The Good Life

Beginning our journey in the capital city of Phnom Penh, we settle into a local guesthouse in the heart of the city and begin with our in-country orientation. Surrounded by the buzz of this rapidly growing urban center, we facilitate a series of activities that introduce us to important health, safety, and cultural considerations, as well as getting to know our fellow travelers better.

While introducing the history of Cambodia through interactive workshops, we also visit the S21 Genocide Museum to learn more about the history of the Khmer Rouge regime and the turmoil that took place in Cambodia from 1975-79.  We seek sanctuary in a quiet pagoda to learn more about Mahayana Buddhism and to receive a blessing for safe travel from the monks.

As we round out our time in the capital, we will have the opportunity to meet with local entrepreneurs working in areas of mindful leadership, environmental sustainability, women’s empowerment, education and/or the arts. We’ll gain some survival vocabulary in the Khmer language, as well as some smart travel skills, as we witness the enormous contrast between wealth and poverty in the nation’s capital. 

From Phnom Penh, we head to Battambang, Cambodia’s second largest city and a hotbed of Khmer art and culture. In Battambang, we immerse ourselves in the artistic and cultural life of the city. We embark on a street art tour and meet with local artists, join a circus workshop with local youth, and participate in a hands-on Khmer cooking class.

Food is a very important part of Khmer culture and we will enjoy delicious and diverse meals in Battambang, from a tiny Chinese noodle shop to a set menu dinner at a social enterprise restaurant. We will also have opportunities to explore the countryside before our rural homestay, including a village tour of Somrong K’nong, to meet with local female entrepreneurs who continue their generations-long traditions of family business, and a visit to a famous bat cave to witness a spectacular natural phenomenon.

After exploring the city, we prepare for a short silent retreat at a nearby meditation center. Our daily meditations have prepared us with tools for the retreat, and this time in silence allows for deeper self-reflection and connection to the Buddhist culture of Cambodia.

After the meditation retreat, we travel to Siem Reap, a picturesque and well-known tourist town, home to the famous Angkor Wat complex. We spend a full day of exploration at Angkor Wat before our homestay time. 

Leaving Battambang, we travel to Banteay-Chhmar to begin our rural homestay, the heart of our experience in Cambodia. Banteay Chmar is an impressive archeological site from around the 12th century and also a contemporary Khmer farming community that has developed a well-established community tourism program focused on immersion and education. Upon arrival, we spend time getting to know the landscape through a structured scavenger hunt, and gather to meet with our homestay families. Over the next several days, we fall into a slow rhythm of life wherein we participate in daily tasks of farming, cooking and learning about Khmer society and culture. We meet with guest speakers, play sports with local youth, and visit monks at the local pagoda, among other activities.

Moving into the final days together, we venture to Kampot where students use their new travel skills to organize transport, bargain with tuk-tuk drivers and design activities with the help of instructors for their “Expedition Phase.” Kampot offers student a chance to learn about the Cham Muslim people of Cambodia while assisting the community with a mangrove restoration project meant to keep rising salt water from inundating crops. In these calm environs, with our hands in the wet sand, we engage in transference activities aimed at self-reflection and in celebration of the incredible encounters we’ve had over the last month.