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     We weren't struck by Cambodia's landscapes. No heavenly beaches with translucent water, no karst rock, not even lush vegetation. And yet... We fell in love with Cambodia immediately. As soon as we arrived, we felt right at home. Unlike Thailand, not everything here is dazzling or flamboyant, and yet a gentle, authentic simplicity emanates from every moment. Without knowing how to explain it, you feel good. Perhaps it's the sincere smile of the people who welcome you? With their history, their desire to share their culture with the world and their resilience, the Cambodians are a real source of inspiration.

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We began our discovery of Cambodia with a visit to Kampot, a small town by the sea whose pepper is renowned the world over. Then we headed for Koh Ta Kiev, a small island with no access to running water, electricity or the internet, where it's great to spend the day lounging on the beach. Then it's on to Siem Reap and the incredible temples of Angkor, to immerse yourself in the history of the Khmer kingdoms. Siem Reap is also a small town with a European flair, home to cafés, restaurants and shops with a social mission. Our journey continues in Battambang, for the moment spared from mass tourism, where it's good (if a little too hot) to observe its pretty temples and Cambodian life. Finally, we enter the remote Ratanakiri region, where our programme includes waterfalls and a rest on a family farm.

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Our favourite thing about Cambodia was simply wandering along its desert roads, exchanging smiles with its inhabitants, immersing ourselves in its history and discovering the positive impact projects that are being developed there.

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Our favourite place 

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It's very complicated to choose our favourite place in Cambodia! All our stops were very different from one another, and we recommend them all...

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But we're going to tell you about Kampot! Although the town centre is still touristy, it's very pleasant to stroll around and have a drink by the river. A few dozen minutes away by scooter, the salt marshes offer a beautiful spectacle at sunset, and it's very pleasant to eat and relax in a wooden hut on the banks of Lake Brateak Krola. The pepper plantations invite you to take a tour and then enjoy a sensory tasting, while the Preah Monivong national park is the ideal place for walking and hiking. Kampot is a great place to stay, and there's plenty to do in the region for just a few days!

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What's for dinner?

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The typical Cambodian dish, amok!

Traditionally cooked with fish, it's a curry rich in lemongrass and served in a banana leaf. We loved it, and can't wait to cook it when we get back to France!

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In Siem Reap, we can't recommend the Banlle restaurant enough. Its vegetarian, Khmer and Western cuisine is prepared using organic vegetables from their garden. The atmosphere and decor are chic, and the prices are low.

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A lovely meeting

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A very inspiring meeting was with the Phare team.

Phare is a company, a charity, a circus and a school all rolled into one, with the aim of transforming the lives of young Cambodians and their families through art, education and social support. At Phare, students can practice painting, dance, circus, music, graphic design and animation. We met several members of the team as well as students, and we were impressed by their desire to share Cambodian culture and heritage, as well as their project to promote ethical tourism and a society based on solidarity.

If you're interested in their project, we'll see you in our next interview ;)

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I wanted to end this newsletter with an issue that we often come across when travelling: children as tourist attractions. Here are two cases we've come across: 

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All too often, on the social networks of travellers we meet, we see portraits of children, very often accompanied by a location. It makes me deeply uncomfortable. Even if the intention is not bad, this practice exposes these children to risks such as human trafficking, which is unfortunately more common than we think. In any case, the children are not in a position to give their consent, whether because of their age or the language barrier. It is unacceptable for their image to be used for content on social networks.

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The activities offered to tourists sometimes include school visits. Schools are not zoos designed to satisfy the curiosity of foreigners! Just imagine a bus full of tourists arriving at a school in France to take photos and videos of the children. Even if the pretext is to give lessons or bring in school supplies, this kind of visit is completely inappropriate.

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As travellers, let's make a commitment to protect children and keep them away from prying eyes!