> Cute Kid, Angkor Wat, Cambodia          

Among the ruins there's no shortage of cute children wandering alone or with parents, selling beverages, t-shirts and souveniers. These kids can get very savvy from all the visitor traffic, and they learn the English that enables a better life from  tourist commerce. Sharp parents aren't beyond enlisting the cuteness of their kids to soften visitor's reluctance to buy. Many visitors get put off by all the mercenary activity following them around, and become more distant and cold than otherwise might be the case. But engaging the kids on another playful, interactive level often works to change the dynamic from persistent sales pitch to fun human interaction. Sometimes not, however, when there are too many sellers to engage individually. For me it's important to keep engaging, though, so as not to miss out on the real people and real places for all the commercialism, to avoid personal detachment while being there. Smiles and laughter always seem the best option, with cold indifference kept in reserve for more challenging moments.
 > Puppy Dog Girl, Occheuteal Beach, Cambodia     

Cambodian girl walking the beach with shoulder trash bag, puppy dog and bamboo walking stick. The most pleasant thing among the white sand, mellow surf, fresh fruit, tropical drinks and all the other fine aspects of this beach is the mingling of locals and visitors all sharing the same beach. While typical beach vendor and beggar pressures exists, it's offset a bit by the fact that this is a local beach as well as destination resort. Families and kids swimming and playing and doing all the same things as visitors.
 > More Friendly Children, In Route to Phnom Kulen, Cambodia          

Perhaps 50 km from Siem Reap but still several hours ride due to road conditions, Phnom Kulen is the highest point in Cambodia (1600 ft), and considered the sacred birthplace of the country. Temples, Buddhas and lingas beckon, along with a nice waterfall for a cooling swim. But the tightly controlled area requires a $20 admission per foreigner to guards at the mountain protecting the entrance for their military mafia bosses. Once you've spent the time and eaten the dust getting there, who's going to turn back without paying? As consolation, smiling children seem everywhere to transform their smile to you.
 > Rural Home and Children near Beng Melea, Cambodia               

More smiling young faces looking at the alien taking pictures. Rural homes are elevated on stilts as protection from extensive flooding that occurs with each long rainy season as waters from the Himalayas tumble down the Mekong, dramatically changing the landscape into huge lake or seascape each year.
 > Girl in Route to Beng Melea, Cambodia          

I saw this girl see me along the way to Beng Melea, three hours from Siem Reap by slow tuk-tuk. Once out in the country, extremely friendly but often wary children view travelers as if alien, but often still with a smile. Beng Melea is another very overgrown distant monument complex yet to be restored. It was nearby that I was cautioned not to enter another temple area closed to tourists because of mine danger, where local Cambodians were in stark contrast free to wander.
Cute Kid, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Among the ruins there's no shortage of cute children wandering alone or with parents, selling beverages, t-shirts and souveniers. These kids can get very savvy from all the visitor traffic, and they learn the English that enables a better life from tourist commerce. Sharp parents aren't beyond enlisting the cuteness of their kids to soften visitor's reluctance to buy. Many visitors get put off by all the mercenary activity following them around, and become more distant and cold than otherwise might be the case. But engaging the kids on another playful, interactive level often works to change the dynamic from persistent sales pitch to fun human interaction. Sometimes not, however, when there are too many sellers to engage individually. For me it's important to keep engaging, though, so as not to miss out on the real people and real places for all the commercialism, to avoid personal detachment while being there. Smiles and laughter always seem the best option, with cold indifference kept in reserve for more challenging moments.
 > Cute Kid, Angkor Wat, Cambodia          

Among the ruins there's no shortage of cute children wandering alone or with parents, selling beverages, t-shirts and souveniers. These kids can get very savvy from all the visitor traffic, and they learn the English that enables a better life from  tourist commerce. Sharp parents aren't beyond enlisting the cuteness of their kids to soften visitor's reluctance to buy. Many visitors get put off by all the mercenary activity following them around, and become more distant and cold than otherwise might be the case. But engaging the kids on another playful, interactive level often works to change the dynamic from persistent sales pitch to fun human interaction. Sometimes not, however, when there are too many sellers to engage individually. For me it's important to keep engaging, though, so as not to miss out on the real people and real places for all the commercialism, to avoid personal detachment while being there. Smiles and laughter always seem the best option, with cold indifference kept in reserve for more challenging moments.
Cute Kid, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Among the ruins there's no shortage of cute children wandering alone or with parents, selling beverages, t-shirts and souveniers. These kids can get very savvy from all the visitor traffic, and they learn the English that enables a better life from tourist commerce. Sharp parents aren't beyond enlisting the cuteness of their kids to soften visitor's reluctance to buy. Many visitors get put off by all the mercenary activity following them around, and become more distant and cold than otherwise might be the case. But engaging the kids on another playful, interactive level often works to change the dynamic from persistent sales pitch to fun human interaction. Sometimes not, however, when there are too many sellers to engage individually. For me it's important to keep engaging, though, so as not to miss out on the real people and real places for all the commercialism, to avoid personal detachment while being there. Smiles and laughter always seem the best option, with cold indifference kept in reserve for more challenging moments.
Photo by: photographie-irie · see photo in gallery