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CAMBODIA
About Cambodia
Cambodia was largely out of bounds to tourists until recently, but
now, areas that were unsafe because of Khmer Rouge guerrillas and
bandit groups have been returned to the control of the Cambodian
army, and virtually the whole of the country has become accessible.
For many travellers, lured by the prospect of little explored and
unspoilt regions, Cambodia has become a top destination on Southeast
Asia's otherwise well-trodden tourist trail.
The Kingdom of Cambodia, with a population of ten million, occupies
a modest wedge of land, almost completely hemmed in by its neighbours,
Vietnam, Laos
and Thailand. Its glory days
began in the early ninth century, when the rival Indian-influenced
Chenla kingdoms united under King Jayavarman II to form the Khmer
Empire , a powerful and visionary dynasty, which, at its peak, stretched
from Vietnam in the east, to
China in the north and Burma in
the west. Recent history has been less kind to the country. French
colonization was followed by an extended period of turbulence and
instability, culminating in the devastating Kampuchean holocaust
instigated by Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge in 1975. The brutal regime lasted
four years before invading Vietnamese forces reached the capital
in 1979 and overthrew the Khmer Rouge. Pol Pot and his supporters
fled to the jungle bordering Thailand,
from where they continued to wage war on successive governments
in Phnom Penh. Pol Pot's death in 1998 finally signalled the demise
of the Khmer Rouge, and their subsequent surrender has given Cambodia
a real chance for peace for the first time in thirty years. There
are indeed many signs that Cambodia is at last shaking off the shadows
of its past and looking to the future with a cautious confidence.
International investors are beginning to back business ventures,
there is increasing evidence of development and modernization in
urban areas and foreign aid is flowing in.
Most visitors to Cambodia head for the stunning Angkor ruins, a
collection of over one hundred temples dating back to the ninth
century. Once the seat of power of the Khmer Empire, Angkor is royal
extravagance on a grand scale, its imposing features enhanced by
the dramatic setting of lush jungle greenery and verdant fields.
The complex is acknowledged as the most exquisite example of ancient
architecture in Southeast Asia, and has been declared a World Heritage
Site by UNESCO.
The flat, sprawling capital of Phnom Penh is also an alluring attraction
in its own right. Wide, sweeping boulevards, and elegant, if neglected,
French colonial-style facades lend the city a romantic appeal. However,
there's also stark evidence of great poverty, a reminder that you're
visiting one of the world's poorest countries.
Those enterprising travellers who look beyond the standard itinerary
of Angkor and Phnom Penh will be rewarded with a rich variety of
experiences. Miles of unspoilt beaches and remote islands offer
sandy seclusion along the southern coastline . Although Sihanoukville
is the main port of call, it's easy enough to commandeer transport
to nearby hidden coves and offshore islands, with only the odd fisherman
or smuggler to interrupt your solitude. Ratanakiri province in the
northeastern corner of the country, with its hilltribes and volcanic
scenery, is also becoming increasingly popular with visitors. Neighbouring
Mondolkiri is less well known, but equally impressive, offering
dramatic alpinesque woodlands, villages and mountains. In the central
plains, Battambang , Cambodia's second city, is a sleepy provincial
capital, and the gateway to the old Khmer Rouge stronghold of Pailin
.
Getting to Cambodia's attractions can be half the fun. "Infrastructure"
is not a word well known to the locals and travel outside the main
tourist routes can be slow and punishing, facilities less than luxurious.
Cambodia's monsoon climate creates two distinct seasons. The southwesterly
monsoon from May to October brings heavy rain, humidity and strong
winds, while the northeasterly monsoon from November to April produces
dry, hot weather, with average temperatures rising from 25°C
in November to around 32°C in April. The best months to visit
are December and January, as it's dry and relatively cool, though
Angkor is at its most stunning during the lush rainy season. |
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