Here are some thoughts after moving to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
After living in South America and traveling to India, I thought I would be completely prepared to move to Cambodia. Everyone seemed to agree that it is a very beautiful and relaxed country and that it really deserved its nickname of the “land of smiles”. However, I am not sure what I was expecting coming out of Phnom Penh International Airport but I felt pretty overwhelmed with everything. It suddenly looked and smelled like India, only a little less loud.
Apart from India, it is the first Asian country that I visit, and during the half an hour ride from the airport to my new home, I could not stop myself from comparing the two countries (even though both places are completely different).
I guess when you move to a place, you always have that feeling: what am I doing here? I recall having the same mixed and confused feelings between excitement, fear and stress when moving to Buenos Aires. You fear that you would not enjoy this new home as much as you would have liked to. So everyone probably feels the same, especially when moving to a completely different place with a really different culture.
After traveling around Cambodia for a week and spending a few days in Phnom Penh, I quickly started to get used to the city. Crossing the road didn’t seem that difficult anymore, I discovered a ton of amazing restaurants and cafes, cool stores with very cheap shopping and met so many friendly Cambodians and expats.
I took all the pictures above on Silk Island, a small island very close to Phnom Penh. It was one of those day activities were you feel like: Ok I LOVE this city now. There is so much to discover, the people are amazingly friendly, the kids are always saying “hello” and waving at you and the nature is beautiful. This island is so close to the city and it is so perfect to relax and spend the day before heading back to Phnom Penh numerous places to go out.
I am so happy to have the strength to move places like that and to be able to experience so much by staying a year or half a year somewhere.
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Travel Tori 