Phnom Penh

I made it to Cambodia, landing in Phnom Penh at a time when the world was starting to shut down. I wanted so much to see the iconic temples Angkor Wat in the north... those ancient silhouettes rising through the jungle, but they were already closed to the public because of COVID. It was a strange feeling, being so close to something I had longed for, yet unable to reach it.

By this point, I had fully stepped into the unknown. Each morning I woke up unsure of where I’d be by the evening... whether I’d still be in the same city, or even the same country. The rules kept changing overnight. Borders were closing, flights were getting canceled, and no one really knew what was going on. That sense of freedom I had at the beginning of my sabbatical now felt replaced by a different kind of travel: one shaped by instinct, quick decisions, and a quiet urgency to be safe.

I stayed just three days in Cambodia, but my mind wasn’t at ease. I kept asking myself where I wanted to be if borders started closing... if flights disappeared and movement became impossible. I realized I didn’t want to be stuck in Cambodia. So, after a lot of back-and-forth and increasing stress, I managed to book one last flight back to Thailand. It was a real struggle... travel restrictions were already tightening fast, but somehow, I got through. And as the plane lifted off, I felt both relief and sadness… knowing the sabbatical I had imagined was changing shape with every passing day.