Phnom Penh, Mekong River

Tonight I walked from my hotel for dinner in downtown Phnom Penh - about .5 mile.

It was exhilarating. Entertaining. Hopeful of a a happy future for Cambodia. I never felt crowded or targeted or out of place.

The food and view's of the river were idyllic. The Night Market was full of families enjoying dinner on blankets, kids played on bikes and tossed balls along huge open well lite terraces. Tourists walked the stalls buying watches and T-shirts. At times it was a carnival like atmosphere. Bar's with girls offering to share a drink, tuk-tuk's hawking their rides - other times like taking the kids to the park. All-the while, I never felt one person attempting to intimidate me. I felt safer than walking in Rio along Copacabana - that's for sure!

I see perseverance in these people that I've never witnessed elsewhere. Food seems plentiful, tuk-tuks, car's hotels everywhere. Tourism booming, but so is industry. The most danger here is crossing the streets. With virtually no stop lights, the traffic never offers a pause. Eventually you just have to go-for-it. Somehow I managed to not get swiped by a motorcycle.

I'm lucky to have stopped here long enough to feel city life in Cambodia.

In another 10 years this place will explode to a huge mega-city. Great to see it now.