Sihanoukville
A beachy, two day pit stop along our Cambodian tour. Without much research we figured, why not fly out of here on our way to Siem Reap.
Well there’s a few reasons why. The first and most important is the lack of air safety standards in Cambodia. Do you remember 2007? Have you of the missing flight that mysteriously crashed on route from Siem Reap to Sihounakville? PMTair Flight 241! I hadn’t remembered this important detail until after I booked our flight.
I’ve been struggling with an intense discomfort with flying. When I was young–I felt a little uneasy, but as I’ve gotten older the fear has steadily grown. It comes in the form of full on panics, sometimes crying, always reasoning with death, etc. etc. etc. I’ve been improving over the course of our 20 or so flights so far (with a few hiccups here and there.) I was feeling ready to challenge my fear further and book a flight on a propeller plane (after vigorous research that our exact model of plane is in fact safe.) A few articles down I found myself spiraling. PMTair Flight 241 crashed on this route ten years ago. Could I really make it onto this plane?
I’ve very carefully considered cancelling the flight and taking the 8 hours drive instead. I also considered calling my mom about it. But I know she will panic even worse and send me into another few sleepless nights. SO. If you read this post I’ve made it to Siem Reap safely, with my mental wellbeing intact.
Most fear is irrational. I know this specific fear is especially irrational. There’s nothing you’re going to say that will erase my fear.
Made it there safely.
The second reason we’re nervous about visiting is the poverty. Our trip is entirely selfish. We can come somewhere and support their business, donate small amounts of money, or just simply hear their story and empathize. But I was hit with a serious wave of helplessness and hopelessness on a trip through a few villages.
We met locals who complained of the Chinese industry booming in the area. What was once unfrequented rice paddies is now empty dirt fields and the skeletons of mega hotels. There isn’t very much at all here as of now. A few small hotels, hostels, and restaurants. There aren’t very many tourists yet either. But there are cranes, piles of debris, and imported construction crews. He complained that the rise of hotels could’ve created jobs for the villages, but with the hotels and construction comes the workers. China builds shops, hotels, supermarkets, restaurants, bars, cab companies, and so on with their own labor. These businesses only employ their own people. It sounds like gentrification on a grand scale. And there’s nothing anyone can do. He thanked us for supporting Cambodian businesses and dropped us back off at our beachside luxury hotel.
That’s pretty much the second reason why we were nervous to visit (in a nutshell.)
