Tourist

Tourists are ridiculous. I'm a tourist. I know I am. I accept that. I take photos of sunsets, buildings and famous landmarks. Occasionally, I need a self portrait in front of the Arc d'Triomphe or Big Ben and I think that is OK.

Last Saturday, I stopped in on a Cambodian village . While it was intense and interesting, it was the other tourists that struck me the most odd. Amongst the poverty-ridden people (to say the least) I witnessed two Chinese tourists pose with huge grins, choosing a background of shacks on stilts and children with protruding stomachs. Doesn't that seem weird to anyone else?

This reminded me of a few photos I came across months ago in Korea. I viewed a fellow American teacher cheesing it up and jumping around at the DMZ, where Koreans and Americans soldiers have died and a serious symbol of division. Is that appropriate?

Conversing with other travelers, I also find it a bit peculiar that the "thing to do" at some of the SE ASIA destinations is go to killing fields. One 18 year old Brit explained his itinerary in Phnom Penh, "Check out Khmer cuisine, the nightlife, the killing fields and get a massage." Uhhh, which one does not belong?

I understand the appeal; I really do; I just hope that those visiting recognize the significance.

As I walked away from the village, a young child came up. I had an apple in my pocket and she held out her hand. I gave it to her and took a picture of her without looking to see if it came out. On the boat ride back to Siem Reap I was browsing through my shots. I came across the blurred photo of the girl with a huge smile on her face staring at the apple. My insides turned. I'm just as bad as everyone else.

One of my favorite things about visiting other countries is immersing myself in the culture. I am finding it hard, thus far, to do that in Cambodia. I fear that since the Southeast Asia circuit is so popular the trip that I have been waiting to do the past 6 years will end in disappointment. I need to find a balance between embracing the tourist thing and not getting caught up in some of the exploitation that goes on here.