Reality Check In Cambodia

The bus ride from Bangkok to Cambodia was an adventure. Switched buses prior to the border, handed over my passport to a stranger (everyone else did too), take another bus to the consulate office, get passport back with a visa stamp.  Go to another "office"  stand  in line for what I'm not entirely sure as no one says anything, they just herd you like cattle.  Get another stamp,  hear what sounds like a gunshot. Go on another bus, then in a cab. 2-3 hour cab ride later arrive at Yellow Guest House.  I'm in another world,  the staff are friendly, they speak English, it's cheap (2 beds, air con, shower, toilet, tv for 10$/night) and they offer free tuk tuk service...
Spent some time at the markets and downtown Siem Reap.  The markets are like a maze and after awhile it all begins to look same same but different.  The people are friendly and unlike Thailand the tuk tuk drivers are more interested in conversing with you rather than trying to sell you something.  A boy about 7 or 8 asks me where I'm from, he then begins to spout out facts about Canada;  population, prime minister, capital.  I'm a sucker I give him a dollar, I know it's rehearsed but...
Woke up the next am at 4am to see Angkor Wat, in the lobby I see the owners and their families asleep on the floor :( and   here I am thinking I'm roughing it, by backpacking.
Angkor Wat was built in the 12th century,  the 8th wonder of the world and is the largest standing religious structure in the world. I don't consider myself a history buff but even I was impressed. Walking around Angkor Wat and the other temples (too many to name) I encounter so many kids. All of them have been prepped from a young age to become an effective street peddler. 1$ US is equivalent to their fathers 12 hour work days. It's so hard to say no but I can't buy everything.  I end up purchasing a bracelet and handing out a few dollar bills here and there, it doesn't feel like enough.
I leave Siem Reap a better person, I'm not sure what my future holds but I can be certain that I will do more and be more. "Be the change, you hope to see in the world..."