{
  "id": 12543014,
  "title": "I've been to more than 60 countries. One Southeast Asian city kept pulling me back — now it's home.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/ive-been-to-more-than-60-countries-one-southeast-asian-city-kept",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-07T04:14:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-siem-reap-cambodia-married-early-retirment-freelance-work-2026-10"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sonya Moore has visited over 60 countries, but she now feels most at home in Cambodia, specifically in Siem Reap. Upon her first visit to Cambodia in 2015, she was immediately drawn to the city of Siem Reap, located near the famous Angkor Wat temples. The city's charm lies in its winding river, the bustling and relaxed traffic, and the overall peaceful atmosphere. This feeling of happiness in Siem Reap persisted throughout her subsequent visits, making it her favorite destination.\n\nUpon returning in 2019, Moore found that Siem Reap offered everything she desired: affordable living, excellent amenities, a welcoming local community, a vibrant arts scene, and a relaxed, friendly vibe. She quickly established a comfortable life for herself as a freelance photographer, yoga teacher, and writer. Moore and her husband now reside in Siem Reap, with her husband enjoying early retirement and her pursuing her various passions. They live in a two-bedroom apartment, which has become more affordable over the years, and travel to France for a few months during the summer.\n\nWhile there are challenges to living abroad, Moore emphasizes that Siem Reap provides a convenient base for exploring the rest of Cambodia. She and her husband appreciate the nearby islands of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem, where they were married recently. For a change of scenery, they visit the Cardamom Mountains, home to the largest remaining rainforest in Asia. With so many places to explore, Moore is confident that she will not run out of new experiences in Cambodia.",
  "summary": "Sonya Moore got married and spends most of the year in Siem Reap. The couple pays $400 a month for a two-bedroom apartment.",
  "key_points": [
    "Sonya Moore visited over 60 countries before settling in Cambodia.",
    "Siem Reap, near Angkor Wat, captivated her on first visit in 2015.",
    "Moore and husband now reside in Siem Reap, enjoying affordable life and travel."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Sonya Moore's decision to make Siem Reap her home reflects her quest for a balance of affordability, community, and personal fulfillment that she found lacking in her previous travels.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}