During a two-week motorcycle journey across Cambodia, Matador contributor Allen Burt experiences the contrasts of a country steeped in beauty and ancient grandeur, yet overshadowed by a recent bloody past.

THE ROAD IS NARROW and the traffic is…interesting? Cows wander aimlessly, playing a perpetual game of Frogger with each passing bus and farm tractor. Locals scream by on scooters hauling everything from live chickens and hogs to dressers and bed frames.

I’m stuck in the middle of the madness — clinging to the seat of a rusty dirt bike I learned to ride yesterday. My companions and I have set out to pierce the heart of this misunderstood country, and it’s going to be one hell of a ride.

Our journey begins in Phnom Penh…

Photo Essay
 

About The Author

Allen Burt

Allen Burt is a social entrepreneur and intrepid traveler. Follow his travels and non-profit ventures on Twitter @allenburt and at www.socioeconomicventures.org.

  • http://panoptican.org/words panoptican

    Fantastic photo essay! Would’ve loved to seen more on the road between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap? What route did you end up taking (i.e. north or south of the lake)?

  • http://wayworded.blogspot.com/ Hal

    Great job, Allen. Your photos brought me right back to my brief passage through the country 3 years ago.

  • http://musictravelwrite.wordpress.com Michelle

    Gorgeous photos! Number 8 is my favorite- how strangely beautiful.

  • http://thebusinessofadvertising.blogspot.com Esha Samajpati

    Awesome collection of photos, Allen. Loved it!

  • http://thelonglayover.blogspot.com Carlo Alcos

    I love that one with the guy washing the elephant.

  • http://matadortravel.com/travel-community/candicew86 Candice

    Loved the elephant washing one too!

  • alan

    Thanks for the awesome pictures. Cambodia looks like an amazing country.

  • http://www.allenburt.com Allen Burt

    We took the route above the lake if I remember correctly. It is a beautiful route!

  • http://www.allenburt.com Allen Burt

    Thanks for all the compliments! It was an amazing journey in a fantastic country. (I think the elephant shots are my favorites too!)

  • Nitza

    I love everything about your picture’s and I hope someday I can return back to Cambodia.

    Aloha,
    Nitza

  • http://andardelevante.wordpress.com rita moreno

    Great pictures. I’ve just returned rom SE Asia and this essay took me back to Cambodia. did you go to Battambang? I loved it!

  • http://www.allenburt.com Allen Burt

    Glad you liked them. We didn’t make it to Battambang . . . guess I need to go back!

  • http://matadorabroad.com Tim Patterson

    Awesome photos, Cambodia is a very special place.

  • http://Www.michaelsberner.com Michael

    We tool the road to the south of the lake, actually. Awesome

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