Cambodia

Present day Cambodia is the location of the old Khmer Empire and of Angkor Wat. Travel to Cambodia was impossible 30 years ago as the Khmer Rouge Communist Regime was in power and genocide was taking place in the country. Vietnam invaded Cambodia in 1979 to overthrow the Khmer Rouge and occupied the country from 1979 to 1993. After Vietnam's withdrawal, in an effort to stabilize Cambodia, the UN sponsored an election in 1993 to set up a temporary government. In 1998, after spending 5 years getting back on their feet, another free election was held and a coalition government was formed. After this government formed, travel to Cambodia became relatively easy and tourists started to trickle back in. Cambodia now sees around 4 million tourists a year and tourism has become a major part of their economy.

Cambodia lies in a tropical climate and has a heavy monsoon season between June and October. Travel is generally cheaper during this time, but you will likely have to dodge rain every afternoon. The dry season is between November and May and is generally cooler and less humid. Tourism spikes considerably during these months, especially between December and January. The capitol of Cambodia is Phnom Penh, but most tourists will choose to fly in and out of Siem Reap. If you choose to venture far outside of either Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, you are doing so at your own risk as areas outside of this are poor, unsanitary, and under developed. We recommend staying close to these two cities and you will likely have a very enjoyable trip.

Things you should know about Cambodia

Most tourists who come to Cambodia, come to see one thing: Angkor Wat. While this trip is easy to make, there are some things you should be aware of while you are in the country. Make sure you have the proper health insurance, medical services in Cambodia are way below par and if there is an emergency, you will likely be transported out of the country to Thailand, which will be incredibly expensive if you don't have the proper insurance. Next, like most under developed countries, never drink the tap water, even if it says it is safe to drink, only use bottled water. Also, Cambodia is not the place to risk getting in trouble with the law, the judicial and police system are corrupt and you will likely not get a fair shake if you need to go in front of a judge. Landmines used to be a problem in Cambodia, but unless you are way off the beaten path in a remote area, you will have no issues. Finally, as always, never walk alone at night and try to stay in well lit areas. Pickpocketing is a problem in Cambodia, but can be avoided if you are smart with where you go and where you store your valuables.

© 2009 http://www.ourworldwonders.com