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"Cambodia"
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Cambodia
is only now emerging from over 20 years of social and political turmoil.
The country's economy is still heavily dependent on international aid
and the development of tourism is receiving top priority. Immigration
and customs control have been relaxed and tourism infrastructure, airports,
domestic air services and international-standard hotel accommodation
have been greatly improved. Although this must still be considered an
adventure destination, Cambodia is now attracting growing numbers of
foreign visitors.
The capital, Phnom Penh, is a city of great charm and character. Sightseeing here includes such highlights as the ornate Royal Palace with its Silver Pagoda, featuring a floor of over 5,000 solid silver tiles and a magnificent collection of Buddha ../images, some of bejewelled gold. The recently restored National Museum is another attraction containing masterpieces of ancient Khmer sculpture and art. Wat Phnom, after which the city was named, is a smsll hill-top temple dating originally from the 14th century. Among other important temples are wat Ounalom and the ancient Wat Koh.
Visitors will certainly enjoy the local markets. The Art Deco central market contains a wide variety of stalls and the 'Russian' market is good for silver, handicrafts and reproduction antiques. Other sightseeing attractions include the huge Victory Monument and the many fine colonial-style buildings dating from the French era. Not suitable for chidren or the squeamish are the gruesome sights of the Tuol Sleng Museum, formerly a high school, which was used as a prison in the murderous Pol Pol era, and the aptly named killing Fields at Choeung Ek, 15 km from the city, where the remains of over 17,000 people were buried in mass graves.
But the supreme experience of any visit to Cambodia lies to the north, near the small town of Siem Reap, reached by domestic flight from the capital.
The glories of Angkor War and Bayon temples and the ancient capital of Angkor Thom have been featured in countless books and films, but nothing can prepare the visitor for the vast scale and supreme artestry of these extraordinary monuments, which must rank among the most inspired ever created by man. There are literally hundreds of temples, pagodas and ornamented gateways to be explored in the area surrounding Siem Reap, of which at least a dozen should be included in any visit. Travellers should ideally allow at least three days to cover major sights, and sightseeing should be confined to early morning and later afternoon, when the sun is not so fierce. As there are so many monumemts to see, some advance study with a good guide book will prove a very worthwhile investment of time.
In spite of possible inconveniences in this still under-developed country, the prospect of discovering the unique attractions of Cambodia make this one of Asia's most faacinating travel experiences.