The White Building

On my first night in Cambodia my friend Scott grabbed me some free reading materials to help me plan my trip. They included restaurant and hostel reviews as well as general information about the culture of Cambodia. While on my 8 hour bus to Siem Reap I took one out and grew fascinated, not by the delicious restaurants that awaited me, but by a simple building in the middle of the capital city. The small magazine revolved around the possible demolition of the building and what it would mean for residents, history, and general culture of the Khmer( Cambodian) people.

I was shocked at my general interest in the topic and quickly devoured the entirety of the magazine.

It made me sad to see that the government might be willing to tear down a building of historical significance, leaving thousands without homes, or with the potential of losing their nearby job. I visited later the week and marveled at the small community I had entered. I felt as though, even though it was poor, I wished I could belong to it. I wanted to be invited to join in a game with the kids or help the women do their dishes and cook.

A few days later, in the city of Kampot me and my friends took a motorbike ride in the mountains. The fresh air was incredible and as I cruised around stopped to admire the mountain views, I was quickly reminded of why I loved traveling and how important nature is. When we reached the top of the mountain, I was greeted with the biggest eye sore you could imagine. In front of me stood a modern looking casino resort, painted tan with bright golden pillars.

I'm of the understanding that society must advance. The population is increasing quickly, we have mouths to feed, and heads that need rest. But it would also appear to me that there are ways to do this that do not ruin culture or nature for future travelers.

For example: instead of making a modern, ultra classy casino and resort why not make a resort that blends in with the surrounding mountainside. Log cabins or small brown and green buildings would be much more appreciated than a gigantic, flat, fake- gold building.

And wouldn't it be better to renovate The White Building to be more safe for its residents and begin to offer more information for tourist about the interesting culture and history behind it?

Just a little thought as I leave this amazing country.