Ruminations on Cambodia

We have only been in Cambodia for about 3 days now, but already I feel like I have much to say about this place. A cursory look around will reveal that this is indeed one of the poorest countries in the world: houses are made out of straw and wood, people on every street corner and begging, and basic amenities do not exist. There are no - count them, zero - social welfar programs in the entire country. Either you have a lot, or you have nothing. There is no middle class, nothing inbetween the extremes. But despite the destitue nature of the country, there is an optomistic hope in the air. This is a country that 30 years ago was a "no go" zone - ruled by a genocidal dictator who killed millions of his own people, Cambodia is in a state of renewal and redefinition. In a country where things are changing (mostly for the better) rapidly on a daily basis, its a country that is standing at a cross-roads and is deeply confused as to what its destiny holds. On the street you will see oxen strolling down and behind them what looks like a new hotel going up. You can only look at Cambodians with awe - a truely resilent people, they have emerged victorious from a bloody and grusome past and are trying to build a new future. With nothing to keep them going, they still smile and work towards reclaiming a country they can be proud of.