My first seven days in Cambodia have been memorable. It’s been a while since I’ve been in South Asia–about twelve years since I last visited Thailand. This is my first trip to Cambodia and there is a smorgasbord of thoughts and feelings I’ve experienced over the past week.

At the Royal Palace

On the bright side, I’m impressed with the vitality and dynamism of the city. Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, is an energetic city with never a dull moment. Locals zip in and out the busy streets on their motorbikes. The city awakens very early every day. Construction is everywhere. The nation is on the move to develop quickly. Cambodia has a lot of catching up with neighboring Thailand and Vietnam, and is making up for lost time.

The nation is flooded with hundreds, if not thousands, of non-government organizations (NGOs), the vast majority of which are here to help the country come out of poverty and embrace a more prosperous future. That’s partially why I’m here volunteering with Chab Dai, which seeks to join local NGOs in the fight against human trafficking and modern day slavery.

In some ways, it can feel like the wild west here. Motorists hardly obey traffic laws. The rich and ruling elite can do anything they want. I’ve even begun to hear stories about how the rich can literally get away with murder, with enough in bribes to pay off the authorities.

Although the nation is fighting its way out of poverty, there is still so much work to do.