Christmas in Cambodia...

... is not like the usual fare
running lights were scarce
a few Christmas trees here and there
nothing more, nothing less

Having said that, the hotel we stayed at
Was excellent in every regard
Wooden furniture used to decorate
Clean and comfortable rooms for a start

The many temples scattered around Siem Reap
Were significantly ruined and truly ancient
It was amazing, some from the 11th century
Those cold sand stones, forever a sign of divine revelation

She is trying to pick herself up, Cambodia
After years of colonization and further oppression
By some of her own leaders that inflicted terror
As evidenced by a trip to the land mine museum

It's a funny thing driving in that country
The vehicles have right and left hand drive
But traffic flows on the right side slowly
Not unlike the pace of life



One of the seven wonders is Angkor Wat ( Hindu )
Personally I preferred another one called Bayon ( Buddhist )
Inside the gateway of Angkor Thom, it's a part
Also the intricate stone carvings under giant trees called Ta Phrom

Tonle Sap lake was big and it was a parking lot
For floating houses that come and go with its ebb and flow
The strange thing was, Cambodians the inhabitants they were not
Mostly Vietnamese, it was surprising to know

The night markets were full of stalls
Selling the same kinds of things
US dollars and Cambodian riels were used by all
Products were cheap and nobody was complaining

I hadn't seen any discos or clubs around
But the Pub Street has a few pubs ( how apt )
That stretch looked so much like Patpong
Difference is the locals don't meet Caucasians at the hub

I think Cambodians as a people are humbled by poverty
To make ends meet, the peaceful majority farm
I was astonished they spoke English fluently
I hope their future will be more certain in years to come
USD 1 = 3900 riels