Traveling to Cambodia can be such an eye-opener. You are bound to see a country that is beginning to stand up again from the ruins of a war-torn country. You can see people living a simple life in the countryside and delight in the monuments of the past and the unspoiled natural beauty of Cambodia. It is the domain of the gods and casts a spell on the traveler through its majestic temple, the Angkor Wat. It is a fusion of spirituality, symbolism and architectural symmetry. On the other hand, you come face to face with reality when you visit Tuol Sleng and view the killing machines employed by the Khmer Rouge. Cambodia is truly an enigma, with a history that is both magical and violent and now has become a tourist destination that offers many interesting places to see and things to do. Cambodia is both awe-inspiring at the same time dispiriting, but you can still find a glimpse of a future that is yet to take shape but is bound to be bright.

Cambodia’s temples are breathtaking and the Angkor Wat is a classic example of how prosperous the country was before. Despite the destruction that years of war brought, the scenery is still unspoiled and life goes on simply. Modernization is creeping up in the larger cities, thanks to the tourism efforts as well as foreign investments. Tourism has provided employment to many Cambodians, traditional arts and crafts are again being taken up and country-wide development is on the rise.

Cambodia has international airports at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. The domestic aviation comprising Cambodia Angkor Air and Aero Cambodia has also improved over the last few years. Decades of conflict shattered Cambodia’s infrastructure – its roads, ports and railways, although in recent years some of those assets have been rebuilt. There are three main road routes to Phnom Penh and they are all in good condition. Although most of the other roads are unpaved, most of them are in the process of being rebuilt. Freight trains are common although a regular network is yet to be reinstated. The future proposes to link Cambodia to Singapore, China, Vietnam, and finally Europe by rail. Although there are ferries operating on the major rivers, they are crowded and costlier, albeit relatively safer when compared with roads.

Siem Reap

Things to See in Siem Reap

It is heartening to note that the years of fear are over and the Angkor Wat is finally getting the respect it deserves. This can be seen from the thousands of pilgrims that come from all across the globe. Cambodia has opened up and there is peace once again in this wonderful land. Tourism has begun to get the top spot in its economy and a journey here is truly an adventure as well as a holiday.

As tourism is one of the key income bringers to Cambodia, the government is encouraging tourists to stay longer in Angkor Wat. While accommodation facilities are not available in Angkor Wat, you can have modern conveniences in Siem Reap. So much have been said about the beauty and grandeur of the Angkor Wat and it will be difficult not to be drawn to it. As a traveler, it is a must that a trip to Angkor Wat is included in your itinerary. Angkor Wat is the largest religious complex in the world, a temple dedicated to Hinduism, made from sandstone quarried from the Kulen Mountain that is 47 kilometers from the location of the temple. These stones were brought down by 4,000 elephants. Aside from the remarkable architecture, the simple-looking walls are embellished and decorated with images that provide wonderful light and shadow imagery that invites closer scrutiny. Angkor Wat is a masterpiece of design that took 30 years to finish, a legacy of King Suryavarman II and believed to be his final resting place as the temple is orientated in the west.

At the right bank of the Siem Reap River is the city of Angkor Thom, once the capital of the Khmer Empire. It is a city with several temples, Bayon, Baphuon and Phimeanakas. The Bayon was originally erected as a temple for Mahayana Buddhism erected during the time of King Jayavarman VII. It was modified when the following rulers supported Hinduism and Theravada Buddhism. The state temple has several towers, which are quite remarkable as these are decorated by 216 gigantic and serene stone faces. It also has two sets of bas-reliefs that depict simple every day scenes as well as historical and mythological scenes.

The Baphuon state temple was originally a temple dedicated to Shiva, a Hindu god, erected around the middle of the 11th century. It was later remodeled and turned into a Buddhist temple during the 15th century. On the temple’s second level on its western side, a wall had been demolished and a 9-meter high and 90-meter long reclining Buddha was created in its place. Major parts of the Baphuon state temple had collapsed due to its weight as the land it was built on is sandy. Restoration began in 1960 and was finally completed on July 3, 2011.

The Phimeanakas on the other hand is a small 3-tiered pyramid with a simpler design following the Khleang style, which was used towards the beginning of the 11th century. The tower of the Hindu temple is said to be used by the king during the first watch of the evening with a woman that represented the Nāga, a very large snake. It was said that this is a nightly ritual where the queen was not allowed to participate, and should the naga not appear, it meant that the days of the king on earth are already numbered. On the other hand, if it was the king who failed to come during the first watch, then disaster would occur in the kingdom.

Things to do in Siem Reap

Recently, the revitalized city of Siem Reap is becoming more and more popular. With its beautiful scenic riverside locale and gourmet food and drinks along with the cultural renaissance, it has earned a definite spot in any traveler’s itinerary. After touring the Angkor Wat, you can check out the Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary at Lake Tonlé Sap. You can also go hot-air ballooning over the Angkor Wat for a different view of this magnificent temple and other surrounding areas. For a bit of Khmer history, you can visit the Angkor National Museum. The Cambodian Cultural Village showcases eleven miniature villages, each one unique and representative of the different characteristics, local customs and cultural heritage of some of Cambodia’s ethnic races. There are also cultural performances and demonstrations where tourists can participate. For souvenir hunters, the places to go in Siem Reap are Central Market, Phasr Leu Thom Thmei and the Psah Chas.

It will be worth it for you to travel further and take a boat ride to visit the floating village of Kampung Phluk, a huge commune within the Siem Reap province and situated on the northern part of Tonlé Sap Lake. Here you will see houses on tall bamboo stilts that are 10 meters high. The depth and height of the water on the lake varies depending on the season and the villagers living at Kampung Phluk adjust the height of the stilts depending on the water level. Villagers allow the water hyacinths to grow as the young shoots are part of their diet. When the water level in the lake is down and the streets are dry, you will see long rows of woven mats filled with shrimps drying under the sun. These shrimps are later seasoned, packed and sold. You will also see a very long decorated boat that is painted in a bright red color. It is the pride and joy of the villagers as the boat has won many inter-village and inter-country races.