Cambodia - where ancient and modern worlds collide to create an authentic adventure!
Starting in the capital Phnom Penh, a city of just 1.5 million of the 16 million in the whole country, is an ideal introduction to the history and ongoing growth. A must of everyone’s visit list includes the infamous Tuol Sleng former Khmer Rouge Prison, today a Genocide Museum, and the very moving and sobering Killing Fields just outside the city at Choeung Ek. Hearing about what happened at these places is chilling and helps you understand how the population suffered so terribly at that time. On a lighter note, you can hone up your bargaining skills and visit one of the many markets for all manner of things, including great value clothing and other typical souvenirs, followed by a typical Khmer cuisine meal and afterwards drinks at one of the trendy rooftop bars in the city. There is a choice of great value boutique hotels to stay, great service and even some with beautiful rooftop infinity pools to cool off with a cocktail after a long day, watching the sunset over the city.
From here it was off by coach through the countryside to 2nd city, Battambang, known as the rice bowl of Cambodia for all the rice and food produced in the province. A charming place that seems like a step back in time with French Colonial architecture teetering into genteel disrepair. Beautiful temples and shrines are in no short supply here, connecting you with the history and culture and you can even try your hand at making rice noodles, rice pancakes used for spring rolls or try the well-known local dish, bbq field rat sold along the roadside. It really tastes like chicken…I had to give it a try! It was here we gate crashed a Cambodian Wedding Party – these last for three days, and we were greeted like family members to join their celebrations. Battambang offers beautiful, laid-back boutique hotels. ‘Brad & Angelina’ were previous guests at the beautiful Maison Wat Kor, where I stayed!
Then, the final leg of my journey on to Siem Reap, gateway to the legendary temple ruins at Angkor (where Tomb Raider was filmed). The most famous temple complex, of the many scattered around, is the immense Angkor Wat, which even appears on the Cambodian Flag and is the country’s No1 tourist attraction. It’s one place in the world that should be on everyone’s bucket list – truly stunning and awe-inspiring, dating back to the 12th century. Siem Reap has a rich history and has a lot to offer visitors in and around the city itself with amazing food, markets and nightlife. A real highlight and must-see is Phare - The Cambodian Circus, where the young, amazingly talented performers use theatre, music, dance and acrobatic arts to tell uniquely Cambodian stories. Its revenues go to training young people from the countryside in performing arts skills, giving them a better life than rural farming.
Also accessible from Siem Reap is Tonle Sap Lake (the largest lake in Asia) with its floating villages. You will see the local communities which are still recovering from the Khmer Rouge times and Pol Pot regime, their houses floating on the lake or perched on thin stilts along the adjoining river that keep the occupants dry during the wet season, with giant ladders to reach the lower levels during the dry season. The people eke out a tough living on or along the water, yet they are still full of smiles and a welcome.
So that’s just some of what Cambodia has to offer, a great choice for a week or preferably more, and ideal to also combine with neighbouring Vietnam for a longer stay. It’s still relatively early in terms of tourism development, so a great time to go.