Despite the beautiful backdrop and having the eighth wonder of the world in its backyard, Angkor Wat, life is no picnic for the Cambodians. In a rundown enclave of the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, hundreds of people are living in poverty. Cambodia’s poorest people are isolated, living in remote villages far from the basic social services and facilities. A visit to the health clinic can include a five kilometre walk to the nearest road followed by a longer walk to the local town.

We travelled an uneven road through the forest that twisted its way towards remote villages. Getting down from the van, looking at the faces of the youngsters, smiling and greeting you with open hands wearing worn-out clothes, it was impossible to think they actually have a difficult life. Little are they aware of the world outside their environment. There is no clean water supply, no electricity or sanitation and to travel to the city for work would cost them more than their expected daily earning.

There are many things that we take for granted in our daily life which does not apply to these poor people. The basic hygiene such as brushing teeth and cleanliness is foreign to them. We volunteered to teach them the importance of brushing teeth but it wasn’t easy due to the different language spoken.

The dishes prepared for us during our visit were simple yet delicious. It was prepared wholeheartedly and one could feel the warmth of our hosts in the dishes. While eating those meals, it made me realise how lucky all of us are to be where we are, enjoying a full meal of meat or pasta. While touring around the village, you can easily spot Cambodians cooking a snake in a wok for a meal, or the most common snacks among Cambodians, fried tarantula spider, which has become the national delicacy.

Visiting the poor in Cambodia has changed my life so I know it will not be goodbye for good to this country. The precious memories that were collected throughout this trip have been carved into my heart. Thanks to the unbreakable spirit and infectious optimism, they have prevailed with their smiles intact, giving a measure of admiration and affection for the Cambodians.