they are quite clever and always curious about westerners.

Some of the best guides in Cambodia are the local children who often know more about the area than the best adult guides.  These three young gentlemen guided us around an old Khmer Rouge artillery base and Killing Field outside of Battambang.

Drinking alcohol is a great way to get to know the locals so for educational purposes we invested much time and energy into this activity.  Above, Brian and our friend Ro are drinking locally made palm wine from a bamboo container.

This woman is making sweet sticky rice in bamboo by the side of the road.  In Cambodia, the roads are lined with foodstalls always packed with many colorful and friendly locals.

A young girl taking care of her little brother while waiting for the bamboo train to arrive.  For some reason, she was particularly interested in Brian and really enjoyed having her picture taken.

This young and enterprising little girl guided us around the temples of Udong in central Cambodia.  Even at such a young age, she spoke excellent english and was able to provide us with historical information about the temples.

A young boy playing with a kitten as we escaped the hot afternoon sun in the shade of Wat Nokor in Kampong Cham, Cambodia.  We stayed at the Wat for a few hours talking Cambodian history with the monks and watching the children play under the shade of the temple roof.

While spending several hours waiting for a bus in Udong, we made friends with the girls who ran the restaurant at the bus stop.  They were eager to practice their english as most young Cambodians are and they also taught us Khmer.  They delighted in telling us that we were only the Second American couple that they had ever met.

Vendor at Wat Hancheay eagerly squeezing a glass of sugarcane juice for your humble narrarators.  The monks at this Wat were particularly friendly and also eager to practice their english.

Our very funny guides in Ban Lung, Cambodia near the border with Laos and Vietnam.  In our opinion, the people of Ban Lung have the best sense of humor in Cambodia.

Another drinking extravaganza with the famous and very hip Mr. Leng, owner of the Ratanak Hotel in Ban Lung, Cambodia.

Curious locals trying to figure out what the hell a digital camera is and how it operates.  Cambodians are very inquisitive and will not hesitate to ask questions about our gear, where we are from or why we do not have any children after being together for so long.

Our good friend from Phnom Penh, Tep Phak Dey Long.  He showed us his favorite hangouts in the capital city, including this hammock restaurant overlooking the Tonle Sap River.  This well kept secret of Phnom Penh has no chairs, only hammocks, so you know we loved it.

A schoolboy playing in between classes as we visited a provincial school in the Kampong Cham Province.

Another good friend, Damay, from the Mekong Crossing Restaurant in Kampong Cham.  She taught us so much of the Khmer language that we are forever in her debt.

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