Leaving in Two Days

AirShow's version of Southeast Asia - Cambodia is sandwiched between Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.
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I'm going to Cambodia the day after tomorrow.  Although I've been to Asia a few times, Cambodia is a first for me.  I'm traveling via Singapore, where I've been before, so the journey will be familiar until I board my flight for Phnom Penh on Feb. 21.

It's fun to tell people you're going to Cambodia - it's not the most popular vacation destination, but I have enjoyed my travels in what I call "gritty Asia," distinct from "slick Asia" (which I also enjoy quite a bit - riding in a Mercedes S-class from the Mandarin Oriental to the airport in Kuala Lumpur last year was one of my favorite moments).

"I'm going to Cambodia the day after tomorrow."

I'm traveling solo, which is good and bad.  I meet more people when I'm by myself, but it can get lonely sometimes.  The photos from a solo trip can be boring - shots of oneself are not very spontaneous.  And safety can be a concern.  But I'm a confident traveler and if I can get there and back without any injuries, robberies or lost items, even better.

Cambodia has had a very tough, brutal recent past - I'm not sure how I'll react to seeing the prison where the Khmer Rouge did its torture and killing - but Phnom Penh has always seemed like an exotic, vibrant place to me, even if it has a bit of a darker side.  I want to see it before it gets too developed.