Why we should visit Cambodia?

Cambodia officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia and once known as the Khmer Empire is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Its total landmass is 181,035 square kilometers (69,898 sq mi), bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the northeast, Vietnam to the east, and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest. With a population of over 15 million (Source: Cambodia Census 2008).

There so many reasons which the tourist seeking to visit Cambodia – Kingdom of Wonder, however in this topic I would like to share top ten reasons which you should to visit Cambodia.  

1. Angkor Wat Complex: found to the north of the Tonle Sap Lake and located in the Angkor Archaeological Park near modern-day Siem Reap Cambodia. This is  UNESCO World Heritage site.

2. The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda of Phnom Penh: Almost of this place was built in 1866 and this site contains various buildings of interest such as Khmer-style Throne Hall, Royal Treasury, Villa of Napoleon III, and Silver Pagoda

3. The Bayon Temple, located in Siem Reap Province: The Bayon is at the center of Angkor Thom (literally 'Great City'), which forms the heart of the Angkor complex as it is today.

Location                      : Central Angkor Thom
Construction Period    : Late 12th century C.E.
Religion                       : Buddhist
Built by                       : King Jayavarman VII
Building style              : Bayon

4. Ta Prohm Temple, located in Siem Reap Province. If Angkor Wat and the city of Angkor Thom are best known for grandeur and majesty, then to the east, the temple and monastery of Ta Promh wins hands down for sheer dramatic effect.

Location                      : One km east of Angkor Thom
Construction Period    : Mid 12th - Early 13th century C.E.
Religion                       : Buddhist
Built by                       : King Jayavarman VII
Building Style             : Bayon
Best Time to Visit       : Early morning when it is not as crowded.

5. Tonle Sap Lake, located in Siem Reap Province and it is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. During the dry season the lake drains into the Tonle Sap River which flows into the Mekong River. But in the rainy season (June to October), the huge amount of water in the Mekong causes the Tonle Sap River to reverse its flow.

6. Toul Sleng Museum and Choeung Ek Memorial, located in Phnom Penh. Tuol Sleng well-known as - S21 – Museum is formerly is Tuol Svay Prey High School and was originally built as a secondary school in 1960, during the reign of Preah Batnorodom Sihanouk.

7. Bamboo Island, located in Sihanoukville. How to get there? A ferry departs from Ochheuteal Beach at 10:00 and departs from the island at 16:00 the traverse takes roughly 45 minutes.

8. Battambang, located in northwest of Cambodia and around 293 kilometers from Phnom Penh. Battambang is Cambodia's second-largest city and the capital city of Battambang province in the far northwestern Cambodia and this province which founded by the Khmer Empire in the 11th century. It is the former capital of Monton Khmer and lies in the heart of the Northwest of Cambodia. The main reasons to visit Battambang are country-side, relaxation and temple.

9. Sihanoukville Casinos, located in Sihanoukville and is not exactly southeast Asia's answer to Las Vegas but it does offer a few venues for those who enjoy to throw the dice and play footsie with Lady Luck.

10. Apsaras Dance Performance, can find the place of performance both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.

As above top ten locations for the tourist to visit Cambodia, there are top 10 hotels where you would prefer to accommodate and enjoy the time in Cambodia:

1. Sokhalay Angkor Executive and Spa
2. Empress Residence Resort and Spa
3. Passaggio Boutique Hotel
4. Juliana Hotel
5. Bopha Pollen Hotel
6. 288 Boutique Villa
7. Borei Angkor Resort
8. Empress Angkor Resort and Spa
9. Skyline Boutique
10. Villa Sovanna Boutique Hotel

 

What happen during Chinese New Year 2015?

By mid-morning yesterday, a few hundred members of the state security forces were waiting patiently outside the gates of businesswoman Choeung Sopheap’s palatial villa in the capital’s Daun Penh district as the crash of cymbals accompanying a festive lion dance could be heard inside.

After firecrackers culminated the morning’s Lunar New Year festivities hosted by the Pheaphimex boss, guests soon began trickling into the street and riding off in their SUVs.

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense as the uniformed men continued to wait, gradually realizing that the traditional Chinese New Year red packets stuffed with money – ang pao – that they had been expecting to receive were not going to be forthcoming as in previous years.

Some loudly blamed journalists present for the decision by Yeay Phu, as the ethnic-Chinese Sopheap is better known, and her senator-businessman husband Lao Meng Khin to not dole out cash.

“[We] are disappointed, because the people inside the house told us that there will be no ang pao, because many journalists are here to shoot the video and photos. I don’t know why she fears the journalists like that,” said Lyva, a riot police officer who said he had received 50,000 riel ($12.50) from Yeay Phu in 2013.

A source close to the family who requested anonymity said that a decision had, in fact, been taken last year to no longer publicly dole out ang pao to security forces because of well-publicized accusations that the politically connected power couple linked to several land disputes, including the one at Boeung Kak lake, used the annual occasion to buy their support.

“We are absolutely disappointed [with this]. We have no choice but to not share the ang pao with state authorities who wear the uniforms of police, military police and the armed forces after the practice was criticized by the public,” the source said.

Although authorities have in the past condoned the practice, they also appear to have changed their tune.

Military police spokesman Kheng Tito said an announcement had been made disallowing soldiers or military police from receiving ang pao from businesspeople because “it affects our armed forces who serve the nation”. However, he said tycoons could still donate directly to military units – a practice that has been condemned by rights groups in the past.

But Va, the police officer, said the tradition provided a useful bonus for underpaid men like himself. He earns $150 a month.

“Because of our small salary, we come to get ang pao. Not only people like me with a small rank, but others of higher rank also come like beggars, and we are ashamed because we work with the government and we are wearing our uniforms,” he said.

But the disappointed rank-and-file did not have to travel far to get a few dollars. On the corner, some ang pao were reportedly handed out at the house of Kok An, a prominent businessman, CPP senator and adviser to Hun Sen.

At 11:30am, news spread that the nearby Cobra Gold KTV, allegedly owned by a senior customs official, was handing out cash and drinks, sending a swarm of soldiers running down the street.

A police officer who declined to be named said yesterday evening that he and hundreds of others returned to Yeay Phu’s house in the afternoon but were again unsuccessful.

Sok Sam Oeun, a human rights lawyer and activist, said that it appeared Sopheap and Meng Khin had realized that masses of soldiers and police officers gathering outside their homes to receive cash were not a good look.

But he echoed military spokesman Tito’s alternative that they could still donate to individual units. “It’s not illegal, the law does not prohibit it,” he said.

The northwest capital of Khmer Empire

Battambang is Cambodia's second-largest city and the capital city of Battambang province in the far northwestern Cambodia and this province which founded by the Khmer Empire in the 11th century. It is the former capital of Monton Khmer and lies in the heart of the Northwest of Cambodia. Until the war years, in which almost every infrastructure was destroyed.

The name Battambang or Batdambang, literally means "loss of stick" referring to a legend of the Preah Bat Dambang Kranhoung (Kranhoung Stick King). It's a riverside town, home to some of the best-preserved, French colonial architecture in the country ( source: Cambodia Tourist Information). The Bordering provinces are Banteay Meanchey to the north, Pursat to the east and south, Siem Reap province to the northeast, and Pailin to the west. One part of this province is near the Tonle Sap Lake, the biggest lake in asia. Battambang province is well known for being the mainly leading rice-producing as big agricultural industry production in the country.

1. Area                : 293Km²
2. Weather           : 30⁰C, Wind S at 5km/h, 65%Humidity
3. Local time       : Sunday 11:48 AM
4. Population       : 250,000 (2009)

Recently Battambang was off the map for road travellers, but facilities have recently been improved and it makes a great base for visiting the nearby temples, such as Phnom Banon and Wat Ek Phnom, as well as the closed by villages. In addition, it is so interesting which visitor is remarkable is Bamboo Train where is outside of the city. The visitor can explore the daily activity of villager, rice field view and livelihood activity of villager. Battambang city is a peaceful and pleasant place these days. The main parts of the city are situated closed to the Sangker River, a tranquil, small body of water that winds its way through Battambang Province. It is a nice, picturesque setting. As with much of Cambodia, the French architecture is an attractive bonus of the city.

In conclusion the main reasons to visit Battambang City are country-side activities such standard living of villager and rice field harvesting, relaxation with popular and luxurious hotel and temple to get know about history of Khmer Culture.