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The country is bordered to the west by Thailand, to the north by Laos, to the east by Vietnam and to the south by the Gulf of Thailand. Its geography is dominated by the Mekong river (Khmer: Tonle Thom) and the Tonle Sap, an important source of fish. The capital is Phnom Penh. There are three main political parties, of which the Cambodian People's Party is the current ruling party.
From the 9th century to the 15th century Cambodia was the centre of the Khmer Empire, which for most of this period was based at Angkor. Angkor Wat, the empire's main temple, remains a symbol of the country and is its greatest tourist attraction. Cambodia was a protectorate of France from 1863 until independence in 1953. During the 1970s and 1980s the country suffered from civil war and the Khmer Rouge autogenocide. Many people were killed or tortured, or fled abroad as refugees. In the 1990s, however, Cambodia has gained some stability and has begun rebuilding the infrastructure that was lost during those years.
Phnom penh
Pnomh Penh is the capital of Cambodia. It is a great city with lots of things to do and see. The town is spread out on the banks of two rivers. The main sights in town include Wat Phnom from where you have great views over the city, the Silver Pagoda in the Royal Palace complex, where you can see a green crystal Buddha and Buddha made of solid gold. The National Museum is also worth a visit. Other sights include the Phnom Temple, the Orchid Garden, the central market and a 15th-century pagoda or you can take a boat ride on the Mekong River to see the floating villages and a crocodile farm.
The Tuol Sleng Museum is a sight that brings back a not too distant past: the terror of the Khmer Rouge. The building was a Khmer Rouge prison and torture chamber - very few of the prisoners survived. More than 30,000 died here.
Daytrips can be made to Oudong Temple some 3o km away, or to the Tonle Bati-Taprohm witrh many 10th and 11th-century monuments or Vat Nokor, where you find a Buddhist temple with pagodas and colorful frescos.
Without a doubt: the most important archaeological site in Cambodia is Angkor Wat. It is estimated that over one million people lived there making it the largest metropolis in its time. Witness the two hand dug reservoirs that served the civilization's rice growing agriculture: The Eastern Baray measures 7 km by 1.8 km and the Western Baray a staggering 8 km by 2.3 km. The 'lost City' of Angkor was to remain undiscovered by mostly French archaeologists until the late 19th century and ever since has continued to amaze all who see it for the first time. The temple is accessible by a giant stone causeway across the hundred ninety meter moat, itself an incredible feat of engineering, to the west face of the Wat. The three most amazing temples at Angkor are the Sights , Sights and Sights itself. Most people recommend to visit the sites several times.
Battambang
Battambang lies in the northwest of Cambodia, a four hour drive from Poipet (Thai Border, be aware a real rough road ;) or 4..5 hours by boat from TonleSap Lake (Siem Reap). It is a large regional city with strong ties to Thailand. Much of the trade between the two countries passes through Battambang. There are several interesting temples in the city and day excursions to surrounding areas can easily be arranged. Visit the Wat Banan, which is even older than most structure of Angkhor! The temples of Angkhor and the Tonle Sap lake are also easily reached from the city.
If you do visit Battambang, try to arrive by one of the many boats that are continually coming and going. The sight of 20 or so touts (locals trying to get you to stay in their particular hotel or hostel) swimming out to be the first to hand you a business card is definitely a sight for travel weary eyes.
Krong Koh Kong
Krong Koh Kong is a coastal village in the south-west corner of Cambodia. To the north are the Cardaman mountains. The island is only 80 km away from Thailand's island Koh chang. This part of Cambodia is still relatively undeveloped for tourism but the potential is enormous. Koh Kong Island of the coast is a undiscovered paradise and the Government of Cambodia hope to build infrastructure to attract overseas tourists in the future. There are flights from Phnom penh and boats from Kampong Cham Som.
Choeung Ek
The killing fields at Choeung Ek, a chilling reminder of the atrocities performed by the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot's regime. This is where 8985 bodies have been exhumed from mass graves. It was a very disturbing place that shows the horror and yet commemorated those killed. A building filled with 8000 human skulls stands in the garden.
Ten thousand people live in this permanently floating town on Tonle Sap lake. Houses, schools, karaoke bars and restaurants float atop boat-based foundations, rising and falling up to 5km (3mi) with the tide. Like the Vietnamese Floating Village on the northern stretch of the lake, the population is mainly Vietnamese. There's not much to do, and nowhere to stay, so it's a matter of soaking up the atmosphere of life on the water, with an iced coffee or beer in hand. Kompong Luong is near the southern reaches of Tonle Sap lake in Pursat province, around 40km (24mi) northeast of Pursat.
Phnom Udong
Udong, 40km (25mi) north of Phnom Penh, was the capital of Cambodia between 1618 and 1866. It's generally very quiet here, and you'll often have the town's stupas to yourself (along with picnickers at weekends). You'll find the ruins sprinkled across two ridges.
The smaller has two ruined buildings, several stupas and the Ta San Mosque (or at least its remains; all that's left is the building's bullet-pocked walls). A 16th-century treasure is supposed to be hidden below the larger ridge, which is topped by the scattered ruins of a large vihara (sanctuary) and Buddha statue, blown up by the Khmer Rouge in 1977. Surrounding the ruins are some still-intact smaller viharas, stupas and Buddhas. At the base of the ridge is a memorial to victims of Pol Pot, containing the bones of people buried in the 100 or so mass graves found in the area.
Culture
Thankfully, much of Cambodia's cultural heritage survived the Khmer Rouge's 'clean slate' approach to history. Along with the estimated two million Cambodians who died, millions of artefacts, statues and books were destroyed, but famous examples of Angkorian-era architecture like Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom emerged relatively unscathed. The National Museum in Phnom Penh is the best place to see examples of Khmer sculpture, in particular the beautifully depicted Hindu deities. The country's most tangible link with its glorious past is its highly stylised royal ballet, traditionally linked to the dance of Thailand, Java and India. Dance was also threatened by the Pol Pot years, with only one seamstress surviving to pass on the ancient techniques of costume design.
In general, Khmer cuisine is similar to Thai, but with fewer spices. A Cambodian meal almost always includes a soup, and fish is the nation's mainstay - grilled freshwater fish, wrapped in lettuce or spinach and dipped into a nutty fish sauce, is a particular speciality. Salad dishes are flavoured with coriander, mint and lemongrass - three flavours which find their way into many Cambodian dishes. The French influence is best seen in the daily-baked bread. Sweet dishes include sticky rice cakes and jackfruit pudding. Tap water is best avoided, as is the proliferation of 'muscle wines', so stock up on mineral water, fruit-smoothy concoctions and the usual array of soft drinks.
Last edited by Anna (13:11, 06 January 2006)
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