contrast.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

After reviewing my last blog post with just pictures I quickly realized that some elaboration was needed.

Recently, we have been doing and seeing so much that I haven’t had a lot of time to type up (and post) all that has been taking place, and therefore have started posting picture blogs from time to time.

Although looking through the last couple of pictures I posted of our time in Cambodia, I began to feel as though they were portraying a very surface, one-dimensional image of our some of our encounters here and decided I need to explain some of what we’ve been seeing.

First of all, Cambodia is a wonderful country.  It is very beautiful and the people are incredibly friendly.

In my experience though, Cambodia has shown the most contrast of all of the places we’ve visited thus far.

As soon as we left the airport and were driving to our hotel, I was instantly blown away by the sheer number of Lexus SUVs.  I am not exaggerating when I say that they are everywhere.  I have also noticed a high number of Range Rovers and Hummers littering the streets.

On the other hand though, Cambodia is stricken with people in need.

First arriving in Phnom Penh proved to be an adjustment for myself and my group as we were surrounded by people in dire need as soon as we stepped foot outside of our hotel.

There are individuals who are missing limbs due to landmines, disheveled mothers holding naked children asking for money on the side of the street, and children without shoes running up and down the streets either trying to sell things to tourists or simply asking for money and food.

The children here sell just about everything: books, bracelets, and at Angkor Wat they also sold wooden flutes, refrigerator magnets, bottled water, sliced pineapple, packs of postcards, decorative mobiles, grass bracelets and so forth.

This situation has proven to be a catch-22.

On one hand you always hear about how it’s bad to give money to children begging on the street because there is usually a “big guy” behind them who gets all of the money and who is only extorting the children.  We’ve also heard people here say not to buy from the children on the street because their parents don’t let them go to school so they can sell and earn money.

But when there’s a young face in front of you pleading for help, and only one dollar is standing between you and them, what are you to do?

I wish I could give each person in need who approaches me money, but what if my dollar is doing more harm than good?  Also, I only have so much money to give.

I feel as though my group would agree that Cambodia has presented a definite moral dilemma for us all.

And while it would be easy to simply not present such matters and only discuss the happier topics, that would only be telling half of the story.

Unfortunately, I do not know what the answer is. 

I wish that I could help all of the individuals – young and old – we encounter here on a daily basis.  But I guess for now, I will have to be satisfied with the little assistance I can provide and would hope that those reading this would take the time to realize that these issues are out there, and if nothing else, we should strive to be grateful for all of the gifts life continues to offer us each and every day.