Cambodia, I love you.

Angkor Wat, Siem Reap

Angkor Wat, Siem Reap

Getting my fortune told! 

Angkor Wat, Siem Reap

Phnom Penh

And finally, Coco, in all her cuteness! 

I have profound pride being Cambodian and the entire culture being one entails. I was born in California, but grew up in Cambodia. And I thank my parents every day for that decision, because it's made me who I am today --a third culture kid. Understanding the diversity and the balance between tradition and modernity is something seldom experienced in today's rush towards westernization. So no matter how much I love being in trendy/hip New York City to fulfill the dreams I came here with, I always feel the need to go back home at least once a year. It's that sense of home, safety, genuineness, and family/friends that touches the most human core of any one. My parents always taught me that we must never forget where we came from to get to where we want to be. We sometimes lose sight of what's most important in our race to chase our dreams. With that said, I couldn't have started 2013 in any better way. 

Biases aside, I recommend EVERYONE to visit Cambodia one day. The rich history, the emanating culture and tradition, and of course the genuinely happy people are rarely so evident in a country. Cambodia is growing ever so tremendously. Each time I go back, I'm awestruck by the amount of progress it's made : Phnom Penh's bourgeoning city skyline, its rapid growth of businesses, and its widely popular night-life scene (with a very interesting choice of K-Pop music)! When I visited my best friend in Siem Reap (see my outfit post at her hotel), we made the trip to see the Angkor Wat Temples (something we rarely ever get to do because there's always just too many tourists). But when we got there, I felt a sense a sense of pride --everything we were and are was so simply reflected in this colossal, beautiful monument. We prayed, received our blessings, and made donations to the Gods. No matter how much I say I'm not religious, it's so deeply innate in my upbringing it's become natural to believe. Cambodia, you are always home to me and I can't wait to be back in the summer! 

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