Cambodia and Vietnam January'2020

Interesting fact: The Khmers were red because they came down from the red clay mountains, not because they were communists. And Pol Pot is not only a beautiful pseudonym but also an acronym for French “politique potentielle.”

The last-year three-week trip to optimistic Vietnam and developing Cambodia was rich for amazing places and fascinating things. Here is my Top-10 chart:

1. Curious young monkeys near Angkor Wat

I’m afraid they’ve interested me a bit more than the temple complex itself. They adore bananas, can open bottles with water, and might be a bit aggressive if you don’t give them what they want.

2. Lemurs at the zoo on Phu Quoc Island

They like grapes and raisins and they freely stroll through the zoo.

3. Pho bo

This is the tastiest soup I've tried. You can compare it to the best Japanese Ramen or the most saturated Korean Guksu. Made on the basis of the beef broth and served with mint and basil leaves, it will astonish you with the combination of flavors.

4. S21 Genocide Museum in the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh

I’ve remembered one story told by a museum guide.

During the Khmer Rouge reign, one American was unlucky enough to land on the coast of Cambodia. He was 27 and wanted to travel around the world.

During interrogation and torture at S-21 prison, he was required to confess in collaboration with the KGB, CIA, and MI-5. He named Colonel Kentucky (using the name of the famous KFC founder as inspiration) as his “accomplices,” as well as fictional characters from Disney cartoons and Hollywood films.

I remembered this story so well because it was accompanied by photographs of a typical handsome, good-natured joker.

5. The temple complex of Angkor Wat with its thousand-year-old stones and centenarian trees

We were lucky enough to get there at the end of the day when most tourists have already left. If you want to enjoy the temple complex all alone, avoid touristic buses and opt for bikes and scooters to be more independent in your logistics. There is also a large open crafts workshop near Angkor Wat, where you can see how the restoration is happening and buy some silk, porcelain, wood, or cosmetic goods.

6. Workers of a textile factory near Phnom Penh on the roofs of vans and in cages attached to cars

Our bus was trapped for about an hour until a series of vehicles laden in this way has passed. Cambodia is among the top ten countries in the world in textile export.

A key factor playing a decisive role in developing the textile industry in Cambodia is the relatively low labor costs. Khmer textile worker salary is $80 to $150 per month.

7. A crowd of scooters in Saigon and complete non-compliance with local traffic rules

There is no place for pedestrians or cars. You can securely shift from one place to another only if you have a scooter.

8. Waterfalls and mountain spiral roads of Dalat, a town in central Vietnam

Dalat is called the Vietnamese Holland. The city exports vegetables like artichokes and asparagus, and various flowers, including hundreds of types of tulips.

9. A museum prison on Phu Quoc. In the seventies, communists and other “unreliable citizens” were exiled to this island.

10. Transparent and warm sea of ​​the Gulf of Siam, in which one could easily observe shivers of colorful fishes.

Along with these peculiarities, I should also mention a war museum in Saigon, Friendly dogs of Phu Quoc, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, garum-type fish seasoning that makes Khmer cuisine smell and taste like durian, a crowd of ripped kickboxing promoters on pub-street in Siem Reap, and a workshop factory near Angkor Wat.

Another memorable part of this trip was the beautiful but insidious meat I’ve got poisoned by at Pub Street in Siem Reap.

Now, instead of "I can eat anything! My stomach is invulnerable and can digest nails!" I have to say, "How many times have you sterilize this fruit before you make me a smoothie?"