Revisiting Cambodia

Coming back to a familiar Phnom Penh.

Revisiting Cambodia

Cambodia was the first country I stayed in longer than a vacation, the first place where I rented an apartment instead of a hostel bed, long enough to actually know my way around town. Back then, it still had a Wild East energy. Security guards slept at their posts, AK-47s draped across their chests. Kids darted through the main drags, openly hawking bags of mystery pills and white powders to anyone who’d listen, with zero concern for who was watching.

Coming back now, the changes are impossible to miss. High-rises pierce the skyline, roads are smoother, and there’s less trash piling up in the streets. The city feels cleaner, more structured. Fewer people look like they’re teetering on the edge of absolute ruin. Foreign investment is pouring in, and with it, the undeniable signs of progress.

But beneath the surface, there’s a lingering unease, like the country is being auctioned off to the highest bidder. For every shiny new building, there’s the question of who it really benefits. Cambodia is changing, and for now, I remain cautiously optimistic.

A street barber in Phnom Penh gives a young boy a haircut in a makeshift outdoor salon. A girl watches attentively as the barber works under a green tarp, reflecting the resourcefulness of urban street life.
A man sits on his motorbike at the entrance of a narrow alleyway in Phnom Penh, lost in thought as the city bustles beyond the shadows. The sunlight streams through the alley, illuminating the street beyond.
A man on a scooter waits at the base of a dark and grimy stairwell in Phnom Penh. The black-and-white image enhances the moody contrast between the harsh textures of the walls and the stillness of the scene.
A plastic bag filled with iced tea dangles from a motorcycle handlebar, a common sight in Phnom Penh’s street culture. The vibrant colors contrast with the blurred urban backdrop, emphasizing the small, everyday details of life in the city.
Two young men lounge in front of a motorbike repair stall, one counting money while the other smokes and surveys the bustling market around them. The scene captures the raw, unfiltered energy of Phnom Penh’s street economy.
A street butcher grills meat under the watchful gaze of hanging slabs of raw pork, their textures catching the warm glow of the late afternoon sun. The visceral scene highlights the grittiness of Phnom Penh’s open-air markets.
Two elderly women sit on the sidewalk, one leaning on a walking stick while the other rests her head in thought. Their worn expressions and layered plaid clothing add a sense of resilience and quiet reflection to the black-and-white composition.
An older man in a white hat and mask looks away from the camera while navigating the chaotic streets of Phnom Penh. The background of tangled wires and a weathered building creates a strong sense of place in this everyday street moment.
A man in a checkered shirt perches on a motorbike, his intense gaze fixed on something beyond the frame, while another man looks in the opposite direction. The bustling Phnom Penh street behind them is filled with motorcycles, tuk-tuks, and market-goers, adding to the layered energy of the scene.
A watch and electronics vendor leans back in his chair, absorbed in his phone while surrounded by an array of watches and small gadgets in his stall. The black-and-white tones highlight the layers of detail in this slice of Phnom Penh street commerce.
A man leans out of a vehicle window in Phnom Penh, his expression caught between curiosity and contemplation. The number “5” on the window, along with the turquoise curtain, creates a striking contrast with his sunlit face and the dark interior behind him. His gaze, slightly squinting in the harsh daylight, captures the essence of fleeting moments in transit.