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 Capital:
Phnom Penh
Climate: Mainly tropical.
Seasons: Rainy/ Monsoon season (May to November), Dry season (December
to April)
In the movies, they usually say that
“sex sells,” but who would have thought that death would too?
In a peculiar twist of tragic fate, Cambodia has gained international
recognition because of its infamous killing fields that saw much blood
shed during Pol Pot’s maniacal regime of terror.
 
The
Movie
Actual killing fields scene
Land mines took away limbs and lives, while darkness brought with it a
fear of being kidnapped and being taken for “questioning.”
But hey, that’s all in the past now.
While having gone through these hard times, the Cambodian people have
shown their resiliency in surviving and thriving to still be one of the
friendliest people in Asia. A country that has proven to be charming
despite its blood soaked past that even Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie
has adopted one of their children and made him her own.
A land filled with temples or Wats (pronounced as Vats), it is sometimes
hard to imagine the horrors this land was subjected to. Well, hard until
you get to visit sites like the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the
killing fields themselves.
Formerly a high school, the Toul Sleng Museum was converted by the Khmer
Rouge into the S-21 prison and interrogation facility. Over 17,000
people were systematically tortured here, sometimes over a period of
months, to extract confessions, after which they were executed at the
nearby killing fields of Choeng Ek.
Choeung Ek is now a group of mass graves with a memorial stupa
containing thousands of skulls.
Places and memorials of how evil man can be. Yet, if the destruction,
which has brought the country much suffering, could be the same driving
element of economic survival, whatever works, works right?
The Cambodia of today has forged ahead from its sordid past and has
transformed itself into one of the historically richest tourist spots in
Asia.
Home to many large temples, the most famous of them all is the Angkor Wat. A spectacular temple complex built over a period of 30 years, it
illustrates some of the most beautiful examples of the fusion of Khmer
and Hindu art.
Angkor Wat
Covering an area of about 81 hectares, the complex is made up of five
towers. These towers are believed to represent the five peaks of Mount
Meru, the home of the Gods and center of the Hindu Universe.
Faces carved in rock (Angkor Wat)
At the capital of Phnom Penh, the city retains its traditional and
colonial charm despite the decades of war. French Villas along tree
lined boulevards could be found here along with new hotels, restaurants,
bars and nightclubs popping up around the city – an economic boom fueled
by recent political changes.
Apart from the numerous wats, the other “must sees” for the visitor to
Cambodia are the Royal Palace, traditional markets, and the Russian Market
(so-named because of the prevalence of items from the Eastern Bloc in
past times). The Russian Market today is a treasure trove for tourists.
Items worth seeking out include CD’s, fabrics, jewelry, carved
handicrafts and ceramics.
The Royal Palace
Away from the temples, there are the well-preserved beaches in
Sihanoukville or Kompong Song (a smooth 3-hour drive from Phnom Penh).
Here, tourists can rest the day away in nearly empty white sand beaches.
For a more populated spot, travelers can check out the Serendipity
Beach, where many sunbathers gather. Here you will also see numerous
fruit hawkers; young girls selling loads of fruit for as low as a
dollar.
Cambodia is indeed on a slow bend but the potential for tourist
fascination is great and present. Campaigns and fund raisers are being
done for the search and detonation of land mines while the
rehabilitation of the country can honestly be said to be an “all hands
on deck” effort.
Inside the Royal Palace
Tips for the Traveler
1. All tourist sites for Cambodia have markers on paths and roads, which
may safely be traversed. Stay on these to avoid stray land mines.
2. It always advisable to have a local guide along for security and
practical purposes.
3. Being a poor country, banditry and sporadic outbreaks of violence may
occur. Check out updates on the local situation and prepare for any
emergencies during your trip to the country.
4. Most of the people in the country have suffered greatly from the
years of Pol Pot’s reign. Treat everybody and all memorials with
respect.
5. Avoid traveling at nights as much as possible. If unavoidable, travel
by taxi.
Visit Cambodia today! A walk down culture and
history.. |
