(Jason) We boarded a small propeller plane set on a short flight to Cambodia. Throughout the whole ride the tiny plane rattled in the air as we flew over fields and forests to reach our destination. In total we were waiting at the airport for longer than we were in the air.
(Theo) The difference between Saigon and Phnom Penh was immediately noticeable from the air. Above the city, I noticed the many rusted and blue roofs, signifying the mass of amount of poverty in Cambodia shining even in its capital city. After we touched down, walking out from the plane down into the airport felt very strange with the sudden change in temperature and the dirty ground. After waiting a long time for our visas, we finally made it out of the small airport and into a relatively large bus, just like the one we used in Vietnam.
(Theo) The bus ride took about an hour and felt like it took two. While we drove, the despair situation for many Cambodians stuck out like a sore thumb. The city was littered with construction cites, all displaying grand plans and sketches of what the future might look like with their modern compounds, if they were ever to be made. It felt like only one out of the many, many cites had any progress done at all, asides from being an empty lot full of Chinese funded cranes. About half way through the ride, it started to rain and we had also reached the middle of the busy city. Throughout our drive, luxury car dealerships also seemed to be very common, despite the lack of money twirled into modern Cambodian culture. Maybe the dealerships were only for the mass of corrupt government officials, but something did not seem right. Aside from the many stray dogs and carts driven by children, the most startling scene was of a man, dressed in a nice suit, in front of a large bank, spraying his new pickup truck with gallons of water from a green hose, as giant droplets of water fell from the skies in large quantities onto his new car. Maybe it was his smile, but to see the pure ludicrousness of the situation was very startling for me in our well air-conditioned bus.
(Jason) After our lengthy bus ride in the bustling city of Phnom Penh we reached the Cambodian Living Arts Center. First, we had our first meal in Cambodia which was comprised of soup, flowers, and other exotic goods. After finishing lunch we headed to the center’s dance stage to learn traditional Cambodian dancing. We watched dance students perform a plethora of advanced moves and techniques. Next, we were taught how to warm-up for Cambodian dance, various hand movements, and finally a dance piece. Overall, the experience at the Cambodian Living Arts Center was memorable and a good way to start off are journey through Cambodia.
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