ibtimes.com
July 17, 2012
Steeped in history -- both spectacular and sordid -- Cambodia is the perpetual comeback kid.
As the bleeding heart of Southeast Asia, Cambodia has had a rough go
of it over the last half-millennium or so with the fall of Angkor in
1431 and, more recently, the U.S. military's carpet bombing and its own
devastating civil war in the 1970s, in which the Khmer Rouge killed off
nearly a third of its own countrymen. The regime's brutal reign of
terror left an indelible scar on the Cambodian people, but, despite it
all, Cambodians are incredibly hospitable, and your foreign money, if
put in the right pockets, can help lift the country out of poverty.
But where should you go and what should you see in Cambodia?
Here's a look at the best of Cambodia, from the crystal clear waters of the Gulf of Thailand to the tropical interior forests and temple-strewn northern hills. Below are 10 spots you won't want to miss.
Best Beaches In CambodiaKoh Rong
(creative commons/Alex Schwab)
Where to Stay:
Paradise Bungalows (Rates start at $15/night)
Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island)
(creative commons/fabulousfabs)
Close to the mainland -- but far away in mindset -- Cambodia's Rabbit
Island is a 20-minute hop from the dock in Kep. The small,
clover-shaped key in the Gulf of Thailand
has rustic bungalows and rudimentary beach shack restaurants, but it
remains predominantly undeveloped, with its hub of action concentrated
around the main beach, leaving the rest of the island blessedly vacant.
There are no air-conditioning units, no televisions, no mirrors and no
Internet terminals. Rabbit Island is an emerging destination for those
who want to get away from it all, relax, and enjoy a throwback island
paradise.
Rabbit Island has a series of family-run bungalows on Main Beach that
cost around $5 per night. None offer online bookings, but most can be
reserved from the city of Kep.
Sihanoukville
(creative commons/whl.travel)
Hacked out of the jungle in the late 1950s to accommodate Cambodia's
first and only deep-water port, by the 1960s, the beach-rimmed coast
around Sihanoukville had become the country's preeminent seaside resort.
Now, it's extremely popular with well-to-do Phnom Penhers and tourists
looking for luxuries unavailable at Cambodia's other beaches.
Where to Stay:
Coolabah Hotel (Rates start at $35/night)
Best Destinations For Nature
Kampot
(mark-map.com)
You'll never realize pepper (as in the table companion to salt) could
taste so good until you toss it atop your "fish amok" in Kampot -- the
pepper capital of the world. This quiet town has an awesome array of
riverside restaurants and secluded bungalows. While it's the perfect
place to kick back for some small-town Cambodian charm, it's also an
ideal base for trips into Bokor National Park to take in the lost
grandeur of the French colonial Bokor Hill Station.
Where to Stay:
Ganesha Riverside Eco Resort (Rates start at $8/night)
Krong Koh Krong
(creative commons/dualurgee)
Cambodia's Wild West has cleaned up its image in recent years,
transforming itself from a frontier economy based on prostitution and
gambling to a budding ecotourism destination. The region is home to one
of Southeast Asia's most thrilling coastal mountain habitats, and its
dense rainforest, rolling hills, winding rivers and cascading waterfalls
buzz with exotic animals, beckoning intrepid tourists to wander off the
beaten path and into the wild.
Where to Stay:
Oasis Bungalow Resort (Rates start at $25/night)
Kratie
(creative commons/matty bishwam)
A hodgepodge of old colonial terraces and traditional Khmer
buildings, Kratie stretches lazily along the west bank of the Mekong
River and is one of the best spots in the region to enjoy the tangerine
Mekong sunset. Most venture to this far-flung corner of Cambodia for a
chance to view the rare Irrawaddy dolphins, but the city is becoming a
popular stop-over for nature lovers of all ilk. It's a place to relax,
unwind and enjoy rural Cambodia at its finest.
Where to Stay:
Rajabori Villas Resort (Rates start at $60/night)
Tonle Sap
(wikimedia commons)
Tonle Sap is at once a floating village, local highway and
flood-relief system. As the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia,
this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve dominates the map of Cambodia and plays a
vital role in the nation's ecology. For anyone with temple burnout, a
trip along the lakeshore makes for a great escape from the sunbaked
ruins of Siem Reap.
Where to Stay:
Pavillon d'Orient Boutique-Hotel in Siem Reap (Rates start at $85/night)
Best Destinations for Culture
Siem Reap (Angkor)
(wikimedia commons)
No trip to the region would be complete without a sojourn to the
abundant ruins of Angkor. You hear about the grandeur of Angkor Wat, but
nothing can quite prepare you for that special morning when you watch
the saffron sun peek over the world's largest and most audacious
religious structure. You'll need at least two memory chips and three
days to navigate the 1,000 square kilometers of the former Khmer
Empire. It may just be the most hyped set of ruins in the world, but it
certainly won't disappoint.
Where to Stay:
Golden Temple Hotel in Siem Reap (Rates start at $55/night)
Banteay Srei
(creative commons/ johan douma)
Most of Angkor's historic wonders lie just north of Siem Reap, but
further afield sits the delicate tour de force of classical art: Banteay
Srei. The most intricate of all Khmer art, the coral-tinged 10th century temple is known as the "Citadel of Women" and is widely referred to as Cambodia's "precious gem."
Where to Stay:
Bong Thom Homestay (Rates start at $45/night)
Phnom Penh
(wikimedia commons)
A walk through Phnom Penh is a tornado trip through dark alleys and
pools of light; stoic monasteries and lavish gardens; riverside flair
and backstreet fear. Some parts of the capital city bear the impact of
war and revolution while others offer a glimpse of the country to be. To
understand the Phnom Penh of today best, delve into the nation's
ancient past at the National Museum before immersing yourself in more
recent traumas at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum or the Killing Fields
of Choeung Ek just outside of town.
Where to Stay:
Raffles Hotel Le Royal (Rates start at $195/night)
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