Sunday, December 26, 2004

Welcome to Cambodia

Over the past millennium Cambodia’s fortunes have spanned the spectrum. A thousand years ago, the great civilization of Angkor was the most powerful in the world, with a capital city twenty times the size of London. On the other hand, just twenty years ago the Khmer Rouge decimated what remained of the once-great civilization, and, in its ridiculous quest for the perfect agrarian utopia, brutally forced the modern nation of Cambodia to its knees.

With such a varied history, and the overwhelming legacy of recent war and famine, many questions arise about modern day Cambodia. What is it like? How do people live and survive? How do people deal with the horrible specter of the Khmer Rouge, and the recent and brutal war? Several good books filled in part of the picture for us, but until we arrived, the questions remained. The reality is that modern Cambodia is a fantastic place, with spectacular architecture, a thriving society, and the warmest people we have met in our travels thus far.



The capital city of Phnom Penh is a thriving, vibrant city. The streets are lined with quaint shops and sidewalk cafes, and the city is dotted with spectacular parks. The architecture is a fascinating mix of French Colonial and both modern and ancient Khmer style. It is well on its way of reclaiming its title as “The Jewell of Asia.” If you get the chance, go. You won’t be disappointed.

Enjoy the Phnom Penh Photo Gallery.

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