PHNOM PENH — Out of curiosity and the urge to venture far from home, Andy Brouwer made his first five-day trip to Cambodia in 1994, a decision that changed his future for many decades to come.

Watch the interview on YouTube below:

Although Brouwer, who is a British national, knew the danger of the fragile peace that held Cambodia together in the early 1990s, he still decided to come. He meticulously planned his trip to see with his own eyes what the country looked like after going through decades of struggles.

This first trip gave rise to the next, each visit leading to new friendships. Although the 1990s Cambodia was not a fancy destination, to Brouwer, it was challenging, creating unforgettable memories in the process.

From losing his luggage after landing, to walking along the dirty streets of Phnom Penh, as well as dealing with the fear of Khmer Rouge soldiers retaliating, Brouwer transformed his difficult trip into an opportunity, a chance to explore every corner of the kingdom.

After a series of visits to Cambodia, Brouwer decided to move to the country in 2007. Since then, he has worked and gained recognition in several fields such as travel, sport, film, journalism, and independent research.

In this second part of the interview with Cambodianess, Brouwer explains in detail his curiosity as to why an empire as big as the Khmer was largely abandoned by people over the centuries, why history enthusiasts should explore smaller lesser-known temples, and now retired, his work to study Cambodian art in national, provincial and overseas museums.

Watch the first part of the interview below: