The faces of Cambodia is a look at the people of this country, who have come through so much adversity and yet still manage to have a positive out look on life.
From the amazing Angkor Archaeological Park to the capital city Phnom Penh and into the provinces like Battambang, the people are friendly and hospitable, willing to share a smile. I think that you can still see the pain of the past on their faces and also the resilience that has enabled the to continue.
Ever since the fall of Angkor in 1431, the once mighty Khmer Empire has been plundered by many neighbours. It was colonized by the French in the 19th century, and during the 1970s suffered heavy bombing by the USA. After a false dawn of independence in 1953, Cambodia promptly plunged back into the horrors of civil war in 1970 to suffer the Khmer Rouge’s incredibly brutal reign of terror, and only after UN-sponsored elections in 1993 did the country begin to totter back onto its feet.
Every person in Cambodia was impacted upon by adverse circumstances.
These are the faces of Cambodia.
Great portraits. Cambodia is such a friendly country- I really miss it!
Thank you, the people are so very friendly and kind.
Great set of photos you’ve really captured how atmospheric the country is 🙂
Thanks for this wonderful photo essay. I spent some time in Phnom Penh when my husband worked there. It’s the simplicity and resilience of the Cambodians that really lingers in my memory. I also wondered a lot of times how it would have been like living there in the 70’s.
Ditto; every family in Cambodia lost someone, yet they are such a happy people. Makes you re-assess your own problems.