Cambodia Travel
Cambodia is Asia’s fastest growing tourist destination. After about 35 years of non-stop war, this beautiful country is finally re-emerging from the darkness.
Since the time of the Vietnam war in the sixties, Cambodia has had to suffer “secret” carpet bombings by the United States, followed by the reign of terror of the Khmer Rouge, a Vietnamese takeover, and a further 20 years of civil war.
Following U.N. peacekeeping efforts, the somewhat dubious election of Prime Minister Hun Sen and the dismantling of the Khmer Rouge, the country is now enjoying a period of stability and new-found optimism. It’s many wonders are now open to visitors.
Phnom Penh: Asia Meets Europe
The capital city of Phnom Penh (pop. 1 million) is a lively place these days. Cars and motorcycles careen through charming streets lined with many French style buildings dating back to its days as a French colony in the first half of this century. The center of city life is the riverfront boulevard, featuring many bars and restaurants with a big emphasis on French-style food.
One attraction worth visiting (though not for the faint-hearted) is the Killing Field Museum (Tuol Sleng), a former school taken over in 1975 by the Khmer Rouge and converted into a torture chamber. The National Museum is less grisly, with an emphasis on Ancient Khmer history.
More on Cambodia, Siem Reap and Angkor Wat
