Our last couple of days in Cambodia were spent in the small town of Svay Rieng, about 10 km from the border of Vietnam and the home of Maggie and Matt. Described as a transit town with "nothing to do" and "absolutely nothing to see" by Lonely Planet (which after a while is exactly what you're looking for), it provided us with two fantastic days with friends and time to tour the countryside by bicycle. The bustling market holds a treasure of delicious tropical fruits like mangoes, rambuttan, dragon fruit, mien, pomelos, and so many others we couldn't name. The roadside noodle soup warmed our stomachs. And Svay Rieng's only true restaurant, aptly named Svay Rieng Restaurant, served up delicious fare.
Maggie and Matt (thanks Matt for taking us in even before Maggie returned) were wonderful hosts, treating us to homemade hummus and a feast for breakfast and lots of great conversation. They were able to give us some insight into the issues that Cambodians face as they recover from their past. Their experience continues to remind me of how privileged we are to be able to discover and learn the way we are.Our bike rides took us along the river and through dirt paths to the now dry rice fields. We had a few conversations (well, at least exchanges of gestures and facial expressions) with curious onlookers.
The countryside contrasts so profoundly with Phnom Pehn and Siem Reap. Poverty is more evident. But so is community. As usual it was hard to leave. We wish we had planned more time in Cambodia but we had to head back to Beijing for a few days of work (I am definitely not complaining as the work which I will describe later was incredibly fun).
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