Over a period of more than five hundred years, Angkor was the centre of one of the world's great civilisations. God-kings ruled a vast area of South East Asia from their seat of power on the northern plains of Cambodia. They built fantastic cities and temples to honour their gods, which they decorated with intricate stone carvings. When the civilisation was at its height, thousands of people lived in and around the temples. After the fall of the empire the jungle reclaimed the temples until they were rediscovered in 1860 by the French explorer Henri Mahout.
It has been said that the temples of Angkor represent the finest artistic achievement in human history. To get an idea of the grandeur and magnificence of the art there, imagine the Great Pyramids in Egypt, and then imagine that every stone is carved with fantastic stories of myth and legend.
Cambodia remained hidden from the outside world for much of the last century. Now emerging from its years of isolation, the country offers a true taste of South East Asia before the arrival of mass tourism and rampant modernisation.
Cambodia has suffered beyond imagination in the last 50 years. War and genocide have left deep scars on the country and its people, but visitors are surprised and charmed by the optimism and warmth of Cambodian people.
GENERAL INFORMATION
GEOGRAPHY
Cambodia covers a land area of 181,040 square km and shares its borders with Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The three most dominant topographical features are the Mekong River, the Tonle Sap River and Tonle Sap Lake, which is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia.
CLIMATE AND SEASONS
Cambodia has a tropical monsoon climate with wet and dry seasons. May is very hot with occasional rain; June to October is the humid and wet monsoon season; and November to March is the cooler, dry season.
PEOPLE
About 90% of the 12.2 million population is ethnic-Khmer. The rest of the population is comprised of Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, and Cambodia's ethnic minority groups. Minority groups include the Saoch, the Pear, the Brao, and the Kuy, nearly all of which live in the country's mountainous regions.
LANGUAGE
Cambodia's language, Khmer, is a non-tonal language. Before 1975, many educated, urban citizens spoke French. Today, city dwellers may speak English, Chinese, Vietnamese or French.
RELIGION
During the Khmer Rouge genocide, all religion was banned. In the 1980s, Theravada Buddhism was reinstated as the national religion, and today, 96% of the population practises some form of Buddhism. A small amount of the population practises Taoism and Confucianism (mostly Chinese), Catholicism (mostly Vietnamese), and Sunni Muslim (Cham).
FESTIVALS AND HOLIDAYS
Chaul Chhnam, the Cambodian Lunar Year, is the most celebrated holiday. It takes place in April, at around the same time that Buddhists celebrate the birthday and enlightenment of the Buddha. In late October or early November, Cambodians celebrate the Festival of the Reversing Current, also known as the Water Festival. This three-day festival takes place when the Tonle Sap River reverses its flow towards the Mekong. Other official holidays include National Day (January 7th), Genocide Day (May 9th), Constitution Day (September 24th), King Sihanouk's Birthday (October 31st), and Independence Day (November 9th).
HANDICRAFTS AND SOUVENIRS
Cambodia has some of the most beautiful religious carvings, statues and bas-reliefs anywhere in the world. Vidotour supports the Kingdom of Cambodia and UNESCO's efforts to stop the flow of these priceless and irreplaceable objects of art out of the country. For those wishing to take home such figures, excellent quality replicas are now available in both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
In addition to stone carving, Cambodia has excellent silverware of both classical Khmer and Chinese design. One of the lasting images from a trip to Cambodia is of the krama - a large, rectangular scarf patterned with red or blue checks. These scarves are used as headdresses, skirts, aprons, and carrying aids. Many visitors buy this quintessentially Cambodian textile for use as a wall hanging, tablecloth, or scarf.
