I arrived in Cambodia from Thailand, and one of the very first things I did was head straight to PCF School to do a volunteer experience. I found the school through Worldpackers, and it’s a place where English is taught to children. The experience couldn’t have been better.

I stayed in a small cabin just for myself, very simple but perfect. I had a fan and a mosquito net, nothing more, and nothing was missing. Meals were shared as a family, with options for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Everyone sat together around the table while the kids ran around, spoke to you in English, asked questions about the world, or prepared their lessons for the next day. Dogs and cats joined in as well, without asking for permission. Everyone together, sharing space, food, and time. Very familiar. Nothing was overly organized, and that was exactly where the magic lived.

Sunsets were another thing that stayed with me. Riding a bicycle through the Cambodian countryside, the sky changing colors, the warm air, and that feeling of being exactly where I was meant to be. Pure magic. The kind of moments you don’t plan and never forget.

While I was there, I also visited the temples of Angkor Wat. And no, it’s not an exaggeration to say it’s magical. Walking through those temples feels like stepping into another dimension. Stone, jungle, humidity, silence broken only by the wind and a few birds. Everything carries a very particular energy. It’s impossible not to feel small there, but in a beautiful way.

Angkor also has that unavoidable cinematic side. Knowing that Tomb Raider was filmed there makes it even more fun. As you walk through the temples, there are moments when you feel like you’re the main character, exploring lost ruins in the middle of the jungle. Part movie, part reality, part imagination. That mix that only certain places in the world can create. I loved it.

Cambodia is not a country that tries to impress you. It simply shows itself. Through its history, its people, and a quiet strength you feel without needing explanations.

Cambodia is a place that embraces you slowly, teaches you to see differently, and stays with you forever. I left with one very clear feeling: I want to come back.

Because Cambodia doesn’t end with one trip. It’s one of those countries that stays, waiting for you, again and again.