Cambodia
Cambodia, a country rich in culture, where people steal your heart, share their smiles and deepen your spirit. I travelled to Cambodia as part of an Intrepid Travel trip, 10 days of exploring and experiencing another world, staying in a local village, visiting an orphanage, eating deep fried tarantulas and realizing there is so much more to this magic place than the majestic ruins of Angkor Wat. We visited Phnom Penh, Kampot, Kratie, Kompong Cham and Siem Reap.
We started off in Phnom Phenh, with a visit to the Foreign Correspondent Club for a drink on sunset, watching the city hype around the Mekong River. The Water Festival was only a few days away, so lots of preparations were happening around the river with colourful racing boats getting the last finishing touches. After a visit to the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda, and exploring some of the local markets, we headed out of Phnom Phenh to reflect on the country’s tragic history at the Tuoi Sieng Museum and the Killing Fields - an experience that brought tears to my eyes, horrifying to see what pain the Cambodian people endured during the Khmer Rouge regime, although this should be on your list of things to see when you head to Cambodia.
Siem Reap, home of the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat, the smiling faces of the Banyon Temple and the twisted vine trees of Ta Prohm - after spending your days visiting these amazing temples, it was great to come back to our hotel in Siem Reap and enjoy a massage (for those tired feet!) and a swim in the pool, ready for another day of exploring.If you are after a cultural experience, a little off-the-beaten track and some of the friendliest people in the world, I recommend making Cambodia one of your next destinations. The people are warm, and smile all day long, they love life (I think because of what they and their families have had to endure in their recent history).
You can visit Cambodia anytime of year, but I would suggest going between November and May - the ‘dry’ season, making it less humid and more enjoyable to explore the temples, markets and everything else Cambodia has to offer. Siem Reap, home of the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat, the smiling faces of the Banyon Temple and the twisted vine trees of Ta Prohm - after spending your days visiting these amazing temples, it was great to come back to our hotel in Siem Reap and enjoy a massage (for those tired feet!) and a swim in the pool, ready for another day of exploring.
If you are after a cultural experience, a little off-the-beaten track and some of the friendliest people in the world, I recommend making Cambodia one of your next destinations. The people are warm, and smile all day long, they love life (I think because of what they and their families have had to endure in their recent history). You can visit Cambodia anytime of year, but I would suggest going between November and May - the ‘dry’ season, making it less humid and more enjoyable to explore the temples, markets and everything else Cambodia has to offer.