Holiday in Cambodia

Kingdom of Cambodia, a country of immense cultural and historical contrasts. The ancient Khmer Empire ruled much of Southeast Asia for centuries and gave Angkor Wat to the world. Its artistic and architectural influences can still be seen in the corresponding forms of its regional neighbors.

Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia and is laid out north to south along the confluence of the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers. Phnom Penh is home to a population of about 2.5 million, and is a vibrant bustling and ethnically diverse city with mixed population of Khmer, Chinese, and Vietnamese.



More than 60% of the population still gets by on subsistence farming. The government is addressing these issues with assistance from bilateral and multilateral donors. New construction of roads, irrigation, and agriculture are invested to bring up the rural areas.




Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is not simply a temple; it is the symbol at the very heart of the Khmer people's pride in their culture and heritage. Angkor Wat means capital or 'royal monastery city' and the name is probably derived from the Sanskrit word nagara, meaning capital city. It served as a temple, mausoleum and probably a palace to Suryavarman II, who reigned from 1113-1150 A.D. Suryavarman II dedicated Angkor Wat to the Hindu god Vishnu. Angkor Wat faces west and the entire site is encompassed by a moat 1.5km (from east to west) by 1.3km (from north to south). The moat is crossed by a single causeway on the western side.





Apsara is a female spirit of the clouds and waters in Hindu and Buddhist mythology. English translations of the word "Apsara" include "nymph", "celestial nymph," and "celestial maiden." Apsaras are beautiful, supernatural female beings. They are youthful and elegant, and superb in the art of dancing. Khmer female figures that are dancing or are poised to dance are considered apsaras, female figures, depicted individually or in groups, who are standing still and facing forward in the manner of temple guardians or custodians are called devatas.


Angkor Thom
Built in the latter part of the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII, Bayon is one of the most widely recognised temples in Siem Reap because of the giant stone faces that adorn the towers of Bayon. There are 54 towers of four faces each, totaling 216 faces. There is still a debate as to who is being depicted in the faces. It could be Avalokiteshvara, Mahayana Buddhism's compassionate Bodhisattva, or perhaps a combination of King Jayavarman VII and Buddha.


The Elephant Terrace and Terrace of the Leper King are situated in the heart of the Angkor Thom. They were the long platform on which the Royal Palace was built. From this magnificent viewpoint the Angkorian kings watched military exercises and celebrations.



Ta Prohm recreates the experience of the early Angkor. Its structure is being subsumed by trees, making it very photogenic. It was constructed early in Jayavarman VII's extravagant building programmed and was dedicated to his mother. Ta Prohm was basically a  self-contained town. It boasted a population of over 12,000 supported by an army of slaves and villagers totaling nearly 80,000.






At the turn of the millennium Siem Reap was a Cambodian provincial town with few facilities, fewer surfaced roads and little in the way of nightlife. The tourism industry catered to hardly backpackers wiling to brave the tortuous road from the Thai border. The proximity of the Angkor ruins turned Siem Reap into a boomtown in less than half a decade. There is a seemingly endless choice of places to stay or dine, and a host of possible activities awaiting the visitor including the Angkor Archaeological Park.









The Killing Fields
The Khmer Rouge regime under its leader Saloth Sar (Pol Pot) controlled Cambodia from 1975-1979. On April 17th, 1975 all citizens of Phnom Penh were moved out of the city by the Khmer Rouge, and forced to begin new lives farming the rural areas of the country. During this period, around 2.5 million Cambodians lost their lives. Most of the deaths were due to poor nutrition, overwork, absence of medical care and neglect. However, the regime also brutally killed thousands of people it suspected of treachery. It is important to note that there are 'killing fields' all over Cambodia.



Local bizarre street foods





Fried spider is a regional delicacy in Cambodia. In the Cambodian town of Skuon, the vending of fried spiders as a specialty snack is a popular attraction for tourists passing through this town. Spiders are also available elsewhere in Cambodia — in Phnom Penh for instance, but Skuon, a market town on the highway 75 kilometres (47 mi) from the capital, is the centre of their popularity.



Text explanation grabbed from Ancient Angkor Guidebook and Wikipedia

Land of the Free

BANGKOK (Thai: กรุงเทพฯ Krung Thep) is the capital of Thailand and, with a population of over eleven million inhabitants, by far its largest city. Its high-rise buildings, heavy traffic congestion, intense heat and naughty nightlife do not immediately give you a warm welcome — but don't let your first impression mislead you. It is one of Asia's most cosmopolitan cities with magnificent temples and palaces, authentic canals, busy markets and a vibrant nightlife that has something for everyone.



Khaosan Road
is a small road located about a block from the Chao Phraya River at the northern side of Rattanakosin. Backpackers and budget travellers are drawn here by some of the cheapest accommodation and travel deals in Thailand. This article also deals with the wider Banglamphu area that hosts a few interesting temples, as well as lots more places to stay and eat.
The word khao san itself means milled rice and is an attribution to the historical role of this street in the rice trade.


Street carts on the road sell decent pad thai (fried noodles), quail eggs, roti (like a pancake), falafel, hummus, various bugs and some sell just cocktails. However, it's worth noting that much of it is specifically geared for backpackers — even the local pad thai, especially the 10 baht variety, saves money on the ingredients and uses soy sauce instead of the traditional tamarind sauce.

Finally, what would Bangkok be without the much-loathed, much-loved tuk-tuks? You'll know them when you hear them, and you'll hate them when you smell them — these three-wheeled contraptions blaze around Bangkok leaving a black cloud of smog in their wake. For anything more than a 5-10 min jaunt or just the experience, they really are not worth the price — and, if you let them get away with it, the price will usually be 4 or 5 times what it should be anyway (which, for Thais, is around 30% less than the equivalent metered taxi fare). If you still want to try the tuk-tuk, always hail a moving tuk-tuk from the main road. At tourist spots, these tuk-tuk drivers lie in waiting to disrupt your travels plans. Always agree on a price before entering the tuk-tuk. Also be crystal clear about your intended destination.


Bangkok Chinatown
Yaowarat and Phahurat (Thai: เยาวราชและพาหุรัด) is Bangkok's multicultural district, located west of Silom and southeast of Rattanakosin. Yaowarat Road is the home of Bangkok's sizable Chinese community, while those of Indian ethnicity have congregated around Phahurat Road. By day, Yaowarat doesn't look that much different from any other part of Bangkok, though the neighbourhood feels like a big street market and there are some hidden gems waiting to be explored. But at night, the neon signs blazing with Chinese characters are turned on and crowds from the restaurants spill out onto the streets, turning the area into a miniature Hong Kong (minus the skyscrapers).





Krabi Province
Take few more steps outside to Southern Thailand, in a small archipelago.



Rai Leh (อ่าวไร่เล), also commonly known as Railay, is perhaps the best winter sport rock climbing area in the world, with over seven hundred bolted routes up limestone faces with breathtaking views over the ocean. If you are an avid rock climber, chances are you already know about this place and the spectacular cliffs are the reason you are here.



Ko Phi Phi is considered to be one of the most naturally beautiful islands in the world (in fact, there are six islands in Phi Phi). They lie 50km south-east of Phuket and are part of Had Nopparattara - Koh Phi Phi National Park which is home to an abundance of corals and amazing marine life. There are limestone mountains with cliffs, caves and long white sandy beaches. The national park covers a total area of 242,437 Rai. Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Le are the largest and most well-known islands. Koh Phi Phi was devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004, when nearly all of the island's infrastructure was wiped out. Redevelopment has, however, been swift, and services are back with building regulations in place to limit the height of new buildings to preserve the island's stunning views.
 

Ko Phi Phi Don
This island is the largest of the 6 Phi Phi islands and consists of two main sections. It is on Ton Sai where the original inhabitants settled and is now the home of the main accommodation area. Phi Phi Don is quite stunning and has earned the title of one of the most fantastic islands in the world. Nowadays though, with development, the beaches have paid the price and so they're not quite as spectacular as they were in the days of yesteryear. The landscape however, can never be ruined.



Viewpoint - walk up to the Viewpoint, 186 metres above sea level (a very steep walk of between 10-25 minutes, depending on fitness), to get a breathtaking view of the entire island - particularly at dawn or sunset (bring a torch). You will be surprised at how narrow the sand strip is between the two main parts of the island.




Monkey Beach - accessible on foot or by renting a canoe, or be lazy and charter a longtail boat. Be careful as the monkeys can sometimes be aggressive. (Note: you should not feed wildlife)



Ko Phi Phi Leh, a smaller island to the south, popularised when parts of the movie "The Beach" were filmed there. Maya Bay has arguably Phi Phi’s most fantastic beach and was the location for the movie The Beach (Leonardo DiCaprio) in 1998. The bay also has hard coral and colorful reef fishes which makes it a favorite spot for tour snorkelers and first time divers. There is also a jump spot (~20 metres) in one of the creeks behind the beach, and some climbing is possible on the cliff just next to it. You can take a longtail boat to Maya Beach for about 1500 baht for the whole boat for half a day. It is highly recommended to arrive at Maya Bay before 8AM, when the place can still be enjoyed in solitude.



Text explanation grabbed from WikiTravel