Previously, I described the array of expatriate species that populate Phnom Penh (here: The Transient Life). Another key element to the foreigners traipsing through my current country though is the range of travelers who pass through Cambodia. They too can be divided, generally, into 5 categories.
1. The banana pancaker: The banana pancaker is so named because of their undying love of banana pancakes, the little backpacker friendly snacks sold at nearly every Khmer restaurant. Banana pancakers aren't specific to Cambodia; in fact, they can be found wandering most Southeast and South Asian countries. They are easy to identify from a distance: om-covered pants with a patchwork crotch sagging at the knee-level, tattoos written in foreign languages, dreadlocks, and of course, the oversized backpacks filled with various nonsensical items picked up along the way. The pancakers are usually keen to provide commentary on their spiritual adventures, or your lack of spirituality, and they are often on indulgent multi-country trips. The duration of the average pancaker trip is about a month, but they're happy to inform you that they know and understand Cambodia better than you, a mere mortal, who has resided here for a year. They enjoy a budget trip and are eager to eat unclear, exhaust-laden foods from a street vendor for authenticity's sake.
2. The pseudo pancaker: The pseudo pancaker may be difficult to differentiate from its more 'authentic' counterpart. While they will dress the same as the standard banana pancaker, the pseudo pancaker is financed with mom and dad's cash. Often from wealthy families, the pseudo pancaker reaches Cambodia during a gap year or gap summer to 'discover themselves'. They have less aggressive tattoos and no dreadlocks, and they're much more likely to splurge on bad pizza because, well, it's not actually their money. Pseudo pancakers usually enjoy longer trips with periodic stops to volunteer at a sketchy orphanage or work with rescued elephants or some other short-term volunteer experience that will look nice on a resume as they attempt to reintegrate into the Western business world.
3. The granola: Also named for their food of choice, granolas almost exclusively travel in married pairs. Granolas will be found wearing olive colored cargo pants, their pockets filled with tiny bananas and almonds. They're easiest to identify at temples or other formal establishments because they take so long to unlace their hiking boots to meet the barefoot requirements of Buddhist culture. Granolas are less likely to reach out to other travelers, and they hang on to their weathered blue copy of the Lonely Planet guide for dear life. Granolas are more likely to spend more time in Cambodia relative to its Southeast Asian neighbors, but they often have a specific agenda, detailed schedule, and fixed itinerary. Granolas are eager to pay the extra $3 for a quality guide to explain the significance of architectural nuances, the history of a neighborhood, and the unexpected culinary delights. Granolas feel strongly about eating Khmer food exclusively, but they prefer clean, air conditioned restaurants to shady food stalls.
4. The aristocrat: The wealthiest travelers are among the rarest in Phnom Penh, simply because they arrange to fly in and out of Siem Reap, spend a day or two at the Angkor temples, and head toward Bangkok or Singapore or Hanoi. This group of travelers bands together in the 5 star hotels, splurges on a daily $15 hour-long full body massage, and visits the hokey all-you-can-eat buffets slash dance performances. They leave Cambodia convinced they have experienced the country although they haven't left the Siem Reap microcosm. Certainly, the aristocrats are likely to catch an Apsara dance show, briefly wander through the Old Market, and enjoy the short, kitschy elephant ride between Angkor temples.
5. The Japanese tourist: Of course, every major tourist destination is visited by a massive charter bus filled to the brim with eager, middle-aged Japanese tourists. They spill from the bus onto Angkor grounds and immediately open their pink and yellow and red sun umbrellas. Like the aristocrat, the Japanese tourist groups are unlikely to visit the Cambodia that exists beyond Siem Reap. They also tend to search out East Asian restaurants and lavish buffets, take an excessive number of photos featuring the victory V, and purchase cheesy souvenirs such as wooden Angkor Wat statues or monkey figurines made from coconuts. However, this group does not have the overt disdain for fellow travelers that some other wandering categories sometimes exhibit.
Have you been to Cambodia? Which group are you?
1. The banana pancaker: The banana pancaker is so named because of their undying love of banana pancakes, the little backpacker friendly snacks sold at nearly every Khmer restaurant. Banana pancakers aren't specific to Cambodia; in fact, they can be found wandering most Southeast and South Asian countries. They are easy to identify from a distance: om-covered pants with a patchwork crotch sagging at the knee-level, tattoos written in foreign languages, dreadlocks, and of course, the oversized backpacks filled with various nonsensical items picked up along the way. The pancakers are usually keen to provide commentary on their spiritual adventures, or your lack of spirituality, and they are often on indulgent multi-country trips. The duration of the average pancaker trip is about a month, but they're happy to inform you that they know and understand Cambodia better than you, a mere mortal, who has resided here for a year. They enjoy a budget trip and are eager to eat unclear, exhaust-laden foods from a street vendor for authenticity's sake.
2. The pseudo pancaker: The pseudo pancaker may be difficult to differentiate from its more 'authentic' counterpart. While they will dress the same as the standard banana pancaker, the pseudo pancaker is financed with mom and dad's cash. Often from wealthy families, the pseudo pancaker reaches Cambodia during a gap year or gap summer to 'discover themselves'. They have less aggressive tattoos and no dreadlocks, and they're much more likely to splurge on bad pizza because, well, it's not actually their money. Pseudo pancakers usually enjoy longer trips with periodic stops to volunteer at a sketchy orphanage or work with rescued elephants or some other short-term volunteer experience that will look nice on a resume as they attempt to reintegrate into the Western business world.
3. The granola: Also named for their food of choice, granolas almost exclusively travel in married pairs. Granolas will be found wearing olive colored cargo pants, their pockets filled with tiny bananas and almonds. They're easiest to identify at temples or other formal establishments because they take so long to unlace their hiking boots to meet the barefoot requirements of Buddhist culture. Granolas are less likely to reach out to other travelers, and they hang on to their weathered blue copy of the Lonely Planet guide for dear life. Granolas are more likely to spend more time in Cambodia relative to its Southeast Asian neighbors, but they often have a specific agenda, detailed schedule, and fixed itinerary. Granolas are eager to pay the extra $3 for a quality guide to explain the significance of architectural nuances, the history of a neighborhood, and the unexpected culinary delights. Granolas feel strongly about eating Khmer food exclusively, but they prefer clean, air conditioned restaurants to shady food stalls.
4. The aristocrat: The wealthiest travelers are among the rarest in Phnom Penh, simply because they arrange to fly in and out of Siem Reap, spend a day or two at the Angkor temples, and head toward Bangkok or Singapore or Hanoi. This group of travelers bands together in the 5 star hotels, splurges on a daily $15 hour-long full body massage, and visits the hokey all-you-can-eat buffets slash dance performances. They leave Cambodia convinced they have experienced the country although they haven't left the Siem Reap microcosm. Certainly, the aristocrats are likely to catch an Apsara dance show, briefly wander through the Old Market, and enjoy the short, kitschy elephant ride between Angkor temples.
5. The Japanese tourist: Of course, every major tourist destination is visited by a massive charter bus filled to the brim with eager, middle-aged Japanese tourists. They spill from the bus onto Angkor grounds and immediately open their pink and yellow and red sun umbrellas. Like the aristocrat, the Japanese tourist groups are unlikely to visit the Cambodia that exists beyond Siem Reap. They also tend to search out East Asian restaurants and lavish buffets, take an excessive number of photos featuring the victory V, and purchase cheesy souvenirs such as wooden Angkor Wat statues or monkey figurines made from coconuts. However, this group does not have the overt disdain for fellow travelers that some other wandering categories sometimes exhibit.
Have you been to Cambodia? Which group are you?
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