Your June 2017 Postcard from Norm: Return to the Kingdom

Return to the Kingdom  of Cambodia

From 2014 to 2016, I lived in Phnom, Penh, Cambodia and last month, I returned for ten days. I've documented some of my most memorable experiences for you here.

25 Facts about Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia is the world's biggest religious monument, built in the 12th century as a Hindu temple but later adopted by Buddhists. It also was the center of the mighty Khmer Empire, with one million residents in the 14th century, making it the largest city in the world before the Industrial Revolution. An image of Angkor Wat is also portrayed on Cambodia's flag and its currency, and scenes of the movie Lora Croft, Tomb Raider were shot inside the temple.

​Here are 25 facts about Angkor Wat - including footage of the temple from a helicopter! 

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A Wicced surprise

​I knew I was coming back to Cambodia to visit, and had booked the air tickets a month in advance. But I kept it a total secret so I could surprise my homie there, Kalvin “Wicced” Hang, who I hadn’t seen in about a year and a half.
 
So I did tell our one mutual friend, Johnny, who made sure Wicced would be in a certain bar after work. When I ninja’d (is that a word?) in behind him and pretended to bump into him, the look of surprise on his face was priceless. I had my tuk tuk driver film the encounter: 

You'll definitely want to read more about Wicced and the plight of the Deportee community in Cambodia. 

Remembering Anton

A big part of why I returned to Cambodia was to honor our fallen brother and friend, Anton Cavka, who passed away there in 2015, within hours of my arrival from the U.S. to meet him. 

Now, a year and a half later, I wanted to make sure that Anton was not forgotten. So I attended a Wat (temple), as is the Buddhist ritual. In a ceremony for the dead, a Buddhist monk was offered food, drink, coin, incense, flowers, etc., which he blessed in the presence of some of my favorite photographs of Anton. According to tradition, these things will find their way up to Anton in heaven, so he will be comforted and know that we’re thinking of him.

For this reason, it was an emotional return to Phnom Penh. But I know it’s what Anton would have wanted, and it felt good to pay tribute to his memory. I’m sure Anton is smiling down on all of us today.

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Lost on purpose

​“Take me anywhere – someplace where other tourists don’t go,” I told the tuk tuk driver, and that started our journey into the countryside and remote villages outside of Siem Reap. He proudly took me to his own village, where most of the people were dirt poor and lived with electricity for even a single light bulb or a fan. Still, we were welcome with smiles and waves, and he told me it was fine to leave my backpack in the tuk tuk because no one would steal it. He also took me to an immense field of water lilies – one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever laid eyes on – and the shores of a floating village. It was quite an excursion, leaving me grateful that I’d gotten lost on purpose.

Hello again, Phnom Penh

​Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia and one of the most dynamic, interesting, and livable cities in all of Asia. I lived here on and off for a couple years when I was in Cambodia, and it was a thrill to come back and see it all through different eyes. But it was heartwarming that I was the tuk tuk drivers, the kids at the riverside park, and even the lady that ran my favorite street side coconut stand all recognized me instantly. I can write a whole book about Phnom Penh’s history and culture but, for now, I’ll just present you with a few of my favorite photographs from this trip.
 

Something remarkable about this Cambodian orphanage

​One of the highlights of my trip back to Cambodia was reconnecting with a few of the charities that I’ve helped there. More than just fundraising and advocacy, these people are my friends, and I’m honored to know them. I’ve told you about Sitha and Sreymom at the Children’s Improvement Organization orphanage, as well as all my sisters at the Connecting Hands Training Café. But I got to visit a new charity this trip, and I saw something that was truly remarkable.
 
Some new friends of mine took me on a 30-minute tuk tuk ride outside of Phnom Penh, where we found the Sunflower Family orphanage. I was really impressed with Sunflower, and everyone there looked happy and healthy.

But there was one thing I found truly remarkable about the situation there. Find out what it was here.

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Ghosts in the road

Over the last few years, I've told you a lot about Cambodia: the warm people, the beauty, the fun times, and even those that are less fortunate who need our help. But after a while, it's hard not to become desensitized to the poverty and conditions, especially from their horrific past during the Khmer Rouge.
 
On this recent trip back to the Kingdom of Cambodia, I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon with an Australian gentleman who had spent many years in Cambodia. In fact, he was a young soldier for hire working for the United Nations in 1992, when the international community came into the country to help stabilize the political situation, improve conditions for the people, and set up free democratic elections.
 
He told me a story about ghosts rising from the road one night that stuck with me. I'll share it with you here. 

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