What nobody tells you about visiting Cambodia

After a lot of research I thought I knew what to expect from Cambodia. Some things matched: Killing Fields Phnom Penh is as spectacular as every review says, and Koh Rong has a genuine energy I'd read about. The lok lak obsession is completely justified.

What I wasn't prepared for: Angkor Wat is genuinely one of humanity's greatest achievements. That element genuinely surprised me and added something I hadn't seen in any review. Also: Khmer Rouge history is deeply sobering. That part the reviews undersell. Overall a wonderful trip — just a more layered experience than I anticipated.