Cambodia Travel Adventures

By Janet Arrowood

This book is extracted from our much larger guide to Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia, and it focuses on Cambodia primarily. Janet Arrowood is a long-time and frequent visitor to Southeast Asia. Huge lakes, tremendous waterfalls, elephant rides, jungles, wonderfu

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hunter Publishing
• Release date: Jul 15, 2009
• ISBN: 9781588437266

Book preview

Adventure Guide to Cambodia

Janet Arrowood

HUNTER PUBLISHING, INC,

www.hunterpublishing.com

©  Hunter Publishing, Inc.

[e-mail].

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

This guide focuses on recreational activities. As all such activities contain elements of risk, the publisher, author, affiliated individuals and companies disclaim responsibility for any injury, harm, or illness that may occur to anyone through, or by use of, the information in this book. Every effort was made to insure the accuracy of information in this book, but the publisher and author do not assume, and hereby disclaim, liability for any loss or damage caused by errors, omissions, misleading information or potential travel problems caused by this guide, even if such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause.

Introduction

The Recent Past

The Land

Why Come Here?

What Can You Do Here?

Cautions & Advice

Customs, Immigration & Visas

Cambodian Embassies in

Foreign Embassies in Cambodia

Visas

Immigration & Customs

Departure Taxes

Electrical Appliances

Opening Hours

Banks & ATMs

Booking Tours

Health Considerations

Getting There

Getting Around

The Weather & When to Visit

What to Pack

Prices - Hotels & Restaurants

Overview - Cambodia

Touring Cambodia

History

The Food

Crafts, Arts & Culture

The Peoples

Religion

Language

The Sex Trade

The Adoption Racket

Getting There

Cambodia

At a Glance

History

Phnom Penh

Introduction

Where to Stay

Central

Sisowath Quay

Where to Eat

Central

Sisowath Quay Area

What to See

The Royal Palace

The Silver Pagoda

Other Sights Adjacent to the Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda

The National Museum of Cambodia

The Riverside

Wat Phnom

The Victory Monument

South of the Center of Town

Day Trips from Phnom Penh

Oudong

Choueng Ek - The Killing Fields

Kirirom National Park

Mekong River Cruises

Transportation in Town

Hiking, Cycling & Walking

Cars, Scooters & Cyclos

Buses & Taxis

Useful Information

Siem Reap/Angkor Wat

Getting There

Where to Stay

Pre-Paid/Pre-Booked Options

General Hotel Options

Where to Eat

Near the River

Near the Old Market

Entertainment

Markets & Shopping

Tours & Travels

What to See

The Angkor Complex - UNESCO World Heritage Site

Transportation in Town

Hiking, Cycling & Walking

Useful Information

Battambang

Getting There

Where to Stay

Where to Eat

Sihanoukville

Getting There & Away

Where to Stay

Ochental Beach

Victory Beach

Where to Eat

Entertainment

What to Do & See

Local Transport

Bokor Hill Station - Kampot

Getting There & Away

Where to Stay

Where to Eat

Books & Websites

Books

Websites

Introduction

Why visit this part of the world? It is relatively safe, untrammeled by tourists, and still gives a taste of the old Southeast Asia and French Colonial empire. There are tremendous waterfalls, impressive rivers, huge lakes, wildlife, elephant rides, jungles, wonderful people, and fabulous food. The costs are a fraction of those at home and the experience will last a lifetime. Once you've been, the region will call you back again and again. Adventure awaits.

Note: The earthquake and accompanying tsunami of December 2004 did not directly affect any of the countries covered in this book. At the same time, the difficulty getting relief supplies to the affected countries shows how poor the infrastructure in this part of the world can be. Many of the tips in this book are intended both to make your trip easier.

Responsible Travel

As more people visit this beautiful and largely unspoiled region it is very important to be a responsible, environmentally aware traveler. True eco-tourism hasn't arrived here yet. Adventure and active travel are beginning to catch on, and even to boom in Vietnam and parts of Laos, but the infrastructure and services are lagging behind the expectations of many travelers. Remember, the people who live have to stay when we leave, and they live with the attitudes, damage, and goodwill we bring and leave behind. Please recycle your water bottles, pick up your trash, save water and electricity. Resources are scarce, precious, and expensive.

The Recent Past

For much of the past 150 years the region encompassing Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia was referred to as French Indochina/Cochinchina. Indeed, the French occupation, stretching from about 1850 to the early 1950s, has left a mark on these three countries that adds to their cultural, historical, architectural, and gastronomic appeal. At the same time, they have been severely impacted by internal and external wars, the imposition of communism/socialism, and the absence, for many decades, of any sort of tourism.

It is only in the past 10-15 years that tourists have returned to discover the unique attractions and almost pristine beauty of the region. In fact, it has been mostly during the past five years that significant tourist infrastructure has been developed, with tourists returning in substantial numbers. For the first time in 30 years you can now fly directly into the region (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City) on an American-flagged airline - United Airlines - as well as on many Asian and European carriers (Air France, Lufthansa, Singapore, Thai, among others).

Eco-tourism in the area is in its infancy, and cultural, adventure, and active travel only at the toddler stage. Still, changes are happening at a near-lightning pace, so you are in for a real treat. The people are warm and welcoming; the temples are spectacular; the museums are fascinating; the opportunities to explore and experience unique cultures are almost limitless; and the variety of action-packed and light adventure opportunities is boundless.

The area has been repeatedly invaded, influenced, or controlled by peoples from China, Thailand, France, the United States, Burma, India, and many other countries. Their influences can be readily seen in the art, language, customs, culture, and landscape of each country.

In recent years, communism/socialism (and a degree of isolationism) have been the prevailing cultural influence in Laos and Vietnam, but the hard-core versions that were initially imported are being softened to allow for free enterprise, foreign investment, and the blossoming of small businesses. In Cambodia there are still lingering effects of the Pol Pot regime, but things are changing and improving.

Although there are many superficial similarities between the three countries, each is really quite different. Within countries, different areas feel different, too.

The northern part of Vietnam has the longest history of communism/socialism, and it shows in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. The government's reach is long, but 30 fewer years of communist rule makes for a noticeable difference between the North and the South.

In Cambodia, the smaller towns feel more welcoming and less restrictive than does Phnom Penh, but the energy level in Phnom Penh is so much higher.

In Laos, the biggest distinction is between the city and village dwellers. As Vientiane grows, and the non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) extend their influence, the laid-back atmosphere will continue to fade. For example, Vientiane (Laos) used to be a small backwater serving as a national capital, but the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit in November 2004 has started to change all that.

The Land

The more traveled parts of Cambodia are relatively flat and almost water-logged. The short stretch of coast is quite beautiful and rarely visited. Vietnam is extremely rugged across most of its land area, except right along the coast, and even that area is far from flat. The exception is the Mekong Delta where it's flat, almost boggy in places, and hot. Laos is rugged, with a few flat valleys, especially along the rivers, and there's no coastline.

Why Come Here?

There are many tried-and-true destinations such as Europe, or even the big, English-speaking countries of Asia you could visit. These places have the infrastructure to provide all the comforts of home, thousands of years of history, plenty of opportunities for active and adventure travel, and ease of access. But these same features can be disadvantages. Why?

Comfort, convenience and familiarity come at a very high price. In recent years