Sunday, March 22, 2025

This is Ms. Sharma reporting on our first day in Cambodia. I’m writing on behalf of a group of very exhausted, yet very happy students. We are incredibly proud of how gracefully they navigated a long and demanding journey. Even after arriving at our hotel, their spirit for adventure carried them through a full and meaningful first day.

We landed in hot and humid Phnom Penh this morning, where we were warmly welcomed by our two local guides, Mony and Silong, who will be accompanying us throughout the trip. They met us with an air-conditioned bus and led us on a drive that gradually revealed the textures of rural Cambodia.

After a 2.5-hour journey, we arrived in Kampot. Along the way, students caught glimpses of pagodas, temples, and Tuk-Tuks weaving through the landscape. A highlight of the ride was an impromptu singalong—led enthusiastically by the students—to Carly Rae Jepsen’s Call Me Maybe, along with a few other favorites. (video below) 

We arrived in Kampot and enjoyed a delicious lunch at Le Corner, where students were introduced to the vibrant flavors of Cambodian cuisine: lemongrass, galangal, ginger, and the region’s world-renowned Kampot pepper.

Following lunch, we settled into our bright and comfortable rooms and took some time to refresh before gathering for a two-hour cultural orientation led by our guides. This session offered a thoughtful introduction to Cambodian culture, along with a detailed overview of the itinerary for the days ahead.
The students played games and repeated words in Khmer and the session ended with a traditional Cambodian scarf called the Krama that was gifted to each student. The students eagerly sported that around their neck and learned how to drape them traditionally.

We ended the evening with a peaceful walk along the river, followed by dinner featuring Amok, a traditional fish curry delicately cooked in coconut milk. Our adventure has only begun but all in all, a rich and memorable start to our journey. I am including below a few pictures and a video taken during our day and the blog will continue in the voice of the students starting tomorrow.