Visit Cambodia

You must visit Cambodia. Cambodia is in Southeast Asia. It is a country that has a rich cultural heritage and a tragic past. Its capital city is Phnom Penh. Cambodia is better known as it is famous for its ancient temples. However, the country is also known for the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge regime. Significantly, the killing fields that serve as a reminder of the horrors that occurred.

Top 5 Reasons to Visit Cambodia

• Cambodia is a beautiful country
• Angkor Wat and Other Temples in Siem Reap
• Pub Street in Siem Reap
• History of Khmer Rouge and the Killing Fields
• Tomb Raider and Angelina Jolie’s commitment to and love of the country

To learn about Cambodia’s historic role in Southeast Asia and its relationship with Vietnam, Thailand and its other neighbors, please visit our post on Southeast Asia.

Visit Cambodia – Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh, the largest city in Cambodia, is a bustling metropolis that is both chaotic and charming. The city is home to some of the country’s most important historical sites, including the Royal Palace and the National Museum of Cambodia. It is also a hub for nightlife and shopping, with numerous markets and shopping centers scattered throughout the city.

Visit Cambodia’s National Museum

The National Museum in Cambodia contains some excellent sculptures, saved from the temples.

Royal Palace

During Cos and Robin’s visit to Phnom Penh they stayed in the Palace Gate Hotel. Conveniently, is is directly across from the Royal Palace. Here are some great pictures of the hotel and of the Royal Palace. Best described as lush, it was a perfectly comfortable and yet posh hotel. We enjoyed not only the pool (a relief from the oppressive heat) but also the rooftop bar where we ate our dinners.

Khmer Rouge

Despite its rich cultural heritage, Cambodia’s recent history is marred by the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge regime. Between 1975 and 1979, the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, carried out a brutal campaign of genocide that resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million Cambodians. The regime’s policies of forced labor, starvation, and execution led to the establishment of “killing fields” throughout the country, where victims were executed and buried in mass graves. What was particularly eerie was that we saw virtually no-one of our age, as this genocide wiped out an entire generation. For more information on the impact of the Khmer Rouge, please see our Post The Impact of Wars.

Cambodia’s Killing Fields

We visited one of the Killing Fields while in Phnom Penh. Anyone who was considered educated was thought to be a traitor to the Chinese backed Khmer Rouge. They were taken to a prison, brutally tortured, and killed. We visited the prison which was a converted school, and the nearby killing field where bones of the dead were all over the grounds. This was a heartbreaking and chilling experience, one that we had not totally comprehended until coming here. It was not unlike the horror of the Nazi regime.

While visiting the Killing Fields Memorial Museum we met two of the survivors. They were saved because they had skills (brick laying, etc.) that were useful to their captives. Unfortunately, they receive no government assistance and live entirely on the proceeds of their books. We bought a book from each of them for a small donation.

Today, Cambodia is still grappling with the legacy of the Khmer Rouge regime. The killing fields have become a popular tourist attraction, serving as a stark reminder of the horrors that occurred. The country has also established a tribunal to prosecute those responsible for the atrocities, although progress has been slow and many perpetrators have yet to face justice. Again, it is noteworthy that you see very few people from our generation…an entire slice of the population was eliminated.

Visit Cambodia – Siem Reap

Siem Reap is a small but growing city located in the northwest of Cambodia, known primarily for its ancient temples and ruins. The most famous of these is the Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the largest religious monuments in the world. Other notable temples in the area include the Bayon Temple and Ta Prohm, both of which have been featured in popular movies and television shows.

What many people don’t know about Siem Reap is that it has an exciting night life. Pub Street is a lively place made famous by Angelina Jolie. She hung out at the Red Piano when she was here filming Tomb Raider. If the Red Piano is not your top choice, you can also get a foot pedicure by having the fish nibble on your toes. As the night goes on, there is live music and dancing in the street.

Cambodia’s Temples

Cambodia’s temples are absolutely amazing, breathtaking. What is even more impressive is that many of them were buried in the jungle for many years before being discovered by French archeologists walking through the wooded areas. Angkor Wat is so big that it is hard to imagine it was hidden for so many years.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia’s Most Famous Landmark

However, the country is also home to many other temples all of which are stunning examples of Khmer architecture. Many of the temples were first built as Hindu temples. Therefore, you see a mix of Hindu and Buddhist Gods in the temples.

Ta Prohm or “Tomb Raider” Temple

The Ta Prohm Temple, is better known as the “Tomb Raider” Temple, because it served as the background for Angelina Jolie’s “Tomb Raider” movie. This temple is unique as the trees have literally grown inside it and seem to be taking over these old structures.

A couple of years after making this movie, Angelina adopted her son, Maddox, in an orphanage. She became drawn in by the country, eventually being honored with citizenship for her kindness and love for Cambodia as expressed through her actions.

Angelina has recently produced a new movie, entirely in the Khmer language, called “First they Killed My Father” about the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge regime. Her son Maddox assisted her; all the actors and much of the crew were Cambodians. The movie is available on Netflix. Angelina has done much to promote Cambodia as the warm and friendly country we found.

In conclusion, Cambodia is a country with a rich cultural heritage and a tragic past. A trip to Southeast Asia must include a visit to Cambodia.